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A Massive Hunt

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A Massive Hunt (or the Madagascar Special ) is the second episode of Season 4 of The Grand Tour - made up of Specials. It aired on December 17th, 2020, before its "planned" release on December 18th, 2020.

The episode saw the presenters travel across the Reunion Island in three performance pre-production cars before modifying them for a road trip across Madagascar in a massive treasure hunt.

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Synopsis [ ]

The intrepid trio find themselves back on four wheels for their latest adventure. Armed with sports cars, Richard, James and Jeremy think they are in for a cushy road trip as they arrive on the exotic island of Reunion and race on the world’s most expensive piece of tarmac. But a bizarre challenge propels them to Madagascar where they must tackle the world’s toughest road.

Production [ ]

The episode was filmed in November 2019 on the African island nation of Madagascar and on the French overseas territory of Reunion Island.

The special was expected to air in March/April 2020, however producer Andy Wilman, had contracted Coronavirus, having difficulty in breathing and "coughed his spleen out" but was on the road to recovery. The only parts that would be required was voiceovers and final edits which would've been made by Wilman. Due to this outbreak, the special was scheduled for release on 18th December 2020.

However, the trio surprisingly released it a day earlier after a short announcement on YouTube, with the description saying "All those marketing plans… wasted" in a jokingly manner.

• This is the sixth special episode of the entire show.
• This is the third special episode of The Grand Tour to be filmed in Africa, following the show's travels through Mozambique in Season 2 and Namibia in Season 1 .
• This is the first ever special of The Grand Tour, where not all of the cars have finished the journey and the second time for Richard Hammond . Travelling along the RN5 Hammond's Ford suffered a broken clutch on the journey, putting it out of action permanently.

Gallery [ ]

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The new Grand Tour is … actually quite charming? We’re as shocked as you are

By Thomas Barrie

A spectre is haunting The Grand Tour  – the spectre of Europe. The latest instalment of Amazon Prime’s Clarkson-Hammond-May supervehicle, subtitled A Massive Hunt , sees the heroic champions of political incorrectness speak a considerable amount of French. For the show’s traditional fanbase of Eurosceptic-at-best dads, it might all be a little uncomfortable, but for the rest of us, it’s a sign of a more mellow, good-natured programme that sees the ruddy trio at their best.

A Massive Hunt is just that (please, please don’t acknowledge the pun): a big treasure hunt where the lads are sent to search for a hoard of pirate booty allegedly buried by Olivier Levasseur, an 18 th -century corsair nicknamed “ La Buse ” or “The Buzzard”. In true Grand Tour  grand tradition, the gang heads to a remote corner of the world and churns sections of it up in a makeshift convoy of Cronenbergian custom vehicles. This time, our lucky locations are the Francophone islands of Réunion and Madagascar.

Réunion, which is almost 6,000 miles away from mainland Europe and our first stop, is literally part of France, as Clarkson quickly points out: it shares the same laws and tax system and counts as a region of the Eurozone. The Indian Ocean, apparently, was the first place a currency exchange involving the Euro ever took place. It is also, coincidentally, home to a new ringroad in the sea, 12km long and spanning the entire circumference of the island. Built at a cost of £112m per kilometre, even Clarkson is impressed by “the most expensive tarmac in the world.” And so, to introduce their cars, we’re treated to a drag race. As usual, the vehicles are chosen to reflect their drivers’ IDs: a massive Bentley for Clarkson that he wonderfully describes as “a suet pudding of torque and opulence”; a light, turbocharged Ford Focus RS for 50-year-old boy racer Hammond; an open-top Caterham 310-R designed in the 1950s for old man May. And they have a wonderful, if brief time in Réunion. “What’s this?” we hear you gasp, “ The Grand Tour and the EU luvving it up?” Yep: truly, Joe Biden could learn a thing or two about bipartisanship from this episode.

Directions come from Andy Wilman, the long-time Svengali producer behind The Grand Tour  and, before that, Top Gear . By now, Wilman is a character in the series himself; he’s fully Grand Tour canonical, like a sort of off-camera, vengeful God. Bringing in Wilman and acknowledging the camera crews around the central trio of presenters has been a masterstroke for The Grand Tour , because it punctures the pretence that everything we witness is anything other than a massive set-up. Of course they aren’t really going on a treasure hunt. Of course James May isn’t really decoding a centuries-old coded message from a pirate king. The whole thing is an excuse to do dumb stuff with big cars in a tropical jungle, like it always has been.

Nonetheless, after the appetiser in Réunion, Wilman orders the crew to Madagascar for the main course, to track down the legendary 220lb golden cross La Buse supposedly buried somewhere on the island. The cross, they reckon, would now be worth £100m – more than enough for Clarkson to achieve his dream of owning every farm in Chipping Norton.

A Massive Hunt is imbued with a different energy to previous Grand Tour episodes. It’s less fraught. There are fewer, if any, loutish jokes about empire or ladyboys, and more loutish jokes about James May being covered in mud in his open-top Caterham (Clarkson to May: “Your car looks like Teddy Kennedy’s car after Chappaquiddick”) and how Hammond is childishly obsessed with pirate lore. The whole thing is somehow… a bit nicer. Even the French barely get a roasting. Not unlike the Top Gear  of yore, it’s silly, but not needlessly provocative. Mercifully, Greta Thunberg isn’t mentioned once. There’s no way anyone got punched on this set, hot food or not .

