Frequently Asked Questions

Your fare includes shipboard accommodations, round-trip ocean transportation, all meals (excluding specialty dining options), select beverages (drip coffee, juices, filtered water, and tea), onboard live entertainment, and our supervised kid's programs (charges may apply for after-hours programs).

Taxes, fees and port expenses are not included in the cruise fare, are assessed per person at the time of reservation. If making a deposit, the taxes, fees and port expenses are added to the final total and must be paid according to the payment schedule detailed in our Cancellation Policy prior to finalizing your reservation. Taxes, fees and port expenses include taxes and fees assessed by both departure and destination ports and are separately assessed and added to your final cruise prices to provide transparency for these charges, as they are not part of your cruise fare. These taxes, fees and port expenses are similar to the taxes and tourism fees added to your room fare during hotel stays.

Taxes, fees and port expenses vary by itinerary. You can always check the most up-to-date fee structure during the booking process for any given itinerary.

Parking at each Port of departure is paid to the port based on their parking structure.

Any onboard expenses not pre-paid, like shore excursions, bar beverages, soft drinks, specialty dining, casino, phone calls, kids club fees, photographs, and any items you may choose to purchase not specifically stated are not included in your cruising price. Gratuities* of $20.00 per person, per night for staterooms and $24.00 per person, per night for Suites (as of February 1, 2025) are also additional and automatically added to your stateroom account during your voyage.

*Any gratuities and/or service fees paid by Guest are the property of the Carrier and shall be used by the Carrier in any manner or method and for any purpose that the Carrier deems fit in its sole discretion.

Fuel Supplements may also be added to your stateroom account based on the current fuel rates as per the Ticket Contract. As of June 1, 2024, the Fuel Supplement is $15 per person, per night for guests sailing aboard the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise and $0 per person, per night for guests aboard the Islander.

Taxes, fees and port expenses are not included in the cruise fare, are assessed per person at the time of reservation. If making a deposit, the taxes, fees and port expenses are added to the final total and must be paid according to the payment schedule detailed in our Cancellation Policy prior to finalizing your reservation. Taxes, fees and port expenses include taxes and fees assessed by both departure and destination ports and are separately assessed and added to your final cruise prices to provide transparency for these charges, as they are not part of your cruise fare. These taxes, fees and port expenses are similar to the taxes and tourism fees added to your room fare during hotel stays.

Taxes, fees and port expenses vary by itinerary. You can always check the most up-to-date fee structure during the booking process for any given itinerary.

There are two convenient options for making a payment toward an outstanding cruise reservation balance:

1. Call one of our Customer Service Specialists at 800.814.7100, and they can send you a secure payment link directly to your email. 

2.  Make a partial or full payment online using Cruise Control!

• Cruise Control is Margaritaville at Sea's web-based and mobile-friendly guest management portal designed to let you take total control of your cruise planning experience and customize your adventure before you even step aboard.
• To enter Cruise Control, you’ll need your Booking ID and the last name of the Primary Guest on your cruise reservation. You can find these in your original booking confirmation email. If you can't find your confirmation email, you can also ask Cruise Control to resend your Booking ID to the email on the reservation file.
• After you have fully paid any remaining reservation balance, you'll be able to view and purchase available stateroom upgrades and add on packages, upgrades and excursions to your reservation in Cruise Control.

No refunds will be given to individuals who fail to bring proper documentation.

For updated information on the documentation required to travel on Margaritaville at Sea, please visit our Travel Requirements webpage.

It is important that the name listed on your reservation exactly matches your travel documentation (passport, birth certificate, etc.) or your boarding or disembarkation could be delayed or you could be denied boarding. 

In the event that your name differs between the reservation and the travel documentation (e.g. due to marriage, divorce, legal name change, etc.), you must provide legal documentation supporting this change at check-in/embarkation. Examples of acceptable documentation include marriage license, divorce degree or legal name change court document. All supporting documents must be the original or a notarized copy (photocopies, photographs or reproductions are not accepted). 

Cruise Vacations

Guest completing the booking must be 18 or older at the time of sailing.

Infant Policy

Infants sailing on the MVAS Paradise must be at least 6 months old as of the first day of the cruise. Please be aware that guests travelling with a young infant that does not meet the infant policy will be denied boarding. No refunds or other compensation shall be due from the cruise line to anyone as a result of the denial of boarding to an underage infant or other accompanying guests.

Gambling Policy

Guests eighteen (18) years of age and older are welcome to play in our casinos.

