We’ve been having so much fun with a new game we’ve just discovered. Don’t Rock The Boat is a game from University Games for children aged 5 years and over and Monkey loves it.
The game consists of a pirate ship, 3 masts, a 2 piece wave, and 16 pirate penguins. It’s super quick to put together, and no batteries are needed either.
The game can be played with 2-4 players and is a great test of fine motor skills as you try to add penguins to the boat whilst keeping the boat balanced. It sounds easy, but there is a definite skill to it.
To say that Monkey loves this game is an understatement. He actually doesn’t care if he loses and his penguins plunge into the deep, dark ocean. He thinks its hilarious, just trying to balance them. A favourite position is trying to get a penguin up into the crow’s nest without going overboard. How many penguins can you place on the pirate ship before they fall overboard?
There’s skill in this balancing game, its tactical and fast paced, and can be enjoyed by all the family. Game play is relatively short, but it’s so easy to set up again, that we’ve spent ages on this game every time we’ve got it out of the box.
I think Don’t Rock the Boat makes a perfect after school activity, it’s quick and just simply fun. It’s also worth noting that when you’ve finished playing the game, the masts and wave are easy to dismantle and everything is easily stored in the box.
What could make this game better? Monkey would love to see it come complete with a plank. Not only have we played the game by the rules, but Monkey has happily created a whole little imaginary play world with the game. This Instagram video had me chuckling away. (Note added Playmobil planks for a bit of swashbuckling action)
For £14.99 I think Don’t Rock the Boat is a great, no-nonsense game and has become an instant family favourite here. It’s currently on offer over on Amazon, so I’ve included my Amazon Affiliate link below for your reference.
To find out more about this game and others in the University Games range, please visit their website.
disclosure: we were sent this item in exchange for an honest review
We love Don’t Rock the Boat and I’m pleased to be able to offer one lucky reader the chance to own this game too. Just complete the Gleam form below and it could be you. Good luck.
Terms and conditions:
(Please note that all entries will be checked against comments for validation).
Only the first step of this form is mandatory, all other steps are optional. Only one entry per person is allowed.
This giveaway is for UK residents only.
Once a winner is randomly picked, I will check if the winner has done what was requested and I will contact them, if they do not reply within one week, the prize will be allocated to another person.
The giveaway will close on 12th June 2016 at midnight.
The Shivering Wreck because it is a good name for a shaking ship!
My daughter says she would name it YoHoHo! X
The Jelly Ringer after my favourite Haribo
long john
Bucky after the ship on Jake and the Neverland pirates, my daughter loves this show
My twins say Bucky.. As they think it’s the jake & Netherland pirates ship!
I would call it Rock n Roll as looks like a rocky game
the snoozyshark as I am always tired
I think I would name the Ship ‘The King Penguin’ … they do seem to be flapping about!!
Boaty Mcboatface after the polar ship that almost was…
Ship ship ahoy just because it sounds good xx
The Jolly Rocker!
The good ship Adventure because it sounds fun.
Medusa – just because I like it…
Boaty mcboatface because I will put it to a vote
The Jolly Jack after my son xx
Fat boat 🙂 x
The Fishy Flipper because it suits the crew.
ROGER PIRATE BECAUSE KNOW ITS A PIRATE
The Plundering Treasure because it just popped in to my head.
i would call it shipper shape but everything on a ship i had would always be ship shape
The jolly old man after my husband!
The Jolly Rachel because we’re a household of girls!
The Shiver me Timbers!
^^^ because I like timbers and my Wife is always shivering!
The jolly peg leg xx
My son said he would call it The Jolly Rocker ☺
Shiver me Timbers, pirates always seem to be saying it!
shivering seaweed
The Jolly Eye Patch! Seems like a piratey sort of name 🙂
the holly taylor
after my kids
I’d name it the “Yo yo yo and a barrel of fun”
Because …. well, it’s a funny name. Why not?
Lovely you and your boy enjoying yourselves with the boat. Looks fun. Sort of gutted we’ve grown out of toys like this. We needed to get rid of a large Playmobile hospital recently and gave it to Helen&Douglas House, but decided to keep the ambulance with the flashing light. Just for me!
It’s lovely when things can be passed on to others to enjoy too though.
Od name my pirate ship long john lucas as my it’s what I call my godson and he loves pirates
He’d be delighted to have his very own ship and we’d have so much fun on the seas
I’d call it the Ship of Mystery!
Boaty McBoatface…..
It’s all over the internet if you don’t know what I’m talking about 😛
Boaty McBoat Face, seen as the new Polar research vessel isn’t using it !! 😛 xx
The Jolly Roger after the flag 🙂
The Antartica, as I think it sounds nice. Also penquins live in the Antartic.
I’d name it ‘Caroline’ after my fave Pirate radio ship 😉
Id name it the black penguin as a nod to my fave pirate ship from pirates of the Caribbean 🙂
The jolly crossbones sailor
GracieSean after my kids 🙂
The shivery timber because it’s a boat that rocks and penguins love the ice
my 4 year old said she would call it the penguin boat haha in a nutshell from a 4 year old!
