Margaritaville at Sea is bringing back its holiday season. The line said on October 28 that Very Merry Margaritaville returns this year on both of its current ships, Margaritaville at Sea Paradise and Margaritaville at Sea Islander, with festive food, drinks, décor and a brand-new holiday show.
According to the line's announcement, the celebration runs from November 30, 2026, to January 2, 2027. One note on dates: the release's subhead gives an end date of December 31, but its main text and holiday graphic both say January 2, 2027.
What's happening onboard
The program leans into classic, low-key holiday fun. Planned activities include:
- Ugly sweater contests
- Holiday trivia
- Ornament making with Mrs. Claus
- Photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus on select sailings
- Holiday carol singalongs
- Holiday movies under the stars
The big new addition is a theater production called A Very Merry Holiday Show. The line also says the ships will be dressed in holiday décor, with seasonal merchandise in the shops.
Holiday drinks and menus
Two seasonal cocktails are coming back: the Mistletoe Margarita and the Candy Cane Colada. They'll be joined by holiday coffee drinks, along with specialty menus and desserts for the season.
Margaritaville at Sea's fares include main dining, so the special menus should be easy to try. Cocktails and specialty coffees are extra unless you buy a drink package.
Holiday shore excursions
The celebration also goes ashore. The line lists two holiday-themed excursions: a Mexican mariachi experience and a traditional Christmas celebration in Cozumel. Both make the most sense on Islander, which sails from Tampa to Mexico.
Sailings over Christmas and New Year's
For travelers who want to be at sea on the holidays themselves, the line highlighted four departures:
- December 23: Islander, five-night Key West and Cozumel cruise
- December 24: Paradise, four-night Bahamas Duo cruise
- December 28: Paradise, four-night Bahamas Duo cruise
- December 28: Islander, five-night Mexico Duo cruise to Progreso and Cozumel
The two December 28 trips cover New Year's Eve at sea or in port, with both ships back in Florida in time for the first days of 2027.
Two very different ships
Paradise is the line's first and smallest ship. Built in 1991 as Costa Classica, she carries about 1,300 guests and sails short cruises from the Port of Palm Beach to Grand Bahama, Nassau, Bimini and Key West. She had a rough week recently: bad weather kept her out of Palm Beach for an extra day.
Islander is the bigger of the two, at 85,619 gross tons and about 2,100 guests. She began life in 2000 as Costa Atlantica, joined Margaritaville at Sea after a refit in Belfast in 2024, and sails four- to ten-night cruises from Tampa. Her three-story LandShark Bar by the pool is a good spot for a Candy Cane Colada.
The Black Friday sale
The line is pairing the holiday news with an Early Access Black Friday promotion. It offers 65% off cruise fares, plus free fares for third and fourth guests on select sailing dates. A free fare typically means the cruise fare only, so expect taxes, fees and port charges for each guest. Read the terms on the line's site before you book.
Is a holiday cruise right for you?
A short holiday sailing can be an easy way to give the family a trip instead of more presents, and it takes the cooking off your plate. The catch is price: Christmas and New Year's weeks are some of the most popular dates of the year. If the holiday dates are full or too pricey, the celebration runs well beyond them, so a cruise in early December can deliver the same décor, drinks and show, often at a lower price.
More onMargaritaville at Sea