Margaritaville at Sea
Margaritaville at Sea is a Florida cruise line that operates under license from Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville brand, offering short, casual cruises to the Bahamas, Key West, Mexico and the Caribbean. It runs Paradise from the Port of Palm Beach and Islander from Tampa, and adds a third ship, Beachcomber, from PortMiami in January 2027.
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About Margaritaville at Sea
The line grew out of Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, which sailed short Palm Beach to Grand Bahama cruises with Grand Celebration and, from 2018, Grand Classica. Its owners agreed a partnership with Margaritaville in December 2021, and the company relaunched under the new name in May 2022, with Grand Classica refitted and renamed Margaritaville at Sea Paradise. The former Costa Atlantica joined as Islander in 2024, and the line bought Costa Fortuna in 2025 to become Beachcomber, which moves to Galveston in October 2027. The operating company, Classica Cruise Operator Ltd., is based in Orlando.
Cruises run from two or three nights on Paradise to as long as ten on Islander. The ships are themed around Buffett's songs and island lifestyle, with 5 o'Clock Somewhere and LandShark bars, Cheeseburger in Paradise, live music, a casino and holiday theme sailings. Dining and drink packages are sold separately, and a Heroes Sail Free program offers free cruises to U.S. military members sailing with a paying guest.
What Margaritaville at Sea is known for
For a small line, Margaritaville at Sea has collected a good number of reader-voted awards, including USA Today 10Best honors in 2025 and 2026 (No. 1 Best Caribbean Cruise in 2026) and a 2025 Newsweek readers' choice award for Islander as best cruise ship for families. Reviewers often praise the friendly, relaxed crew and the strong Buffett theming, and frequent fare promotions make it an inexpensive quick getaway from Florida. Criticism tends to focus on the ships' age: Paradise dates from 1991 and Islander from 2000, and reviews have reported worn finishes, leaks and ongoing maintenance despite refits. Food reviews are mixed, with casual and extra-charge venues rated above the main dining room and buffet, and early reviews of Islander mentioned long waits for dinner, a disorganized boarding process and limited technology, with no app or online planner at the time.
Who it's for
Mainstream · big ships with lots to do and fares for most budgets
- Value seekers
- First-time cruisers
- Families
- Solo travelers
Margaritaville at Sea suits travelers looking for a short, inexpensive and casual cruise from Florida, especially Jimmy Buffett fans, groups of friends and first-time cruisers who want to try cruising on a two- to five-night trip. Islander's kids' clubs, water slide and mini golf make it the better pick for families, and Islander and Beachcomber's longer itineraries reach Mexico and the wider Caribbean. Travelers who want newer ships, generous included dining, polished technology or a quiet, upscale atmosphere will likely be happier on a newer mainstream or premium line.
Cruising solo on Margaritaville at Sea
Margaritaville at Sea is a casual, party-leaning line with short sailings from Florida and Texas. It has no solo cabins, no solo pricing and no solo events, so a solo guest pays for two, but the 2- to 5-night fares are low enough that the total is manageable. Best for a sociable solo traveler who wants a quick Bahamas or Mexico break with a bar-and-band atmosphere.
- Single supplement
- No published solo policy or single-occupancy rate. Fares are quoted per person on double occupancy; a solo guest should expect to pay for two in a stateroom. No single cabins.
- Meeting other solo guests
- No solo program. The pool decks (5 o'Clock Somewhere Pool, LandShark Pool, License to Chill Pool), the bars, live music, deck parties and the casino are where guests mix. Fins Main Dining and the buffet are included.
How it rates
- Cabins
- 3/5
- Dining
- 3/5
- Entertainment
- 2.5/5
- Service
- 3/5
- Pools & decks
- 3/5
- Value
- 4/5
The fleet's average on each metric, across 2 rated ships in service. Each ship is scored 1 to 5 by Cruise Frog's editors; these are not reader reviews.
Rankings and comparisons
Where Margaritaville at Sea sails
Ships
Best rated
#13.2 ★Margaritaville at Sea Islander2000 · 85,619 GT · 2,114 guests · Caribbean · BahamasMargaritaville at Sea Islander is a Spirit-class ship of 85,619 gross tons, built at the Helsinki New Shipyard in Finland and delivered in 2000 as Costa Atlantica for Costa…
#23.0 ★Margaritaville at Sea Paradise1991 · 52,926 GT · 1,308 guests · Bahamas · CaribbeanMargaritaville at Sea Paradise is the line's first and smallest ship, a 52,926-gross-ton vessel built by Fincantieri at Monfalcone and delivered in December 1991 as Costa…Every ship, by class
Spirit class
1 ship · 2000 · 85,619 GT · avg 3.2 ★
Classica class
1 ship · 1991 · 52,926 GT · avg 3.0 ★
Coming soon
Former ships
| Ship | Sailed | Gross tons | Left |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Celebration | 1987–2020 | 47,262 | November 2020 |
Where to fly in
- Tampa International (TPA)1 Margaritaville at Sea ship sails from Tampa, Florida3 lounges on Lounge Frog
- President Donald J. Trump International Airport (DJT)1 Margaritaville at Sea ship sails from Palm Beach, Florida1 lounge on Lounge Frog
Quick answers
What is Margaritaville at Sea known for?