The Grand Tour went accidentally woke with its last episode, set in Vietnam and Cambodia, as Clarkson encountered a bone-dry riverbed and defensively acknowledged what the rest of us accepted a decade and a half ago – that climate change just might be real . Here, the show does touch briefly on the fact that most Madagascans live on less than a dollar a day, but it’s otherwise a largely apolitical hour and a half. Instead, The Grand Tour  leans into what was always its strength: the physical comedy and dad-bromance of its cast. 

By Andrew Nagy

By Lucy Ford

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And so they drive, and drive, and drive. They take ferries and swampy roads. May gets covered in more mud. Hammond fixes caterpillar tracks to his Ford. If you ever wanted to see James May walk wordlessly and fully clothed into a swimming pool, or Jeremy Clarkson pull a banana tree onto himself, then deliver one of his portentious declarations (of a particularly bumpy road: “The Madagascans call this the R.N. 5, but there’s a better name… Hell ”) then this is the special for you. There is lots of charmingly bad improv comedy, like the three are doing panto at the side of a jungle road. And in a way, the pirate theme fits The Grand Tour ’s silly, old-fashioned rebel outlook. 

This is comfort food, nothing more. Your dad will love falling asleep in front of it on Christmas Day; it won’t spark any arguments. After all that Clarkson and his travelling circus have given the tabloids to write about in the last few years, what more do you really want?

The Grand Tour Presents: A Massive Hunt   is available now on Amazon Prime Video.

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James May Reveals He Felt “Hopeless” During The Grand Tour Madagascar Filming

The episode is set to air on Amazon Prime Video on the 18th of December. The trio is back again with their usual bantering with their modified cars .

A Massive Hunt promises a treasure quest for apparently hidden treasure that takes them to Madagascar as they race around the island in cars of their own design.

The  upcoming episode will  see the hosts argue with each other as tension rises between them as challenges become tougher than anticipated. In previous reports, they got worried that they might not survive the beautiful yet harsh environment of the East African island.

“It’s so rich in terms of flora and fauna and just the topography, the shape of the place, its animals and its history.

“It is an amazing place to visit, and I never forget as well that we’re very lucky.”

Both Clarkson and May agreed, however, emphasized that the island has one of the hardest terrains to navigate.

The area was up there, according to Clarkson, with some of the worst they’ve ever faced.

Clarkson supported Hammond’s claims on how difficult the challenges were at A Massive Hunt:

“Of course the backdrop is not gruelling at all because it was deserted white beaches, turquoise seas, and jungle all around us, overflowing with fruits and things to eat.

“It wasn’t the North Pole, it wasn’t a dessert but the going was really spectacularly tough.

“And I think every car fan will look and think how on earth could those sweet cars possibly have kept going in the way that they did.”

“But we don’t realise he’s getting it wrong because we’re not good enough in French to realise that he’s getting it wrong.

“So I’m afraid we’re our perfect ambassadors for England’s laziness with other languages that not one of us can speak another one properly.

“I can do a tiny bit of German and a tiny bit of Italian. I want to do a tiny bit of French just we’re pretty hopeless, I’m afraid!”

Watch The Grand Tour : A Massive Hunt on Amazon Prime Video this December 18.

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The Grand Tour Madagascar special: Amazon repairs children’s football pitch destroyed by the presenters

James may and richard hammond dig trench across children's pitch in pirate treasure search for the grand tour: a massive hunt.

Amazon will repair a football pitch in a poverty-stricken Madagascar town which was destroyed during filming for Jeremy Clarkson’s latest show .

Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May shot the new episode of their travel show The Grand Tour on the Indian Ocean island.

A hunt for lost treasure provides the backdrop to the former Top Gear presenters’ adventures in the Amazon Prime special.

In one scene Hammond and May are convinced that the pirate treasure is buried beneath a football pitch used by children in the town of Saranambe.

The pair excavate a large trench across the middle of the pitch, which the voiceover says is the only sports facility in the town.

They find no treasure, but the pitch is left unplayable with children falling into the large hole in its centre.

Asked if he had repaired the damage, May told i : “Not me personally but we did have it repaired. The football pitch actually needed mending.”

Clarkson: I’m not to blame

He added: “It wasn’t level in the middle so we filled it in and levelled it off. It’s actually a better pitch now than it was. If we left a massive hole then the children falling in it would have been buried alive.”

Clarkson, filming in another part of the island when his co-stars dug up the pitch, said: “I knew I’d be blamed by the media and they’d say, ‘Jeremy Clarkson did this’ but actually I haven’t.”

The Grand Tour: Jeremy Clarkson takes a swipe at Brexit in Madagascar Amazon Prime special

The presenter said the search for the treasure supposedly buried on the island by French pirate La Buse was a fool’s errand.

“I don’t believe in the whole pirate treasure nonsense. None has ever been found in entire human history. But I always thought it was an interesting trip to make.”

In the 90-minute episode, called A Massive Hunt , the well-travelled trio attempt to traverse “the worst road in the world”, a boulder-strewn dirt track overlooking the Indian Ocean.

Clarkson drives an armour-plated Bentley Continental GT, May chooses a Caterham with Hammond negotiating a Ford Focus RS on tank treads.

