Our whole family really enjoyed our pirate cruise, and we highly recommend this adventure for any family visiting the Wildwood/ Cape May area! Our Captain and first mate greeted us on the dock, and ushered us onto the ship to begin our adventure, complete with our own pirate names. We were entertained by the crew, as well as our group were included in fighting off the ship "Pieces of Eight", yelling " Ahoy scallywags" as other boats went by, and locating the missing treasure. From age 6 to 84, we all had a wonderful time! read more

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[603] I've taken my child to the Dark Pirate Cruises a few times in the past few years. He really enjoys his experience on this cruise. Times are flexible and boats are never overcrowded. When you arrive you are greeted by friendly pirate/sailors and you can have a face painting design on your face. Once we board the children are included in a good storyline which basically has to do with treasure and X marking the spot. The boat is followed by bad pirates and their water cannons on the side of the boat are used by the kids to wet the speedboat next to us. They feel included and enjoy the entire experience. There is a new store they fixed up in the building where you can buy drinks and such. Make sure you dress the kids up in their pirate costume if they have one as it adds to the fun. I think parking is included? I'm not sure as we walked over. I'll definitely be back! read more

Dark Star Pirate Cruises - Boating Near Me - Wildwood Crest, New Jersey

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2nd year in a row and lots of fun. My son loves it. The pirates are great and really do a great job with the kids. It's a nice cruise just beware of the flies they bite hard!. My son went nuts over the treasure hunt and loved the water cannons. read more

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Such a fun time for the kids and the adults. We laughed and had fun. The cheesy jokes and all. It was so great and worth every penny!! read more

I can't lie - exactly one year before I was in Poland on a pirate-themed ride and the ship was absolutely enormous and stunning (including a bar which is always nice!) and a few years back we did the pirate adventure in Brick that was a lot of fun. So we're on the dock waiting and we see what looks like a pretty skimpy pirate ship coming in. "This is going to suck," I whisper to myself while my kids are already battling each other with their new pirate toys (and outfits). Well I was wrong. This crew here was the best of the bunch - they belong up there with Daniel Day-Lewis and (young) De Niro with their commitment to their parts. Kudos especially to "Wet Dog" who really gave 100% - including one kid that was too young and was basically hysterical the entire time and "Wet Dog" never stopped trying to get the kid to have a good time. It's very similar to the show out of Brick - including the water canons, finding treasures, having some grog, etc. But it's the crew - they make sure to keep the kids entertained as well as the adults (I was the object of their barbs and insults and loved every second of it). Bonus: in the front of the dock is a hole-in-the-wall shop and deli that had possibly the freshest calamari I ever had. read more

This was the perfect little adventure for our three year old son Benjamin to have on a Sunday afternoon along with his grandmom, my husband and me. Not too scary or edgy. The two "pirates" and navigator energetically talk to the audience on their level and made them feel a part of a story. It was great to see Benjamin react to them. Benjamin has talked about the ship, treasure, and the sea monster nonstop. I highly recommend this imaginative adventure experience. read more

This has become a tradition during our Cape May vacations. We usually vacation during our daughter's birthday week, and this is a special treat. It's great for kids and adults alike. The actors are a lot of fun and great improvisers. This is a very interactive show but even if you're normally not into that sort of thing, they somehow make it fun. Overall it's an excellent family activity to incorporate into your vacation. I highly recommend. read more

Took my 6 and 4 yr olds on Monday and had a wonderful time! The crew/actors were fantastic with kids and adults. You can imagine something like this could be a little cheesy for adults but it wasn't at all. The quartermaster "wet dog" was especially funny and talented--kids lived him and has adults chuckling too. I would highly recommend this cruise! read more

A++ Such a great experience! Our kids had a blast and loved every minute. The captain and Red were amazing! Very entertaining, we like how they threw in some adult humor into the mix. I highly recommend it. Went on a Monday and there were 4 kids, we booked tickets online a day before. I'm sure weekends are packed. We can't wait to go back! Thank you for an amazing time! read more

A must go for good family entertainment. The crew involves the kids and the kids have a blast. It was lots of fun for the adults as well. The money is well worth it. Everyone gets a complimentary cup of Pirates root beer as well. Definitely take the family on this fun adventure. Thank you crew of the Dark Star read more

