If you’re a fan of the NBC summer series “Crossbones,” you’ve already seen her. The Spanish tall ship has been featured prominently in John Malkovich’s turn as the legendary pirate Blackbeard.
This fall, you can see her up close, as the Savannah Waterfront Association welcomes the Spanish galleon to River Street.
The El Galeón Andalucía will visit Savannah as part of a five-month tour of the East Coast, sponsored by the National Air, Sea & Space Foundation. The voyage takes it from Ocean City, Md., to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., with nine ports-of-call along the way.
The 170-foot long, 500-ton ship is the only galleon-class vessel sailing today. Five of the seven decks will be available for the public to tour. It carries an all-Spanish crew of 25 sailors, several of whom will 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.
“El Galeón will bring the spirit of discovery and exploration to over 200,000 visitors on its sail to Fort Lauderdale,” said Bryan Lilley, head of the National Air, Sea & Space Foundation. “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.”
The ship will be open for public tours daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. starting Oct. 24, and continuing through Nov. 2.
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.
“The foundation is proud to be able to offer such an opportunity to public school students free of charge.”
The Savannah Waterfront Association also will host two days of exhibits on Rousakis Riverfront Plaza celebrating local maritime history.
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 El Galeón. The ship also will pay homage to one of the most haunted cities when it will be transformed into a haunted pirate ship over Halloween weekend.
“This is one of the most amazing ships I have ever seen, and Savannah will have the opportunity to experience it in a different way each night,” said Carrie Bligh, executive director of the Savannah Waterfront Association.
The haunted pirate ship will feature events for both children and adults, Bligh said.
“So whatever level of party or pirate you want, you will have a choice.”
The haunted pirate ship will take place Oct. 30-Nov. 1.
Ticket information and a detailed schedule will be available online soon at www.riverstreetsavannah.com, Bligh said.
Among the events planned for the galleon’s visit are:
• “Tapas and Tango – a Night in Spain,” featuring a silent auction benefitting Bethesda Academy.
• “Blackbeard’s Treasure Hunt” through downtown Savannah.
• “Party like a Pirate” rum tasting and concert.
• Pre-treat on River Street,” featuring a family friendly haunted pirate ship.
• The 2nd annual “Crawl-O-Ween Pub Crawl” and haunted pirate ship.
• A “Farewell to Blackbeard” pirate brunch.
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 BOW VICTOR Today
GCT MAERSK MISSOURI Today
GCT ZIM CONSTANZA Today
GCT MSC SAO PAULO Today
GCT PAGO Today
GCT MSC MARIA ELENA Today
OT USS FARRAGUT Today
GCT ST LOUIS EXPRESS Saturday
GCT MAERSK KURE Saturday
GCT MAERSK VIRGINIA Saturday
GCT NYK DAEDALUS Saturday
GCT HANJIN HAIPHONG Saturday
GCT UASC DOHA Saturday
GCT HANJIN BALTIMORE Sunday
GCT E.R. SWEDEN Sunday
GCT NEW DELHI EXPRESS Sunday
GCT HS PARIS Sunday
GCT ATLANTA EXPRESS Sunday
GCT MSC ATLANTA Sunday
OT TAMESIS Sunday
GCT HYUNDAI GOODWILL Monday
GCT APL MEXICO CITY Monday
GCT NYK CLARA Monday
GCT MUSTAFA DAYI Monday
GCT OOCL KAOHSIUNG Monday
GCT AL ABDALI Monday
GCT ZIM ALABAMA Monday
GCT MSC MELISSA Tuesday
GCT HANJIN MONACO Tuesday
GCT APL TOURMALINE Tuesday
GCT NYK ROMULUS Tuesday
GCT MAERSK ATLANTA Tuesday
GCT NYK CONSTELLATION Tuesday
GCT YM SINGAPORE Tuesday
GCT PUCCINI Wednesday
GCT SHIPPAN ISLAND Wednesday
GCT ADRIAN MAERSK Wednesday
GCT CMA CGM JAMAICA Wednesday
GCT DOLPHIN II Wednesday
GCT DS REPUBLIC Wednesday
GCT YM MATURITY Thursday
GCT STADT GERA Thursday
GCT ZIM VIRGINIA Thursday
GCT CMA CGM MANET Thursday
GCT MSC ALESSIA Thursday
GCT CSAV LARAQUETE Thursday
OT OBERON Thursday