Pirate Ship Show and Games in Side: What the Crew Does
On the pirate-ship day the deck belongs to the animation team. Here is what they run, how a shy child can ease into it, and where the grown-ups fit in.
In short
On the pirate-ship day the animation team runs the deck: free face painting, a secret treasure map to follow, tug-of-war, a live pirate show and the hunt for the pirate Ferhat, with a foam party later on. All of it is in the fare. Children are the audience it is made for, though any parent who wants a turn is welcome.
Who runs it
Two groups share the ship. A licensed maritime crew sails it; professional guides and an animation team run the entertainment. That split matters to parents: the people leading the games are there for the games, while the boat is handled by others.
None of it is a drop-off arrangement. You stay with your children, and the animation team gives them something to do while you do.
The programme on record
- Face painting, free — the quickest way to turn a passenger into a pirate.
- A secret treasure map that sets the children searching.
- Tug-of-war, where parents are welcome on the rope too.
- A live pirate show on deck.
- The hunt for the pirate Ferhat, the character the children track down and capture.
- Music and dancing, leading into the foam party.
The crew decides the order, depending on conditions.
Helping a shy child join in
Not every child runs to the front. Let them watch the first game from your lap; the face painting is a quiet, one-to-one start that often does the trick. Tug-of-war is easier with a parent on the rope beside them. Nobody is made to take part, and watching a pirate show counts as taking part when you are four.
For children who prefer a mission to an audience, the Little Pirates treasure hunt may suit better — compare the two days.
Grown-ups in the games
The pirate-ship day is themed for children, but the record is clear that parents are welcome in the games and the swim. Tug-of-war is the obvious place to step in: a rope with a few adults on it turns into a contest the children remember. Grandparents who would rather not stand can still be the audience every pirate show needs, and a parent minding a baby can watch the hunt for Ferhat from a seat.
If you would like a calmer seat for part of the day, the guide for grandparents and parents covers the day from the grown-ups' side.
How the show fits the day
The entertainment is spread through the day rather than packed into one block. The river comes first, then the swim at the delta; the games and the show fill the deck around lunch, and the foam party takes over later. That rhythm gives younger children a breather between the loud parts.
Because the crew adapts the order to conditions, we do not print a timetable for the show. The day step by step gives the usual shape.
Photos during the show
The professional photos and video shot during the animations are sold separately, if you want them; they are not in the fare. Your own phone is welcome throughout.
The rest of the day — river, delta swim, lunch — is on the pirate-ship page, and booking takes a few minutes.