Proof of Age Policy

Margaritaville at Sea reserves the right to ask for proof of age. MVAS’ age policy for gambling and consumption of alcoholic beverages is based on the individual's age on the date of sailing and will determine his or her status for their cruise vacation. However, if a guest celebrates their 21st birthday during the cruise, the guest may thereafter ask the Guest Services Manager to modify ship's records to permit their consumption of alcohol during the remainder of the cruise. The guest will be required to appear at Guest Services with his or her parent or guardian and to present a government issued form of identification to establish that the guest's 21st birthday was celebrated during the cruise

When traveling with a minor where one parent or both parents or legal guardians are not cruising, we strongly recommend bringing an original signed letter or Minor Consent Form from the absent parent(s) or legal guardians authorizing the minor to travel with you. The minor consent form can be found here.

If there is no second parent with legal claims to the minor (due to sole custody, deceased, etc.) other relevant paperwork, such as a court decision, death certificate, birth certificate naming only one parent, would be useful to bring in place of a signed letter. This will expedite processing by United States Customs and Border Protection.

Pregnant guests who enter the 24th week of pregnancy before or at any time during the cruise will not be allowed to sail. Pregnant guests who will not enter the 24th week before or at any time during the cruise must bring a letter from their attending physician certifying that their gestational status is in accordance with this policy and that the expecting mother is fit to sail.

You can enhance your sailing, view reservation detail and more using Cruise Control!

Cruise Control is Margaritaville at Sea's web-based and mobile-friendly guest management portal designed to let you take total control of your cruise planning experience and customize your adventure before you even step aboard.

To enter Cruise Control, you’ll need your Booking ID and the last name of the Primary Guest on your cruise reservation. You can find these in your original booking confirmation email. If you can't find your confirmation email, you can also ask Cruise Control to resend your Booking ID to the email on the reservation file.

Once logged into Cruise Control, you can:

• Make quick, easy and secure payments on outstanding cruise reservation balances (if applicable)
• View and update contact information for all guests sailing in your reservation
• View and purchase available stateroom upgrades*
• Discover and purchase available cruise enhancements, like Signature Packages, Beverage Packages, Specialty Dining, Priority Boarding and more*
• View Arrival and Embarkation Details
• View your party’s Check-In Arrival Window for embarkation (Port Tampa Bay only)
• Download and print your boarding documents (Port Tampa Bay only)

*Please note: These features are only available to guests who do not have an outstanding balance on their cruise reservation. These features will be unlocked once any remaining cruise reservation balance is paid.

Regardless of life events you may face, peace of mind while traveling is essential. Margaritaville at Sea has teamed up with Arch RoamRight to offer you Travel Protection which may help protect you before and during your trip. Among some of the benefits trip cancellation and interruption benefits, sickness and accident medical expense reimbursement, baggage protection and more.

Travel insurance is a great way to help protect yourself and your travel investment. You can’t prevent the unexpected from happening before or during your trip, but you can help to protect your trip investment if it does. Medical treatment or lost luggage can leave you with unexpected and expensive bills, and travel insurance may help reduce the financial impact of these unexpected circumstances, as well as provide assistance in an emergency.

Travel insurance benefits that are included in many Arch RoamRight plans:

• Trip cancellation and interruption benefits
• Lost and delayed baggage benefits
• Coverage for pre-existing conditions, if purchased within 21 days of initial trip deposit (Please review the policy, additional requirements apply)
• Emergency accident and sickness medical expense
• Emergency Medical and security evacuation coverage
• 24/7/365 phone assistance

Get a quote today

For policy questions, call toll free: Phone: 800-699-3845.

Insurance coverages are underwritten by Arch Insurance Company, NAIC #11150, under certain policy series, including LTP 2013 and amendments thereto. Certain terms, conditions, restrictions and exclusions apply, and coverages may vary in certain states. In the event of any conflict between your policy terms and coverage descriptions on this website, the terms and conditions of your policy shall govern.

Check-In, Arrival and Embarkation/Debarkation processes are specific to departure Ports and third-party terminal operations staff and can change over time. Even if you have sailed with Margaritaville at Sea previously, please take a moment to carefully read through all available policies and procedures to make your journey as easy-breezy as possible.

For Guests sailing on The Margaritaville at Sea Islander, the Arrival and Embarkation Guide for Port Tampa Bay can be found here. 

For Guests sailing on The Margaritaville at Sea Paradise, the Arrival and Embarkation Guide for Port of Palm Beach can be found here. 