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Dark Star puts on a great pirate cruise. We went on Friday afternoon with our boys, ages 7 and 10. My 10-year-old is right on the edge of thinking he is "too old" for this, but still had a great time. The cast and crew does a great job of involving everyone, even the tiny kids. There are jokes that fly above the kids' heads, but they made it very entertaining for all the parents and grandparents. It was a beautiful day and a great way to spend an afternoon. Come early to make sure your kids have time to get tattooed. read more

Dark Star Pirate Cruises - Finally got the map together. - Boating Near Me - Wildwood Crest, New Jersey

I'd give it 5 stars but without Mickey the captain, the cruise wasn't the same. Mickey is awesome. He entertains, is always smiling and keeps you safe. His knowledge is so broad of the area and boating in general. I had sooooo much fun when he captained the boat. This time? Not so much. The captain did not say but two words. Just wasn't the same without Mickey. read more

We had a great time. We took our daughter and our god sons and they had a blast. They must have lisented to the review to separate the children from the parents because they did. They work hard for their tips and were very funny. children were 2 3yo and 1 6yo. read more

This was my family's first time on the pirate cruise and it was absolutely amazing!! While coming home from the Bayview on Monday evening, we saw a pirate ship on the bay and a small boat going around it, squirting water. We looked online to see what this boat was and where it docked and went straight there to get information. Today, we went for the 6:30 cruise with my wife and 3 kids (2, 11, and 18) and my mother and law and her father. The crew made it enjoyable for everyone on the ship! The kids were given name tags at the beginning of the ride and the crew made it a point to address every child and let them have their moment to shine. They even got the parents involved! My personal favorite was "Wet Dog" who was very high energy and interactive with the kids. My youngest daughter is usually a little funny with new people (especially if they're in costume) but it didn't take too long for her to warm up to their inviting personalities! From face painting, to treasure hunts, stories and refreshments, it's safe to say that this cruise had it all! It was a lot of fun and something that I'm very glad we came across! We'll definitely be returning in the future!! Thank you again to the great crew and awesome experience!! read more

Dark Star Pirate Cruises - Boating Near Me - Wildwood Crest, New Jersey

This was our first time on the pirate ship and we had a great time. The ship crew was great and very entertaining..... They had both children and parents participate which was fantastic! My older son is autistic so we were very hesitant to take him at first however, I am glad we decided to take him. He participated with the activities and had a blast!!!! We will be back again!!!!! I highly recommend this for anyone with young children!!!! Every child leaves with a official pirate certificate and a piece of pirate treasure.. read more

Dark Star Pirate Cruises - Boating Near Me - Wildwood Crest, New Jersey

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Going to add to the good reviews! We went today with a 2yo and 3 adults. He was one of the youngest. The staff was absolutely amazing with him and despite being a little shy at first (it is a lot of activity!) he really warmed up at the end - a big part because the staff was so great!!! As an adult, I had a great time - the jokes and show interactions were done for both the kids and adults. Also, one of the people I was with is a fisherman and noted they kept the boat in a particular direction to keep the shade on us. I think that's pretty cool - it's the little details, you know? I would 100% take him back and would recommend going to everyone! (They also have a sunset dolphin boat ride with snacks that I'm dying to try!) read more

I had the pleasure of going on the Pirate Cruise today and it was great! The "pirates" were wonderful and really great with the kids, especially my son who was a little nervous the whole time. The ride was entertaining and enjoyable and I would recommend it to anyone looking for something to do with the kids! read more

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We had such a great time on the Darrrrrghhk Star! We took our son and daughter (2&4) and it was just so much fun! My Son at age 4 was reeeaallly into it! He was so excited to help raise the pirate flag, search for treasure and use the water canons on the smaller boat with the Pirate! The pirates on our boat were AMAZING!! They gave 100% efforts from the minute we opened our car door in the parking lot!! They were great actors that made it their mission for us to have fun and really get in to the spirit of the ship. I really recommend this experience... a great and beautiful ride on the bay for an hour of Pirate fun!!! read more

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From my 3yr old to the grandparents, we all had a great time on this trip. Fun, interactive, and worth a trip. I would highly recommend this trip, easy on the water and lots of entertainment. The crew did a great job connecting with every kid on board. read more

What a great day! I took my 7 year old great grandson and he had a wonderful time. He especially liked the pirate attack where the kids all got to participate! The crew gets all the kids involved. Planning to take the trip again next year when we'll take his little sister who thinks she's a pirate already. read more

