- Sunset sails: Two-hour cruises timed to golden light and coastal views.
- Moonlight/full-moon sails: Evening voyages with music, stars, and romantic ambience.
- Holiday “Nights of Lights” sails: During the holiday season, the vessel is decked in lights and sails through the illuminated downtown waterfront.
- Wildlife-focused sails: Collaborations with marine biologists to interpret dolphins, manatees, and estuarine life.
- Private charters: Weddings, corporate events, birthdays aboard tall ship.
These offerings demonstrate how the schooner transitions from historical replica into vibrant experience economy, engaging different market segments while still retaining authenticity.
Operational Excellence and Crew Philosophy
The operational story of the Schooner Freedom is also part of its appeal. Captains and crew are not simply hospitality staff—they are sailors, educators, embodiments of maritime tradition. For example, Captain John and Admiral Sarah Zaruba sailed prior vessels, rebuilt boats, and instilled a family-run ethos into the vessel’s culture.
Their children and crew members often carry personal sailing backgrounds, and the organization emphasizes that “Freedom is not just a boat, Freedom is a labor of love!”
This personal, narrative-rich approach distinguishes the vessel from more generic charter boats. Passengers sense that they are participating in a story rather than simply purchasing a ride. The crew’s knowledge of sailing history, local ecology, and vessel operation becomes part of the experience itself. shutdown123