On Monday, December 4, 2023, Margaritaville at Sea confirmed they are adding a second ship to its fleet–Margaritaville at Sea Islander. She will serve as the cruise line’s flagship from Tampa, Florida.
Beginning June 14, 2024, the reimagined ship will offer four- and five-night cruises with ports of call in Key West, Cozumel, and Progreso. The itineraries expand availability to the Gulf of Mexico and allow for more sea days designed to “fully immerse guests in the Margaritaville state of mind.”
“Since we launched our first ship, Margaritaville at Sea Paradise, last year, we’ve been working to expand what our guests have been asking for: more amazing views, longer itineraries, and new ports of call,” said Christopher Ivy, CEO of Margaritaville at Sea. “The addition of the Islander is an exciting moment for Margaritaville at Sea and marks the next chapter of growth for our business. We are also pleased to add Tampa as a new homeport – the perfect location to provide access to our adventurous new itineraries in and around the Gulf of Mexico.”
Paul Anderson, President and CEO of Port Tampa Bay said, “We’re honored Margaritaville at Sea has chosen Port Tampa Bay to homeport this new addition to their fleet and we welcome them to the Gulf Coast. Our port’s cruise terminals are easy to navigate and provide a variety of unique and interesting activities just steps from the Margaritaville at Sea Islander. The ship will be a great addition to our portfolio of cruise lines and a fantastic new option for cruisers from Florida’s west coast.”
Margaritaville at Sea Islander is currently in Europe receiving an extensive transformation. The cruise line is completely redesigned all 1,100 staterooms with “custom styling reminiscent of the sand, sea and sky.” The new furnishing will reflect Margaritaville’s signature bedding, pillows and linens. The ship has more than 700 Breezy Balcony staterooms, Grand Terrace Suites, luxurious Corner Suites and ultra-exclusive Islander suites–something for everyone.
Margaritaville at Sea Islander will feature a 14-story atrium with a “unique nautical Margaritaville flip flop’ along with an atrium bar that boasts of three multi-story floating margarita glass chandeliers. The ship will include innovations like the only three-story poolside LandShark Bar at Sea, a Margaritaville-inspired cornhole and mini-golf course, Caribbean Amphibian Splash and Slide, a family-friendly space, and signature favorites like JWB Prime Steakhouse and Rita’s Taco House. Alongside the new spaces and experiences guests will find favorites such as Paradise Pickleball at Sea, Frank and Lola’s PIzzeria, Margaritaville Coffee Shop, and Cheeseburger in Paradise.
“We are excited to expand our cruise line with the launch of Margaritaville at Sea Islander as our flagship vessel,” said John Cohlan, CEO of Margaritaville Holdings. “The addition of this ship will allow our guests to visit more island destinations and, while at sea, enjoy a broader and more elevated range of fun and signature Margaritaville onboard experiences.”
Margaritaville at Sea Islander’s inaugural sailing from Port Tampa Bay, Florida will be a 4-night sailing on June 14, 2024. The itinerary will feature a port of call in Cozumel, Mexico and two seas days.