This blog is going to look at some of the real ships of Disney’s Pirates Of The Caribbean and also answer some of the common questions people ask about the ships used in the Pirates Of The Caribbean, including whether they are real ships or not!
Filming out at sea as always been a tricky task. From the natural movement of the sea to uncontrollable weather conditions. It’s no wonder so many classic sailing movies were filmed in water tanks on Hollywood backlots. Occasionally a film will come along striving for realism and authenticity, filming at sea on real ships. Master & Commander comes to mind, but with such realism comes huge expense. The film had a budget of $150 million, a huge amount for 2003. Such a huge budget was always going to be hard to make back. While the film went on to make $211 million, when you factor in other costs such as marketing, Master & Commander would have made a small but respectable profit.
That is why i find the first Pirates Of The Caribbean such an interesting story. Not only did industry expert think Disney mad spending $140 million on a film based off an animatronic theme park ride, many wrote the film off when it came to light Director Gore Verbinski and Producer Jerry Bruckheimer intended to shoot on location with as many real ships as possible. But it was a gamble that paid off with the first film, Curse Of The Black Pearl making $654 million at the box office. The franchise as a whole across five films has made $4.5 billion with more films to come.
Are the ships in Pirates Of the Caribbean real?
Yes, the ships in Pirates Of the Caribbean are real, but this comes with a caveat. They did use real ships in Pirates Of the Caribbean, but most the scenes from the film were large and elaborate sets. So you will see real ships in the movie in many scenes, but when it comes to scenes on-board, it’s almost always shot on a set that can be quickly changed up to then play another ship in the movie.
Here is a list of Pirates of the Caribbean ship names
- Black Pearl
- The Flying Dutchman
- Queen Anne’s Revenge
- Silent Mary
- HMS Endeavor
- Queen
- Dying Gull
- HMS Interceptor
Some of the ships used in the Pirates of the Caribbean are featured in more detail below.
The Real Ships Of Disney’s Pirates Of The Caribbean
Real Black Pearl ship Sunset used in Pirates of the Caribbean under full sail giving chase
Sunset (The Black Pearl ship)
Yes, the Black Pearl was a real ship. The Black Pearl ship in real life is called Sunset. And if you’re now wondering what type of ship the Black Pearl is, then in real life she’s a 109 foot propeller driven boat that had once serviced oil derricks in the Gulf of Mexico. However from the outside she very much looks like a tall ship straight out of the 18th century. During production of the Cures Of The Black Pearl, the set was build onto of a barge. While a convincing set was built and looked great on film the size of the deck was limited to the dimensions of the barge making filming a challenge.
For the second film Dead Man’s Chest a new approach was taken. The producers wanted a sea worthy vessel this time, so the Black Pearl was a real ship, but only in the first Pirates Of The Caribbean movie. It’s believed that the Sunset, aka the real Black Pearl ship is now in Hawaii.
The set for the Black Pearl was re-created on the decks of Sunset extending down to just below her waterline. From the outside she looked like a old and fearsome pirate ship, but under the shell she was still the same old Sunset, with the bunk space, engines and galley all being kept as they were. Eight months before the start of filming the work was completed in a dockyard in Bayou La Batre, Alabama. The new look Sunset was then sailed almost 2000 nautical miles to the filming location in Dominica.
From movie magic to real sailing
What often surprises people is just how much real seamanship went into filming these scenes — long ocean passages, working crews, and real navigation.
Those same skills are still the foundation of modern sailing today, whether crossing oceans or enjoying coastal waters.
Many people who love maritime films eventually become curious about what sailing is really like in the real world.
Some start by learning the basics on a hands-on beginner sailing course, while others jump straight into sailing holidays in iconic destinations like the Caribbean itself.
Real Black Pearl ship Sunset used in Pirates of the Caribbean in harbour
Lady Washington (HMS Interceptor)
A 112ft brig, lady Washington is a replica of the original 18th Century ship by the same name, built in Washington State, USA in 1989. She would be used in various media from film to television. Her first known appearance was as the USS Enterprise in the movie Star Trek: Generations. Being used in film and TV for many years she would end up plaything the role of the HMS Interceptor in Curse Of The Black Pearl.
