There were pirates on the island of Crete centuries ago, and they are still there today. Of course, over time they have become much kinder, more generous and even more caring. History repeats itself, and for many years a pirate ship in Crete has been waiting for its perfect crew! What are we talking about? We’ll tell you!
If you are looking for a change from the dry harshness of the beaches to the depths of the warm sea, a team of sea wolves and a ride on the pirate schooner “Black Pearl” or “Black Rose” are sure to please you.
You will visit the following attractions on this tour:
Now for the details. Firstly, this is a great opportunity to set sail from the Heraklion area towns to ride the waves aboard a pirate ship, stop at picturesque lagoons and swim in the open sea.
Secondly, this cruise will allow you to explore the coastline of Crete, as we will not only anchor in the picturesque bay of Saint George in the west, but also sail through the entire bay of Malia in the east.
Thirdly, a boat trip on the high seas is always a new experience and can be the perfect complement to a beach holiday in a hotel. By the way, you will also have a delicious barbecue lunch on the way!
All in all, it’s an easy and enjoyable boat trip from the Heraklion area villages, as the pirate schooner cruise starts around noon and lasts about four hours. You won’t be picked up too early in the morning – there will be plenty of time for a relaxing breakfast at your hotel.
Both the “Black Pearl” and the “Black Rose” leave the port of Hersonissos in the morning and head west. Saint George’s Bay awaits us at the resort of Saradari, where we will make our first stop. The bay is named after the chapel of Saint George, which is perched on a small cliff. The Cretan pirates will drop anchor and cook you lunch while you swim in the crystal clear waters.
After a swim in the bay and lunch, the pirate ships will set course for the west of Crete. They will quickly sail along the coast and the resorts of Stalida, Malia and Cape Drapanos. If the weather is good (and 99% of the time it is) we will make another stop in the bay of Stalida, where you will have time to swim. After this the pirate boat will return to the port of Hersonissos. It is important to note that the return is scheduled for 15:00, so you won’t be late getting back to your hotel and definitely be in time for dinner!
Boat trips are available from most of the resorts in the central part of the island and our excursion starts on a pirate ship from the port of Hersonissos – the port of Crete that modern pirates love so much!
If you want to sail from the resorts of the Heraklion area on the pirate ship “Black Pearl” or “Black Rose”, the price of the trip in 2025 is:
This tour is sometimes included in special promotions and sold cheaper for our followers – keep an eye out for discounts on Facebook!
Are you traveling as a big family or a group? Contact us in advance or visit our offices and we will try to make you the best offer.
You can book a cruise on the pirate ship “Black Pearl” or “Black Rose” from the resort villages of the Heraklion area online (see “How to book excursions in Crete”).
In 2025 you can take a cruise on the pirate ship from the area of Heraklion from 01/06 to 31/10. Available tour days – daily.
Please note that trip schedules are subject to change, including cancellation. This is extremely rare and may be due to weather conditions. For example, heavy rains at the beginning (April and May) or end of the season (September and October) and other force majeure situations. If there are any changes, we will try to let you know as soon as possible.
Please make sure that you have correctly identified your vacation area in Crete and read the cancellation and refund policy.
If there is less than 24 hours before the trip, please contact the manager to check availability before you make a booking!
Firstly, you can come to one of our offices where booking for all services is available and payment can be made either by cash or card.
Secondly, in case of online booking you can choose cash payment (which is available for some areas only) or you can pay online by card. In the case of cash, we will arrange a meeting with our courier in advance, who will bring the prepared documents to your hotel or villa and collect the cash. Please note that this option is only available for bookings made well in advance (days or weeks before the trip!). In case of online payment, you will receive the tickets by e-mail or WhatsApp – as you prefer.
Please keep all documents and tickets until the end of your trip!
It depends on the location of your hotel or villa. In some cases a tour bus will literally stop at the front door of the hotel and you just have to be there, in others it may be a short walk to the nearest pick-up point. This is usually a large central street, bus stop, square, car park, etc. – somewhere where there is no risk of the tour bus getting stuck on a narrow one-way street or stuck in traffic.
You will receive full details of the time and place of the pick-up with your travel documents when you make your booking. Please read it carefully before the trip.
Bring your swimsuit! In the middle of the day you will need good sun protection: sun cream, head cover, sunglasses, etc. It is a good idea to bring a bottle or two of water.
Halfway through the trip you will be treated to a barbecue cooked over an open fire. Lunch is included in the price of the trip.
This is less of an excursion and more of a boat trip on a pirate schooner, so there is no special tour guide during the cruise. Animation or music – yes, meaningful information and historical facts – no 🙂
This is a very spectacular trip. It is more about the sea, beautiful views and swimming.
Piracy is an international story, so all pirates speak English 🙂
Please note that this is an approximate tour schedule. Times may vary depending on traffic and pick-up and drop-off locations. Exact times will be sent to you along with other information when you make your reservation and specify your hotel.
| Schedule of the excursion program | |
|---|---|
| 09:00 - 10:30 | Departure from the hotel |
| 10:45 | Arrival at the port to the ship |
| 11:00 | The pirate ship "Black Pearl" sets sail |
| 11:00 - 15:00 | Boat trip en-route, including time for swimming in the sea and lunch |
| 15:00 | Return to the port |
| 15:30 - 16:30 | Return to the hotels |
| Duration and travel time | |
|---|---|
| Up to 2 hours | From hotels to the port |
| 4 hours | Cruise on the Black Pearl pirate ship |
| Up to 2 hours | Return transfer by bus to hotels |