- Margaritaville has partnered with Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line to launch Margaritaville at Sea.
- The new cruise brand's first ship, Margaritaville Paradise, will begin sailing from Florida in April.
- The Margaritaville hospitality empire has been expanding throughout 2021.
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Margaritaville's new cruise brand will still begin sailing out of Florida in April — see inside its first ship
Jan 5, 2022, 12:24 PM ET
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In December 2021, hospitality giant Margaritaville announced Margaritaville at Sea, the company's own cruise brand.
Source: Margaritaville at Sea
And if you're eager to nibble on sponge cake and watch the sun bake (at sea), you won't have to wait too long. The company's first cruise will sail in April from the Port of Palm Beach Florida to Grand Bahama Island.
Source: Margaritaville at Sea
This announcement came before the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended all travelers — vaccinated or not — avoid cruising as COVID-19 cases continue to spike aboard cruise ships amid the spread of the Omicron variant.
But rising COVID-19 cases and the CDC's warning haven't changed the trajectory of Margaritaville's cruise brand unveil: The company will continue targeting its springtime sailing, Brad Schwaeble, Margaritaville's COO, told Insider in a statement.
Margaritaville partnered with Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line — which rebranded to Margaritaville at Sea — for the new cruise brand, according to a press release. Oneil Khosa, Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line CEO's, will remain as Margaritaville at Sea's CEO.
Source: Margaritaville at Sea
Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line's flagship ship, the Grand Classica, will also serve as the new cruise brand's first ship.
"The collaborative concept will add a different dimension to the cruising industry, appealing to a new audience of travelers," Khosa said in the press release.
The 10-passenger deck cruise ship has since undergone a "multi-million investment and refurbishment" to fit the Margaritaville brand.
Source: Margaritaville at Sea
This includes its 658 cabins, which are all adorned with the recognizable tropical and nautical Margaritaville look.
Many of the ship's amenities — like the inclusion of a buffet and coffee shop — are no different from that of a typical cruise.
The ship will also have the classic leisure and entertainment options, like a casino, a theater for entertainment, a spa, a gym, pools, and shopping options.
The big difference is the Margaritaville branded dining options that could be recognizable to any fan, including Prime Steak and Seafood and Frank and Lola's Pizzeria. Both are available at several land-based Margaritaville locations.
And it wouldn't be a Margaritaville cruise ship without plenty of drinking options. The ship has a branded sports bar, lounge, and two bars. This includes the 5 o'Clock Somewhere Bar, a staple for the brand and the perfect place to "waste away again."
Margaritaville is currently working with Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line for onboard health protocols, Schwaeble said. The latter cruise brand's policies currently include a COVID-19 vaccine mandate and mask wearing while indoors.
Source: Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line