Leave the drama of a pirate’s life for Disney and Johnny Depp. The Potomac Riverboat Co.’s Pirates on the Potomac cruise is fun without the sea monsters, villains, cannons and peril.
In fact, the smooth 40-minute cruise is just the speed for preschoolers and young school-age children.
The ship docks at the Alexandria City Marina, located by the Torpedo Factory. The pirate theme starts early, with tour guide “Bespectacled Slim,” in full pirate regalia, handing out pirate gear. With eye patches, stickers and a Captain Hook-style hand hook, the children can pretend they are on a galleon.
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Really, they are still at the dock, but that doesn’t matter to Madison Kramer, 4.
“We’re all pirates,” says Madison, who lives in Fredericksburg, Va., and admires Wendy, who had her own experiences with pirates in “Peter Pan.”
“Arrrrrgh,” says her brother, Nicholas, 2.
The pirates tour began in May, partly in response to the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies, says Christopher Doss, the guide who plays Bespectacled Slim.
“On Saturdays and Sundays, we have a whole boatful of kids,” he says. “That makes it lots of fun.”
Mr. Doss admits that the Potomac River wasn’t exactly a hotbed of pirate activity.
“Historically, the pirates were long gone before Alexandria was here,” he says. “The pirates probably weren’t really here. It was unsafe to be so far inland. They liked to stay closer to the ocean.”
Without a local angle, Mr. Doss incorporates lots of local history and general pirate tales into the boat ride. He gives an overview of the Alexandria waterfront, how the city was designed and how Alexandria was an important shipbuilding spot and home port.
Next comes a little history of Blackbeard, the well-known English pirate who traveled the Caribbean in the early 18th century. Mr. Doss tells the story of Blackbeard’s blockade off Charleston, S.C., in 1718. Blackbeard looted five merchant vessels there, dumped most of his crew and then ran off to Ocracoke Inlet in North Carolina to count the treasure.
Blackbeard’s demise came later in 1718 in Virginia. Virginia Gov. James Spottswood made it his personal mission to eliminate Blackbeard, Mr. Doss explains. A crew sailed down the James River to find Blackbeard on Ocracoke Island, N.C. The crew succeeded in its mission — Blackbeard was shot and stabbed more than 20 times before crew leader Robert Maynard also ordered him beheaded.
“That marked the end of the golden age of pirates,” Mr. Doss says. “Legend has it that they put Blackbeard’s head on a pole, letting everyone know that the sea was safe from pirates. Legend also has it that the skull was stolen and turned into a tankard, which eventually came to Alexandria.”
The tour also tells of the rum trade in Early America and how enterprising new Americans — George Washington among them — began producing whiskey to have an alcohol industry that did not depend on the British-run trade from the West Indies.
The tour goes near the new and old Wilson bridges, and the guide points out the construction of National Harbor across the river.
Next comes some geographical information. Mr. Doss tells the visitors that the Potomac River near Alexandria is 200 miles from the Atlantic Ocean, yet is affected by ocean tides; that the water is 22 feet deep in the middle but as little as 1 to 2 feet deep in the channels.
The tour winds up back at the dock with Mr. Doss fully being Bespectacled Slim. He helps the young ones down the spiral stairway from the top deck, still singing one of his catchy pirate tunes. Most of the children are still humming as they walk down the cobblestone streets, looking for lunch back in the 21st century.
WHEN YOU GO:
Location: Pirates on the Potomac is located at the Alexandria City Marina, at Union and Cameron streets in Old Town Alexandria.
Directions: Take the George Washington Parkway south past Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The parkway becomes Washington Street in Old Town. Turn left on Queen Street and follow it to Union.
Parking: Metered street and garage parking are nearby.
Hours: Cruises are at 11 a.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, May to September.
Admission: Adults, $12; Seniors, $10; children 2 to 12, $6. Reservations are not necessary, but arrive 30 minutes before departure.
More information: 703/685-0580 or www.potomacriverboatco.com.
Notes:
The Pirates on the Potomac cruise is a summer offering from the Potomac Riverboat Co. The pirate action is mostly in the form of stories and harmless handouts such as eye patches and activity books, so it is appropriate for very young children on up.
The boat has two decks, and the upper deck has a canopy that offers protection from the sun.
m Soda and water are sold onboard.
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