Please pay close attention to the Port Closure Times listed in the Arrival and Embarkation Guide for your specific departure port. Passengers that arrive after the designated Port Closure Time will be denied boarding and will constitute a "no show," subject to the penalties and fees outlined in our Cancellation Policy.

REVISED JUNE 25, 2024.

As per our Guest Safety and Conduct Policy: 

The minimum drinking age for all alcoholic beverages on Margaritaville at Sea’s® Vessel is 21. If any Guest violates this Policy, we reserve the right to impose a fine on each Guest and/or Travel Party member up to $500, and Guest and/or Travel Party hereby authorizes Margaritaville at Sea® to charge Guest’s and/or Travel Party’s credit or debit card on file, and/or Margaritaville at Sea® may take any other appropriate legal action depending on the severity of the consequences of the infraction of this Policy.

Information about our Drink Packages can be found by going to Packages & Upgrades.

Enjoy the convenience of using your cell phone to keep in touch with friends and family while sailing with us. To use your cell phone on board, you might need to first activate the roaming service by calling your cellular provider. The network will activate when the ship is at sea, out of reach from land, or your regular cellular provider. When the service becomes available, your cellular phone will display either MCP or 901 12 or indicate digital roaming. This service is charged via your home cellular provider at international roaming rates. For exact pricing, please check with your provider. 

Yes, our ships are reliably connected to modern high-speed wifi-at-sea networks. Connectivity strength and speeds can vary due to a variety of factors, including weather, satellite positions, bandwidth load and others. 

We offer two voyage-long packages that you can purchase before you sail (and receive a 10% discount incentive):

• Coconut Telegraph Basic Surf
• Coconut Telegraph Premium Stream

Hourly, daily and multi-day packages are also available once on board.

For your convenience, gratuities* of $20.00 per person, per night for staterooms and $24.00 per person, per night for Suites (as of February 1, 2025) are also additional and automatically added to your stateroom account during your voyage. Other staff members may be tipped as services are rendered. As a standard in the cruise industry, please note a 20% service charge (as of February 1, 2025) will be included on all bar, drink packages, specialty dining, and St. Somewhere Spa & Salon tabs.

* Any gratuities and/or service fees paid by Guest are the property of the Carrier and shall be used by the Carrier in any manner or method and for any purpose that the Carrier deems fit in its sole discretion.

Each guest is permitted two pieces of complimentary standard-sized luggage, not to exceed 50 pounds per piece. Excess or overweight luggage will incur additional fees of $55 per item:

•    Any piece of checked luggage exceeding the standard luggage allowance of two per passenger 
•    Oversized luggage exceeding (28”H x17”W x12”D) 
•    Duffel bags exceeding (30”L x 13”W x12” D) 
•    Coolers of all sizes 
•    Golf equipment, bicycles, kayaks, scuba gear, musical instruments, and other non-standard items
•    Boxes of all sizes and rubber bins of all sizes 
 
All items including luggage exceeding 100 pounds will be charged $80.00 per item. All loose items including plastic bags, paper bags, open grocery bags, shopping bags and open shoulder bags must be stored within your two pieces of standard luggage.

Dinner and evening attire is casual chic, with proper attire required for select restaurants, including collared shirts, blouses, pants, dresses and skirts. Tank tops and swimsuits are not permitted in the dining areas. Bring plenty of sunscreen, the beautiful Caribbean sun is bright and hot. And make sure you don't forget your cameras and chargers to capture the amazing memories you'll make aboard Margaritaville at Sea!

Personal grooming devices such as hair dryers, flat irons, curling irons, shavers and other electric devices such as small fans (no larger than 12” in diameter) are allowed when used with proper caution. However, if such devices are determined to pose a hazard, they will be removed and returned on debarkation.

Please ensure all baggage and personal belongings are properly insured and labeled with the owner’s name, address, and ship’s name, stateroom number, and sailing date. Suitcases should be securely locked. We are not responsible for theft or loss.

We recommend that you personally carry all medications, jewelry, fragile items, valuables and important documents on and off the ship. Any luggage left at the pier will be forwarded at the guest’s expense.

Margaritaville at Sea® does not permit outside food, alcoholic beverages or non-alcoholic beverages (including but not limited to water, soda, and juices) to be brought on board either as a carry-on or checked luggage on both embarkation and port days. Any alcohol purchased while visiting port destinations will be collected at the gangway upon ship re-entry and safely stored on board. Instructions for the collection of store alcohol purchases will be provided prior to disembarkation. Alcohol purchased in port is not permitted to be consumed on ship.

There may be exceptions for Guests with special needs, as approved by Margaritaville at Sea® prior to the cruise.

