'Tall Ships' sail into Duluth harbor

An armada of wooden sailing ships — the "Tall Ships" — arrived in Duluth today in grand style, entering through the canal and then docking alongside Bayfront Festival Park, where they'll be available for four days of tours and sail-aways.

Nine ships will be in port until Aug. 3. They are:

• HMS Bounty
• S/V Denis Sullivan
• Roald Amundsen
• Barque Europa
• Roseway
• U.S. Brig Niagara
• Pride of Baltimore II
• Zeeto
• Coaster II

Opening ceremonies are scheduled to begin at 5 p.m., followed by a performance of "Pirates of Penzance" by the University of Minnesota Duluth School of Fine Arts, at 6 p.m. on a Bayfront Park stage.

Organizers says logistics will be better this year than in 2008, when three tall ships came to town and visitors waited in long lines for the on-board tours. With nine ships this time, and better planning, the lines are expected to be more manageable.

There are some traffic issues, though, getting into Duluth and around the city because of road construction.

Tickets are available at Bayfront Festival Park each day, or online, or by calling (800) 736-8636.

Prices are:

• Multiday on-board ship tours: $17 for adults; $14 for children ages 5-10

• Multiday dockside viewing (no ship access): $12 for adults; $6 for children ages 5-10

• Single-day dockside viewing (general admission; no ship access): $6 for adults; $4 for children ages 5-10

• Pirate's Gold Pass: $202.50 for people ages 5 and older. This pass gets people front-of-the-line privileges, one T-shirt or tote bag, one parking pass for one vehicle, admission to the Captain's Lounge on the festival grounds, reserved seating for "Pirates of Penzance" opera performances and one ticket to the Party in Paradise.

Children 4 and younger get free admission.

Tickets don't guarantee access to all ships at all times. Multiday on-board tours will be limited to about 25,000 people.