For a small line, Margaritaville at Sea has collected a good number of reader-voted awards, including USA Today 10Best honors in 2025 and 2026 (No. 1 Best Caribbean Cruise in 2026) and a 2025 Newsweek readers' choice award for Islander as best cruise ship for families. Reviewers often praise the friendly, relaxed crew and the strong Buffett theming, and frequent fare promotions make it an inexpensive quick getaway from Florida. Criticism tends to focus on the ships' age: Paradise dates from 1991 and Islander from 2000, and reviews have reported worn finishes, leaks and ongoing maintenance despite refits. Food reviews are mixed, with casual and extra-charge venues rated above the main dining room and buffet, and early reviews of Islander mentioned long waits for dinner, a disorganized boarding process and limited technology, with no app or online planner at the time.
Who is Margaritaville at Sea best for?
Margaritaville at Sea suits travelers looking for a short, inexpensive and casual cruise from Florida, especially Jimmy Buffett fans, groups of friends and first-time cruisers who want to try cruising on a two- to five-night trip. Islander's kids' clubs, water slide and mini golf make it the better pick for families, and Islander and Beachcomber's longer itineraries reach Mexico and the wider Caribbean. Travelers who want newer ships, generous included dining, polished technology or a quiet, upscale atmosphere will likely be happier on a newer mainstream or premium line.
Is Margaritaville at Sea good for solo travellers?
Margaritaville at Sea is a casual, party-leaning line with short sailings from Florida and Texas. It has no solo cabins, no solo pricing and no solo events, so a solo guest pays for two, but the 2- to 5-night fares are low enough that the total is manageable. Best for a sociable solo traveler who wants a quick Bahamas or Mexico break with a bar-and-band atmosphere.
Where does Margaritaville at Sea sail?
Margaritaville at Sea's ships in service sail Caribbean (2 ships) and Bahamas (2 ships).
How is Margaritaville at Sea rated?
Margaritaville at Sea's fleet averages 3.1 out of 5 on Cruise Frog, across 2 rated ships. Its best-rated ship is Margaritaville at Sea Islander at 3.2.
Does Margaritaville at Sea have new ships coming?
Yes: Margaritaville at Sea has 1 new ship on the way: Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber (debuts January 9, 2027).
How many ships does Margaritaville at Sea have?
Margaritaville at Sea has 2 ships in service on Cruise Frog: Margaritaville at Sea Islander and Margaritaville at Sea Paradise.
What ship classes does Margaritaville at Sea sail?
Margaritaville at Sea sails 2 classes of ship in service: Spirit class (1 ship) and Classica class (1 ship).
Who owns Margaritaville at Sea?
Margaritaville at Sea is part of Classica Cruise Operator Ltd. (licensed from Margaritaville Enterprises).
Where is Margaritaville at Sea based?
Margaritaville at Sea is headquartered in Orlando, Florida, United States. It has operated since 2022.
What is the largest Margaritaville at Sea ship?
Margaritaville at Sea Islander is Margaritaville at Sea's largest ship at 85,619 gross tons, carrying 2,114 guests.
Cruising with children
Margaritaville at Sea’s youth offer changes by ship. A short family getaway works best when you check the actual facilities rather than borrowing an Islander description for another vessel.
Read the Margaritaville at Sea family guide →Is a drinks package worth it?
Thinking about a drinks package on Margaritaville at Sea? The average drink starts at what a glass of house wine costs on board, about $10; change it to what you usually order, and enter the package price Margaritaville at Sea quotes.
A glass of house wine costs about $10. Cruise.Blog (Margaritaville menus, 2026) ↗
Per person, a day, as the line quotes it.
A glass of house wine on Margaritaville at Sea.
Optional. Count coffees and sodas if the package covers them.
The days the package is charged for.
To make the drinks package pay for itself
8drinks a day
A $75-a-day package costs the same as 7.5 drinks at $10. Over 7 days that's $525, or 53 drinks for the cruise.
Pay as you go
At 5 drinks a day, buying drinks one at a time costs about $175 less than the package.
- Drinks package, 7 days
- $525
- Drink by drink, 5 drinks a day
- $350
Break-even is a target for your wallet, not a dare for your liver.
Traveller reviews
What people who've been say. One review each; you can update yours.
Related news about Margaritaville at Sea and its ships
- What a glass of house wine costs on cruise lines, and which ones pour it free
From $9 on Royal Caribbean to $14 on MSC, and free on 25 lines. The prices behind Cruise Frog's drinks package calculator.
Cruise lines
- Cruising solo on Margaritaville at Sea: short, cheap and sociable, with no solo policy
Margaritaville at Sea has no solo cabins or published solo pricing, but its short, low-cost sailings from Florida and Texas make going alone easy to try.
Cruise lines
- Beachcomber is a new Margaritaville ship, not a newly built ship: what to check
Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber will be new to the line, but the ship itself began life as Costa Fortuna. I would use that distinction to ask better booking questions, rather than assume either that a refit fixes everything or that an older hull cannot offer a good holiday.
Ships
- Margaritaville's Beachcomber reaches Belfast for its refit before a January 2027 debut in Miami
The former Costa Fortuna is in Belfast for new venues and updated cabins. It sails from PortMiami in January 2027, then moves to Galveston.
Ships
- PortMiami names 16 new ships for its 2026-27 season, from Explora III to Hero of the Seas
Miami regained the title of world's busiest cruise port. Five Silversea ships arrive this winter, with Norwegian Aura and Hero of the Seas in 2027.
Ports
- 5 things Margaritaville at Sea does well—and 1 it doesn’t
Five strengths of Margaritaville at Sea, one clear drawback, and the travelers most likely to enjoy its cruise style.
Cruise lines