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The Grand Tour Presents: Lochdown

• Episode aired Jul 30, 2021

The presenters are celebrating the great 70s American cars they saw in TV shows, as they road trip around Scotland, creating chaos on the streets of Edinburgh and building a homemade floatin... Read all The presenters are celebrating the great 70s American cars they saw in TV shows, as they road trip around Scotland, creating chaos on the streets of Edinburgh and building a homemade floating bridge across the Hebridean sea. The presenters are celebrating the great 70s American cars they saw in TV shows, as they road trip around Scotland, creating chaos on the streets of Edinburgh and building a homemade floating bridge across the Hebridean sea.

• Phil Churchward
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• Richard Hammond
• 77 User reviews
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• Self - Presenter
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• Self - Driver
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• Trivia The pontoon bridge constructed by the National Pontoon Adventure Consultancy with some assistance from Clarkson, May and Hammond spanned around 1,000 feet from the coast near Griminish, North Uist to the nearby uninhabited tidal island of Vallay. The "spiky building" Clarkson suggests visiting with Hammond - supposedly the site of the fictitious town of Hammondsburg - is in real life Taigh Mòr, which in English means "Big House". The well-appointed Edwardian mansion boasted running water piped in from North Uist as well as fireplaces in every room. It was built in 1905 for Scottish textile manufacturer, historian and landscape photographer Erskine Beveridge, one of the heirs to the estate of an internationally-renowned tableware manufacturer. After his passing in 1920, the property was inherited by his son George, who drowned in 1944 while attempting to make the crossing from North Uist to Vallay at high tide. With no heirs, the mansion was abandoned soon after his death and its staff dismissed. In the three-quarters of a century since it has gradually become a ruin, and its story has been documented by Scottish-Indian writer, musician and academic Arun Sood, whose grandmother Katie MacNaughton was one of the last to leave the island.
• Connections References Cannon (1971)
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• Jul 29, 2021
• July 30, 2021 (United Kingdom)
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• Runtime 1 hour 30 minutes

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The Grand Tour ‘A Massive Hunt’ review: Madagascar trek is (mostly) worth the wait

Possibly born of pure annoyance from constant questions as to when it would finally appear, The Grand Tour’s second episode of Season 4 was at last released — and a day earlier than announced.

Titled “A Massive Hunt,” the special was shot last year, and until today, the only massive thing about it was the public badgering the hosts have endured as COVID-19 delays pushed the release date back by months.

This is the second installment of the Grand Tour’s new look, which ditches the tent home of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May and focuses on what fans have traditionally loved best — watching the three have caustic, cinematic motoring adventures against exotic backgrounds.

Shiny new toys

A Massive Hunt opens in the Indian Ocean, on Reunion, a French island off East Africa. Instead of the usual run-down crapmobiles the trio typically nurses across a far-flung finish line, they all have shiny new toys.

Clarkson is driving a V8 Bentley Continental, while Hammond is behind the wheel of the latest version of the Ford Focus, the RS. James May has drawn the inverse of Clarkson’s cushy Bentley, a Caterham V10R, a stripped-down lightweight racer. This appeals to his Reassembler side: “You even have to attach the steering wheel,” he says, beaming, as he… attaches the steering wheel.

We’re shown a 12 mile ring road built off-shore, like a rockslide-escaping Seven Mile Highway of the Florida Keys. It’s the most expensive road in the world, so of course the hosts conduct a drag race while the showroom shine is still on (longtime Top Gear /Grand Tour fans won’t be surprised by the first person to lose a speed contest on this engineering wonder.)

Still, this was initially disappointing, as part of the fun of Top Gear/Grand Tour is watching these millionaires battle their own pre-knackered modes of transportation, pushing through punishing terrain and staggering mileage as their cars fall apart around them. I should’ve had more trust; this is the Holy Trinity of Destruction, and these rides don’t stay commercial-ready for long.

If you enjoy the scripted bits of the Top Gear/Grand Tour oeuvre, this special is your huckleberry. The boys are going treasure-hunting, and their guiding light is a cryptogram reportedly left by hanged pirate Olivier Levasseur. May pretends to work on cracking the code as Hammond and Clarkson pretend to wait and for-real drink (the code’s alphabet is on Wikipedia, but its translated text is gibberish and remains incomprehensible.)

We are asked to believe that an entire retinue of camera crew and kit hang around for three days while this takes place, and that Hammond also waits quite some time before sharing pertinent treasure-hunting information.

They do, however, have the rare self-awareness to later wink at the viewer when they drastically modify their cars. For just as this begins to feel like a late Top Gear episode full of supercar poster shots — Clarkson crows about having a “proper, functioning, decent car” in a challenge for once — after it’s “learned” that they will take on the famously wretched roads of Madagascar, their beautiful new rides are adorned with winches, treads, and 4×4 light kits.

These vehicular transformations are credited to an amazingly “well-equipped” auto repair shop, and I do believe this is the first time it’s openly acknowledged that these challenge-related pimpings don’t take place at the trio’s own hands (I discovered the original Top Gear on my brother-in-law’s DVR, and as I watched stock cars magically transform into semi-trucks, I asked him, with great earnestness, if these three men were engineers in addition to car enthusiasts. He slowly, sadly shook his head.)

Atrocious roads

It soon becomes evident why the hosts enjoyed the first-ever privilege of starting from new: The roads, even the main roads, of Madagascar really are that atrocious. They wouldn’t have made it fifteen feet with the baseline of the already-exhausted blind buys with which they usually begin their adventures.

Mileage-wise, the crew doesn’t travel far, by Top Gear/Grand Tour standards, and the reason is apparent as the vehicles first get dusty and then half-drowned in foul mud. “The water’s like a bath that someone’s had diarrhea in,” May says as yet another wave of human excrement breaks over his head. The rock-strewn, deeply pitted roads they’re driving on look like what we in the West would use as a rough hiking trail (my husband mentioned that, and I mention that my husband mentioned that because he demanded credit.)

These men are their best when the fictional situation they’re in brings them into real trouble. They abandon one another, bicker over whether on not the place they’re heading actually exists, break down repeatedly, and enter and leave with general mayhem. As they labor for every mile of progress, sometimes on three wheels, the punishing manner in which they scrape their way down the road recalls the inch-by-inch progress of the Top Gear Polar Special.

A Massive Hunt is 90 minutes long, so there’s plenty of time for Hammond to have adventures with an auto-heating MRE and Clarkson to hurl a rotten coconut at some fresh ones.

Worth the price of admission alone are the views of Madagascar, not only for its spectacular beauty, but also the glimpses of its struggles as a developing nation. Clarkson states that most locals get by on less than a dollar a day, and in a culture accustomed to seeing Madagascar only through the Instagram filter of gorgeous beaches, entrancing biodiversity, and deep green tropical glades, the fuller picture is important to see.

Despite the worn faux premises and increasingly cringy ways in which the locals are inconvenienced (Hammond holds up an entire wedding party for two hours), the genuine misery on the face of May in particular is a reminder of the drastic physical toll these shoots must require. The gag setups are fake, but the strain they generate is quite real.

I’m at least a decade younger than Hammond, the baby of the trio, and as I watched yet more bits of vehicle fly off, leading to another winching scene, I lost count of the number of times I’d have picked my way to the nearest WiFi signal and first flight to running water. The distance was short, but the journey was long.

A Massive Hunt’s final scene is the usual Catskills-style gotcha, but the show does contain a somber Top Gear/Grand Tour first — yes, there are still room for those, and that’s what keeps us along for the ride when these three are in the driver’s seat.

The Grand Tour Presents: A Massive Hunt is currently streaming on Amazon Prime. 

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Stream It Or Skip It: ‘The Grand Tour Presents: A Massive Hunt’ On Amazon Prime Video, Where The Guys Hunt For Buried Treasure In Madagascar

Where to stream:.

• The Grand Tour Presents: A Massive Hunt
• The Grand Tour

Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Clarkson’s Farm’ Season 3 on Prime Video, Where The Curmudgeonly ‘Top Gear’ Presenter Raises New Gripes Down On His Farm

Stream it or skip it: ‘the grand tour: sand job’ on prime video, where james may, richard hammond, and jeremy clarkson drive diy rally cars through northwest africa, stream it or skip it: 'james may: our man in india' on prime video, where the wry 'grand tour' host makes his way across the subcontinent, stream it or skip it: 'fantastic friends' on the cw, where james and oliver phelps are joined by famous friends on adventurous trips in exotic locales.

In the second of a series of feature-length The Grand Tour specials, we come upon hosts Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond playing bocce in a sun-splashed seaside resort that looks like it’s in the south of France. It’s actually on the island of Réunion, which is a part of France but in the Indian Ocean. It’s a pretty cushy trip to start, but we know they won’t be there very long.

THE GRAND TOUR PRESENTS: A MASSIVE HUNT : STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

The Gist: There, the guys do what they usually do, which is trot out their car of choice to use throughout the special. Jeremy has a V8 Bentley Continental, “a big, heavy suet pudding of torque and opulence.” Richard has a Ford Focus RS, which he says “It’s light, 1500 kilos, and it’s clever.” James, quirky as ever, picks a Caterham 310R race car, which he admits is a “faff to get in.” It also has a deadman’s key on the outside, which Richard and Jeremy keep removing after James is fully buckled and zipped in. The three of them have a drag race on a new ring road France is building in the ocean, about 100 yards offshore.

As they wile away in relative luxury, “Mr. Willman” (executive producer Andy Willman) tells them that a massive gold cross, worth tens of millions of pounds, is buried somewhere on the east coast of Madagascar. They’re given a map and an encoded message, which James takes days to even slightly decode. When they realize they need to go over to Madagascar, which James says has the worst roads in the world, they decide they have to prepare their cars for the journey.

Jeremy armors the Bentley, and gives it the ability to go through almost a foot of water without stalling out. Richard arms his Focus with a front rollbar and replaces the wheels with small treads, literally “reinventing the wheel,” as he says. James puts bigger rear tires on the light-as-heck Caterham.

As they drive up the coast to the town that Richard swears the treasure is buried — he’s known about the legend since “forever” but didn’t tell his matemies — they’re at first dismayed that the roads are smooth and they souped up their cars for nothing. But then the roads get rough…. then rougher… and then so rough that they can barely be called roads. We’re talking narrow passes full of ruts and dirt and massive puddles (which James has to endure in the roof-less Caterham), testing the abilities of all three cars.

The treads on Richard’s Focus keep falling off, while Jeremy’s behemoth of a Bentley eventually blows a radiator part. Somehow, though, James’s Catherham does the best, despite the entire interior and exterior being caked in mud.

