Dining · 6.7 / 10
Fins, the High Tide Market food hall and the burger bar carry the fare, with JWB at $55 the one paid dinner most people need. There’s no suite dining at all, which costs her in one small category. Read the dining guide →
01
Paradise in thirty seconds
A long weekend at sea, from a port you can drive to.
Paradise is the small Margaritaville ship: 1,680 guests, two to five nights from Palm Beach to the Bahamas and Key West.
She’s at her best after dark — piano lounge, karaoke, a DJ club up top — and her food hall opened in January 2026.
Budget $37 per person, per night in gratuities and fuel before a single drink — Islander charges no fuel, Paradise does.
If you want a balcony, only the Grand Terrace Suites have one.
Palm
Beach
Weekend
Beach
Weekend
Postcard from the advisor
- Dining6.7 / 10
- Shows & nights5.0 / 10
- CabinsNot scored
- Trips2–5 nights
- Fuel$15 a night
the short list
02
One ship, three guides
Each number links to the page that explains it, so read the one that matches the question you’re asking.
Entertainment · 5.0 / 10
She’s strong after dark — a top-deck club, a piano lounge, karaoke and an adults-only pool bar — and thin on deck, with two pools, a pickleball court and no slide on the line’s pages. Read the entertainment guide →
Cabins · not scored
Seabound doesn’t score cabins, so you get the facts instead: four categories, published sizes for three, one balcony category, and who fits where. Read the cabins guide →
About these numbers
Dining and entertainment scores are Seabound editorial ratings from our weighted rubrics, not guest reviews, and we don’t publish a cabin score for any ship.
03
Six reasons people pick her
She isn’t trying to be a megaship. These are the things she does well on purpose.
A drive-to port, not a flight
She sails from the Port of Palm Beach in Riviera Beach, so for most of South Florida and the Treasure Coast the trip to the ship is a car ride and a parking lot — no airport day on either end.
Trips that fit a long weekend
Two to five nights, mostly to Grand Bahama, Nassau, Key West and Bimini — short enough to fit around a work week, not instead of one.
Nights with a soundtrack
Hemisphere Dancer’s piano lounge, karaoke and comedy at Keys on the Water, DJs in the top-deck club and steel drums on the sun deck — nightlife is her best entertainment category.
A new food hall
High Tide Market replaced the old buffet in January 2026: five counters, from build-your-own tacos to handmade desserts, all in the fare.
An adults-only pool
The 12 Volt Pool sits aft with its own bar above it. On a ship this size, a grown-ups’ corner matters more than a big one.
A ship you learn in an hour
723.6 feet long with 10 passenger decks, so you won’t need a map by the second morning.
the honest part
04
What she costs you
Every ship trades something. Here’s Paradise’s list, priced where we can price it.
The fuel line. $15 per person, per night — $60 a head on a 4-night trip that Islander wouldn’t charge.
Balconies. One category has one, the Grand Terrace Suite on Deck 10 — everyone else gets a window, a porthole or a wall.
Deck life. Two pools, a pickleball court and cabanas from $399; no waterslide appears on any of the line’s Paradise pages.
Shows. Two named productions, which is plenty on two nights and a little thin on five.
Age. She was built in 1991, per Wikipedia and Cruise Industry News, and refitted in 2023, 2025 and early 2026. The age is a fact, but how she feels on your sailing is what reviews and your advisor can tell you.
The trade works if
- You’re within driving distance of Palm Beach.
- Your trip is about music, a pool bar and a reset.
- An inside cabin or a big suite with portholes suits you.
It doesn’t if
- You want a private balcony without paying for a suite.
- The kids measure a ship by its slide.
- You want a week of different shows.
05
The nightly fees, added up
Pick your trip length to see the charges that land on every booking, before drinks, Wi-Fi or excursions.
| Charge | Stateroom guest | Suite guest |
|---|---|---|
| Gratuities | $44 | $50 |
| Fuel supplement | $30 | $30 |
| Total, 2 nights | $74 | $80 |
Two guests sharing a stateroom pay $148 before drinks, while the same 2 nights on Islander would carry $44 per stateroom guest and no fuel line — $30 a head less.
| Charge | Stateroom guest | Suite guest |
|---|---|---|
| Gratuities | $66 | $75 |
| Fuel supplement | $45 | $45 |
| Total, 3 nights | $111 | $120 |
Two guests sharing a stateroom pay $222 before drinks, while the same 3 nights on Islander would carry $66 per stateroom guest and no fuel line — $45 a head less.