This was a great time with little kids! The captain and quartermaster were funny and energetic and made sure to include all of the children (even the shy ones). We had so much fun and it was a good value (only $24 each). Be sure to bring money to tip the crew after the ride read more

Worth every penny. My kids were 6 and 3. Our 6 year old was the prime age. The 3 year old was a little young - but the crew does an amazing job of getting even the youngest and shyest kids involved. I can't say enough about how great the crew is. They are lively, energetic and downright funny. "Wet-Dog" Molloy and CeeCee were the best. Our whole family enjoyed the trip - young and old. The attention to detail was fantastic. This had the same quality, if not better, than what you would expect from a ride at DisneyLand. Rival pirate ships, sunken treasure, firefights, singing and (root)beer! One thing to note: The ramp leading down to the dock can be extremely steep depending on the tide. The crew was very helpful in helping my father and mother who have limited mobility navigate down the ramp. Be sure to wear shoes with good tread. read more

This is excellent for children. We brought an infant and 3 1/3 year old. The crew was excellent with our son. He was younger than the other kids but they did an excellent job appealing to kids of all ages! We did the 6:30 tour with a mermaid! We will be be back next year! read more

Dark Star Pirate Cruises - Tons of fun! - Boating Near Me - Wildwood Crest, New Jersey

Absolutely WONDERFUL experience! So entertaining not only for our kids, but it was nonstop laughing for my husband and myself. We were on the last sailing of the day, and the crew were just as fresh as if it were the first sailing. They involved every single child on the ship, and many adults too. Would absolutely do this again. We found a Groupon a couple of days prior to our sailing. read more

My cousins, my sister and I took our collective 8 kids (ages 11 to 4) on this cruise in the middle of July. And I do concur with the two previous reviews. It was a great experience and the kids were talking about it for days. The 'captain' and 'crew' really put on a great show! However, I'm writing this review hoping the owners take action on a MAJOR issue we experienced. At the start of the cruise you are offered a chance to take a picture with a pirate. At the end of the cruise you get to see and pay for your photos. Unfortunately, the young guy who took the photos and collected payment is a crook! We ordered 2 copies of the photos as my kids and my sister's kids took the photo together (so one copy for her and one for me.) After we docked, I walked up and gave him a 20 and over the next 3 or 4 minutes he wasted time chatting and confusing our photos hoping we didn't remember to get our change. When everyone left but me, he said "Oh yeah...you gave me a 20, didn't you?" Then he proceeded to flash a 5 and a 1 ($6 in change as each photo was $7) but he handed me only 2 one-dollar bills. Bottom line is that the company that runs the 4 associated boats of the Starlight Fleet is ruining their strong reputation when they associate with thieves like this 'photographer'. So I do recommend going on the cruise. The kids will have a blast and the Dark Star cruise even appears to have taken the advice of a previous reviewer on here by separating the kids and adults. But be careful with your wallet when it comes to the photographer on the pier. read more

It was an absolutely amazing time. We took our 7 and 3 y.o. on the 7 y.o. birthday on the 630 cruise and it was so much fun even for the adults. It was super interactive, funny, authentic and joyful. I would recommend to any and everyone from 2 to 100. My 7 y.o said it was the best birthday present he had ever received. Definately check it out! read more

definitely not worth 24$ a person. i'm not sure if we were even on the same boat as all of these other reviewers. the acting was horrible .. even my 5 year old thought so. we have done these pirate cruises before so maybe we have high expectations. it would have been a million times better had the boat traveled away from the dock more than .5 mile. read more

Took our 2.5 yo and 5 y.o. on the cruise. The crew definitely works for their tips. Both boys took a while to warm up, but the 5 y.o especially got into the act once the action started. It is worth checking out if you have a few extra hours at the shore. My two-cents on improvement... What I would have liked to have seen was more attempt to separate the parents and kids. Kids in the target demo seem to mostly stay near their parents (or the other way around). If the parents are banished to the seats in the back of the boat with the kids and pirates up front, I bet the kids would be more immersed in the action and the boat would feel less crowded. read more

