Time Bandit Pirate Ship Big Bear review for family cruises

Holloway's Marina describes Time Bandit as a one-third-scale Spanish galleon replica offering narrated sightseeing cruises from its marina.

Visitors repeatedly praise the costumed crew, stories and lake views. A smaller group mentions the boat's aging appearance and difficulty hearing parts of the narration.

Aboard the Time Bandit Pirate Ship

The Time Bandit Pirate Ship is a lake boat tour located at 398 Edgemoor Road, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315, within Holloway's Marina. This vessel, which the operator states was featured in the 1981 movie “Time Bandit,” now offers cruises on Big Bear Lake. The tour combines scenic views of the lake with historical narration and entertainment provided by the crew.

During the cruise, passengers can expect a blend of information and amusement. The presentation may differ from one trip to another due to a rotating cast of captains and crew members. For younger guests, a treasure-chest activity is available. Adults can enjoy a full bar service on board the ship.

Activities and availability

The Time Bandit Pirate Ship is primarily a spring-through-fall activity, with limited operations during the winter months. The operator also offers private charters, suitable for events such as birthdays, brunches, and other group gatherings.

The cruise is designed to be a relaxed outing, offering lake scenery and lighthearted commentary. It is noted as being well-suited for families looking for a lake activity.

The experience itself measures what the visit or activity delivers. It received a score of 9 out of 10. Visitors repeatedly praise the costumed crew, stories and lake views. The crew and narration are noted as strengths, and the tour is suitable for families and groups.

Value measures what you get for what you spend. This section received a score of 7 out of 10. The overall score is the weighted sum of four criteria.

Crowds and wait measures how busy it gets and how long you wait. It scored 7 out of 10. Some visitors report weak audio, which is a limit.

Setting and access measures the surroundings and how easy it is to get there and park. This criterion scored 8 out of 10. Relaxed lake scenery is a strength.

The crew, narration and lake scenery make it a strong family outing, with minor drawbacks in vessel upkeep and audio quality. Published season information conflicts and child-age wording differs across operator pages are limits.

A bit of history

The Time Bandit Pirate Ship is a one-third-scale replica of a Spanish galleon. Its construction began in the late 1960s and continued through the 1970s, undertaken by a father and son in their own backyard. Before its arrival on Big Bear Lake in 1998, the ship had a varied past. It previously served as a tour boat in Los Angeles Harbor and later operated at the Fun Zone in Newport Beach. During its final period on the ocean, it was even used as a private residence.

Ed and Kelly Kinsley purchased and refurbished the vessel. They modified it to accommodate more passengers before its relocation to Big Bear Lake. The move required 28 permits and two and a half days to transport the ship from Dana Point Boatyard to Holloway’s Marina.

Beyond sightseeing

In addition to sightseeing tours on Big Bear Lake, the Time Bandit Pirate Ship offers private charters. The ship can be chartered for various group occasions, including weddings and film productions.