Pirate Ship Swim in Side: Where the River Meets the Sea
Most swims in the sea feel the same from start to finish. This one does not, and children notice it the moment their feet go in.
In short
On the pirate-ship day the ship follows the river down from the Side departure dock to the delta and stops there for a swim. Cold fresh water from the river and the warm salt water of the Mediterranean lie side by side, so one swim crosses both. The stop is in the fare; nobody has to go in. Little Pirates swims off the coast instead.
How the ship gets there
After the morning transfer from your hotel, the ship casts off at 10:00 and travels downstream. The river is the first part of the day's scenery: the banks sliding past on either side. At the end of it, the river opens into the sea, and that meeting place is the delta.
The full sequence of the day — show, lunch, foam party and the drive back — is in the step-by-step guide.
What makes the water unusual
At the delta two very different waters lie next to each other. On one side the river's fresh water, cold enough to make children squeal; on the other the Mediterranean, warm and salty. You can swim from one into the other and feel the line between them on your skin.
We give no temperatures, because none are on record and they change. The difference is the point, not the number. For a child who has only known a pool or the open sea, crossing from one water into the other is something genuinely new, and worth a photo from the deck.
Swimming it with children
- Stay in the water with your child; parents are with their children throughout the day.
- Let a hesitant child test the cold side from the edge before committing.
- Swimming aids are not on record; if your child needs one, ask us before you book.
- Have a towel ready the moment they climb out — the cold side is a surprise even on a hot day.
- Reapply sun cream once everyone is dry.
Non-swimmers and anyone staying dry have their own guide: swimming, and non-swimmers.
If you would rather not swim
Sitting the stop out on deck costs you nothing that matters. From the ship you can watch the children take their first cold-water gasp, keep the towels ready and guard the bags. A parent with a baby, a grandparent who prefers the shade or a child who is simply not in the mood loses nothing that matters: the show, the games, lunch and the foam party all happen on board afterwards.
If a pregnancy, limited mobility or a wheelchair is part of your family's day, let us know before booking: the operator will decide what is possible, and we give no medical assurance.
Delta or coast: the two swims compared
The delta swim belongs to the pirate-ship day. Little Pirates has a swim too, but in clear water along the coast, without the river. If the meeting of the two waters is what you want to show your children, that settles which day to pick.
Packing for it is simple — swimwear, towels, hats and high-SPF sun cream; the checklist has the rest. When you are ready, reserve your places.
