Ahoy, matey! Have you ever dreamt of what it’s like to be a pirate? Have you ever wondered what it feels like to hop aboard a pirate ship and go on a swashbuckling adventure? If you answered yes to either of these questions, then it’s time you discovered Sunshine Scenic Tours.
At Sunshine Scenic Tours, we have a pirate ship called the Royal Conquest which we use to take our passengers on a cruise out on the open waters of Boca Ciega Bay. Our captains and crew members provide our passengers with an exciting cruise that makes them feel like they are real pirates.
Our pirate ship is a 46-foot, bi-level vessel that looks and feels like a real pirate ship from The Golden Age of Piracy. It can carry a maximum of 46 people, taking you on a thrilling pirate adventure with your friends, colleagues, relatives, and loved ones. With our ship, you will experience what it feels like to be a pirate for 90 minutes.
If you want to know the location of our pirate ship and where our cruises depart from, you’re in the right place. But before we discuss such things, let us first take you on a short trip to The Golden Age of Piracy. We have gathered a veritable bounty of exciting information about swashbuckling pirates and ships, some of which is present here.
What did a pirate ship look like?
When pirates ruled the seas, there was no such thing as a real pirate ship. Pirates couldn’t afford to commission or pay for pirate ships from a shipyard, so instead, they would opt for whatever was available.
Old pirate ships back then could include anything, from a canoe or a raft to a large frigate or man-of-war. When there was no other option left for them, pirates settled for small boats or canoes.
Where did pirates get their ship?
Back in the day, no shipyards were constructing ships specifically for piracy, so to get a ship of his own, a swarthy pirate had to capture one. Some pirates were crewmen aboard merchant or naval vessels who took control by mutiny. George Lowther and Henry Avery are two examples of well-known pirate captains who initially took control of their first ship by engaging in mutiny.
There were also those pirates who got their ships by cunning and mischievous deeds. One such pirate was “Calicojack” Rackham. When surrounded by Spanish warships and being bombarded, Calicojack secretly slipped away from his boat and, with his men in the dead of night, rowed over to a Spanish-owned sloop. The following day he sailed off in the Spanish sloop leaving the Spanish warships to bombard an empty vessel anchored in the harbor.
Some of the most historical pirate ships back then were:
- Queen Anne’s Revenge
- Adventure Galley
- Whydah Gally
- Fancy
- The Golden Hinde
- Cythera
- Quedagh Merchant
- Saladin
Where is our pirate ship?
Now that you know what was considered a pirate ship back then, where pirates got theirs and some of the most famous pirate ships, it’s time for you to go on an adventure. At Sunshine Scenic Tours, the Royal Conquest is located under John’s Pass Boardwalk. We are precisely at 140 Boardwalk Place W., Madeira Beach, FL 33708—this location is where all our tours depart from.
Are there parking spaces available in John’s Pass?
Here are some parking areas you can opt for:
Parking Garage
The parking garage has six floors and is the best place to park. It can be found in the southeast corner of John’s Pass and is the large building at the east end of Gulf Boulevard, just before you cross over the bridge. You can get there by entering John’s Pass at the south-most entrance. Take your first left, then take a right as you dead-end. You will see the parking garage immediately to your right.
Central Lot
The second easy-to-get-to parking area you can opt for is located east of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). This parking lot has nearly 100 spots and is located just a few steps from Gulf Boulevard. You can get to this easy-access parking space by entering John’s Pass at the south-most entrance and then taking a right. Don’t forget to pay the meters.
Beach Lot
John’s Pass Park beach parking lot is another convenient location with under-the-bridge access to John’s Pass. It can be found at the south end of Madeira Beach, across Gulf Boulevard from John’s Pass Village and Boardwalk. The lot has metered parking spaces right by the beach, a wooden walkway, public restrooms, and a covered picnic area where you can rent chairs.
How to Get Around
When in John’s Pass, there are tons of other beaches and tourist attractions you can visit, to the extent that it may be impossible to fit them all in just one day. The roads and public transportation are well maintained and clearly sign posted so getting around shouldn’t be a problem.
You can get to places as far south as St. Pete Beach and as far north as Clearwater Beach using the Suncoast Beach Trolley and Free Beach Ride. These two transportation options can bring you to the following places:
- South Clearwater Beach
- Indian Rocks Beach
- Downtown Clearwater
- North Redington Beach
- Indian Shores
- Readington Shores
- Madeira Beach
- Island Estates
- North Clearwater Beach
- St. Pete Beach
- Sand Key Park
- Bay Park
Hop Aboard The Royal Conquest!
With various transportation options, parking spaces, beaches, and tourist attractions, visiting John’s Pass is really convenient and enjoyable.
On our pirate ship, you will experience what it feels like to be a real pirate. Our captains and crew members dress up like real pirates and role-play to perfection, making your experience more realistic—and if you want, you can come in a pirate costume, too!
With our pirate cruise at Madeira Beach, FL, you get the chance to cruise around Boca Ciega Bay, play fun games on our ship, see breathtaking views of nature, and witness the diverse marine life in these blessed tropical waters.
