MARGARITAVILLE AT SEA

'CHANGES IN LATITUDES, CHANGES IN ATTITUDES'

Written by: Dave Kelly

Sometimes you simply need to get away. But a long flight on a jam-packed airplane or days of driving just to reach your destination is not what you had in mind.

Maybe your best bet is just a floating island vacation at sea!

Enter the new Margaritaville at Sea Paradise cruise liner. Her sailing concept is simple—a 3-day, 2-night “microvacation” where you chill out, indulge in delicious food and drink, take in a show or two and soak up the sun.

This 1,300-passenger, 14-deck beauty, formerly named Grand Classica and cruising for the Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, had her inaugural voyage for the Margaritaville at Sea cruise line in May 2022.

And she has not looked back.

The schedule for the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise is uniquely simple. Passengers board for their trip from noon on Day 1, experience two days and nights of sailing and disembark early on Day 3.

Because of the ship’s non-stop scheduling, your departure can occur any day, allowing for great flexibility in scheduling early-week, late-week or weekend cruise times. It sounded like the perfect relaxing break that we needed.

Suite Deals

Part of this ship’s appeal is its centralized docking location in the smaller Port of Palm Beach, making embarkation less hectic than in most other Florida cruise line ports.

In fact, parking to board here was a breeze: you simply off-load luggage and passengers at the valet in front of the cruise terminal and head inside to check in while your car is safely parked on site.

The MVAS Paradise has the typical cruise cabin choices, but we decided to indulge on a Grand Terrace Suite, one of only ten, situated high up on Deck 10.

These cabins consist of two huge rooms, both with access to a curving balcony that overlooks the seascape from midship. Amazingly, the rates for these suites were less than what you might expect to pay for porthole rooms on other ships, and we could not have been happier with our choice.

The sweeping vistas of the harbor and wind in our hair as we left the port reminded us of why we chose to cruise with Margaritaville at Sea.

In addition to the impressive cabins, the MVAS Paradise offers up access to eight dining venues and five bars and lounges, many named after Jimmy Buffet’s song lyrics. Food at Fins Dining Room and the Port of Indecision Buffet is included in your ticket price.

For a small upcharge you can grab cheeseburgers like we did at the 5 O’clock Somewhere Bar & Grill, or dine at the JWB Prime Steakhouse, where you can feast on a high-end dinner or a champagne breakfast. A pizzeria and a coffee shop are also available for the perfect change of pace.

As with most cruises, there are available upgrades. We pre-purchased the Boat Drinks package, which included beer, specialty cocktails, wine and any cool concoction of our choosing. We also booked some additional upgrades, including the License to Chill package that included priority boarding, dinner packages, credits at the St. Somewhere spa, a private concierge and more.

Margaritaville at Sea has also recently partnered with New Yorkbased Tipsy Scoop, a fast growing company that offers cocktail-inspired, liquor-infused ice cream and other frozen treats. We especially enjoyed the Blue Margarita Sorbet, a refreshing blend of Margaritaville Spirits Silver Tequila, blue curaçao, fresh lime juice and salt. It was the perfect island treat for our trip.

GOOD, TROPICAL AND FUN

No cruise is complete without onsite entertainment … and our trip was no exception. The musical performance “Tales from Margaritaville: Jimmy’s Ship Show” was featured each night in the Oasis Room. Written and produced by Jimmy Buffett and acclaimed producer Frank Marshall, the routine showcased all that is good, tropical and fun about the Jimmy Buffet experience. The performers were passionate and the mood was light and melodic.

In fact, the show was so engaging that we even joined in on the fun during the show’s dance finale.

Rounding out the shipboard amenities is the Margaritaville Casino, which features new slot machines, up-to-the-minute sports betting and table-game favorites such as blackjack, craps and Texas Hold’em. Join the Player’s Club Loyalty Program and you’ll earn your way to free rewards and player benefits with every dollar played at the casino.

Although we did not see many children on the ship, they do offer up a Kid’s Club, which helps to entertain the young ones in three different age groups and schedules activities from 3 p.m. till midnight each day so you can relax or party while knowing that the kids are being taken care of.

Waking up on Day 2 we were docked at Grand Bahama Island. Although some folks remained on the ship and enjoyed some relaxation, most guests did disembark and partake in one or more of the many activities that the ship’s crew coordinated. You might consider Swimming With The Pigs, for instance, frolicking in the crystalline sea with the famous Bahamian swimming pigs.

There is also a Dolphin Swim, which includes diving and learning dolphin hand signals. There are even “Day at The Beach” trips to Viva Wyndham or Taino Beach, where your all-inclusive day allows you to soak up the sun by the pool or the beach at a gorgeous Bahamian resort.

If you are looking to extend your vacation, Margaritaville at Sea offers 4- and 6-night all-inclusive getaways. These invite you to combine the fun of your 2-night cruise with a luxurious resort stay in Grand Bahama.

You can turn your 3-day cruise into so much more.

The Margaritaville at Sea team also offers occasional special rate programs. They often feature full-rate discounts for active and veteran military, first responders, law enforcement officers and educators. They also include discounts for groups and weddings.

So, we put on our flip-flops, ordered our cheeseburgers in paradise and took the Margaritaville at Sea motto to heart— Relax, unwind, and get in your ocean state of mind. FCM