| Charge | Stateroom guest | Suite guest |
|---|---|---|
| Gratuities | $88 | $100 |
| Fuel supplement | $60 | $60 |
| Total, 4 nights | $148 | $160 |
Two guests sharing a stateroom pay $296 before drinks, while the same 4 nights on Islander would carry $88 per stateroom guest and no fuel line — $60 a head less.
| Charge | Stateroom guest | Suite guest |
|---|---|---|
| Gratuities | $110 | $125 |
| Fuel supplement | $75 | $75 |
| Total, 5 nights | $185 | $200 |
Two guests sharing a stateroom pay $370 before drinks, while the same 5 nights on Islander would carry $110 per stateroom guest and no fuel line — $75 a head less.
| Charge | On Paradise |
|---|---|
| Gratuities | $22 per person, per night (staterooms) · $25 (suites) Added automatically. The line doesn’t define which Paradise categories count as “suites” |
| Fuel supplement | $15 per person, per night Paradise only, as of June 1, 2024. Islander’s is $0 |
| Service charge | 20% On room service, spa, specialty dining and drink purchases, since Feb 1, 2025 |
| Ultimate Beverage Chill | From $49.99 or from $69.99 per person, per night, + 20% The Paradise drink-package detail page says $49.99; the Paradise packages overview says $69.99; every guest 21+ in the cabin must buy |
| Unlimited Soda | $12.00 per person, per night Souvenir cup and refills |
| Wi-Fi | From $19.99 to $39.99 per device, per night Four tiers |
| Final payment | 76 days before sailing For 2- to 5-night trips |
| Youngest guest | 6 months on day one Booking guest must be 18+ |
The drink-package rule that catches people
If one guest 21 or over in your cabin buys Ultimate Beverage Chill, every guest 21 or over in that cabin must buy it too, and the 20% service charge goes on top of the nightly price.
dated itineraries
06
Where she sails
Every Paradise trip starts in Palm Beach, and here’s what’s on sale as of October 9, 2026.
| Itinerary on sale | Where she goes | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| 2-Night Grand Bahama Getaway | Full day in Grand Bahama | The shortest way to try her |
| 2-Night Nassau Getaway | Nassau | Same length, the capital instead |
| 3-Night Nassau Escape | Full day in Nassau | One more night aboard |
| 4-Night Bahamas Duo | Nassau and Grand Bahama | Two Bahamas ports |
| 4-Night Bahamas Duo · 3-Ship Meet-Up | Freeport and Nassau | The Jan 28, 2027 fleet gathering — see below |
| 4-Night Key West & Grand Bahama | Key West and, per the line’s own description, Nassau | Title and description disagree — confirm the ports on your quote |
| 4-Night Key West & Bimini | Key West and Bimini | Marked new |
| 5-Night Dominican Republic & Bahamas | Puerto Plata and Nassau | Her longest trip; sold as a special promotion |
Two to five nights is what the ship page sells today. The line’s September 9, 2026 Galveston release describes Paradise as offering 3- to 5-night getaways — so confirm the night count on any 2-night fare you’re quoted.
2027 adds new places — the February 2026 release lists limited 2-night Friday departures, new Bimini trips, first-ever calls at Puerto Plata and Grand Turk, and 5-night themed sailings to Key West, Mexico, Nassau and Cozumel.
The same release mentions a Jimmy Buffett Day sailing on September 2, 2027, “from Key West” — odd wording for a Palm Beach ship, so ask us to confirm before you plan around it.
The October 2026 release announcing 2028 itineraries covers Islander and Beachcomber only — nothing for Paradise yet.
January 28, 2027: the three-ship gathering
All three ships meet in Nassau for a Zac Brown Band concert at the Nassau Cruise Port Amphitheatre, for guests of those three sailings only — a one-time event, not something that happens on regular sailings. Paradise’s part is a 4-night trip from Palm Beach to Freeport and Nassau; VIP packages cost extra, and the line hasn’t said what the base ticket includes.
All trips leave from the Port of Palm Beach, 1 East 11th Street, Riviera Beach, and our Palm Beach cruise port guide covers the terminal and parking.
07
Specs and refit history
Small by today’s standards, and reworked three times since 2023.
- Gross tonnage
- 52,926
- Length
- 723.6 ft
- Beam
- 99.9 ft
- Speed
- 20 knots
- Guests
- 1,680 (Wikipedia gives 1,308 at double occupancy)
- Crew
- 590
- Staterooms
- 658
- Passenger decks
- 10
- Home port
- Port of Palm Beach
- Smoking area
- Deck 9, beside the License to Chill Pool
Figures from the line’s December 2025 deck plan and its releases unless labeled.
