Jimmy Buffett Margaritaville-themed cruise sets sail with new show

Table Of Content

• NOW OPEN: MARGARITAVILLE BEACH RESORT AMBERGRIS CAYE IN BELIZE WELCOMES FIRST GUESTS
• Margaritaville at Sea
• How extending your vacation on Grand Bahama Island with the Cruise & Stay option works
• Stay Current With Margaritaville
• Printable Maine Windjammer Packing List for a Sailboat Cruise
• One Itinerary Offered, With 2-Night Cruises to Grand Bahama Island
• Carnival Cracks Down on Unsanctioned Poolside Gambling During Cruise
• Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Cruise Ship: What You Need to Know

While closed-loop cruises, where you embark and disembark in the U.S., allow you to sail with a birth certificate instead of a passport, we recommend the latter. A lot of people on this cruise only had birth certificates, and so were subject to longer lines at the terminal, both coming and going. On these two-day sailings, the ship draws a diverse passenger base that goes far beyond Jimmy Buffett fans, reaching all ages and demographics.

NOW OPEN: MARGARITAVILLE BEACH RESORT AMBERGRIS CAYE IN BELIZE WELCOMES FIRST GUESTS

As with any low fares, there is always a caveat -- and while Margaritaville at Sea fare may seem inexpensive at first, there are some not-so-obvious costs. You'll have to pay port fees, for one thing, as well as fuel charges and gratuities. WiFi costs extra, and there's mandatory valet parking if you drive to the port.

Margaritaville at Sea

Jimmy Buffett Leaves an Immortal Legacy on the Cruise Lifestyle - CruiseCritic.co.uk

Jimmy Buffett Leaves an Immortal Legacy on the Cruise Lifestyle.

Posted: Fri, 08 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

This 2-night, 3-day cruise sails between Palm Beach and Freeport, on Grand Bahama Island. 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. 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. Sailing from the Port of Palm Beach, Florida to Freeport, Grand Bahama Island on 2- and 3-night itineraries.

How extending your vacation on Grand Bahama Island with the Cruise & Stay option works

The cruise line currently sails its Bahamas itineraries out of Palm Beach, Florida. After Griffin spoke, Pastor Christine Bandy-Helderman blessed the ship. A video was shown depicting the ship’s transformation and preparation to be christened. The ceremony ended with a celebratory moment, as attendees were covered in streamers and beach balls. If you find that a 2-night/3-day cruise isn't enough time to relax and soak up the sun, you can extend your stay with Margaritaville at Sea's option to stay a few nights at a resort on Grand Bahama Island.

Stay Current With Margaritaville

On the plus side, as the only cruise line serving the port, it can make it easy to navigate versus the larger and busier cruise ports around the rest of the state. In other words, if you want to just hit the port and get on the ship, it’s easy to do. But if you were planning on a classic cruise for 7-nights hitting all sorts of Caribbean ports, that’s not the case… at least as of now.

Printable Maine Windjammer Packing List for a Sailboat Cruise

But I can also see where having too much Buffett make alienate newer cruisers and -- let's face it -- younger and more diverse passengers. The classic Buffett audience is aging; Jimmy's songs may seem timeless, but most were released in the 1970s. Far smarter to focus on margaritas and parrots and palm trees, and keep the yacht rock to a minimum. Passengers who purchase the “Ultimate Paradise Pass,” will also get added benefits on board such as welcome amenities, and 10% discounts on upgrades and onshore excursions. The pass is valid for use of a double-occupancy ocean view or inside stateroom, and includes a guest fare. The pass does not include taxes, fees, or port expense for the pass holder or guest.

One Itinerary Offered, With 2-Night Cruises to Grand Bahama Island

Venues onboard include the Port of Indecision Buffett, St. Somewhere Spa and Stars on the Water Theater. On the downside, if you don’t live in Florida, then it’s a little harder to make your way to the ship. Major airports like Miami and Fort Lauderdale are a considerable distance for anyone thinking of flying in. So you’ll board in Palm Beach, cruise out in the early evening and dock in The Bahamas the next day. Margaritaville at Sea — if you’re familiar with Jimmy Buffett and the plentiful endeavors from restaurants to resorts that bear the Margaritaville name (and at this point, who isn’t?) — then you might have a good idea of what to expect. Climb aboard the completely redesigned Margaritaville at Sea Islander and sail to new Ports of Indecision in and around the Gulf of Mexico.

