Another cruise line gets on board with boozy ice cream
It's official: Alcohol-infused ice cream and milkshakes are trending on cruise ships.
Florida-based Margaritaville at Sea on Thursday became the third cruise brand in the last two years to begin touting the availability of spiked ice cream concoctions on its vessels, joining Virgin Voyages and Royal Caribbean.
The one-ship line announced it had partnered with New York's Tipsy Scoop to bring liquor-infused ice cream and other frozen treats to the decks of its 1,308-passenger Margaritaville at Sea Paradise.
Available exclusively to passengers 21 and older, the new boozy offerings include Blue Margarita, a tequila-infused sorbet, and Bahama Mama, a coconut rum-infused ice cream.
For more cruise news, guides and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter.
Both concoctions are made with Margaritaville Spirits brand liquors and were created exclusively for the ship.
In addition to tequila, the Blue Margarita sorbet is infused with blue curacao, fresh lime juice and salt. Bahama Mama ice cream is made with fresh oranges, pineapple juice and a touch of grenadine in addition to coconut rum. Other signature Tipsy Scoop flavors are available as well.
Passengers on Margaritaville at Sea can also order a boozy milkshake made with the Tipsy Scoop flavors and two different types of alcohol-enhanced sundaes, the latter of which are served in a specialty branded Margaritaville blender cup.
The two types of sundaes feature scoops of either the Blue Margarita sorbet or Bahama Mama ice cream along with traditional ice cream, a single serving of liquor, toppings and edible adornments.
Guests can order the various options, which contain up to 5% alcohol, in the vessel's main dining room (Fins), at the ship's Margaritaville Coffee Shop and from a roaming Tipsy Scoop pushcart.
Prices range from $5 for a single scoop of either the sorbet or the ice cream (or $8 for two scoops) to $15 for a full-blown frozen sorbet or ice cream "cocktail."
“We’re thrilled to partner with Tipsy Scoop and serve up this unique new signature amenity for our guests," Margaritaville at Sea president and CEO Kevin Sheehan, Jr. said in a statement accompanying the announcement.
“Guests know our amazing bartenders always have booze in the blender, but these new options blend the magic of Tipsy Scoop’s artisanal, hand-crafted ice cream with the mastery of a perfectly mixed cocktail for next-level fun with an island vibe."
Starting this week, the alcohol-infused sorbet and ice cream will also be available on land at three Tipsy Scoop ice cream parlors, which the company calls "barlours," in New York City. You can order them online, too.
Margaritaville's announcement about adding boozy ice cream concoctions follows in the wake of Virgin's launch of spiked milkshakes at The Social Club bars on its vessels in 2021.
In recent months, Royal Caribbean has also begun touting spiked milkshakes as a feature of a new ice cream venue called Desserted that will debut on its next vessel, Icon of the Seas, in January 2024.
Margaritaville at Sea is a small cruise line that specializes in short, two-night cruises to Grand Bahama Island from Palm Beach, Florida. Its one ship features venues themed around the Jimmy Buffett song "Margaritaville."
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
Top offers from our partners
How we chose these cards
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Rewards Rate
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles50,000 Bonus MilesAnnual Fee
$250Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.670-850Excellent/Good
Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees