If you enjoyed Tybee’s Pirate Fest earlier this month but still haven’t gotten your fill of the swashbuckling life, you’re in luck.
El Galeón Andalucía is in town.
The only galleon-class tall ship sailing today, she is fresh from her starring role in NBC’s now-canceled summer replacement series “Crossbones,” starring John Malkovich as the legendary pirate Blackbeard.
After fighting rough seas Wednesday night, the 170-foot long, 500-ton ship made it into port at Rousakis Plaza on the Savannah riverfront late Thursday and will be open for tours beginning today.
Sponsored locally by the Savannah Waterfront Association, the El Galeón will be here through Nov. 2 as part of a five-month tour of the East Coast underwritten by the National Air, Sea & Space Foundation.
“El Galeón will bring the spirit of discovery and exploration to over 200,000 visitors on its nine-port sail from Ocean City, Md., to Fort Lauderdale,” said the foundation’s Bryan Lilley. “When you step on the ship, it’s like traveling back in time 500 years to experience for yourself what it was like to explore the New World.”
Five of the ship’s seven decks will be available for the public to tour. It carries an all-Spanish crew of 25 sailors, several of whom serve as guides to welcome visitors aboard.
Spanish galleons, used primarily for their cargo transporting abilities, were frequently bought and sold by Spanish and English governments during the 1600s and often taken over and converted into pirate ships in the rough Caribbean Sea waters.
The ship will be open for public tours daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., beginning today. Ticket prices range from $8 for general child admission to $19 for VIP adult express admission, excluding taxes and fees.
The foundation also will invite school groups to the El Galeón for complimentary tours and the chance to participate in the “Future Explorers Education Program,” part of the nonprofit foundation’s mission to educate youth.
“When the ship sails into a port, it’s like bringing the community a hands-on learning experience on the scale of a field trip to their port during the 16th century,” Lilley said. “We’re proud to be able to offer such an opportunity to public school students free of charge.”
In addition to the tours, the Waterfront Association and foundation will host several unique opportunities to tap into your inner pirate or immerse yourself in Spanish culture aboard the ship.
This weekend’s events include tonight’s “Tapas and Tango-a Night in Spain,” featuring a silent auction benefitting Bethesda Academy and Saturday evening’s “Party like a Pirate” rum tasting and concert.
The following weekend — from Oct. 30 through Nov. 1
– the galleon will become a haunted pirate ship, with events for both adults and children, according to Waterfront executive director Carrie Bligh.
“We’ll have a family friendly haunted pirate ship on Thursday night, coinciding with the “Pre-Treat on River Street,” she said, adding that Halloween night’s “Crawl-O-Ween Pub Crawl” and haunted pirate ship will have a distinctly adult feel.
“Whatever level of party or pirate you want, you’ll have lot of choices.”
“This is one of the most amazing ships I have ever seen,” Bligh said. “And Savannah will have the opportunity to experience it in a different way every night.”
For more information, including a complete listing of events and prices, go to www.riverstreetsavannah.com/event/el-galeon-andalucia-visit
Senior business reporter Mary Carr Mayle covers the ports for the Savannah Morning News and savannahnow. She can be reached at 912-652-0324 or at mary.mayle@savannahnow.com.
SHIPPING SCHEDULE
Following are the ships expected to call on Georgia Ports Authority’s Garden City and Ocean terminals this week. Schedules are supplied by GPA and are subject to change.
TERMINAL VESSEL ETA
GCT MAERSK OHIO Today
GCT MSC INGRID Today
GCT ISLANDIA Today
OT BAHRI ABHA Today
OT PARANDOWSKI Today
GCT NYK METEOR Saturday
GCT AMELIA Saturday
GCT CMA CGM FLORIDA Saturday
GCT MSC STELLA Saturday
GCT MOL MOTIVATOR Saturday
GCT MAERSK CHICAGO Saturday
GCT MAERSK GATESHEAD Saturday
GCT MSC BUSAN Saturday
OT TARAGO Saturday
GCT OOCL HAMBURG Sunday
GCT HACI FATMA ANA Sunday
GCT MOZART Sunday
GCT CLEMENTINE MAERSK Sunday
GCT NYK ROMULUS Monday
GCT HYUNDAI GOODWILL Monday
GCT NYK JOANNAMonday
GCT YM MANDATE Monday
GCT EVER LINKING Monday
GCT SABYA Monday
GCT MTM LONDON Monday
GCT ST LOUIS EXPRESS Monday
GCT ZIM TEXAS Tuesday
GCT OOCL KAOHSIUNG Tuesday
GCT APL QATAR Tuesday
GCT HIGH FIDELITY Tuesday
GCT YM MOBILITY Tuesday
GCT CAFER DEDE Tuesday
GCT RHL FIDUCIA Tuesday
GCT UASC DOHA Tuesday
OT HOEGH BANGKOK Tuesday
OT GRANDE BENIN Tuesday
GCT CMA CGM MATISSE Wednesday
GCT CONRAD S Wednesday
GCT HS BACH Wednesday
GCT MSC CHICAGO Wednesday
GCT YM SINGAPORE Wednesday
GCT DS KINGDOM Wednesday
GCT DOLPHIN II Wednesday
OT TYSLA Wednesday
GCT MSC VANESSA Thursday
GCT MSC JULIA R. Thursday
GCT RHL AGILITAS Thursday
GCT HANJIN MONACO Thursday
GCT ZIM VIRGINIA Thursday
OT STAR HERDLA Thursday