Margaritaville at Sea Paradise arrived at Port of Palm Beach two days before its inaugural sailing on May 12.
The cruise line provided invited guests with an unforgettable 24-hour experience that included a christening ceremony in the Stars on the Water theater and a surprise performance from Jimmy Buffet.
The ship took its maiden voyage Thursday, May 12.
It returned to the Port the following day to continue on board festivities.
Port of Palm Beach Commissioners and staff welcomed Margaritaville at Sea Paradise at a plaque exchange ceremony on board the newly christened cruise ship.
Margaritaville at Sea Paradise will set sail Saturday, May 14 for its first passenger sailing from the Port of Palm Beach to Grand Bahama Island.
“After months of anticipation, it’s exciting to see the transformation of the cruise terminal and the ship,” said Port of Palm Beach District Board of Commission Chairman Blair Ciklin.
Immediately upon embarkation, guests will be transported into a vacation state of mind-greeted by island-inspired music and friendly “Fins Up Crew” team members. Margaritaville at Sea Paradise is 723 feet-long with 658 staterooms that can accommodate almost 1,700 passengers. The ship offers 11 food and beverage venues, a Broadway-style show written and produced by Jimmy Buffett and Frank Marshall, a St. Somewhere Spa and more.
To mark the occasion, Port Executive Director Manuel Almira presented the captain of the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise with a commemorative plaque.
“We are honored to serve as the ships’ home port,” said Port Executive Director Manuel Almira. “Margaritaville at Sea Paradise will bring a positive economic impact to the City of Riviera Beach, Palm Beach County and the State of Florida with its one-of-a-kind cruise experience.”
The Port of Palm Beach is a short five-minute walk to the Riviera Beach Marina Village where cruise passengers can grab a bite to eat at a local restaurant or enjoy several recreational water watersports including paddle boarding, kayaking, parasailing, jet skiing, and more.
The Port’s proximity to the Port of Palm Beach International Airport is just 15 minutes,
Cruise passengers looking to travel further south, can take a quick ride to the West Palm Beach Bright Line Station or the nearby Tri-Rail station in Mangonia Park. Both services provide connectivity to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International and Miami International Airports.