Sarah Bretz, ContributorMargaritaville at Sea debuted in 2022, rebranding Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line into a more tropical and music-focused cruise line. The line’s first ship, Margaritaville at Sea Paradise, operated two-night sailings to and from Freeport, Grand Bahama from the Port of Palm Beach. Since then, the line has added an additional ship that offers longer cruises, and has announced that a third will be joining the fleet next year. Here’s our overview on the Margaritaville at Sea cruise ships.
Our Guide to the Margaritaville at Sea Cruise Ships (2025)
How many cruise ships does Margaritaville at Sea have?
There are currently two ships in the Margaritaville at Sea fleet: Margaritaville at Sea Paradise and Margaritaville at Sea Islander. A third vessel, the current Costa Fortuna, is set to leave Costa Cruises and join the Margaritaville fleet in 2026.
More details on each of the Margaritaville at Sea cruise ships can be found below:
Where do the Margaritaville cruise ships sail from?
Margaritaville at Sea Paradise operates three and four-night cruises to the Bahamas from West Palm Beach, Florida. Margaritaville at Sea Islander sails four to seven-night cruises from Tampa to Key West and the western Caribbean.
The cruise line has not announced a homeport or itineraries for its third ship yet, but there is speculation that it will sail from Galveston, Texas.
Margaritaville at Sea Ships By Size: Smallest to Largest
- Margaritaville at Sea Paradise: 52,926 gross tons / 1,680 guests
- Margaritaville at Sea Islander: 85,619 gross tons / 2,650 guests
- Not-Yet-Named Third Ship: 102,669 gross tons / about 3,450 guests
Margaritaville at Sea Paradise
History of Margaritaville at Sea Paradise
Margaritaville at Sea Paradise began life as Costa Cruises’ Costa Classica in 1991. Following an extensive renovation, the vessel was renamed Costa neoClassica in 2014. In 2018, the ship was sold to Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line and was again renamed Grand Classica.
In 2022, Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line was rebranded as Margaritaville at Sea in partnership with Margaritaville Resorts & Hotels. With that rebrand, the ship was again renamed — becoming Margaritaville at Sea Paradise.
Restaurants and Bars
There are a number of restaurants aboard Margaritaville at Sea Paradise. Classic cruise spots (aka the buffet and main dining room) are the Port of Indecision Buffet and Fins Dining. Quick casual eats can be found at Frank & Lola’s Pizzeria and the 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar and Grill that, among other things, allows you to customize your own burger. For more elevated dining, JWB Prime Steakhouse is a great dinnertime option, along with Asian-Fusion sushi bar Far Side Sushi.
You can pull up a seat and grab a drink at bars including Hemisphere Dancer Craft Spirits, the 12 Volt Bar at the aft of the ship, the main pool’s bar License to Chill, and the indoor-outdoor 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar and Grill. Entertainment areas including the Euphoria Lounge, Hemisphere Nightclub, and Keys on the Water karaoke lounge also feature their own bars.
Amenities and Entertainment
It’s difficult to be bored on Margaritaville cruise ships, as you can enjoy live music, swimming pools, bingo, mini golf, the casino, and poolside activities throughout the day, and themed parties, karaoke, game shows, and scavenger hunts in the evening. Stage shows are also offered, including Caribbean Heat — a vibrant and energetic show filled with tropical music, dancing, and acrobatics. Radio Margaritaville: Live at Sea is a musical celebration of all things Margaritaville, perfect for Parrotheads of all ages. And speaking of all ages, youth clubs are also onboard for kids and teens.
Staterooms
Margaritaville at Sea Paradise has a variety of accommodations to choose from. Standard categories include interior cabins (no windows) and oceanview staterooms with large picture windows or portholes. There are also suites on board, including Junior Suites with separate sleeping and living areas and Grand Terrace Suites with a balcony, large jetted tub, and more.
Margaritaville at Sea Islander
History of Margaritaville at Sea Islander
Margaritaville at Sea Islander was built in 2000 as Costa Atlantica for Costa Cruises. The Spirit-class ship was sold to Chinese line CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping (now Adora Cruises) in 2019. It was then sold to Margaritaville at Sea in 2023, entering service for its current line in 2024 as Margaritaville at Sea Islander.
Restaurants and Bars
Like Margaritaville at Sea Paradise, Islander features the Port of Indecision Buffet and the Fins Dining main dining room. The 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar and Grill and Frank & Lola’s Pizzeria are also found on board. Margaritaville at Sea Islander offers another casual dining option by the pool: Mexican Cutie Cantina. There, you can build your own street tacos and breakfast burritos.
If you’re looking to celebrate a special occasion or just want an upgrade for dinner, Islander includes a few specialty dining restaurants. JWB Prime Steakhouse offers classic steakhouse fare, and Far Side Sushi serves up fun dishes like Crunchy Volcano Rolls, Sea-Cuterie Boards, and ramen bowls. If you’re looking for a quieter evening sans kids, head to one of the two adults-only casual venues on board: Island Eats and Tiki Grill.
The world’s only three-story LandShark Bar can be found on the pool deck aboard Islander, offering two decks of seating. If you’re looking for the best spot to catch the sunset, consider grabbing a cocktail at The Tiki Bar, located at the ship’s aft. Other bars and lounges on board include the 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar, the Flip Flop Atrium Bar, Hemisphere Dancer Craft Spirits, and Havana Daydreamin’ Sports Bar and Lounge. There’s even a champagne bar called Bubbles Up and bars in entertainment lounges including the Coral Reef Lounge, The Far Side Lounge, and the ship’s nightclub.
Amenities and Entertainment
What would a Margaritaville cruise be without music? Thankfully, there’s lots of music to be found across the ship. From live music out on deck during the day and in lounges in the evening to stage shows including Caribbean Heat Remix and the country music-themed Conky Tonkin’ at Sea spectacular, there’s always a place to get your groove on. Activities and amenities around the ship include poolside games, a sports court, mini golf, game shows, comedians, and themed parties. Like on Paradise, Islander also features youth clubs — including a dedicated space for tweens.
Staterooms
Margaritaville at Sea cruise ships have multiple stateroom categories to choose from. On Islander, you can choose a standard accommodation like an interior, oceanview with a picture window, or a balcony. Premium Extended Balcony cabins with extra-large balconies and aft-facing Wake View Balcony staterooms are also great options for a bit more space. Suite categories include Junior Suites, Grand Terrace Suites, Grand Terrace Corner Suites with wraparound balconies, and — the largest of them all — Signature Grand Suites.
Not-Yet-Named Third Ship
History of Costa Fortuna
Margaritaville at Sea’s third vessel is the current Costa Fortuna, which will continue to sail with Costa Cruises until late 2026. It was built for Costa by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, and entered service in fall 2003.
Margaritaville at Sea has not yet revealed what it will rename the ship or what it will change on board. There is also no news yet on where it will sail once it becomes one of the Margaritaville ships.
Comments
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