What Movies Will It Remind You Of?: Well, given who’s hosting this show, it should remind you of the four years of The Grand Tour , and before that, many, many years of Clarkson, May and Hammond on Top Gear .

Performance Worth Watching: We love James May because he’s so damned droll, all the time. Even when he’s being splashed with mud and excrement in the Catherham, he takes it in stride and with a quip. While Clarkson plays the puffed-up sophisticate and Hammond plays the adrenaline junkie, May is always in the middle, experiencing these adventures much the way we might, with some mild complaining and a wicked sense of humor.

Memorable Dialogue: Richard goes all Bear Grylls and makes a beach oven to poach a fish. He tries to make more out of it than it is. “Two hours from now that is going to be… a cooked fish.”

Sex and Skin: Would you want any on this show?

Our Take: Listen, if you don’t know what you’re going to get by now after 12 years of Clarkson, Hammond and May on Top Gear and four years of them on The Grand Tour , then you’re probably not a fan. If you came at this show from that perspective, you might appreciate the scenery as the hosts travel up the coast of Madagascar, through some of the roughest road conditions ever seen. But you might have your doubts about some things.

For one, do the haughty Clarkson, semi-daffy May and cackling Hammond really have the ability to modify expensive performance cars, like they claim? Of course they don’t; they have a slew of mechanics who did that work for them. Are they really roughing it on the beach? Probably not. Are they on their own trying to get these cars through the ruts and mud of these terrible roads? No, they have a caravan of production cars around them, though, as the program showed, they can get stuck just as easily as the hosts can.

No, the formula for The Grand Tour is pretty much set in stone; these three middle-aged Brits go on an adventure and try to prove that the car they chose is the best one for the trip. They are rude and blunt with each other, but ultimately help each other out of jams when needed. By no means, though, is the show any sort of depiction of reality. In a lot of spots, it felt downright scripted, or at least the conversations were guided. The show, and the specials, are meant to be an adventure road-comedy of sorts; given that we laughed a few times during the hosts’ difficulties in Madagascar, A Massive Hunt hit its mark.

But we’re also happy to see this era end with the three of them on the beach on “Pirate Island,” with Richard holding a chalice he found, disappointed that’s it’s “only” the Holy Grail. That’s about as goofy as we’ve seen this show get, and it feels like a good way to end things. But we’re pretty sure we’ll see these guys together again.

Our Call: STREAM IT. While the The Grand Tour’ s formula may be a bit tired, A Massive Hunt works because Clarkson, May and Hammond have been doing this together for 17 years, and they have each other’s rhythms down pat.

Should you stream or skip The Grand Tour: #AMassiveHunt on @PrimeVideo ? #SIOSI — Decider (@decider) December 18, 2020

Joel Keller ( @joelkeller ) writes about food, entertainment, parenting and tech, but he doesn’t kid himself: he’s a TV junkie. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, Slate, Salon, RollingStone.com, VanityFair.com, Fast Company and elsewhere.

Stream  The Grand Tour Presents: A Massive Hunt On Prime Video

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Go East! Go West! Offering a variety of sightseeing and cultural tours through Grand Cayman: 5 hours of amazing time!

Two hours on the Tuscany yacht, in the company of a collection of the finest and rare wines. One bottle gratuity.

Take a two hour costal tour back in time a few centuries as you watch our crew reenact pirate trials, sword fights, wage attacks on in-port cruise ships and other swashbuckling antics. Kids and adults alike will love helping hoist the mainsail, firing the canon and walking the plank! Don’t forget to bring your snorkel and swimsuit! We’ll be making a 40 minute swim stop so you can explore the spectacular reefs and explore the exotic sea life our beautiful island offers. Grown-up swashbucklers will enjoy our complimentary Rum Punch – while the wee-ones may enjoy the “rumless” version.

Natives and visitors agree the sunsets are part of the magic that is The Cayman Islands. Chase the sun on these two and a half hour coastal cruises. Choose between dinner or appetizer cruises. Both feature an open bar, music and breathtaking views the likes of which lifetime memories are made.

The Cayman’s National Festival, Priates Week, is being conducted this year from 6-16 November! This action packed week includes parades, street dances, heritage days and most importantly, “The Pirate Invasion of George Town Harbor,” on 8 November. For more information, check out the office site of Pirates Week www.piratesweekfestival.com. Space is limited on these prestigious cruises and restricted for “real” pirates who are willing to dress and act the part as we taked the Harbor! Contact us with your inquiry and we’ll email you with more information.

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Want to have REAL fun? The Jolly Roger is the perfect vessel to get it moving. Get many drinks on the house while the DJ gets you and your friends in the real mood.

Come with your kids on the Jolly Roger and they have the adventure of their life to become a pirate! But be aware – it’s not easy to deserve the title “Caribbean Pirate”!

It’s your birthday? The cake and wine are on the house! Come and party with us on the beautiful Tuscany yacht surrounded by turquoise crystal clear water that invites you to dive in.

Follow the setting sun at one of the most beautiful beaches – Seven Mile Beach. This experience remains unforgotten.

Where could you imagine a more memorable wedding party than on a classy, luxurious yacht? The Tuscany makes sure you won’t forget this time.

Enjoy a variety of selected fine wines in an environment that makes your taste buds enjoy every sip even more. Aside professional background information and stories by our wine connoisseur, every served wine is accompanied by a variety of delicious cheeses and other side dishes that complete the tasting experience.

