Pacific Heritage Tour

It Will Be Aboard Cabrillo's San Salvador.

SAN DIEGO, CA – Maritime Museum of San Diego, with an international reputation for excellence in restoring, maintaining, and operating historic vessels, announces their upcoming adventure at sea program. Since the completion in 2016, the Maritime Museum of San Diego has sent its galleon replica San Salvador on several coastwise voyages to partner ports and California's offshore islands, collectively known as the Pacific Heritage Tour (PHT).

San Salvador is a full-scale sixteenth century replica of the flagship used by Spanish explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo during the first European voyage making first contact with the Indigenous Native Americans here while exploring what would one day become the West Coast of the United States.

Meticulously constructed by the Maritime Museum of San Diego over six years and US Coast Guard Certified, San Salvador is one of very few early modern replica ships in which members of the public can glimpse through experience what seafaring beyond the known world was like half a millennium ago.

Represents Pacific Maritime History

The San Salvador vessel represents a time and experience in Pacific maritime history for adventurers young and old. Maritime Museum of San Diego has sailed the California coastline visiting Oxnard, Monterey, Morro Bay, Santa Barbara, San Pedro, the Channel Islands and Ensenada, Mexico. This is her first voyage since 2019 pausing PHT plans due to the pandemic.

Dr. Raymond Ashley, Ph.D., K.C.I., President/CEO of the Maritime Museum of San Diego, explains "We are pleased to resume the Pacific Heritage Tour, return to the Channel Islands, and partner ports for dockside visits and share this exceptional at sea experience with seafarers. We welcome the maritime history buffs who desire a unique and immersive "bucket list" type voyage. This year's plan allows visitors to explore San Salvador dockside in Santa Barbara and Morro Bay before setting sail for two spectacular voyages allowing the Maritime Museum of San Diego to host a small group of passengers aboard for a rare sailing adventure."

During each voyage participants will learn how to sail a galleon, steer with a whipstaff, visit prehistoric archeological sites, learn about the Cabrillo voyages, sixteenth century navigation, shipbuilding, and naval warfare, including actual use of the San Salvador's formidable battery of artillery.

Scheduled Public Dockside Tour Partners Include -

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, Santa Barbara

Free Public tours of San Salvador at Santa Barbara Pier

Saturday, August 5 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. and Sunday, August 6 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Morro Bay Maritime Museum, Morro Bay

Friday, August 11 – Sunday, August 20, 2023

Tickets $12.00 for adults (18-64), $10.00 for seniors (ages 65+, active military), $8.00 for children 4-17 and children 3 and under free.

San Salvador Dockside Tour Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Tickets at morrobaymaritime.org

As a unique commentary on 2023 Voyage of Exploration multi-night and day voyages, San Salvador will again embark with a group of world-renowned historians and educators who will give lectures to the rest of the ship's company, along with standing watch, steering, and sail handling with expedition participants.

Historians and educators present aboard include -

Dr. Raymond Ashley is President/CEO of the Maritime Museum of San Diego, and Captain of the San Salvador. Dr. Ashley has been Director of the Maritime Museum since 1995, curator of ships, contributor to the Museum's academic journal Mains'l Haul, and spearheaded the San Salvador project. Dr. Ashley holds a Coast Guard license for two hundred tons, Master of Sail and teaches History of Navigation for the Museum's Educational Program. Dr. Ashley has been knighted by the King of Spain for his contribution to Spanish seafaring history.

Dr. Jim Cassidy is an archeologist and expert on the prehistoric maritime migrations to the Americas. He is co-author of California Maritime Archeology and has published numerous articles on North Pacific maritime prehistory. Jim is a former Regional Archeologist for the U.S. and is currently archeologist for the Maritime Museum of San Diego, former Director of the Museum's docent training program, and a qualified crew for the Museum's fleet of historic vessels.

Susan Sirota, Vice President, Operations for the Maritime Museum of San Diego, joined the staff in 1998 and has led the Development and Education departments since 2001. Susan designed the Pacific Heritage Tour and passenger programming. Well versed in science and environmental programs, public outdoor and living history program development for the Museum, Susan will engage and educate guests with an island ecology and natural history program.

The Voyages

The first San Salvador voyage will depart Monday, August 21 from Morro Bay, California, call in to the Northern Channel Islands and return to Oxnard Saturday, August 26.

The second voyage will depart on Sunday, August 27 from Oxnard, call in to the Southern Channel Islands and return to San Diego, California Friday, September 1.

Each 6 day/5-night 2023 Voyage of Exploration is $2,259. per person. Meals and accommodation included. Space is limited. Early reservations are encouraged. Transportation to board or return from the vessel is not included. No sailing experience required. Guests must be twelve and up. Participants are expected to be able to climb unassisted over a Jacobs ladder and will do so before disembarking.

Pacific Heritage Tour Voyages Must Be Reserved. Choose Your Voyage Today!

Morro Bay To Northern Channel Islands To Oxnard

August 21 – August 26

Oxnard To Southern Channel Islands To San Diego

August 27 – September 1

$2,259 per person – dates are subject to change

Sign-up for the Pacific Heritage Tour: Voyage Of Exploration; call (619) 234-9153 ext. 129