Time Bandit Pirate Ship (Holloway's Marina)
Big Bear Lake, CA
~$29 adult, $27 senior, $21 kids 3–15, under 3 free
By Simir Shah
★★★★★4.7(572 Google reviews)
What parents say
AI summary of 5 Google reviews — not a first-hand visit. How we write these
Book ahead. Reviewers say weekend sailings fill, though a midweek walk-up worked. Kids get water-cannon blasts and a turn at the helm during a lake tour with local history. Drinks and snacks are sold on board and charged for, which caught one reviewer out. Pirate theming is lighter than the name suggests.
The Time Bandit, an actual boat from the 1981 film, sails 90-minute narrated pirate-themed cruises out of Holloway's Marina. Kids love the swashbuckling storytelling while parents soak up lake history and mountain views. Reserve ahead on busy summer weekends, and bring a jacket — it gets breezy on the water even on warm days.
398 Edgemoor Rd, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315, USA
Hours via Google — confirm before a special trip.
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What visitors say
- Amanda OHalloran★★★★★
When the times comes for you to take a boat ride on Big Bear Lake, take the Big Bear Pirate Ship! Seriously....It is a pirate ship, don't over think it and just say yes. This was a huge highlight of our recent trip and can't believe we didn't prebook. This experience was entertainment, history, and tour of the lake all in one. The fact they had drinks and food was extra and reasonably priced. You will not be sorry you made this part of your trip. Captain Jack and First mate Greg really new how to run a great ship and have a good time. I wouldn't hesitate to book again and I would be lying if I didn't say my sister and I were thinking how we could talk our friends up here to book a private party on a pirate ship! So if you are looking for an adventure and some silly pirate fun, this will definitely fit the bill. The gals in the shop were great too! They made the whole process of signing up really easy and quickly. Considering we showed up 10 minutes before the next voyage this was a great plus and considered ourselves lucky. We went on a Thursday and do not imagine this would have happened if we had shown up on the weekend. So again book ahead and make a day out of it. You will not be sorry!
3 months ago
- Chris Haffer★★★★★
Our 4:00 PM pirate ship cruise on Big Bear Lake today (June 12) aboard Time Bandit was an absolutely fantastic family event from start to finish. The weather was flawless, offering crystal-clear views of the gorgeous mountain scenery surrounding the water. What really elevated the experience, though, was the top-notch crew. The captain and mate were incredibly engaging, seamlessly blending local history into the tour as they pointed out prominent lakefront homes and local landmarks. They kept everyone entertained with interactive "fire in the hole" water cannon blasts and great photo opportunities where we, as visiting deckhands, got to step up and take the helm. The absolute highlight of the voyage came at the end with a truly unexpected, magical surprise: a brief encounter with Noel Blanc, son of the legendary Mel Blanc. He treated us to an impromptu performance of a couple of his father's most iconic and beloved cartoon characters. Hearing those classic voices live on the deck of a pirate ship was a surreal, once-in-a-lifetime moment that our family will cherish forever. If you are visiting Big Bear Lake, this tour is an absolute must-do that goes above and beyond a standard scenic cruise.
3 months ago
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