The Star of India, the 1863 tall ship anchored at San Diego's waterfront, trades its usual daytime tours for a haunted after-dark affair this Thursday. Davy Jones Locker: Spirits on the Star runs from 7 to 10 p.m. on October 22, inviting guests 21 and older to wander the historic deck in costume while hunting for hidden clues tied to a mysterious cryptex.
A Halloween Night Built Around Maritime Lore
According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, the Maritime Museum of San Diego is hosting the Halloween-inspired adventure aboard the Star of India, with festivities including maritime legends, cocktails, deck-top dancing, and an interactive mystery hunt featuring hidden clues and the Davy Jones Cryptex. Tickets run $29 per person, and the event is restricted to adults 21 and over. The ship itself sits at 1492 North Harbor Drive in San Diego, where it remains among the museum's signature historic vessels.
The night leans into shipboard superstition, with eerie maritime tales, shipboard superstitions, and ghostly legends inspired by life at sea woven throughout the evening, per the seed facts behind this event listing. Costumes are welcomed and encouraged, though not required, giving guests room to lean into the spooky theme or simply come as they are.
Cocktails, a Cash Bar, and DJ Harbor the People
Music for the evening comes courtesy of Harbor the People, a San Diego-based DJ collective known for its #BringBackDancing events, who will provide the soundtrack for dancing on deck. The Union-Tribune notes that festivities include deck-top dancing to the sounds of Harbor the People alongside the broader mystery-hunt activities. Guests can expect a full cash bar stocked with beer, wine, cocktails, specialty drinks, and a signature mocktail, though food and beverages are not included with admission, as confirmed by KPBS.
Solving the Cryptex and Chasing a Raffle Prize
The interactive mystery hunt is built around hidden clues, keys, and codes scattered around the ship, all leading toward the Davy Jones Cryptex. Completing designated challenges may earn guests entries into special prize drawings, though finding a key or cracking the cryptex does not guarantee a prize outright. The first 100 guests to purchase tickets receive one automatic entry into a special Davy Jones' Locker raffle drawing, adding an extra incentive for early buyers.
Part of a Broader Pattern of Evening Events Aboard the Ship
Spirits on the Star fits into a wider pattern of after-hours programming the Maritime Museum of San Diego runs throughout the year, including concerts, themed cruises, and exclusive exhibits. The museum describes the Halloween event itself as a haunted night of music, cocktails, maritime legends, and mystery. It occasionally presents similar special evening programs aboard its historic vessels, including Bubbly on the Star, a Valentine's evening experience aboard the same ship featuring sparkling drinks, sweet treats, live acoustic music, and stargazing, billed as an intimate evening aboard the world's oldest active sailing ship. No additional dates are currently scheduled for that Valentine's program, though it offers a sense of how the museum reimagines the Star of India for seasonal, adults-only gatherings.
Guests planning to attend Thursday's event should note that the museum advises event dates and times may change without notice, encouraging attendees to check the organizer's website for the latest schedule. Questions can be directed to the Maritime Museum of San Diego by phone at 619-234-9153 or by email at [email protected].
