Most people have heard of cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian. However, did you know that the famous Margaritaville brand has a cruise line?
Margaritaville at Sea is a relatively new player in the industry, having only launched its first ship in 2022. Paradise set sail in 2022 from Palm Beach, Florida, on quick 2-night sailings to the Bahamas.
The brand expanded with the launch of a larger vessel, Islander, in 2024. This marked a major step forward for Margaritaville's cruise line, with better stateroom options, new dining venues, a redesigned beverage program, and more.
They aren't showing any signs of slowing down either. Whether you're a loyal Parrot Head or just looking for an affordable escape to The Bahamas or Caribbean, here's everything you need to know about Margaritaville At Sea.
Margaritaville at Sea ships
With just two ships in service, Margaritaville at Sea's fleet is considerably smaller than more established brands like Royal Caribbean or Carnival.
However, they announced that they're acquiring Costa Fortuna. After undergoing extensive renovations, the ship will enter service for Margaritaville in 2026 as the Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber.
Still, with the largest ship currently measuring under 90,000 gross registered tons, the fleet is far more modest, even with the addition of the Beachcomber. As such, it's clear the line is focusing on a laid-back, niche experience instead of competing with newer mega-ships like Icon of the Seas and MSC World America.
Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber size
- Gross tonnage (based on Costa Fortuna's current ship statistics): 102,669
- Length: 893 feet
- Number of passengers (maximum occupancy, based on Costa Fortuna's current ship statistics): 3,470
Margaritaville at Sea Islander size
- Gross tonnage: 85,619
- Length: 960 feet
- Number of passengers: 2,650
Margaritaville at Sea Paradise size
- Gross tonnage: 52,926
- Length: 723.6 feet
- Number of passengers: 1,680
Read more: Margaritaville at Sea Cruise Ships by Size: Biggest to Smallest
Where does Margaritaville at Sea leave from?
Today, Margaritaville sails from two ports in Florida: the Port of Palm Beach and the Port of Tampa. Islander sails from Tampa, while Paradise sails from Palm Beach.
The address for the Port of Palm Beach is 1 East 11th Street, Riviera Beach, FL 33404. Islander sails from Terminal 6 at Port of Tampa, which is located at 1331 McKay Street, Tampa, FL, 33602.
Margaritaville hasn't revealed where Beachcomber will be located. However, some speculate that it will be Galveston, Texas (again, this has not been confirmed by the cruise line).
Are Magaritaville cruises all-inclusive?
Margaritaville at Sea is not an all-inclusive cruise line.
The base cruise fare includes a lot, though. You don't have to worry about shelling out extra cash for standard beverages (like water, drip coffee, iced tea, and lemonade), food, entertainment, accommodations, and transportation to each port on the itinerary.
It's entirely possible to plan a getaway on one of Margaritaville's ships without spending extra money onboard. However, it's important to manage your expectations, as you'd have to be okay with the limited drink selection and disconnecting from Wi-Fi.
Other things not included on Margaritaville cruises include spa treatments, shore excursions, and alcoholic beverages.
Does Margaritaville at Sea include food?
Margaritaville at Sea's fare includes a lot, but not all, of the restaurants onboard. For example, you can visit the Port of Indecision Buffet as many times as you want during breakfast, lunch, and dinner hours.
Although there are specialty restaurants on Islander and Paradise, there's enough food included on Margaritaville cruises to keep most guests satisfied without spending extra money.
Complimentary dining options on Margaritaville cruise ships
- Port of Indecision Buffet
- Fins Dining
- Cheeseburger in Paradise Burger Bar
- Frank & Lola’s Pizzeria
- Mexican Cutie Cantina (Islander only)
Margaritaville ships also have specialty restaurants that come at an additional cost. Some, such as JWB Prime Steakhouse, have a flat, per-person cover charge, whereas others have an à la carte menu, allowing guests to pay only for what they order.
Specialty dining options on Margaritaville cruise ships
- JWB Prime Steakhouse ($55 per person cover charge)
- Margaritaville Coffee Shop (à la carte pricing)
- Tiki Grill (Islander only, à la carte pricing)
- Far Side Sushi (à la carte pricing)
- Island Eats (Islander only, à la carte pricing)
- Room service (à la carte pricing)
How much does Margaritaville at Sea Wi-Fi cost?
Margaritaville at Sea offers two internet packages: the Coconut Telegraph Premium Package and the Coconut Telegraph Basic Package.
Starting at $29.99 per night, the Coconut Telegraph Premium Package is the more expensive of the two but ideal for those who plan on streaming videos, video chatting, or staying active on social media throughout their cruise.
The Basic Package, while more affordable at $24.99 per day, is limited to slower browsing.
Margaritaville at Sea drink package
If you don't purchase a Margaritaville at Sea drink package, you are limited to the beverages included in your base fare, such as water, coffee, tea, and lemonade. However, if you want to enjoy cocktails, soda, wine by the glass, or bottled water, you'll need to either pay per drink or purchase one of the ship's beverage packages.
