Jolly Roger smiles on these pirates

Arrr! If you yearn for a taste of a matey’s life this summer, set sail on a pirate cruise. Ships -- including miniature replicas of galleons and reconfigured tour boats -- are raising the Jolly Roger for short jaunts on U.S. waters -- as well as at a nearby lake, in the case of Time Bandit cruises of Big Bear.

The Time Bandit plies Big Bear Lake on 90-minute pirate cruises. The ship, with a crew dressed as scurvy pirates, is a one-third-scale replica of a 17th century galleon. It is named after the 1981 movie “Time Bandits,” in which it appeared. Passengers get a narrated cruise of Big Bear Lake.

The Time Bandit sails at 2 and 4 p.m. daily (additional cruises at 10 a.m., noon and 6 p.m. on weekends) through Oct. 31. Reservations are recommended. Tickets: adults, $15; children 12 and younger, $10; seniors 65 and older, $13. Contact: (909) 878-4040 or Big Bear Lake Resort Assn., www.bigbear.com.

Pirate cruises in other parts of the country:

Panama City Beach, Fla.: Through Oct. 31, the Sea Dragon prowls the Gulf of Mexico on two-hour cruises. Young passengers may be invited to steer the ship. Tickets: adults, $17; children 3 to 14, $13; 2-year-olds, $7; younger than 2, free; seniors, $15. Sunset cruises, offered until Aug. 31, $2 more per person. Contact (866) YO-HO-HO-1 (964-6461), www.panamacitybeachmall.com/seadragon.

Clearwater Beach, Fla.: Sailing into the Gulf of Mexico daily for two-hour cruises is Capt. Memo’s Pirate Cruise, which has been operating for 27 years. Children will see water gun battles, take part in a treasure hunt and hear pirate stories. Tickets: adults, $32 to $35 (depending on time of day); 13- to 17-year-olds, $25; children 3 to 12, $20; younger than 3, free; seniors 65 and older, $25. Contact (727) 446-2587, www.captainmemo.com.

Annapolis, Md: Capt. Billy Baye and his trusty companion, Grumpy Stumpy the Pirate Crab, host one-hour cruises aboard the Harbor Queen, a double-decker tour boat that sails on Chesapeake Bay, entertaining their audience with games, music and tall sea tales. Sailings daily through Labor Day weekend. Tickets: adults, $13; children 3 to 11, $8; 2 and younger, free. Contact: (410) 268-7601, www.piratesofthechesapeake.com.

Plymouth, Mass.: Lobster Tales offers daily one-hour cruises through Labor Day. Children can help defend the ship with water cannons and haul up a treasure chest concealed in a lobster trap. Tickets: $15 per person; children younger than 4, $10. Contact: (508) 746-5342, www.piratefun.com.