There’s something irresistible about pirate cruises in the Caribbean, one of the best tropical vacation spots is right here in Saint Lucia we have our own history of plying the waves aboard authentically themed vessels on fun-filled days out to Soufriere and beyond. Seaspray Cruises ran a boisterous and popular day trip aboard the iconic Brig Unicorn for many years, picking up family groups and the young at heart from hotels and cruise ships to don eye-patches and talk like pirates while soaking up the sun and the splendid coastline of Saint Lucia.
Why are pirate cruises better? They just ARRRGH!
The Black Magic, in Patois Maji Nwe, is Seaspray’s latest pirate ship, and boy does it deliver a voyage to remember, as TT found out on a Friday Sunset Cruise one particularly special evening. The silhouette of her tall masts and unfurled sails had been seen in the horizon and on the docks as she was prepared to launch this season, so we were excited to finally get a chance to visit Maji Nwe and check out her pirate crew.
Arriving at 4.30pm to the gentle strains of a steel band on the rear deck, guests discover that the island’s latest pirate ship is pretty impressive and imposing, rising up from the dock to three storeys topped by a skyscraper of ropes and masts. With comfortable decks fore and aft for passengers to hang out and take in the view, and a sheltered mid-deck with more seating and a friendly bar, Black Magic is a spacious and cleverly laid out vessel, to be enjoyed from every possible angle from the dockside marina views to the hope of a green flash during the flaming sunset.
Keep Calm and say ARRRGH!
The team at Seaspray Cruises have left no detail undone, from the costumed deckhands scurrying up the rigging to the captain’s ruffled shirt and plumed tricorn hat, and there is a feeling of “showtime” as the ship sets sail around 5pm for the open sea in Rodney Bay and north of Pigeon Island. The golden glow of the late afternoon deepens to blood red and vibrant pink if the sun decides to cooperate, which on that Friday evening was thankfully the case.
With Rum Punch flowing and a few classic Bob Marley tunes in the background, the Black Magic is a wonderful pirate lime, and the ship itself is genius in design. The aged timber decks and nostalgic maritime details make it feel like a film set, if not the real McCoy! The cannon fires off at a nearby catamaran and raises a cheer from both sides; delicious hot finger foods are served and dancing ends the party led by the Maji Nwe crew The friendly-not-fierce pirates are very attentive and nothing is too much trouble as the dramatic dusk slips into twilight and the good ship sails back to IGY Boat Yard to tie up for the night.
To err is Human, to ARRRGH is Pirate!
If you want to really get in the mood for a Sunset Cruise aboard the Black Magic, we have some pirate lingo which might just help!
Jolly Roger – The pirate’s flag with white skull and crossbones over a black background.
Ahoy, me Hearties! – “Hello, my friends!”
Avast ye! – “Stop and check this out!”
Hang ‘im from the yardarm – Punishment of those captured in battle.
Hornswaggle – To defraud or cheat out of money or belongings
Poop deck – The part of the ship farthest to the back. This is not the bathroom.
Savvy? Means “Do you understand and do you agree?
Scallywag – Mild insult akin to rapscallion or rogue.
Shiver me timbers! – Comparable to “Holy Crap!”
Son of a Biscuit Eater – An insult directed towards someone you don’t like.
Splice the mainbrace! – “Give the crew a drink!”
A Pirate’s favorite movie is rated ARRRGH!
During the filming of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, a certain Johnny Depp has sometimes been seen on Saint Lucian shores en route to locations in St Vincent and the Grenadines. But never did he turn up on a pirate sunset cruise decked out as the irresistibly outrageous Captain Jack Sparrow. At least not until September 2015, when he strode along the dock and hopped aboard the Maji Nwe that Friday afternoon, complete with irie-pirate locs, braided beard, leather waistcoat and sexy smokey eye makeup.
Or that’s what the excited passengers thought as the movie world’s most famous pirate anti-hero mingled among them, smiling, chatting and posing for dozens of photos, and as you can see, who could blame them?
It took a while before the star-struck sunset cruise crowd realised they were not blessed by the great pirate Depp himself, but were in the company of a brilliant Jack lookalike, Jason Walker from Atlanta, Georgia. His costume was impeccable, down to the wooden-handled pistol in his belt and the scruffy leather boots, but it was his incredible resemblance to the actor himself that was so remarkable, and dozens of excited ladies would have told you so on the night!
Life’s pretty good, and why wouldn’t it be? I’m a pirate, after all. – Johnny Depp
So who is this pirate doppelganger, and why did he choose to spice up the lives of sunset cruisers that particular Pirate Friday? Well, the interesting Mr. Walker is a HR professional with Habitat for Humanity during the day, and at nights he is a professional Johnny Depp lookalike, playing parties and corporate functions as the rum-swilling, womanising Captain Jack Sparrow, as well as Depp’s sweet but creepy Willy Wonka from the Chocolate Factory and the zany Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland.
The Atlanta-based performer and impersonator is blessed with one of the world’s most recognisable faces: Jason is simply the spitting image of Hollywood superstar Johnny Depp. He has been compared to the actor since college and has impersonated him for years so turning the similarities into a business gave Jason a passion with an income.
Visiting Saint Lucia for the second time, Jason and his family were delighted to step onboard Maji Nwe on one of its first pirate cruises and the rest, as they say, is history.
Well, at least vacation history for the passengers and crew that enjoyed “the day they almost caught Captain Jack Sparrow.”