Margaritaville at Sea! Everything About the New Buffett-Themed Cruise Line

Table Of Content

• The History of Jimmy Buffett’s Cruise Ship
• Margaritaville at Sea Announces Onboard Entertainment Programming
• Free Ocean Views
• Next Norwegian Ship Will Sail with New Restaurants
• Margaritaville at Sea
• Gratuities Run $14.95 Per Person, Per Day and 18% on Drinks
• “Cruise and Stay” (Land/Cruise) opportunities pair Margaritaville at Sea with Resorts

Reservations for the cruises slated to begin April 30 were expected to open Wednesday on the company’s website, margaritavilleatsea.com. Unvaccinated guests are still required to provide proof of a negative antigen COVID-19 test taken no more than one day before the sailing. To return to Florida, you then board the ship again at the port on Grand Bahama Island on May 7th and disembark when it docks back in Florida on May 8th. The possibilities for Margaritaveill’s land-based products to be coupled with this new venture to the sea are endless. There has been talk of a beach club, and also rolling out a perks program in conjunction with the resorts. Likened to the Margaritaville brand, the vibe of a Margaritaville cruise will be carefree, breezy, and tropical.

Cruise Lines Tribute Iconic Margaritaville Singer Jimmy Buffet - Cruise Hive

Cruise Lines Tribute Iconic Margaritaville Singer Jimmy Buffet.

Posted: Sun, 03 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

The History of Jimmy Buffett’s Cruise Ship

Some of the areas of the ship, such as the Port of Indecision buffet, show their age by being more cramped than what you'd expect on newer vessels. It was so hard to get a seat here that people resorted to carrying food all over the ship, leaving dirty dishes in lounges far away from the restaurant. Part of the Jimmy Buffett/Margaritaville vibe is that anything goes, as long as you remain laid back. As a Buffett fan, I would have preferred a more immersive experience.

Margaritaville at Sea Announces Onboard Entertainment Programming

Whether onboard or off, you’ll find a shipload of ways to rediscover paradise at Margaritaville at Sea. If you're a cruise newbie, don't worry -- the majority of passengers on the ship, often up to 60%, are people who have never sailed before. Low fares and the short time commitment draws people who can drive easily to West Palm Beach, both from South Florida and around the state.

Free Ocean Views

Khosa said the goal is to bring the laid-back tropical lifestyle and state of mind evoked in Buffet’s songs to the 1,680-passenger ship offering two-night cruises and the cruise terminals in Riviera Beach and Freeport, Grand Bahama. With an inaugural sailing scheduled for May 14, Margaritaville at Sea Paradise will cruise from the Port of Palm Beach, Florida to Grand Bahama Island. Prices for the ship’s four-night sailings start at $209 per person, while its five-night cruises start at $265 (both rates include a 30% early preview discount).

Margaritaville at Sea Announces Onboard Entertainment

Though the ships may be a few years old and going through a complete renovation, something guests won’t ever see are the fuel tanks onboard. They were scrubbed (literally by hand) so the most low-sulfur emitting fuel could be put into the ships to make them as sustainability-conscious as possible right now. Colors, patterns, and textures from the sand, sea, and sky influenced the interior design, which emulates the Margaritaville brand. You'll find parrot motifs, beach scenes, and palm trees not just at your cruise destination but also in the interior choices of common areas and staterooms on the ship.

Next Norwegian Ship Will Sail with New Restaurants

While guestrooms come equipped with a volt converter/adapter, it's advisable to bring your own in case your devices run out of juice elsewhere on the ship. Frank & Lola's Pizzeria and the Margaritaville Coffee and Pastry Shop sit side-by-side in a food plaza-styled area on Deck 9, rounding up the ship's eateries. Of note, this area also features Everything but Sand, a collection of three boutique stores with plenty of Margaritaville and Jimmy Buffett merchandise, adding to the shopping area appeal of this deck. The ship will continue the same two-night route that the cruise operator has already been doing over the past decade. The inaugural season has pricing from $179 for an inside room to $879 for a 525 square foot Grand Terrance Suite on deck 10.