If you require general information about accessibility or to communicate any needs before your cruise, please contact our Guest Access Team at 1-800-814-7100 so that we can do our best to provide you with any accommodations.

We offer a variety of activities to ensure our young cruisers will have just as much fun as the grownups. We offer three supervised kid's programs that feature age-appropriate activities and events (ages 3-17). Once you're onboard, check the Daily Cruise News for hours of operation, programming and the location of the kid's program that matches your child(ren)'s age range.

Our ships are equipped with North American standard, 110 volts AC, which will accommodate most items including your cell phone, computer chargers, etc.

Margaritaville at Sea® only allows smoking in the designated smoking areas located on the outdoor decks for each Vessel.

Currently designated smoking areas are clearly marked onboard and are as follows:

• MARGARITAVILLE AT SEA PARADISE: Deck 9, adjacent to the License to Chill Pool
• MARGARITAVILLE AT SEA ISLANDER: Deck 10, overlooking the LandShark Pool

For safety purposes and for Guests’ comfort and health, all other areas of the Vessel are non-smoking, including public rooms, restaurants, staterooms and suites, verandas and halls.

Please note that this Policy includes products such as electronic cigarettes.

If any Guest violates this smoking policy, we reserve the right to impose a vessel safety fine on each Guest and/or Cruise Party member up to $500, and Guest and/or Travel Party hereby authorizes Margaritaville at Sea® to charge Guest’s and/or Travel Party’s credit or debit card on file, and/or Margaritaville at Sea® may take any other appropriate legal action depending on the severity of the consequences of the infraction of this Policy. We also reserve the right to charge the Guest for any additional cleaning costs or loss of revenue caused by smoking in non-smoking areas of the Vessel.

The Margaritaville at Sea Paradise departs from the Port of Palm Beach, located at 1 East 11th Street, Riviera Beach, FL 33404

Note: Please use the above address when entering into GPS systems or directing rideshare drivers.

Direction to Port of Palm Beach

From the North: From I-95 South take Exit 76, Blue Heron Boulevard, and proceed east to US Highway 1 (Broadway). Turn right (heading south) onto U.S. Highway 1. Proceed approximately one mile south and make a left on East 11th Street (located at the north end of the bridge).

From the South: From I-95 North take Exit 74, 45th Street, and proceed east to US Highway 1 (Broadway). Turn left (heading north) onto US Highway 1. Proceed approximately one mile north over the Skypass Bridge.

Parking at the Port of Palm Beach

Parking services are managed by the operating Port. The Port of Palm Beach offers both self parking and limited valet parking options. Details regarding rates and parking details can be found in our Terminal Arrival Guide.

Payment methods accepted include cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and traveler’s checks. American Express and personal checks are not accepted.

The Margaritaville at Sea Islander will homeport at Port Tampa Bay, Cruise Terminal #6.

Port Tampa Bay Terminal 6 is located at 1333 McKay Street, Tampa, Florida, 33602.

For more information, please visit Port Tampa Bay's Terminal 6 Departure Guide or Parking Rates and Information pages.

We’re 100% dedicated to providing an enjoyable and safe experience for all guests. Each of our ships is staffed with dedicated security and medical teams to respond to alleged crimes and medical situations, respectively. They are on board, on duty, and available at all times.

Your sailing party will be assigned a Luggage Zone according to your stateroom location for the easy identification and delivery of your luggage to your stateroom. Your Luggage Tags will be sent via email prior to sailing, and it is recommended that you download these tags and pre-tag your baggage for convenient check-in at embarkation. Please tag all bags you plan to check-in; it may also be helpful to tag all carry-on baggage in case it is accidentally separated from your sailing party.
 
You may also view and download your Luggage Tags via our Cruise Control, our online cruise management portal, beginning approximately 7 days prior to your sailing date. You will need the Booking ID and Primary Guest's Last Name to sign in to your sailing reservation.If you are not the primary guest on the stateroom, please contact the person listed as the primary guest, as the luggage tags would have been sent to their email address. If you cannot find your booking confirmation email, try searching for the email sender, "information@cruisemvas.com." If you still cannot find it, please contact our Travel Specialists at (800) 814-7100, and we will be happy to assist you.

Each guest is permitted two pieces of complimentary luggage, not to exceed 50 pounds per piece. Excess and overweight luggage will incur excess baggage fees to be charged to your stateroom account. Tagging your luggage in advance of your arrival will help to speed up the check-in process. We recommend you tag all pieces of luggage, including carry-on items, in case they are separated from your party.