Quotes are prominently placed throughout the ship in strategic locations. Travelers also have the option to expand to 4- and 6-night all-inclusive getaway packages at the Gran Lucayan Resort and the Viva Wyndham Fortuna Beach. Although Margaritaville has resorts in Hollywood (Florida) and Orlando, no packages featuring these properties are currently on offer -- although the line has said those will be coming. Cruise Radio prioritizes well-balanced cruise news coverage and accurate reporting, paired with ship reviews and tips. Unlike Virgin Voyages that is only designed for the 18 and up crowd, there are no age limits to sail into paradise.

With 658 staterooms and 14 decks, the older ship wouldn’t be confused for today’s enormous cruise ships, but still has plenty to offer. The refurbishment not only put in place new dining/bar venues on the ship, but also renovated staterooms to follow with the Buffett style that passengers would expect. (Many passengers here receive a meal here in the popular License to Chill package that comes with 10 drinks, an onboard wine tasting and other perks). The included Fins dining room reminded us of the main dining room on any cruise ship, with enough options to satisfy a variety of tastes. Margaritaville At Sea, a cruise line that describes itself as a "floating island vacation," will soon offer a unique, unlimited cruise subscription for trips to the Bahamas. Titled the “Ultimate Paradise Pass,” the package starts at $899 and allows travelers to cruise as many times as they want — on board the Margaritaville At Sea Paradise — on non-consecutive two-night stays throughout 2023.

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. Featuring lime-green décor and a giant blender as its centerpiece, the indoor/outdoor spot on the ship's stern serves burgers, drinks and coastal-inspired eats. "This turned out to be a pretty good 3-minute song," the singer/songwriter/businessman wisecracked. And his comment turned out to be quite the understatement, considering that he happened to be playing his signature song on the pool deck of a 1,680-passenger cruise ship named Margaritaville at Sea Paradise. The Margaritaville at Sea Islander is the newest flagship resort-at-sea perfectly designed to transport cruisers on a fun-soaked escape to an island state of mind.

As of July 23, 2022, Margaritaville at Sea removed its pre-cruise COVID testing requirement for vaccinated guests. We can only hope to find ourselves on board, sipping an ice-cold drink as we listen to a band play Jimmy Buffett's well-known hits, complete with the tropical sounds of steel drums and guitar strings. Margaritaville at Sea is taking over the former Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, which has completely rebranded. Their ship, Grand Classica, has been transformed into Margaritaville at Sea Paradise. The Port of Palm Beach is only 20-minutes from the West Palm Beach airport (code PBI) and about an hour from Fort Lauderdale Airport (code FLL).

Even the decks have Buffett-inspired names like Changes in Attitude, Flip Flop, License to Chill, and Banana Wind. For non-drinkers, the $99 Faster Chill program allows you to skip the check-in madness at the somewhat chaotic Palm Beach Terminal, along with a Wi-Fi package for two and reserved seating at various venues. The rooms on Margaritaville at Sea Paradise were all updated before the ship relaunched in 2022, with tropical décor and accents.

A fixture in Margaritaville's resort properties, JWB is the upscale choice on board at $59 per person. Instead of a menu, we were presented with a parade of shareable plates including Angus Prime NY strip, 30-day dry aged ribeye, Wagyu short ribs and grilled branzino in a lemon-dill sauce. It's no surprise that Buffett's extensive musical catalogue is at the root of the Margaritaville brand, and the ship is no exception. Venues throughout the vessel pay tribute to song titles and lyrics, including Fins Dining Room, 5 O'Clock Somewhere Bar & Grill, License to Chill Bar & Pool, Port of Indecision Buffet and Euphoria Lounge, to name just a few.

Interior common spaces are decorated with bright colors and natural elements, like tropical foliage and nautical rope. Margaritaville, Jimmy Buffett's well-known brand (rest in peace, Jimmy!), is out to sea! Hop onboard a Margaritaville cruise for a quick yet rejuvenating trip to the Bahamas.

The exciting one-night sailing included a traditional christening ceremony and a surprise live concert with singer, songwriter and best-selling author Jimmy Buffett. The ship, called the Islander, will have its first sailing June 14 on a four-night itinerary from Port Tampa Bay, with a stop in Cozumel, Mexico, and two sea days. It will offer four- and five-night cruises with stops in Key West, Cozumel and the Mexican Yucatan town of Progreso. 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.

With innovations like the world’s only three-story poolside Landshark Bar and the Caribbean Amphibian Splash Pool and Water Slide, embarking on an Islander adventure is every bit about the journey as it is the destination. “Paradise” is more than the name of our ship — it’s a state of mind. Because at Margaritaville at Sea, we trade detailed itineraries for relaxed spontaneity. When you step aboard our cruise ship, you can explore a vacation agenda that’s entirely your own. Reunite with friends over pickleball, rejoice in captivating tropical performances, and revel in the sand between your toes.