Pirate Life Ottawa (COVID style)

Kids wearing masks in front of the Pirate Life ship

We’re exploring the city and many of its attractions during this pandemic summer and sharing what we’re experiencing. Last week we visited Pirate Life which is located by Mooney’s Bay via Hogs Back road and the kids and I enjoyed our hour-long boat ride with the pirates!

COVID-19 precautions

Pirate Life is taking COVID-19 precautions seriously and are currently keeping the maximum amount of participants on every boat ride to 10 people. Each family/group is kept apart in one of four colour zones, including specific seating and water canons to use. The seating didn’t keep us 6 feet apart at all times as we were back to back from another family, but it felt safe. Everyone on the boat wore a mask at all times, including the kids (I did think the pirates might be wearing pirate style masks but they were colourful instead). This was the longest my kids had worn masks (and for one, the first time) and they all did fine wearing them for the length of the cruise. Another family had on disposable masks for the kids and the kids all had drawn pirate moustaches and beards on to the masks which I thought was a great idea. They sanitize between trips and I watched the staff wiping down the entire boat as soon as we got back to shore.

Sailing down the river

I hadn’t taken part in Pirate Life pre-CoOVID, but I’m told many of the experiences are the same. They sang songs, they did dances, there was a treasure map and we had to try to find things on the ship as well as in the water and on the shore.

At ages 11 and 13, my kids were amused by the entire experience but this may be better suited to younger kids (I think my kids (who are drama fans) all want to be pirates as their summer jobs as soon as possible!).

Water canons - a big hit

The water canons were a big hit and folks in the river seemed to really enjoy getting involved with the tour. Kayakers, people on SUPs and on Seadoos all came in close enough to get shot by the water canons, some even dramatically throwing themselves into the water.

As we came back towards docking, another pirate appeared in a small motor boat and circled the pirate ship while everyone got to attempt shooting them with their water canons, which was a lot of fun for everyone.

Then everyone got to go on a short hunt for some treasure and take home their jewels and coins as a souvenir.

A few more bits of info on how it works

The Pirate Life ship runs four times a day, twice in English and twice in French and costs $25/person.

When I went there was construction on the road that my map told me to take ( 588 Hog’s Back Road) and I wasn’t sure if I should be driving down it. The answer was yes, I should and there was a parking lot at the bottom of the road right by the ship. The parking lot does have a pay machine but it wasn’t functioning at the time I was there so you may or may not have to pay for parking if you go.

At 10 guests at a time it felt very safe and checking it out is a fun family activity and surely will be helping to keep this small business afloat, literally, this summer.