Ship boat

Margaritaville’s first cruise ship is now leaving Florida

May 22, 2022May 22, 2022 Richard P. Wanner Comments Off

If you fancy a vacation at sea with the possibility of wasting away (again), Jimmy Buffett’s hotel empire has you covered.

Brittany Chang / Insider

…and it’s everything you’d expect from a Margaritaville floating resort.

A window overlooking a shipping area.

On May 14, the Margaritaville began passenger sailings aboard its first ship, the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise.

People sitting outside around a swimming pool.

The company’s cruise arm may be new, but the ship is already over 30 years old.

Lounge chairs surrounding an outdoor swimming pool.

Margaritaville has partnered with Florida-based Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line to create the new cruise brand.

A bar on the second floor of an outdoor space.

Brittany Chang / Insider

This latest cruise brand has since adopted the Margaritaville at Sea brand…

A person standing next to a large wall of windows.

Brittany Chang / Insider

…and its flagship, the Grand Classica, followed the same route.

A bar with bartenders, workers, empty seats.

After undergoing a “multi-million dollar investment and refurbishment”, remnants of the cruise ship’s past life have since been stripped down and replaced with…

People order drinks in a bar while bartenders work.

Source: Initiated

…a statue of a giant flip-flop…

A giant statue flip-flop that says "Margaville at sea"

…and the promise of a tropical paradise at sea.

Empty deck chairs under a shaded area.

The Margaritaville ship can sail up to 590 crew members who will then tend to carry up to 1,680 passengers.

people sitting outside

To accommodate these guests, Margaritaville at Sea Paradise has nearly 660 cabins ranging from inside and ocean view cabins (shown below)…

An empty room with a TV, a bed, a window, a photo.

… to junior suites and terrace.

A rendering of the luxurious Grand Terrace Suite on the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise. The suite has a separate bedroom, living room and terrace.

When you’re onboard, you can’t hide from the Margaritaville brand (or, dare I say, culture).

A fish statue next to a staircase, lounge chairs.

Brittany Chang / Insider

Like all of Margaritaville’s hospitality offerings, the cruise ship is a goldmine of Jimmy Buffett credentials.

People seated at tables in an outdoor seating area. Others are at the bar at the back of the room.

Almost every amenity aboard the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise is named after a Jimmy Buffett reference or song, including Frank and Lola’s Pizzeria…

Tables with red and white checkered tablecloth.

… and the Port de l’Indécision Buffet.

A person receiving food at a buffet.

There are also several dining concepts available at the brand’s hotels and resorts, such as License to Chill and 5 o’Clock Somewhere bars.

The 5 o'Clock Somewhere Bar sign on a bright green wall.

The buffet is smaller than those found on today’s modern giant cruise liners, but it still offers a variety of dishes and the crucial pasta and dessert bars.

People are walking around a buffet.

If you’re craving upscale dining, you can pay extra to eat at JWB Prime Steakhouse, an upscale concept available at select Margaritaville hotels.

Steak on a plate and bread in a basket surrounded by crockery at the JWB Prime Steakhouse on the Margaritaville in Sea Paradise.

For more relaxed cruisers, there is also the main dining room, a pizzeria…

A wall with a graphic that says "fins."

Richard P. Wanner

https://modelismonaval.net