BOARDED! A New Pirate Adventure Sets Sail in San Diego

Hidden treasure and thrilling pirate action awaits in the hilarious interactive show “BOARDED! A New Pirate Adventure,” now at the San Diego Maritime Museum.

Key Takeaways

Todd Sarouhan
Some of the links in this article are affiliate links. This means if you make purchases through them, I may be compensated at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.
BOARDED! A New Pirate Adventure Sets Sail
Swashbuckling Adventure
Historic San Salvador
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A Swashbuckling Adventure for All Ages: BOARDED! at the Maritime Museum

Maritime Museum in Harborview, San DiegoSmall Boat next to the USS Midway

It’s a pirate’s life for San Diego residents and vacationers alike!

You and your family can join the Maritime Museum of San Diego for hijinks on the high seas during “BOARDED! A New Pirate Adventure.” This brand-new theatrical performance is set to unfurl its sails this fall with monthly shows.

Roll Playing with Kids on the Star of India
Roll Playing with Kids on the Star of India

What Is BOARDED!?

BOARDED! is a family-friendly performance featuring costumed actors and exciting scenes on the sea, presented by San Diego Pirate Adventures.

The fun part is that you and your family can join a motley crew aboard the San Salvador in an interactive 90-minute show. Perfectly paired with the backdrop of the San Diego Bay, you’ll get wrapped up in the unforgettable pirate theatrics as you learn about life as a scallywag.

Submarine the Californian and the Star of India
Submarine the Californian and the Star of India

Dates and Times

Currently, two showings of BOARDED! are planned for the remainder of 2024. They run on November 30th and December 28th, the weekends after Thanksgiving and Christmas respectively, with performances at 10:30am and 12:45pm.

Additional shows may soon be scheduled for 2025, but we don’t yet know for sure - we’ll keep you updated if new dates are added.

Row Boat from the Star of India
Row Boat from the Star of India

A Personal Note about BOARDED!

I was lucky enough to participate with my son in a pirate activity at the Maritime Museum of San Diego that was very similar to the new BOARDED! event and I can say that we both really enjoyed it. The staff got the parents and the kids involved and I can’t stress enough how well done it was and how much I was impressed.

And I’d say that even if you won’t be able to visit for one of these 2024 performance dates, there are still plenty of reasons to visit the Maritime Museum of San Diego!

San Diego is full of maritime and naval history with some of my favorite highlights being the USS Midway, the Star of India and of course the Maritime Museum of San Diego!

Local Tips
Ahoy, mateys!
Make sure to arrive early to explore the historic Maritime Museum of San Diego. It’s packed with real pirate lore and incredible ships, setting the perfect mood for your adventure. Bonus: Dress in your best pirate gear—some shows reward the most spirited swashbucklers!

Sailing on the Historic San Salvador

One of the best parts of this San Diego pirate adventure is getting to watch the show aboard the museum’s reconstruction of the San Salvador, a Spanish galleon sailing ship from the 16th century.

The ship was originally unveiled in 2015 and has been a key part of the museum’s fleet ever since - and now it’s the stage of their new show, transformed into a pirate ship.

The Star of India from the Bay
The Star of India from the Bay

The Museum’s Fleet

When BOARDED! isn’t running, you can still see the San Salvador and many other historic ships at the Maritime Museum of San Diego. You can visit any time during the year!

I suggest grabbing a Go City San Diego pass with our discount code, GVSD5OFF, which nets you discounts on admission to the Maritime Museum plus the USS Midway, among other (non-nautical) attractions like the San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park.

And if you’re looking for a hotel that’s also along the waterfront, I suggest the Wyndham San Diego Bayside. The hotel is family-friendly, clean and right where you’ll want to be in the Marina area of the San Diego Bay.

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An Immersive Pirate Experience

Kids Learning on the Star of India at the Maritime Musuem
Kids Learning on the Star of India at the Maritime Musuem

BOARDED! is a show designed to be just as much fun for pirate-loving kids as it is for maritime enthusiast adults looking to add an extra experience to their Maritime Museum visit.

The adventure includes being sworn in and trained as a ship crew, learning key pirate skills like swashbuckling and swabbing the deck, and even escaping from the King’s Jail.

Ticket Info

Tickets for BOARDED! also include general admission to the Maritime Museum, so you can explore the fleet and see all the exhibits during your visit.

Pricing is $85 for adults and $35 for children 12 and under.

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Anchors Aweigh at the Maritime Museum

Row Boat with the Star of India in the Background
Row Boat with the Star of India in the Background

San Diego is filled with museums that combine education and entertainment, and the BOARDED! show is just one more way that the Maritime Museum is getting in on the fun.

If you have the chance to see this interactive voyage for yourself, I’d definitely recommend it. As I mentioned above, I’ve attended similar performances with my son and had a blast!

Either way, a visit to the Maritime Museum is well worth the price of admission (especially with the All-inclusive Go City San Diego pass) and joins other excellent bayside activities like cruises, sailing, and San Diego whale watching.

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