South Street Seaport Museum announces a Launch and Learn: Chantey Sing and Sail on Sunday, September 14, 2025, at 4pm. seaportmuseum.org/pioneer-program-sail
Chantey Sing and Sail
Embark on a musical journey through New York Harbor aboard the 1885 Schooner Pioneer with the Seaport Museum! This Launch and Learn event offers a special sea-song sing-along, featuring historical songs that were used by old-time sailors to make their work more manageable.
As Pioneer glides across the water, you’ll be treated to a round-robin of catchy rhythms, all set against the breathtaking backdrop of unfurled sails and iconic New York landmarks. This is a truly immersive experience that lets you soak in the essence of the city’s maritime history. No matter your singing abilities, all are welcome to sign up and participate in this two-hour sail. Whether you’re a seasoned singer or simply a keen listener, you’ll have the chance to lead or request a traditional maritime work song or ballad.
Sign up today to join your fellow chantey enthusiasts and newbies as we set sail for a unique and unforgettable chantey sing at sea.
Schedule
Check In Begins: 3pm
Check In Ends: 3:45pm
Board: 3:45pm
Depart: 4pm
Return: 6pm
What is a Chantey Sing?
Old-time sailors on long voyages spent months living together in close quarters with no outside entertainment, no new people to interact with, a monotonous diet, and each day pretty much just like the day before. How did they keep their spirits up? Singing together! Work songs and fun songs, story songs and nonsense songs, songs of nostalgia and songs of up-to-the-moment news—all were part of the repertoire onboard. At South Street Seaport Museum, the chantey tradition lives on.
“Sea chanteys fit in beautifully with the New York tradition,” says Laura Norwitz, Seaport Museum Senior Director of Program and Education. “Sailing ships were a melting pot of languages and cultures, and chanteys and forecastle songs, along with hard work and shared challenges, helped sailors merge into one community. When we sing these songs today—some old, and some updated with up-to-the-moment lyrics—we celebrate our connection with our maritime heritage and also with the community we create by enjoying home-made music together.”
Enjoy More That the Museum Offers
Admission to the historic ships and exhibition galleries at the Seaport Museum is included with your sailing tickets; you may visit any time from 11am–5pm on the day of your sail. Museum admission tickets grant access to the 1885 tall ship Wavertree and 1908 lightship Ambrose at Pier 16 as well as all current exhibitions on view in the introduction galleries inside Schermerhorn Row located at 12 Fulton Street. Admission tickets also include entry to the new Maritime City exhibition in A.A. Thomson & Co. located at 213 Water Street.
seaportmuseum.org/admission
About the South Street Seaport Museum
The South Street Seaport Museum, located in the heart of the historic seaport district in New York City, preserves and interprets the history of New York as a great port city. Founded in 1967, the Museum houses an extensive collection of works of art and artifacts, a maritime reference library, exhibition galleries and education spaces, working 19th century print shops, and an active fleet of historic vessels that all work to tell the story of “Where New York Begins.” seaportmuseum.org
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