Capt. Jack Sparrow — he of "Pirates of the Caribbean" fame — has nothing on Edward Teach. The infamous buccaneer better known as Blackbeard, who sailed the seas off the southeast coast, was baaad to the bone.

American Cruise Lines will ply those waters during its new themed cruise Pirates, Pearls and Patriots of the South. But don't expect to rough it on a pirate ship. Passengers will travel in comfort aboard one of American's new modern cruise ships, the American Glory or the American Spirit.

American Cruise Lines (ENLARGE)

American Cruise Lines will visit Daufuskie Island on its new 'Pirates, Pearls and Patriots of the South' itinerary.

Departures are scheduled for Dec. 2 and March 31.

The journey begins in Charleston, S.C., where Blackbeard blockaded the entire harbor and held several nobles for ransom in March 1718. His demands met, Blackbeard hightailed it to Beaufort, S.C., the second stop on the cruise. When his flagship, the Queen Anne's Revenge, ran aground on a sandbar, he stranded several of his own men on the sinking ship.

Down to Daufuskie, Savannah

The next port of call is Daufuskie Island, once home to famous pirate hunter David "Money" Mongin, a French Huguenot. England's King George II granted the island to him for his excellent pirate tracking and capturing skills.

The next port, Savannah, is mentioned several times in the novel "Treasure Island," and it was on a nearby island that a treasure chest was reputedly buried. Then it's on to St. Simons Island, where pirates of the late 17th century ransacked many villages settled by the Guale, a group of Native Americans, and ultimately ran them off.

Blackbeard's legend resurfaces on Jekyll Island, where it is said the pirate stashed one of his greatest treasures, leaving a copper hook embedded in an oak tree pointing to its location.

Amelia Island was held by Luis Aury

The voyage ends on Florida's Amelia Island, which pirate Luis Aury fraudulently claimed for Mexico in 1817. He surrendered to Americans three months later, but legend says his ghost still haunts the jail on Third Street, now the Amelia Island Museum of History.

Passengers can take shore excursions to the harbors and villages once occupied by the swashbucklers of the sea. Naturalists, historians and even local jewelers will be invited onboard to discuss pirates and their ill-gotten gains.

At the end of the day, complimentary cocktails are served in one of the many lounges aboard the ship, a great time and place to share adventures with fellow travelers.

The cost of the seven-night cruises range from $2,985 to $4,545.

Information: 1-800-814-6880.