Paradise, Islander, or Beachcomber: which Margaritaville at Sea ship is right for you?

Margaritaville at Sea sails three ships, and they are not interchangeable. Where you live, how many nights you have, and what you want to do onboard all point toward one ship more than the others. Here is the plain-English version.

The quick answer

• Paradise sails from the Port of Palm Beach on short getaways of 2 to 5 nights. It is the easiest first taste of Margaritaville at Sea.
• Islander sails from Port Tampa Bay on trips of 4 to 10 nights. It is the pick for Western and Southern Caribbean itineraries, with the widest choice of week-long trips.
• Beachcomber is the newest and largest ship in the fleet. It sails from PortMiami starting January 9, 2027 (4 to 9 nights) and from the Port of Galveston starting October 4, 2027 (4 and 7 nights).

Paradise: the easy escape

Paradise carries about 1,316 guests, which makes it the most intimate ship in the fleet. Its short trips from Palm Beach head to the Bahamas, Key West, and beyond. Onboard you will find the market-style High Tide Market food hall with five included stations, Fins Dining, and Cheeseburger in Paradise. Far Side Sushi is a specialty option, and the adults-only pool and 12 Volt Bar sit at the back of the ship with the best views and breezes.

Choose Paradise if you want a long weekend, you are testing the Margaritaville at Sea vibe, or you live near South Florida and want to skip the airport.

Islander: the full week

Islander is built for longer sailings. Its showpieces are a 14-story tropical atrium with the Flip Flop Atrium Bar in the middle and the first three-story poolside LandShark Bar, with a lookout tower and a big outdoor screen. It has five included restaurants, including Fins Dining, the Port of Indecision Buffet, and Mexican Cutie Cantina, plus a dozen-plus bars, a casino, kids' clubs, and an adults-only Tiki Bar with wake views.

Choose Islander if you want 7 nights or more, you are bringing kids or a multigenerational group, or you want a ship with plenty to do on sea days.

Beachcomber: the newest ship

Beachcomber is the largest ship in the fleet, at more than 102,000 gross tons, with 10 stateroom types from cozy interiors to corner suites. Its headline venue is Zac Brown's Same Boat, billed by the cruise line as the first artist-curated live music venue at sea. It also debuts three original shows (Friday Night Country, Red, White & Margaritaville, and Club Fuego) and the World's Largest 5 o'Clock Somewhere bar. Two specialty restaurants, F&L Trattoria and Floridays, are exclusive to Beachcomber.

Choose Beachcomber if you want the newest ship, you love live music, or you are sailing from Miami or Galveston. Galveston is a first for Margaritaville at Sea, so Texas and Gulf Coast cruisers can sail without flying. See cruises from Galveston for every date we have.

One cost difference to know about

The cruise line publishes a fuel supplement that differs by ship. As of June 1, 2024, it was $0 per person, per night on Islander and $15 per person, per night on Paradise. Supplements can change, so ask for the current figure for your sailing before you book.