Updated October 2026: added the 2025 pirate ship sinking and current status of both companies.
⚓ Quick Answer
Yes. Two different boats have sunk off Puerto Vallarta, almost five years apart, and no one was hurt in either case:
| Boat | Date | Who was on board |
|---|---|---|
| PV Delice gay party catamaran | December 31, 2020 | Gay party guests and crew; everyone rescued, no injuries |
| Marigalante pirate ship | October 2025 | Crew only; everyone evacuated, no injuries |
PV Delice is still operating its weekly gay party cruise. The White Party PV organizer did not charter the 2020 boat, despite news reports at the time.
Planning a boat day? Our guide to gay boat tours in Puerto Vallarta covers today’s operators, what’s included and how to choose the right cruise for you.
🛥️ What Happened to the PV Delice Gay Party Boat?
On December 31, 2020, a catamaran operated by PV Delice, a weekly gay party cruise in Puerto Vallarta like Diana’s and Tamale’s, sank in the south of Banderas Bay near Quimixto. It was carrying gay party guests in town for New Year’s. According to the company, the weather that morning was suitable for sailing, but a sudden change in the sea brought a strong swell, and several waves hit the stern platform. The company said the sinking was not caused by mechanical failure.
Everyone was rescued with the help of local authorities, the crew and the Quimixto community, and there were no injuries. The catamaran was lost.
🎉 Was It a White Party PV Boat?
No. Several news reports at the time said the boat had been chartered by Jeffrey Sanker, the producer of White Party Palm Springs, who was in Puerto Vallarta for White Party PV events that week. That was wrong. Neither Jeffrey Sanker nor White Party PV chartered the boat. PV Delice is a separate weekly boat cruise operator with no connection to White Party PV; the sinking simply happened during one of the busiest event weeks of the year.
✅ Is PV Delice Still Operating?
Yes. PV Delice continues to run its gay party cruise in Puerto Vallarta. See the PV Delice Party Cruise listing for current details.
🏴☠️ Did the Pirate Ship in Puerto Vallarta Sink?
Yes, but it was a different boat, almost five years later. The Marigalante, Puerto Vallarta’s well-known pirate ship and a replica of Columbus’s Santa María built in 1987, sank in October 2025 after its bilge pumps failed in rough seas. Only crew were on board, everyone was evacuated, and no one was hurt. It had nothing to do with the PV Delice gay party catamaran; in 2020 the Marigalante was still sailing.
To continue its pirate tours, the operator, Pirate Ship Vallarta, brought its sister ship from Cancún, where it had run as the Jolly Roger. It arrived in Puerto Vallarta in December 2025 to be renamed Marigalante II.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Did a gay party boat sink in Puerto Vallarta?
Yes. The PV Delice gay party catamaran sank near Quimixto on December 31, 2020. Everyone on board was rescued and no one was hurt.
Did the pirate ship in Puerto Vallarta sink?
Yes. The Marigalante pirate ship sank in October 2025 with only crew on board, and no one was hurt. A replacement ship from Cancún arrived in December 2025 to become Marigalante II.
Was the 2020 boat chartered by White Party PV or Jeffrey Sanker?
No. News reports said so at the time, but they were wrong. PV Delice is an independent weekly gay party cruise with no connection to White Party PV.
Is PV Delice still running gay boat cruises?
Yes. PV Delice still operates its gay party cruise. See the PV Delice listing for details.
Are boat tours in Puerto Vallarta safe?
Thousands of visitors take boat tours in Puerto Vallarta every season. Book with an established operator, listen to the crew’s safety briefing, wear a life jacket on the water, and know that the port captain closes the port to small boats when conditions are rough. Compare operators in our gay boat tours guide.
📄 PV Delice’s Original Statement (January 2021)
Statement From PV Delice Of The Party Boat Cruise Sinking December 31 2020. PV Delice wishes to communicate the positive resolution of the vulnerable event raised on December 31, 2020, in relation to the sinking of one of our ships, where fortunately there were no injured lives or health problems to regret. The PV Delice Cruise company, thanks the competent authorities for their support, also the crew for their great professionalism, the media for keeping the citizens and of course our clients informed in a timely manner for their trust and understanding.
We are grateful for the support of our fellow pangas in the Quimixto community and the people who came to the rescue. As it was ruled, it was not a problem of mechanical failure of the boat, nor of the trip in progress, in the morning the weather was suitable for sailing. This was due to a sudden change in the sea, which caused a strong swell and in which several waves came to the stern platform, a matter out of our reach, and gave us rise to focus on our passengers so that they all came out alive.
Since reviewing all security, meteorological and operation protocols, we will continue to provide the cruise navigation service, quality and security that our customers deserve as we have been doing for several years. We reiterate our commitment to the safety of our clients and we will continue in the adventure of sailing in the most beautiful bays of PV.
EDITORS Comment: We are so happy that no one was injured in this unfortunate incident. Please note that many news articles are incorrectly reporting the sinking ship was chartered by Jeffrey Sanker of White Party Palm Springs. Please use this article as confirmation that Jeffrey Sanker of White Party PV did not charter the ship that sank December 31, 2020 in Puerto Vallarta. PV Delice who chartered it is a separate weekly boat cruise tour that operates in Puerto Vallarta that is in no way affiliated with Jeffrey Sanker and White Party PV.
Author: Tim Wilson
Wilson is the founder of GAYPV.com and www.gaybartour.com and has been the leading LGBTQ+ travel and lifestyle authority in Puerto Vallarta since 2005. With over two decades of local expertise, Wilson specializes in being a community advocate and leader for Puerto Vallarta , and local cultural insights that only a long-term resident can provide. He has dedicated 20+ years to advocating for safe, inclusive travel in Banderas Bay, establishing GAYPV as the region's most trusted resident insider.. His work has been cited by major travel publications, and he is widely recognized as a trusted insider voice on Puerto Vallarta’s vibrant LGBTQ+ scene.