Jolly Jack Flash after my grandson
The Jammy Dodger after the boat in Flushed Away
The jolly rocking sailor.x
I’d name it the Nervous Wreck after a joke about boats on an episode of Rainbow I’ve been forced to watch about 2,000 times… 😀
boaty mcboaty
My son would name it Pirate Ship apparently
Happy Dave
Penguin wreck as I’m sure the penguins will feel a wreck aftera ride on this ship.
‘Swashbuckle’ as it sounds piratey!
The Greedy Tide because my daughter says it sounds good.
The Black Pearl – because I love Pirates of the Caribbean
The Jolly Pirate
Boaty McBoatface
Boaty McBoatface because the name Sir David Attenborough is already taken
My son would probably name is bucky from Jake and the Neverland pirates
ss oohhh arrr
The Jolly Buccaneer because it sounds good.
haha – was so going to say Boaty Mc Boatface until i saw someone else had said it 🙂 – ill go with – shippy mcShipface – sounds like an older brother to Boaty 🙂
Teddy’s ship as that is my gransopn’s name
rockin rodger!
Black Beard’s Beauty after the famous pirate
jolly green harvey – because my partners surname is green and mine is harvey and were both jolly! 😀
The Rocky Wreck, because it rocks, of corse lol
The Golden Find – a play on The Golden Hind that Sir Francis Drake circumnavigated the globe in.
The Skulldugery
Tianas treasures
the cousins crew ship (my boys’ surname)
Scurvy Pirate James because that is what my grand-daughter calls her uncle. They love pirates.
wobbly waters
The Nutty Nanny as that’s what my grandsons call me!
The Jolly Rancher
the treasure finder
I would call it happy as i now this would make my kids happy with the amount of fun they would have
The Old Joe, after my Grandad
ive asked my daughter and shes said pip away
I asked my son and he said Clive lol!! He said because it sounds like a pirate name! x
I would call it the Tipsy Traveller as it’s very wobbly, lol xx
id call it the silly sausage because thats what we all are in our house 🙂
The jolly Jack after my son.
Perilous Pearl, because they have to be named after a woman (Pearl) and the game is perilous 🙂
The Lucky Aidan, after my son!
the tornado, that what i call my grandaughter lol
Grand Conqueror – I think it sounds like a great name for a pirate ship
The Penguin Posse Pirate Ship seems apt for the ship and its occupants.
my daughter said the black pearl because she loves pirates of the caribean
The Turner trawler after my sons
What would you name the pirate ship in this game and why? . . . . . NannyGrumps ‘cos it’s MY ship ha ha
The Pukka Penguin
Anne Bonny
Antarctic Flipper
The Slocum after Joshua Slocum
I would name it higgly pigglgy think that’s a perfect name thanks for the chance
The Jolly Penguin since it’s crew are penguins x
The Jolly Child
(good name for a boat and it will make the children jolly!)
Apparently we would call it – ‘Not the Titanic’!!
I would call it the Rockin’ Robin
The kids are still in Boaty mcBoatface mode with everything so no doubt that is what it would get called.
The Jolly Roger, after many happy childhood memories
The Jolly Roger xx
The fiery dagger
the good ship roy
The Black Pearl because I really enjoyed those johnny depp films xx
Bob’s treasure, as my daughters nickname is bob
I would name it ‘The Ant- Arctic Roll’ as it rolls back and forth and penguins come from the Antarctic
The Shaking Ship!
I’d name the pirate ship The Admiral Benbow after the pub in Treasure Island
The Emperor Penguin, as it belongs to penguins
The Rocky Ride 🙂
Bottle’O’Rum because its what pirates drink
Penguin Peril! Because the crew is in danger of going over board.
Walk the plank ! That’s what pirates say isn’t it
Mine said they’d call it Bucky as they think it’s the ship from jake and the Neverland pirates
One eye wonker
I’d name it ‘The Jolly Joker’ ( a Batman/Penguin link)
The pirate penguins!
I would call it Peter Parrot pirate ship after my son and his pet parrot.
I would call the ship ‘Mairsy’ after our surname
Black beauty, because it’s our favourite book 🙂
Rocky BalBoata – because it’s rocky, it’s a boat, and it’ll be the champion of the seas.
Shivering Wreck
I would name it The Argent Trooper because Argent is personal to me, and topical to pirate ships as it means silver 🙂 and trooper just seems to fit with the pillaging antics!
I’d call it Shipshape because everything should be ship shape.
Davey McDaveFace, because it makes me smile.
Creaky because it’s old and rocky 🙂
I’d call it The Black Pearl, perhaps because of Mr Depp….shh…!!
The golden doubloon
Girl power as therea more girls than boys in our house
The Jolly Jester
the jolly ship