Read more: I tried Margaritaville at Sea's drink package that costs $81 per day. I loved the cocktail selection
Unlimited Beverage Chill
Unlimited Beverage Chill is Margaritaville's only alcoholic drink package. It's priced dynamically based on the length of the sailing. However, it starts at $64.99 per person, per night, excluding the 20% mandatory service charge. It includes the following:
- All beers, wine by the glass, cocktails, and specialty drinks valued at up to $20
- Unlimited soda and 500ml bottled water
- Juices, mocktails, and bottled/canned non-alcoholic beverages
- 25% off the menu price for wine and champagne by the bottle
- Does not include bottles of liquor or beer, blender cups or blender cup refills, beverages ordered from room service, specialty coffee drinks, or mini-bar purchases
Something else to be aware of with the Unlimited Beverage Chill Package is that it isn't actually unlimited. Although you can get as many non-alcoholic drinks as you want, you're limited to 15 alcoholic beverages per day.
Moreover, it's only available to guests 21+, and it is required for all adults staying in the same cabin. This is to prevent the package from being shared.
Unlimited Soda Package
The only other beverage package available on Margaritaville cruise ships is the Unlimited Soda Package. At $10 per person, per night, it's more affordable than the Unlimited Beverage Chill Package; however, it is not as inclusive:
- Signature Margaritaville at Sea Souvenir Cup (1 per package)
- Unlimited refills of fountain sodas
Is the Margaritaville at Sea drink package worth it?
Whether it's worth it or not depends on the type of drinker you are. Before deciding, it's important to know how much the drinks cost à la carte:
- Most cocktails fall between $10.00 and $15.00
- Wines by the glass vary but average between $10.00 and $15.00
- Domestic beers cost $8.50, while imported and craft beers cost up to $10.00
- Specialty poolside shots are $7.00
- Ciders and seltzers cost $9.00
- Specialty coffees and milkshakes range from $3.00 to $6.00
Unlike other lines, Margaritaville doesn't let guests carry on limited quantities of wine or soda on embarkation day. Without that option, you might be more inclined to splurge on one of the packages.
Can I use the Margaritaville at Sea casino?
Margaritaville at Sea's Paradise and Islander both have casinos onboard with games like slots, blackjack, roulette, craps, and more.
They're only open when the ships are in international waters. So, when docked in ports like Freeport or Cozumel, the casino is closed, just like other mainstream cruise lines.
Earlier this year, Margaritaville launched a brand-new Players Club Casino Loyalty Program that's arguably one of the best casino programs at sea. From status matching for new players to tiered rewards for loyal gamblers, the program is designed to appeal to casual players and high rollers alike.
Highlights include:
- Industry-leading status match from any verified casino program on land or at sea
- Free drinks for eligible casino guests while actively playing
- New tiers with perks like complimentary cruises, spa credits, free specialty dining, and more
What is the Margaritaville at Sea Heroes Sail Free deal?
In 2022, Margaritaville at Sea launched a new program in partnership with GOVX. Dubbed "Heroes Sail Free," the program has welcomed more than 100,000 Heroes, including U.S. active and former duty military members, first responders, medical professionals, government workers, and educators, aboard its two ships for a free vacation.
At the time of publication, Margaritaville's Heroes Sail Free offer was for a free cruise for two in a Cozy Interior Stateroom on select sailings aboard Islander and Paradise.
Not only that, but all eligible Heroes receive an extra 20% all retail offers, ensuring they always get the best prices.
Note that it's important to read the fine print, as the offer doesn't include taxes, fees, or other port expenses, which are due at the time of booking.
Heroes must also be verified through GOVX.
Margaritaville at Sea reviews from our team
Margaritaville at Sea has been subject to controversial reviews since Paradise launched in 2022. However, they've taken a lot of the criticism to heart and improved their experience over time.
When I sailed on Margaritaville at Sea's Islander, I was impressed with my spacious suite, the quality of the dining options, the drink variety, and the laid-back vibe of the ship. It was my friend's first cruise as an adult, and she even commented that she'd be willing to sail with Margaritaville again.
Perhaps one of the most surprising aspects of the trip was the dining. We didn't have one bad meal on the ship, from the juicy burgers at Cheeseburger in Paradise Burger Bar to the poolside tacos from Mexican Cutie Cantina and JWB's tender filet.
It wasn't a luxury voyage by any means, but for the price, it definitely delivered on a low-cost, easygoing cruise getaway.
For more detailed insights, check out what our Cruise.Blog writers had to say in their Margaritaville at Sea reviews:
- I tried a cruise line I'd always overlooked (Islander)
- I've been on over 25 cruises. Royal Caribbean and Carnival are great, but travelers shouldn't forget about this lesser-known cruise line (Islander)
- I went on my first cruise as an adult. I enjoyed the food and entertainment more than I thought (Islander)
- I went back onboard Margaritaville at Sea to see what has been improved (Paradise)
- What it's like to sail on a very short & cheap 2-night Margaritaville at Sea cruise (Paradise)
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she traveled frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas during her freshman year of high school. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