We are from California, so my kids are not easy to impress by sun and beach. I was lucky to find the Jolly Roger. After the cruise they did not want to leave…

One of my finest experiences here in Cayman. I've spent four lovely relaxing hours on the yacht.

I had the best time of my life! Highly recommended!

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Grand Bahama Island

Dazzling beauty.

Grand Bahama Island is a haven of gorgeous white sand beaches, surrounded by crystal clear waters that stretch on for miles. Our excursions let you enjoy one-of-a-kind experiences in this tropical paradise that you’ll treasure for years to come. Pre-booking your excursion before you sail is the best option to guarantee availability for your preferred tours, as many excursions are limited and can sell out in advance.

Grand Bahama Island on The Paradise

Cruise to the Bahamas from the Port of Palm Beach, Florida on The Paradise. Set sail for tropical waters and picture-perfect island views while basking in the ultimate relaxation or indulging in fun-soaked onboard experiences. 

Explore Paradise

Bahamas Itineraries

2-night bahamas, 3-night bahamas.

Shore Excursions

Our Bahamas cruise ship excursions are one-of-a-kind experiences in Grand Bahama that you’ll treasure for years to come. Spend the day relaxing in the sun, swim with the pigs, get a close encounter with dolphins, take part in thrilling watersports, snorkel, and more. 

Open-Air City Tour

West End Stingray...

Pirates Cove Priv...

En Español: Pirat...

Pirates Cove Ulti...

Dolphin Swim

Dolphin Close Enc...

Swim with the Pig...

Shark Experience

Taino Beach Resort

Viva Fortuna Beac...

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Ultimate Kayak an...

Zipline at Pirate...

Jet Ski + Taino R...

2-Night Getaway

The Margaritaville at Sea Paradise is the only 3-day and 2-night cruise sailing from the Port of Palm Beach to Freeport, Grand Bahama Island.

3-Night Weekend

Our newest Bahamas itinerary gives you more of what you crave with a full day on the open ocean to splash, dance and play the day away.

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Le Pirate Island

• Explorer Cruises
• Le Pirate Music
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• Join The Crew

Book Direct for the guaranteed best price!

• Save 10% using the code PIRATELIFE when booking!
• Free breakfast
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*These are seasonal and not subject to the 10% saving

Le Pirate Island - "Paradise Found"

We invite you to set sail on a journey where you will be encouraged to refrain from using electronic devices on your very own Private Island.

Le Pirate has had its eyes set on her for some time now to bring you all our very own paradise found, the ultimate escape. Step outside of your Beach Hut and dive into the crystal clear waters, swim with all kinds of sea life right at your doorstep, meet new people, share experiences, sleep under the stars and go home wanting more.

Located only 1 hour from the heart of Labuan Bajo, join us for the day or spend the night as a Pirate, surely something you will not want to miss.

How To Get There

By plane to Labuan Bajo : There are several daily flights to Labuan Bajo. The taxi drive from Labuan Bajo airport to Le Pirate main office takes about 10 minutes. Le Pirate main office is in the heart of Labuan bajo, a stone throw away from the harbor. Please check here

Meeting point is at 09:30 am at Le Pirate main office. Where you will be briefed and escorted to our shuttle. Le Pirate Island is located approximately 1 hour by boat from Labuan Bajo harbor, a pleasant cruise onboard “Bikini” our shuttle boat.

Our free shuttle departs every day from Labuan Bajo at 10:00 am and returns at 2:00 pm from Le Pirate Island. If this schedule is not compatible with your flight, we can arrange a transfer with an additional charge. Please check with our sales team for more details.

Island Club Package

Why not indulge yourself and book our ISLAND CLUB package when you check in and save money during your stay? Only 325 K/person/night for our buffet lunch, 3 course dinner and unlimited access to all marine activities (snorkeling & canoeing)

*Our Island Club Package rates may undergo adjustments without prior notice due to the fluctuation of food supplies and logistical costs on our remote island.

Le Pirate Island Experience

“Le Pirate Island has limited comfort and facilities due to its location and logistics challenges. Water and supplies are brought daily from the main land and electricity is harvested from the sun. The 3G connection is unreliable. Our staff will do their best to assist you during your stay, however we remind you that Le Pirate Island may not suit every traveller’s expectation”

Beach Front

Meals & Daily Activities

Because Le Pirate Island has limited storage, electrical power and kitchen facilities, we have developed a great menu suited to this challenging environment.

Our famous buffet lunch is valued @ 165k and the 3 courses set Dinner @ 185k. Vegetarians meals are available on pre – order.

The A La Carte menu is available between 10:00 and 11:30 am and between 2:00 and 04:00 pm. Happy hours between 04:00 and 07:00 pm.

The snorkeling and canoe equipment are free of use for Guests purchasing Island Club Package. For those who book room only, the snorkeling gears are charged 50k / hour and the canoe is yours for 150k / hour.

More Activities

Come for the Day

Have a spare day in Labuan Bajo and no plans in mind? Why don’t you Join Le Pirate Island for a memorable day?

Daily departure from Labuan Bajo at 10:00 am, and boat return at 2:00 pm from Le Pirate Island. Buffet Lunch, snorkeling, and canoe included.

Island Excursion

Whilst staying at Le Pirate Island, you can book an excursion cruise.

