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Schooner Alliance
Boat Ride in Williamsburg, Virginia
Good-for-Kids Rating
BabiesToddlers & Pre-KSchool-Age KidsPre-Teens & Teens
Boat Ride
Schooner Alliance Description
A beautiful, 105-foot, gaff-rigged, three-masted schooner, the Alliance offers seasonal day and sunset sails on the James River. The staff expects and encourages help from the crew (your family) in raising the nine sails, which is no easy task. The view from the water -- the eighteenth-century homes in Yorktown, the tall victory statue, the battlefield -- stirs a child's imagination as they picture themselves approaching the New World for the first time. To the delight of children, dolphins can often be spied following along in the ship's wake.
Kid Tips
Babies: Strollers can be folded up and stored on deck; as with all sailing, the journey can be smooth, turbulent, or anywhere in between, so a carrier is a good idea, as is planting yourselves once on board.
Toddlers & Pre-K: The best seats to see the dolphins are behind the captain.
Pre-Teens & Teens: Young adults will relish the challenge of raising the sails themselves (with instruction from the staff, of course).
Planning Notes
- Head out. Use the restroom at the entrance to the dock before boarding; the one on board is small and can be tough for kids to navigate.
- Snack time. Snacks and drinks, including alcoholic beverages, are available for purchase on board.
Just the Facts
Hours: Sails are run April 15 to October 31, with departure times varying daily.
Fees: $20-$30
Recommended Time: 1 to 2 hours
