Buccaneer Bob ‘n’ his raw sprig of a deckhand know a thing or two about Chicago arrrrchitecture.
Bob and his hapless helper star in a revival of the Wacky Pirate Cruise, an hour-and-a-half boat trip under the Jolly Roger that takes landlubbers along the shores of Lake Michigan and up the Chicago River for a lighthearted tour of Chicago highlights. Presented by Mercury, Chicago’s Skyline Cruiseline, the family-friendly trip mingles educational history with goofy humor and clean outdoor fun.
“It may be the first experience a young child has on a boat,” says Holly Agra, a spokesperson for Mercury. “It’s upbeat, fun and oriented towards children.”
Agra says kids will learn nautical terms and tie ship-worthy knots, recite the Wacky Pirate Oath and receive temporary tattoos, masks and a Certificate of Survival. Lads and lasses who make the trip in proper pirate garb will also win a prize.
Trained actors play Bob and the deckhand as they educate and entertain. Jason Garvett, a talent supervisor for Mercury, says there’s a lot of wackiness from the deckhand. “He can’t get the nautical terms right, so the pirate’s always correcting him.”
The cruise is aimed at kids 3-10.
Wacky Pirate Cruise
2012 dates: 10:30 a.m. July 27 and Aug. 3
Cruises depart from Riverside Gardens at Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive
Tickets are $23 ($21 with Real Pirates stub), $13 kids 2-12 ($12 with Real Pirates stub) Call (630) 690-7706 or visitwww.wackypiratecruise.com