Getting from one end of the ship to another can also be confusing, particularly on the upper decks, where there is no real through access without taking various staircases. We also found odd areas of dead space, particularly the Hangout on Deck 14, which seemed like a sports bar with no bartenders or guests. Immediately upon embarkation, guests will be transported into a vacation state of mind – greeted by island-inspired music, friendly “Fins Up Crew” team members, and iconic Margaritaville stilt walkers. The new 2,650-passenger ship will launch on June 14, 2024, and add Tampa, Florida, as a brand-new homeport for the company.

Get ready to cruise the Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway with a Margaritaville license plate - Miami Herald

Get ready to cruise the Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway with a Margaritaville license plate.

Posted: Tue, 16 Apr 2024 23:36:49 GMT [source]

Though details have not been announced, we have confirmed that there is potential for a ship-within-a-ship class onboard Margaritaville at Sea Paradise. But there is an undeniably universal appeal to the product; from the catchy and easy-on-the-ears songs to the laissez-faire attitude and cocktails-in-paradise emphasis, especially considering the length of the voyages. But perhaps the most significant lingering legacy of the Grand Classico days is the ubiquitous presence of Europlug style outlets throughout the ship.

The ship’s inviting atmosphere is filled with music, lights, island-inspired sculptures, artwork, and more. Lovers of non-stop entertainment can enjoy the Margaritaville Casino, Stars on the Water Theater, and various nightclubs while wellness-enthusiasts can stop by the St. Somewhere Spa & Salon or Fins Up! With pools, a retail store, and so much more, there’s something for everyone. Margaritaville at Sea Islander offers a completely new way to cruise into an Island State of Mind. Decked out in creative and familiar bars and restaurants, our newest flagship offers new ways to discover fun opportunities for dining and drinking.

Buffett toured the ship, which went into dry dock Wednesday, on Nov. 29, Khosa said. 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. Sometimes Sailing is a cruise-focused website by Dan and Mikkel Woodruff, a couple passionate about cruising.

Margaritaville at Sea brings Margaritaville’s iconic hospitality to the open ocean for a floating offshore vacation experience. On board, guests can relax and unwind in casual-luxe comfort, featuring both ocean view and interior staterooms, along with beautifully appointed balcony suites dressed in nautical details and colors inspired by the sea, sand, and sky. Among the passenger decks, guests can enjoy endless entertainment and several dining venues, while bars and lounges provide non-stop excitement. A regulation-sized pickleball court, kid’s clubs, action-packed casino, pools, hot tubs, rejuvenating spa and salon, and plenty of quiet spaces are also available while travelers soak up the Caribbean sun. On May 14th, following the christening and private inaugural sailing, Margaritaville at Sea Paradise set sail on her first passenger sailing. The ship provided travelers access to Margaritaville’s iconic lifestyle during two-night, round-trip, voyage from the Port of Palm beach to Grand Bahama Island, including lively onboard entertainment and gourmet food and beverage options.

Whether you want to wind down, stop by the spa, chill by the pool, or kick back in your stateroom, every second aboard Margaritaville at Sea is a chance for adventure. Grand Bahama Island is a haven of gorgeous white sand beaches, surrounded by crystal clear waters that stretch for miles. Extend your vacation on land and stay at your choice of three gorgeous partner resorts on Grand Bahama Island for an all-inclusive experience. Cottage guests receive access to all resort amenities, a premium experience and friendly, genuine, island-inspired service. Khosa, who will serve as CEO of Margaritaville at Sea, said the rebranding of Grand Classica as a Margaritaville-themed ship would "add a different dimension to the cruising industry, appealing to a new audience of travelers."

We noticed this particularly during the evening show, a jukebox musical of Buffett hits written by Jimmy himself. While some passengers enthusiastically sang along, fins up, other people smiled and tapped their toes, but clearly didn't know the words. 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.