Pirates of the Bay is the evening sailing of the Puerto Vallarta pirate ship, the Marigalante II, about four hours from check-in to the pier. You check in at 5:00 PM, sail at about 6:00 PM as the light goes, and are back at about 9:30 PM. Every package includes dinner, the show and an open bar; the package you choose decides the menu and what is poured.
Want the beach instead? The day tour is a different experience — breakfast, lunch and about two hours of snorkeling, kayaking and beach games. See Pirate Land, the day tour or compare day and night.
How the evening runs
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 5:00 PM | Check in at the Pirate Boutique, Maritime Terminal |
| 5:25 PM | Welcome and boarding, live music and the "drunken pirate" act |
| 6:00 PM | Departure and safety briefing |
| 6:10 PM | Activities with the crew and hoisting the sails |
| 7:00 PM | Down to the dining room |
| 7:10 PM | Dinner |
| 7:50 PM | The story of the Marigalante |
| 8:00 PM | Pirate show |
| 8:45 PM | Flag presentation |
| 9:00 PM | Pirate party |
| 9:30 PM | Return to the pier |
Times are the operator’s published running order and may vary by about 15 minutes.
Dinner
Dinner is served below deck in the ship’s dining room. The operator describes meat, poultry, fish and vegetarian choices, and its FAQ names filet mignon, chicken cordon bleu, catch of the day and a vegetarian or vegan option. Premium tickets add dishes such as lobster or ribeye. You can pick each guest’s dish when you book or decide on board; see the full menu. If you have a dietary need, tell us in the booking notes and we will pass it to the operator when we confirm.
The show and the fireworks
The show is the centerpiece: sword fights, acrobatics, music, dancing and special effects, with comedy and an interactive story played out by the crew. The operator describes it as non-violent and suitable for young children. It ends with the ship anchored in front of the Malecón for a fireworks display. Fireworks are advertised as the finale, but like anything at sea they can depend on conditions, and the operator does not publish a start time.
If it rains
The ship has covered areas, including the main dining room, so a shower does not stop the evening.
Before you go
Both tours leave from the Puerto Vallarta Maritime Terminal; see departure location. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes, bring a light sweater or jacket for the breeze on the water, and carry official photo ID. More in what to bring.
Weighing it against the daytime sail? See day tour vs night tour.