Know your Ships! Plus: Baby Dolphin Extravaganza!

Summer Time Dolphin Madness!

It has been a busy summer thus far here at John’s Pass! Not only are the dolphins going absolutely bonkers, making appearances and performing amazing acrobatic feats, their babies are having a blast, too! Our Marine Expert Kirsten Smail says that this has been one of the most active seasons she’s seen for dolphin offspring. Don’t miss out on the fun - book a dolphin excursion cruise today!

Know Your Galleon from Your Sloop

A pirate ship is one of the most iconic vessels to have ever sailed the seven seas. During the Golden Age of Piracy (1650-1730), a pirate’s ship appearing on the horizon spelled doom for an unlucky navigator. Now, picture a pirate ship - what do you see? Do you see a galleon, a sloop or something different?

Throughout history, ships and their Captains have changed dramatically. From wooden bows and dozens of cannons to slim and nimble, pirate ships evolved alongside the pirates that named them. But what, exactly, is a pirate ship?

A galleon is a warship which often had three to four masts, upon which billowing sails were raised, propelling the ship forward. The ships featured multiple decks and could host a crew of hundreds. A sloop, on the other hand, was also used for war, though it was considerably smaller. The ship was designed to be fast rather than oppressive, thus it’s slim design gave it an advantage when outrunning larger vessels.

Famous pirate ships such as Captain Black Sam Bellamy’s Wydah Galley, was a galleon, while infamous female pirate Captain Anne Bonnie’s ship was a sloop.

Want to learn more about pirate ships? Hop on the Royal Conquest, a recreation of a classic galleon, for your own adventure cruise!

The sun setting later and later, until … it doesn’t! Don’t miss out on a summertime sunset cruise while the sun is hanging high. Set out aboard the DolphinQuest for a tour of Boca Ciega Bay to catch a glimpse of our exciting local pod of Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins. Afterward, we head out into the Gulf of Mexico to watch as the sun sets on another beautiful day in Florida!

Sunset cruises during the spring and summer are later in the evening than our winter tours, so don’t miss out!

Don’t forget that you can book with us online or by
calling us at (727) 423-7824.