When Margaritaville at Sea (MAS) took over the Paradise from its former owner, the cruise ship, and a sister ship, was sailing 2-day sailings from West Palm Beach. The ships stopped in Freeport and they were meant to be an inexpensive, quick getaway.
A 2-day trip was meant to give Jimmy Buffett fans (and others) a chance to take a sort of mini vacation. It was a good idea, and the $99 starting price tag for a double occupancy cabin was attractive for many people.
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The problem is that getting on and off a cruise ship for a two-day cruise was a lot of work for less than 48 hours of vacation. MAS partially addressed that by adding a second ship, Islander, sailing 4,5, and 7-day trips out of Tampa.
That ship, which began sailing in June, had debuted to almost unanimously positive reviews. The longer sailings were cited by many as a positive. Now, MAS has added longer sailings on Paradise.
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MAS ships are built around the Jimmy Buffett ethos.
Image source: Dan Kline/Come Cruise With Me
MAS Paradise adding 3 and 4-day sailings
MAS shared that it would add 3-night weekends on Paradise sailing from West Palm Beach.
“Departing on Fridays and returning on Monday mornings, these extended weekend getaways offer the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation. Whether you are soaking up the sun, sipping on a margarita, or engaging in theme night activities, this extra day at sea is your ticket to paradise,” according to a press release.
Those cruise are still generally much cheaper than the 3-day sailings offered by Royal Caribbean and Carnival ships, albeit on a much older ship. Royal Caribbean is actually using its newest Oasis-class ship, Utopia of the Seas, to sail weekends out of Port Canaveral.
The cruise line has also added 4-night sailings on Paradise, which will include a stop in a very Buffett-friendly port.
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“On this floating island vacation, guests can soak up the sun and enjoy a wide variety of onboard entertainment, chill with colorful characters in Key West, and then lounge on white sandy beaches or swim in the pristine waters of Grand Bahama Island,” MAS shared.
Paradise offers “endless entertainment, including two Stars on the Water shows – Caribbean Heat, and Radio Margaritaville: Live! At Sea. Several dining venues feature a variety of cuisine, while bars and lounges provide non-stop excitement paired with premium cocktails,” according to the cruise line. The ship also features the St. Somewhere Spa, Fins Up! Fitness Center, Fin City Arcade, renovated kids clubs and play areas, the action-packed Margaritaville Casino, pools, hot tubs, and plenty of quiet spaces to soak up the Caribbean sun.”
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