A Parrothead’s paradise: Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville empire is getting into cruises
Get ready to be nibblin' on sponge cake and watchin' the sun bake from the deck of a cruise ship.
That's right, Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville is getting into the cruise business.
The company behind hotels, resorts and restaurants themed around Buffett's famed 1977 song on Wednesday announced it would add Margaritaville-themed cruises to its lineup starting in 2022.
Dubbed Margaritaville at Sea, the company's new cruise program will begin in April with sailings on the 1,680-passenger Grand Classica, a 30-year-old ship that is being rebranded as Margaritaville Paradise, the company said.
Originally built for Costa Cruises, the 10-deck-high vessel currently is operated by West Palm Beach, Florida-based Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, which will be a partner in the new venture.
In its announcement, Margaritaville said the new Margaritaville-branded sailings would offer the same "fun, escapism and state of mind" as is found at its other venues.
"To me, the only thing better than being on a beach by the ocean, is to be on the ocean. Now you can follow in our wake," Buffett said in a statement accompanying the announcement.
Related: The ultimate guide to picking a cruise line
Margaritaville said Margaritaville Paradise would sail to Grand Bahama Island in the Bahamas out of Palm Beach, Florida, starting on April 30.
The ship will undergo a multimillion dollar overhaul in advance of the sailings that will bring Margaritaville's signature casual-luxe design to the ship's cabins and public areas, the company said.
The overhaul will include the addition of Margaritaville-themed venues such as a LandShark Sports Bar, a Margaritaville Coffee & Pastry Shop and a 5 o'Clock Somewhere Bar.
The venture is being done in partnership with Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, which is known for quick, two-night getaways to the Bahamas out of the Port of Palm Beach. Grand Classica is the line's only ship.
"We're excited about this new partnership as we launch Margaritaville at Sea out of the Port of Palm Beach," Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line CEO Oneil Khosa said in a statement. "We are incredibly proud of what we've built at Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line and ... excited about this next phase of our evolution."
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."
Margaritaville Paradise will make its debut with two-night getaways to Grand Bahamas Island from the Port of Palm Beach, the same itinerary offered by Grand Classica under its previous branding.
The new partnership isn't the first time the Margaritaville brand has appeared at sea. Norwegian Cruise Line has had Margaritaville-themed restaurants and bars on some ships in recent years.
Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:
- The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
- The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
- A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
- 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
- 15 ways cruisers waste money
- 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
- What to pack for your first cruise
TPG featured card
at Capital One's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 5X miles | Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
| 2X miles | Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day |
Pros
- Stellar welcome offer of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, a $250 Capital One Travel credit to use in your first cardholder year upon account opening.
- You'll earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, which means you won't have to worry about memorizing bonus categories
- Rewards are versatile and can be redeemed for a statement credit or transferred to Capital One’s transfer partners
Cons
- Highest bonus-earning categories only on travel booked via Capital One Travel
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Top rated mobile app