Margaritaville at Sea Paradise Gets an Upgrade to be More Like Islander

February 6, 2025 Randy Young

Margaritaville at Sea is a relatively new cruise line with just two cruise ships. Its first ship, the Paradise, launched in 2022 when the Grand Classica was retrofitted for the Jimmy Buffet-inspired cruise line. In 2024, they added a second ship, the Islander, which had a lot of new features and venues which were a hit. Now, Margaritaville announced they’ll be bringing many of these favorites to their first ship in late March.

New Dining and Drink Experiences

Guests aboard Paradise will enjoy a variety of upgraded dining options, bringing some of Islander’s most popular venues to the ship.

Hemisphere Dancer Craft Spirits – This intimate, leather-bound piano lounge will serve up expertly crafted cocktails, including fan-favorites like the Mile High, featuring Woodford Reserve Bourbon with a smoked finish.
Far Side Sushi – A brand-new specialty restaurant serving inventive sushi rolls, small plates, and rice and ramen bowls in a sophisticated, bamboo-accented space.
Frank and Lola’s Pizza – Previously an extra-cost venue, this popular pizzeria will now be included as part of the Port of Indecision Buffet, serving handcrafted pizzas with rotating seasonal flavors.
License to Chill & 12 Volt Bar – The main poolside bar is being transformed into a Key West-inspired beach bar, featuring new drink menus, ping pong, and billiards, while the adults-only 12 Volt Bar gets its own refresh.
JWB Prime Steakhouse – The signature Margaritaville steakhouse is upgrading its menu with expertly paired wines and seasonal specialties while maintaining its highly rated service.

See the Bar Menus

Paradise Visits New Ports from Palm Beach

Margaritaville at Sea Paradise has traditionally sailed to Grand Bahama Island, but now it will add Nassau to its itinerary. When visiting Nassau, guests can enjoy a new excursion: Sail and Splash: Margaritaville Beach Resort Nassau Excursion. This partnership gives Paradise passengers exclusive access to the Fins Up! Water Park and the full resort experience.

The Port of Palm Beach will also get a few upgrades. Like other cruise lines, they’ll implement facial recognition technology for guests with U.S. passports, speeding up the boarding process. Additional parking options, including valet and expanded self-parking, will make arriving and departing even easier.

Entertainment Refresh on Paradise

The Entertainment is also getting a refresh. They’ll be spreading these new, live performances throughout the ship.

Refining the Paradise Experience

If you look at reviews of the Paradise and the Islander, you’ll see quite a difference between the two. Margaritaville at Sea seemed to perfect their offering with the launch of Islander. It’s nice to see them learning and improving their first ship to provide a more consistent experience for the brand.