It’s cruise time — somewhere

Margaritaville at Sea Paradise COURTESY PHOTO

The son of a son of a sailor has put his stamp on a primary cruise ship — and it’s crusing from the Port of Palm Seashore to Grand Bahama Island.

Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville model is now oceanbound aboard the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise, a 658-cabin cruise ship crusing to Freeport each three days.

The ship isn’t new. In-built 1991, it’s the identical Grand Classica owned by Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line that sailed pre-pandemic from the identical port on the identical route.

However throughout the two-year down time when it was in moist dock, a deal was struck with Buffett’s group to rebrand the ship and theme it to the singer’s “5 O’clock Someplace” island-party ambiance.

“I’m an enormous fan of Margaritaville,” stated Oneil Khosa, the CEO of the re-christened Margaritaville at Sea Paradise. “So I simply picked up the cellphone and I referred to as the CEO, we mentioned the idea of a Margaritaville at Sea, and the concept was born proper there.”

The ship is the primary of what could turn out to be a number of within the fleet, although Mr. Khosa says, “Proper now, we’re completely targeted on this ship.”

A cabin on the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise. COURTESY PHOTO

Altering the paint scheme to brilliant tropicals, sprucing up cabins and facilities, and including the laid-back tropical life-style touches are a part of the continued, multimillion greenback refurbishment for the ship.

Coaching a brand new workers and getting the ambiance proper for the Buffett followers is “a studying curve,” he stated. The tempo for Parrotheads — the singer’s worldwide and dependable fan base recognized for big tailgate events lasting all day — is extra energetic than the previous two-night getaway cruisers. A “extra festive crowd who take pleasure in their drinks,” is how the CEO describes them.

The ship’s idea has a “very robust and shut relationship with JWB,” Khosa stated, although the 77-year-old singer isn’t a part of the cruises. The CEO doesn’t rule out shock appearances, nevertheless, and hints at possible pop-ups. Mr. Buffett is understood to indicate up on a whim in any respect his properties — casinos, resorts, bars and music occasions.

A Margaritaville at Sea Paradise cabin.

The singer is a former resident of Palm Seashore, and nonetheless frequents South Florida. The video for his large hit with Alan Jackson, “It’s 5 O’-Clock Someplace” was filmed close by at Jupiter’s Sq. Grouper.

He was available for a press preview voyage in addition to the day the ship was blessed and renamed within the conventional dockside launch ceremony. “Margaritaville” was the title music, together with different hits he carried out on the redecorated pool deck in his signature naked ft.

The ship pays homage to him in myriad methods. Music references are all over the place: An enormous flip-flop from the boat’s namesake music greets guests within the ship’s most important entryway. Eating places have names resembling Fins, a most important eating room; the Port of Indecision, a buffet; and Frank and Lola’s Pizzeria. Clocks are all set to five.

The singer’s initials grace the JWB Steakhouse, the prime dinner vacation spot already successful raves from those that’ve cruised as “greatest meal” on the ship.

The 5 o’Clock Someplace Bar on Margaritaville at Sea Paradise. COURTESY PHOTO

There are surfboards on partitions, music lyrics painted above the bar, a kitschy big blender and salt shaker, together with sliced lime-shaped lights overhead. An outside bar close to the adults-only pool was added to accommodate thirsty Parrotheads. Jimmy’s followers are well-known for imbibing, and plenty of pack their very own blenders to take to Buffett occasions — symbolic and sensible.

That’s a tricky one this ship, nevertheless, because it’s European, and U.S. home equipment want converters to run the usual AC present via what new cruisers name “scarce” shops.

Quite a lot of preliminary cruise bugs resembling these are being ironed out, Mr. Khosa stated. The older ship has drawn different critiques, primarily for its growing older decor in most important areas, and lack of Buffett branding and actions. Mr. Khosa stated they’re listening to friends and count on to make wanted upgrades to fulfill followers.

The ship’s three-day cruise is being in comparison with different bigger traces providing Bahamian cruises, however the CEO says it’s apples and oranges.

 

It’s an reasonably priced “compact cruise,” Mr. Khosa stated, making for an accessible weekend or midweek getaway at sea. “In the event you cruise with us Friday, you’re again Sunday. You get to spend the weekend on a lovely ship, with no queues or airports. It’s an ideal worth for the cash.”

Cruisers can select economical inside staterooms beginning at $169 per individual. Bigger suites and rooms with ocean views (portholes or home windows) can be found. Extras embody drinks packages, port taxes, parking and meals; cruises for 2 common $700 or extra with add-ons.

Shore excursions in Freeport can be found, and guests can choose to remain on Grand Bahama Island at a resort for 2 nights, and catch the subsequent ship on the return.

Leisure is the place Mr. Buffett steps up. He co-wrote with Frank Marshall of Spielberg fame the “Ship Present” — a musical comedy primarily based on characters from two Buffett books, “A Salty Piece of Land” and “Tales of Margaritaville.” The 45-minute present is all about stringing collectively hits Parrotheads sing together with.

Regardless of complaints from non-Buffett followers, Parrotheads are flocking to their calendars to e-book from throughout.

Jenny Elfving is a personal chef in Miami, and says she and her girlfriends are already planning a Margaritaville cruise later this summer season.

“It feels prefer it’s a trip though it’s in our personal yard,” she stated, including that Buffett music is taking part in every time they’re at her good friend’s yard tiki bar. This cruise is all the pieces she expects in a getaway, she stated. “I would like tropical drinks and leisure and a pool.”

Harriet Fanning of LaBelle is wanting ahead to inviting a bunch of Parrotheads to cruise along with her. She and her girlfriends have met up for 15 years in Las Vegas earlier than Buffett concert events to occasion on the Flamingo.

“Nice music, conga traces, drinks and plenty of laughs,” are what she expects. As Parrotheads at Buffett occasions, she stated, “We made so many pals.”

One other potential cruiser is West Palm Seashore’s Harry Kuhr, a fan of the unique Margaritaville bar in Key West. There he usually noticed the singer in impromptu performances.

“I did my externship from CIA (Culinary Institute of America) in Key West and Margaritaville was proper throughout the road. We’d all the time go over there on our off days. By no means the weekend — it was packed and we have been often working. So midweek is when Jimmy would simply present up and play. I bought to essentially love his music.”

As for the ship, he stated, “Oh yeah I’d go. Margaritas? Buffett music? A celebration on the ocean? It doesn’t get any extra Florida than that.” ¦