Welcome Aboard
AMARA ZEE
A New Cultural Landmark for Jacksonville's Waterfront.
Preserving maritime heritage. Inspiring future generations.
A New Cultural Landmark for Jacksonville's Waterfront
A one-of-a-kind venue and historic treasure that has recently chosen Jacksonville as its new home — the tall ship Amara Zee. A cultural asset unlike anything else on the East Coast.
The World's Only Tall-Ship Theatre
The Amara Zee is a 100-foot tall ship with an extraordinary past. For nearly 30 years, it has traveled the world as the only tall-ship theatre on the planet, carrying a crew of troubadours who are equal parts sailors, actors, musicians, and acrobats.
Having completed a months-long journey from Vancouver, British Columbia — transported aboard a cargo ship — the Amara Zee is now homeported in Jacksonville, Florida. Its arrival marks the beginning of a new chapter: one that blends maritime heritage, performance art, and community engagement.
More than 3,000 people have sailed, trained, or performed aboard this vessel. Its nonprofit owner, the National Caravan Stage Company, Inc., led by Mark and Lisa Rinaman, has brought the ship to all but one of the world's Seven Seas. The Amara Zee is not just a ship — it is a floating cultural institution.
6 of 7
Seas Sailed
3,000+
Aboard
100 ft
Tall Ship
A Work of Art, Inside and Out
Built as a replica of a traditional Thames sailing barge — a Dutch cargo vessel that served Europe's coasts for centuries — the Amara Zee is itself a piece of craftsmanship and artistry.
Below deck, its bohemian salon features a recessed Japanese-style floor with a built-in table, an antique organ at its center, and 6 small cabins that can house up to 20 cast and crew members. A dramatic iron spiral staircase, salvaged from an earlier theatrical production, connects the ship's levels and adds to its theatrical character.
Length
100 Feet
Draft
5 Feet
Cabins
6 Cabins
Any Shoreline Becomes a World-Class Venue
One of the ship's greatest strengths is its ability to transform any shoreline into a world-class performance venue. Because the Amara Zee draws only five feet of water, it can approach shallow docks, public parks, and neighborhood basins with ease. Audiences watch from the shore or pier while musicians and performers take the stage on the ship's top deck. The vessel carries its own lighting, sound, and staging equipment — turning the river itself into a natural amphitheater.
The Amara Zee will establish routine ports of call along the St. Johns River and throughout Northeast Florida, offering musical, theatrical, and operatic performances that activate waterfront spaces and bring communities together. This is not merely a venue — it is an immersive environment where creativity, collaboration, and maritime tradition meet.
A Mission Rooted in People
As the ship settles into Jacksonville, its mission expands beyond performance. The Amara Zee will build a volunteer-based cast and crew, developing a deep bench of trained members in the arts of seamanship, stagecraft, and performance for future voyages and productions.
Traditional Seamanship
Our immersive training courses recruit young men and women, equipping them with the practical skills required to operate and maintain a vessel over 100 feet in length as they learn the life of a Mariner. Students gain hands-on experience in rigging, setting, trimming, and reefing traditional sails, alongside mastering basic maritime terminology, safety protocols, and emergency line-handling drills.
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Navigation & Resilience
Curriculum paths introduce students to nautical charts, compass directions, and watchkeeping schedules. Living and working aboard in close quarters builds deep communication skills, absolute teamwork, and problem-solving resilience.
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Youth Community Extensions
Through active community outreach, the crew hosts local youth organizations, including area Scouting troops, for dedicated single-day training and maintenance missions directly aboard the docked vessel.
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Merging Science With Art
The organization provides onboard facilities and living arrangements for environmental organizations. The ship collaborates with groups like the St. Johns Riverkeeper to actively study river grasses and preserve vital aquatic vegetation ecosystems.
A Floating Research Station
By welcoming scientists aboard, the Amara Zee helps protect the very waters it sails — pairing maritime heritage with hands-on environmental stewardship.
Join Our Mailing List
Be the first to know about training sessions, waterfront performances, and educational missions aboard the Amara Zee.
Your support will help launch a new era of waterfront entertainment — one that blends history, artistry, and the spirit of exploration.
Or become a member — $25/monthTHE AMARA ZEE
Dramatic iron spiral staircase salvaged from theatrical productions, connecting ship levels
Bohemian salon with recessed Japanese-style table and library alcove below deck
Crew on deck aboard the Amara Zee
Performance setup on top deck at dock
Amara Zee under full sail along the coast
Dockside theatrical performance with river audience
Vessel riggings and spritsail mast craftsmanship
Amara Zee moored on the St. Johns River
Archival Gallery (1 of 8)