We had a fabulous time going out on the Dark Star Pirate Cruise. We went on my son's birthday. The Pirates were very attentive to all the children (as well as adults!), but also sang happy birthday (in pirate) to my son! Lol. This trip was well worth the price of admission!! You get a boat ride, great interaction with the Pirates, a few surprises and an all around blast. The boat is very clean and the seas are very calm. Don't wait just We had a fabulous time going out on the Dark Star Pirate Cruise. We went on my son's birthday. The Pirates were very attentive to all the children (as well as adults!), but also sang happy birthday (in pirate) to my son! Lol. This trip was well worth the price of admission!! You get a boat ride, great interaction with the Pirates, a few surprises and an all around blast. The boat is very clean and the seas are very calm. Don't wait just go and be prepared for tons of laughter and a fantastic time for kids of all ages! and be prepared for tons of laughter and a fantastic time for kids of all ages! read more

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Had an absolutely wonderful afternoon today! Took four kids ages 3-16 and two adults. Everyone left with smiles on their faces and lots of stories to share in the car on the way back to where we were staying. Would recommend to anyone!!!! Love, love, loved it!!! read more

The guys were great. Very entertaining for my 4 and 2 year old. Just the right amount of time to be out on a boat with little ones. Get there early for face paint and better seats. read more

Wonderful cruise!! Well worth the money!! My nieces were 5 & 7 years old and had a blast!! The pirate crew was awesome.

If you are in the Wildwood area, don't miss this one~ it is a great time for kids and adults alike. We went with no kids and had a fantastic time. Great crew of 5 plus a scurvy pirate that attacks the ship while we got to shoot at him with water cannons! The crew gives it their all, staying in character the whole time and gets everyone into the action but you aren't forced to if you don't want to. AND you will search for and find treasure! HUZZAAH! The day we went, we were a group of 6 adults and 3 kids and the adults had as much fun as the kids. There is never a lull in the action including interactive times as well as stories, songs by the crew and just pirates acting like pirates! We got there a bit early and the crew was on the pier already in full character, and offering to paint a tatto or an eye patch on any kids OR adults that wanted them. We took lots of pictures and the pirates were more than willing to ham it up for photos. There is also a small shop where you can buy beverages and snacks right there and picnic tables. The parking lot is small, but there was a lot of street parking in the area the day we were there. read more

I took my 3 children on the cruise (ages 11, 8 & 4). I think their favorite part was the water cannons but they do a good job involving the kids in the show. I agree however that the adults should remain separate from the kids so they can interact better. We tended to "get in the way" when they were racing back and forth looking for "scallywags". I also would have enjoyed a bit more cruising time rather than sitting in one spot. read more

Awesome family fun! Great for the little ones. Crew is awesome. Purchased a deal through Groupon and it was well worth it! Bonus is kids got painted tattoo and a pirate patch included. read more

The Darkstar pirate cruise is a wonderful time. My 6 and 8 year old loved it. They have jokes for the parents and kids. Totally worth the money. Billy the Bull, Red Morigan, and Capt. Nathaniel Lucky argh great. read more

We took our boys ages 8 & 15 on the pirate cruise. The boat itself isn't as glamorous as some of the others I've seen. But we were quickly engaged with the lively crew. "Silky" was really good with the kids. The first half of the cruise was a little "slow" but the kids warmed up to the idea mid way. The water gun battle was a big hit. Once the music played & the kids did the limbo I saw smiles. My little guy was happy to bring home a piece of "treasure." He also loved his cup of "grog" (root beer). I was a little annoyed that he asked them for a second small plastic cup if soda & they told him "no refills". We spent $100 for the 1 hour cruise. You'd think they could spare a small cup of soda. We had fun on the cruise over all. They do a good job of getting everyone involved, even the grown ups. The boat goes on the bay (it doesn't actually sail) so it's SLOW and I barely noticed we were moving on the water. We wished there was more boating involved. I would recommend this for smaller children. Big kids might think it's a little uncool. read more

Very cute for the youngsters. 9&10y/o had fun but the younger kids seemed to like it more. The "crew" was great! A lot of fun, I do wish it had cruised more of the area. read more

My wife and I took my son (9), his best friend (8) and her 12 year old sister. We expected the kids to have fun but we didn't think we were going to enjoy it. We were wrong, everyone had fun. read more

A great activity to add to your vacation down the shore. We took our almost 5 year old and almost two year old; the 5 year old absolutely loved it and can't stop talking about the pirate cruise! The 2 year old was a little young to catch on, but still really enjoyed the sights and sounds. The crew really makes this memorable - they are fully committed to making it a great experience for everyone. They are great at working with all of the kids, regardless of age. I highly recommend the Dark Star Pirate Cruise! read more