Half Day cruises to visit Bird Island, available morning & afternoon trips (based on availability)

Let us know if you are interested.

Stay & Dive

Interested in diving? The waters around Komodo and Le Pirate island are teeming with underwater life, making it the perfect place to learn to dive or simply explore some of the best diving in Indonesia. We collaborate with Sea Creatures Diving to provide shore diving on our island and daily trips to the Komodo National Park on their comfortable speed boat.

Home » Things To Do » Florida Attractions » These “Arrrrrr” the Best Pirate Tours in Florida

These “Arrrrrr” the Best Pirate Tours in Florida

Last Updated on June 21, 2023

Ahoy! Florida has rich pirate history and fun boat tours for the whole family. These are the best pirate tours in Florida.

Florida has rich pirate history and fun tours for the whole family.

Black Pearl Pirate Tours, Marco Island

The Camarda Family’s lifelong dream has always been to create a fun family experience for you to remember.

They had already brought the tour to New Jersey, and when the Camarda family came to Marco Island, they knew they had to get the experience to the Gulf of Mexico.

The Black Pearl Pirate Ship is 60 feet long with a 20-foot beam, which offers plenty of room to enjoy your pirate experience or relax on their sunset cruise.

A full-service bar is also available for entertainment-filled sunset cruises. One of the best parts of the ship is the impressive 12 water cannons to fend off the unfriendly pirates!

Black Pearl Pirate Tours offers two journeys – the Interactive Pirate Ship Cruise and the Marco Island Sunset Cruise.

On the Interactive Pirate Ship Cruise Climb, you and your family journey on the Black Pearl for a pirate adventure!

Watch your children become little pirates as they get tattoos and pirate attire. Tickets are $25 for guests over the age of 3 and $14 for children under the age of 2.

You can relax and enjoy an authentic Marco Island sunset on the Marco Island Sunset Cruise. Tickets are $30 for guests over the age of 3 and $15 for children under the age of 2.

Pirates of Marco Island Address: 951 Bald Eagle Dr, Marco Island, FL 34145

Looking to create a great weekend getaway to Paradise Coast? Check out our article Adventures into the Everglades on the Paradise Coast .

Bluefoot Pirate Adventures, Fort Lauderdale

Established in 2011, Bluefoot Pirate Adventures is South Florida’s top-rated boating attraction. The entire crew of pirates bring you a swashbuckling good time.

The Bluefoot sails daily on a Fort Lauderdale Intercoastal Waterway pirate treasure hunt.

You’ll experience action, adventure, and even some magic. Make sure to check the website, as sail times vary from day to day, and reservations are recommended. Bring the whole family since all ages are welcome.

If you arrive 30 minutes before sailing time, you can deck out your little ones in pirate tattoos before you hit the water! If you have a pirate costume at home, dress up.

Tickets are $29 for guests over the age of 2 and $14.50 for children two and under. If you sail Tuesday – Thursday, they offer buy one, get one 40% off.

BlueFoot Pirate Adventures Address: 801 Seabreeze Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316

Looking to make it a day trip? Check out our favorite Things to do in Fort Lauderdale.

Buccaneer Pirate Cruise, Destin

Embark on a pirate adventure aboard the Buccaneer Pirate Cruise. This popular Florida pirate tour is on the HarborWalk Village in Destin.

You’ll get to hunt the Emerald Coast for hidden pirate treasure with adventure, excitement, and fun for young and young at heart.

The captain and crew will entertain your whole family with private-themed activities, witty banter, singing, dancing, and family fun.

Participate in pirate training, sword fighting, water gun battles, treasure hunt, and authentic cannon fire.

They operate by the slogan “Unlock the Treasure of Your Heart and Let Your Dreams Come True,” and make sure every mate aboard follows the desires of their hearts and never stops believing in their dreams.

The Buccaneer Pirate Cruise offers two journeys – the Buccaneer Pirate Cruise and the Fireworks Cruise (Thursday Nights from Memorial Day to Labor Day).

The Fireworks Cruise is $37 for adults, $28 for children, and $10 for children 0-3 years old.

Buccaneer Pirate Cruise Address: 100 Harbor Blvd Unit B, Destin, FL 32541

Captain Memo’s Pirate Cruise, Clearwater Beach

Located in Clearwater Beach, Captain Memo’s is a family-friendly pirate-themed day cruise. Their boat has had the same dock in Clearwater Beach Marina for over 40 years.

They’ve created pirate fun for children and many adults over the years. They pride themselves on being the only remaining attraction in Clearwater that caters to children and adults.

The two-hour cruise departs multiple times daily, depending on the season. Prices are $41.12 for adults, $39.25 for adults 65+, $34.58 for children ages 13-20, $34.58 for children ages 3-12, and $11.21 for children ages 2 and under.

If you opt for a champagne cruise, adult ticket prices change to $44.86 per person.

Captain Memos Pirate Cruise Address: 25 Causeway Blvd, Clearwater Beach, FL 33767

The Pirate Ship Royal Conquest, Madiera Beach

Ready yer sea legs and leave the landlubbers behind for this experience! The 2-level, 46-foot ship, the Royal Conquest Pirate Ship at John’s Pass, is made for an unforgettable pirate adventure.

This tour in Madeira Beach sails across beautiful waters for a family-friendly pirate cruise for all ages (salty dogs, cabin kids, and lil swabbies).  The crew leads everyone in pirate fun that everyone enjoys.

