Sid Meier's Pirates! - Unlockables and Secrets

Sid Meier's Pirates came after a long wait. We all remember the small pirates game we used to play as a child but when Sid Meier showed us his understanding of pirate adventures, we were all mesmerized. Many years later, after the PC hardware entered a new millennium, Sid Meier returned with a new edition. Unfortunately, we also grew up and the charm was almost gone. Nonetheless, the game was pretty good and managed to deliver the promised content. Even if it lacked the initial magic or we've lost it along the way, it remains a great adventure.

Top of the Line Ships
There are four classes that make ideal pirating ships: The tiny, darty Pinnace class, the swift, deft Sloop class, the balanced, steadfast Brig class, and the formidable Frigate class. Each one has three tiers in it. These are the ways in which to acquire the best ships of each class.

Unlockables

Ship of The Line (Frigate class) - Relentlessly attack shipping of the English, French, or Dutch, keep watch for a "New Warship" Ship of The Line sailing about.

Brig of War (Brig class) - Often seen as Military Payroll carriers, or Troop Transports, attack as normal, beware of large amounts of enemy crew.

Royal Sloop (Sloop class) - Often seen as a Pirate Hunter out of Spanish ports, attack shipping around a Spanish port and one may come out to attack you.

Mail Runner (Pinnace class) - Offer to escort a war declaration or peace offering from a colony, and then attack the courier once out of port.

Mysterious Sid
In rare and random occasions, the Mysterious Traveler at the back of the tavern will instead be Sid Meier, the executive producer of the game. He will be most distinct, as he lacks the trademark beard of the other mysterious travelers. He otherwise acts just like a normal Mysterious Traveler.

Brother Jeff
Randomly and rarely, the monk that greets you at a Jesuit monastery will be replaced with a likeness of Jeff Briggs, the CEO of Firaxis Games. He lacks the distinct shaved skullcap and pudgy cheeks of the normal monk, and instead sports a goatee and a completely shaved head. He otherwise acts like a normal Jesuit monk.

Talk Like a Pirate Day in Sid Meier's Pirates!
When the data of the computer is set to September 19th (International Talk Like a Pirate Day), everyone will talk differently in the game. You will become ye. Avast, Shiver me timbers, and Arr will punctuate every other sentence. Nothing like a beautiful daughter of a governor talking in pirate! The dialogue is noticeably different from the standard fare. Even in the menus and in what concerns the narrator.

No Easter eggs here, matey
Open up the Piratopedia and look up the entry for St. Eustatius. Early in the entry, the word 'Eastern' is used and only the 'Easter' part of it is a hyperlink. Click it to access a hidden page that firmly denies the existence of any Easter eggs in Sid Meier's Pirates.