Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Announces Launch of 'Margaritaville at Sea' Bahamas Cruise

Table Of Content

• Spa on Margaritaville at Sea Paradise
• Jimmy Buffett fans, world's first 'Margaritaville' cruise to sail from Port of Palm Beach
• Margaritaville at Sea Paradise Activities
• Find a Margaritaville at Sea Paradise Cruise
• NOW OPEN: MARGARITAVILLE® BEACH RESORT RIVIERA MAYA WELCOMES FIRST GUESTS...
• Four MSC Ships Will Cruise from North America next Summer

I'd also do a few things differently if I were to sail on Margaritaville at Sea Paradise again. I would choose a cabin more toward the front of the ship to avoid some of the vibrations I could feel in my room and I'd pack snacks to make up for the lack of midday dining availability. A casual vibe is on brand for Margaritaville, but if you're used to how other cruise lines do things, you might be in for a surprise. (They all hailed from Florida, by the way.) I wanted to know what drew people to Margaritaville at Sea and how they felt about the experience. The wood paneling found throughout the ship, for example, felt dated and out of line with the beachy Margaritaville style. Paired with the matching furniture in the staterooms and common areas, it was a bit of oak-wood overload.

Spa on Margaritaville at Sea Paradise

Sailing from the Port of Palm Beach, Florida to Freeport, Grand Bahama Island on 2- and 3-night itineraries. "Margaritaville at Sea will be a new, exciting, and fun way for guests to escape and vacation in Margaritaville," John Cohlan, CEO of Margaritaville, said in a statement. "From oceans to lakes, Margaritaville has an organic tie to the water and with Margaritaville at Sea, we're able to put our iconic lifestyle, resort experiences, and elevated service directly on the sea." Margaritaville features more than 25 hotels and resorts andtwo gaming properties, as well as RV resorts, 60-plus food and beverage venues, real estate communities, vacation clubs and products from frozen shrimp to footwear. They’re all part of Margaritaville’s multi-billion-dollar global lifestyle brand. Terms of the agreement between the two privately held companies were not disclosed.

Jimmy Buffett fans, world's first 'Margaritaville' cruise to sail from Port of Palm Beach

Whether onboard or off, you’ll find a shipload of ways to rediscover paradise at Margaritaville at Sea. The Margaritaville at Sea Paradise is your easy escape for a Bahamas getaway where there’s always a party in the makin’. Kick back in comfort with live entertainment and performances, drinks by the pool, games of chance at the casino, and delicious food – always ready when you are.

Margaritaville at Sea Paradise Activities

Orlando-based Margaritaville CEO John Cohlan and Khosa met about two years ago pre-COVID and agreed the idea to transform the ship into a Margaritaville experience made sense. “We are not seeing this as a rebranding of just a name, but a rebranding of the concept, basically redefining cruising with whatever Margaritaville has to offer,” said Khosa, who will serve as CEO of Margaritaville at Sea. “To me, the only thing better than being on a beach by the ocean, is to be on the ocean. Now you can follow in our wake,” said singer, songwriter and best-selling author, Jimmy Buffett. Anyone can have a good time on the ship, but Parrotheads might be in heaven. So you’ll board in Palm Beach, cruise out in the early evening and dock in The Bahamas the next day.

As I stepped off the gangway and into the atrium for one of Margaritaville at Sea Paradise's first sailings, I saw a massive blue flip-flop sculpture surrounded by a white life buoy, both emblazoned with the name of the cruise line. There's a small fitness center with cardio equipment such as treadmills and stationary bikes, as well as weights, close to the spa. And when we say small, that better apply to you, as the ceiling was so low, it would be hard for someone over 6 foot to really use the treadmills.

Find a Margaritaville at Sea Paradise Cruise

Easy to book and easy to plan, Margaritaville at Sea invites you to climb aboard for nonstop fun, where it’s always 5 o'clock at sea. Our cruise offers are an irresistible opportunity to get a great deal on your next Caribbean escape. Margaritaville at Sea is your new off-shore resort experience, sailing from Palm Beach and Tampa to Grand Bahama Island, Mexico and Key West. On this floating island vacation, you can unwind, enjoy the endless activities and entertainment, or just relax and soak up the sun. The "Margaritaville Paradise" will set sail from Palm Beach, Florida on April 30, 2022, on its first passenger voyage to Grand Bahama Island.

Margaritaville at Sea will sail new ship from Tampa in 2024 - USA TODAY

Margaritaville at Sea will sail new ship from Tampa in 2024.

Posted: Mon, 04 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Although the Margaritaville that Buffett crooned about may not be a real place, today it is present in many of the most iconic cruise ports of the Caribbean. You can find Margaritaville restaurants in in Cozumel, Paradise Island, Grand Turk, Key West, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Negril and Miami, among other places. Other mainstream cruise have recognized the enormous impact of Jimmy Buffett's life and career, paying their respects to the departed musician. Royal Caribbean, for instance, hosted a free margarita happy hour across the fleet the day after Buffett's passing go toast his life and career. After chatting with other passengers, I learned that the ship is currently only in phase one of a three-phase refurbishment. By the end of my two-night voyage to Grand Bahama Island, however, I realized the best advice I could give to future cruisers is to hold off until the Margaritaville dream has been fully realized.