The 1.5-hour cruise departs daily from St. John’s Pass at 2:30 pm, 5:00 pm, and 7:00 pm. Prices are $40 for adults 21+, $38 for adults 65+, $32 for children ages 3-20, and $11 for children under the age of 2.

The Pirate Ship Royal Conquest Address: 140 Boardwalk Pl W, Madeira Beach, FL 33708

Salty Sam’s Pirate Cruise, Fort Myers Beach

Built in 2005, Salty Sam’s ship is 65’ long, 25’ wide, and weighs 79 tons. This boat can hold up to 100 hearty pirates.

During this 90-minute cruise, you can explore the upper and lower decks and the pirate pub, with snacks and souvenirs available.

Salty Sam’s offers All-Ages Pirate Adventures and an Adults-Only Cruise.

The All-Ages Pirate Adventure is an interactive comedy adventure full of pirate fun. This includes treasure chests, face painting, pirate games, dancing, cannons, limbo, and more.

Prices are $36 for adults 14+, $29.50 for children ages 2-13, and children under the age of one are free.

Special packages include $39 for the Little Buccaneer Kid’s Souvenir Package (includes child boarding pass, pirate bandana, eye patch, and sword).

The Adults-Only Cruise is for adults 21 and up.

This trip goes through Matanzas Pass to the Gulf of Mexico. Beware – this cruise is “ARRRRRR-rated” so know this before booking your trip!

Board the Pieces of Eight pirate ship at Salty Sam’s Marina for a 90-minute pirate show. Prices are $35 for adults.

Salty Sam’s Pirate Cruise Address: 2500 Main St, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931

Seadragon Pirate Cruise, Panama City

Last on our list of the best pirate tours in Florida is Sea Dragon Pirate Cruise in Panama City. This is an exciting 2-hour cruise that includes dolphin sightings, music, and pirate activities.

You can also purchase cold beer, soda, snacks, t-shirts, and souvenirs on board. 

Seadragon Pirate Cruise is located on Grand Lagoon in the Lighthouse Marina next to the Grand Marlin Restaurant.

Day tickets are $30 for adults 15+, $25 for adults 60+, $20 for kids ages 3-14, $15 for toddlers ages 1-2, and children under the age of 1 are free.

For a sunset cruise, tickets are $35 for adults 15+, $30 for adults 60+, $25 for kids ages 3-14, $20 for toddlers age 1-2, and children under the age of 1 are free.

Sea Dragon Pirate Cruise Address : 5325 N Lagoon Dr, Panama City, FL 32408

Pirate Tours Suggested By Authentic Florida Readers

• Black Raven Pirate Tours – 111 Avenida Menendez, St. Augustine, FL 32084
• Pirate Ship at St. John’s Pass – 140 Boardwalk Place West Madeira Beach, FL 33708
• Pirate Adventures of Cortez – 4110 127th St West, Cortez, FL 34215

Did you know there is a holiday called International Talk Like a Pirate Day ? It was created by John Baur and Mark Summers in 1995.

John and Mark have since earned the nicknames “Ol’ Chumbucket” and “Cap’n Slappy.” They thought up the holiday while playing racquetball on June 6, 1995.

Since this was the anniversary of the invasion of Normandy, the date was changed. International Talk Like A Pirate Day is now celebrated on September 19th.

Here are some recommendations for other places you won’t want to miss:

• Experience Authentic Pensacola (& Pensacola Beach)
• 27 Scenic Drives in Florida for Your Bucket List
• Top 10 Authentic Things to Do in Tampa, Florida
• 9 Best 2022 Fall Events in Florida
• Winter the Dolphin’s Beach Club Hotel in Clearwater Beach
• A Getaway to Culturally Savvy St. Pete
• Step Back in Time in Charming St. Augustine

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GRAND TOUR AROUND ISLAND – 16 Locations

• Island Sightseeing
• Audio Guide
• Duration 8h
• Groups Allowed
• Tour Guides
• Transport Included

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Diamond Head ( Amelia Earhart lookout)

Halona Blowhole

Sandy Beach

Makapuu Beach

Macadamia Nuts Farm

Chinamans Hat

Sunset Beach

Banzai Pipeline

Haleiwa Town

Dole Plantation

( Visiting 16 Locations in One Day )

Come join us on a circle island adventure led by some of Hawaii’s most knowledgeable local guides and experience breathtaking lookouts to capture mind-blowing shots that will last a lifetime.

Go sightseeing around the majestic countrysides of the island, indulge in the local cuisines at the world famous shrimp trucks.

Stop at various legendary surf breaks see wave heights of up to 60 feet! at Pipeline and Waimea Bay. Snorkel with turtles, spinner dolphins, and a wide variety of exotic marine life at a sacred nature reserve on the North Shore.

 Finally to sweeten things up we stop at the dole plantation to enjoy the delightful pineapple ice cream.

WHAT’S INCLUDE

• Visiting 16 locations with PROFESSIONAL TOUR GUIDE
• Waikiki Pickup 8am – Drop off 5pm (time may vary)
• Free BEVERAGES and SNACKS (non-alcoholic)
• Free WI-FI and PHONE CHARGERS to use in the Bus
• Free PICTURES & VIDEOS by request (download)
• Free SNORKELING GEAR provided

WATCH VIDEO

Interactive map.