For the filming, The Lady Washington sailed for 40 days from Long Beach California to the Isle Of St. Vincent. There is a wonderful documentary on the DVD for Curse Of The Black Pearl documenting the voyage, from the crew seeing dolphins, spending Christmas day in the Panama canal and her jib bow snapping off during a storm.
HMS Interceptor sailing in Pirates of the Caribbean portrayed by Lady Washington
HMS Bounty (Edinburgh Trader)
The HMS Bounty was built in 1960 by Smith and Ruhland in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, for the film Mutiny on the Bounty. She portrayed the notorious British Royal Navy ship of the same name. Since it was built specifically for filming, it was constructed with unusually large rooms. She was used in the second film Dead Man’s Chest as The Edinburgh Trader, a merchant ship destroyed by a Kraken.
When not used for filming, the Bounty was open to the public. Tours were conducted at Tall Ship shows and people could sail with the ship for a fee. The Bounty also recreated the voyage of the original ship. She was crewed by a combination of volunteers and paid crew men. While no experience was necessary to join the volunteer crew, they required some time spent working on restoration or dockside maintenance. On October 29, 2012, the Bounty sank off the coast of North Carolina during Hurricane Sandy. The crew was forced to abandon ship, and at least one crewmember was killed. You can read more about the sinking here.
HMS Bounty replica ship used in Pirates of the Caribbean sailing at sea and wreckage
If the real ships of Disney’s Pirates Of The Caribbean caught you attention. You can find out more about learning to sail here.
Why these ships still fascinate us today
These vessels capture something timeless.
The open sea.
The teamwork.
The sense of adventure.
While today’s yachts use modern technology and design, the feeling of sailing — wind in the sails and horizon all around — remains remarkably unchanged.
That’s why so many people who fall in love with maritime films eventually explore sailing for themselves.
Curious what real sailing feels like?
From learning the ropes on a beginner sailing course to experiencing tropical trade-wind sailing in places like the Caribbean, modern sailing makes it easier than ever to live the adventure these films celebrate.
Explore real sailing experiences, holidays, and courses with First Class Sailing and discover where your own sea story could begin.
FAQ: Real Ships in Pirates of the Caribbean
Were the ships in Pirates of the Caribbean real ships?
Yes, many of the ships used in Pirates of the Caribbean were real vessels. However, most close-up onboard scenes were filmed on large sets, while real ships were used for sailing and exterior shots.
Was the Black Pearl a real ship?
Yes. The Black Pearl was portrayed by a real vessel called Sunset, a former offshore service ship that was extensively modified to resemble an 18th-century pirate ship for filming.
Is the Black Pearl still sailing today?
No. After filming, Sunset returned to private ownership. It is believed she is now located in Hawaii, but she no longer sails in her Black Pearl configuration.
What ship was used as the HMS Interceptor?
The HMS Interceptor was played by Lady Washington, a 112-foot brig built in 1989 as a replica of an original 18th-century vessel. She has appeared in several films and television productions.
Was the HMS Bounty used in Pirates of the Caribbean?
Yes. A replica of HMS Bounty, originally built for the film Mutiny on the Bounty, appeared in Dead Man’s Chest as the Edinburgh Trader.
What happened to the HMS Bounty replica?
The HMS Bounty replica tragically sank off the coast of North Carolina during Hurricane Sandy in 2012. The crew abandoned ship, and at least one life was lost during the incident.
Were Pirates of the Caribbean scenes really filmed at sea?
Yes. Unlike many earlier sailing films, large parts of Pirates of the Caribbean were filmed at sea using real ships, real crews, and real sailing passages — a major reason the films feel so authentic.
Why do pirate films still fascinate people today?
Pirate films combine adventure, freedom, teamwork, and the challenge of the open sea. These themes remain powerful because they reflect real human experiences that are still very much alive in modern sailing.
Can people still experience sailing like this today?
Absolutely. While ships are now more modern and safer, sailing still offers long passages, teamwork, and a strong connection to wind and sea — the same elements that make pirate films so compelling.