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Yet the breezy melodies, laissez-fare lyrics and irresistible tropical undertones of Buffett's body of work can be considered the sonic equivalent of embarking on a cruise to balmy shores. Aside from the buffet or the add-on breakfast at JWB Prime Steakhouse, it was tough to find food and drinks until late afternoon when the lounges, coffee shop and other dining venues opened for the day. You could swim with dolphins or the famous Bahamian pigs or visit one of two nearby all-inclusive resorts. I paid $99 for a day at the Viva Wyndham Fortuna Resort, which included beach and pool access, alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks, lunch and use of kayaks, paddleboards and snorkel gear.

Four MSC Ships Will Cruise from North America next Summer

The dining venue struck a departure in theme, with navy blue tones and darker wood accents that don't quite portray the breezy pastel hues of Magaritaville's tropical style. The steakhouse sits portside on Deck 8 opposite to the laid-back Fins Dining, which is included with your fare and offers the iconic cheeseburger along with other Margaritaville tropical-themed staples. On Deck 11, the 12 Volt Bar and License to Chill Bar serve as the one-two punch of poolside watering holes. At the very top of the ship, on Deck 14, The Hangout is a circular sports-themed bar complete with numerous large screen TVs and various classic games including pool, darts, skee-ball and vintage arcade games. As one would expect on a ship named after a cocktail, bars are plentiful onboard Margaritaville at Sea Paradise. The aforementioned and aptly-named It's Five O'Clock Somewhere Bar & Grill on Deck 10 is the most rewarding place to enjoy the salt-rimmed tequila and lime concoction.

Those who have sailed aboard the Palm Beach-based Margaritaville at Sea Paradise will find several familiar favorites, including Paradise Pickleball at Sea, Frank and Lola’s Pizzeria, Margaritaville Coffee Shop and Cheeseburger in Paradise. But if you have recently recovered from the virus, then the rules are relaxed. If you provide a positive test result from an official test that’s between 10 and 90 days before the departure date, then the cruise line will let you sail without further testing or vaccination required. Look at the options for a typical cruise line and what’s offered can be overwhelming.

I was such a fan that I watched the show both nights and would do so again were I to sail with Margaritaville in the future. I knew going into this cruise that Margaritaville at Sea Paradise was a 30-year-old ship, previously run by Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, that had received a multimillion-dollar Margaritaville-themed refurbishment. The atrium, though small, with its freshly painted light blue-and-white walls and subtle tropical theming, made the ship feel brand-new. Last week Florida Today announced that a Margaritaville complex featuring a hotel, marina, restaurants and a 20,000-square-foot outdoor entertainment venue is planned along the Indian River Lagoon in Melbourne. Developers said they hope the hotel opens for guests by late 2024 as the sole Margaritaville-themed property in the Space Coast market. The cruise line plans to create a “beach experience” for its passengers in the Bahamas, such as an exclusive Margaritaville Beach Club, Khosa said.

The best part of my experience was being able to do everything with my whole family of Mom, Dad, and 4 teenage girls. With 12 specialty and included dining options, sampling your way around the Margaritaville at Sea Islander is a delicious escape from the ordinary. Unlike Virgin Voyages that is only designed for the 18 and up crowd, there are no age limits to sail into paradise.

Buffett's impromptu 10-song setlist capped the May 12 debut of the ship, which less than an hour earlier had been officially christened by godfather and NFL linebacker Shaquem Griffin. Envisioned as a logical progression of Margaritaville's brand of Flor-ibbean fun in the sun, Margaritaville at Sea offers 3-day, 2-night sailings from West Palm Beach to Freeport, Grand Bahama Island. Unlike most cruise lines, Margaritaville at Sea allows its passengers to get off the ship in the Bahamas and stay at an all-inclusive resort on Grand Bahama Island.

The ship successfully sailed two-day voyages from Palm Beach, Florida to Freeport, Bahamas until March 2020. Already in the hotel, casino, RV resort, restaurant, bar, retail, and retirement community business — a cruise ship might be the missing piece to Buffett’s billion-dollar empire. The cruise line's ship -- Margaritaville at Sea Paradise -- is a veritable floating homage to Buffett's career. From the large colorful parrot that adorns the hull to the ubiquitous breezy pastel tones, the ship boasts an aesthetic completely inspired by the artist's musical legacy. All venues throughout the vessel pay tribute to Buffett's song titles, and his memorable lyrics are prominently in strategic locations. As with any new experience, changes are often made in the early days as customer feedback rolls in and real-time issues are addressed.