1991
Delivered as Costa Classica
Built by Fincantieri at Monfalcone, per Wikipedia, and renamed Costa neoClassica in 2014, then Grand Classica for Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line in 2018 — a name the line’s own 2022 release confirms.
Apr 2022
Margaritaville at Sea Paradise
Inaugural sailing April 30, 2022, Palm Beach to Grand Bahama.
May 2023
Dry dock and upgrades
Pickleball court, Keys on the Water, Cheeseburger in Paradise at no extra charge, two new shows, and all 658 staterooms refreshed.
Mar 2025
The reimagining
Far Side Sushi and the Hemisphere Dancer piano lounge arrive; the License to Chill Bar gets a Key West beach-bar look with ping pong and billiards.
Jan 2026
Drydock at Grand Bahama
High Tide Market replaces the buffet and cabanas appear, and Cruise Industry News reported new decking at the 12 Volt Pool and a refreshed Euphoria Lounge and casino.
the fleet
08
Against her two fleetmates
| Paradise | Islander | Beachcomber | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Status | Sailing | Sailing | Debuts January 2027 |
| Home port | Port of Palm Beach | Port Tampa Bay | PortMiami from Jan 2027; Galveston from Oct 2027 |
| Trip lengths | 2 to 5 nights | 4 to 10 nights | 4 to 8 nights (Miami); 4 to 7 (Galveston) |
| Fuel supplement | $15 per person, per night | $0 | Not published |
| Dining score | 6.7 / 10 | 7.0 / 10 | Not yet rated |
| Entertainment score | 5.0 / 10 | 5.5 / 10 | Not yet rated |
| Balcony choice | One category (Grand Terrace Suite) | Several balcony categories plus suites | Balcony categories with published sizes |
| Suite dining | None published | Suite-exclusive dinner menu | Suite-exclusive dinner menu (every suite category) |
| Casual hub | High Tide Market | Port of Indecision Buffet; High Tide due 2027 | High Tide Market at debut |
| Waterslide | None on the line’s Paradise pages | Caribbean Amphibian Play Pad & Slide | Announced; name and rules unconfirmed |
Paradise and Islander share a brand, a steakhouse and a lot of the bar list, but they aren’t sisters. Islander is the larger ship, with far more balcony choice, a slide and longer trips — and it scores 7.0 for dining and 5.5 for entertainment to Paradise’s 6.7 and 5.0.
Beachcomber is the newcomer and isn’t sailing yet, so read her page as a preview, not a review.
09
If Paradise isn’t quite it
Comparisons use the scores on each ship’s Seabound guide. They’re editorial ratings, so read the linked page before you decide on a number alone.
Want more shows?
MSC Seashore scores 7.1 for entertainment on our scale, against Paradise’s 5.0, though it’s a much bigger ship and a different week. MSC Seashore guide
Want a bigger free menu?
Norwegian Sky’s Included Dining category sits at 7.8 on our dining scale; Paradise’s is 7.2. Norwegian Sky guide
Want a Carnival ship instead?
Carnival Elation (4.8) and Carnival Paradise (4.6) land a little under her 5.0 for entertainment. Carnival Elation · Carnival Paradise
Want longer trips, same brand?
Islander sails 4 to 10 nights from Tampa with no fuel supplement and scores 7.0 for dining. Islander guide
10
Who she suits
Answer honestly. The tool won’t try to sell you Paradise.
Is Paradise your ship?
Four taps. It’s a preference tool — it sorts you toward a ship, it doesn’t score anything.
Where would you rather start?
How many nights?
Who’s coming?
What room do you want?
11
Our call
Book her if
- You want a 2- to 4-night reset with live music and a pool bar.
- You live within a drive of Palm Beach and hate airport days.
- You’re happy in an inside cabin, or you want the space of a Junior Suite.
- One steak dinner and a food hall is all the dining you need.
Look elsewhere if
- A balcony matters and a suite isn’t in the budget — look at Islander.
- The $15 fuel supplement breaks the deal on a family fare.
- Your kids want slides and splash pads.
- You want a different show every night of a five-night trip.
Get Paradise priced with the fees in
Tell us your dates. Seabound Journeys quotes the fare, gratuities, fuel and taxes together, so the fees are in the number you see.
12
Keep planning
Ask about Paradise
Your dates, your group, what matters. We’ll tell you whether Paradise fits or another ship suits you better.
What does a 3-night Paradise trip cost with fees?Paradise or Islander for a family of four?Is the January 28 Nassau sailing still available?Which Paradise cabin has a balcony?
A Seabound Journeys advisor checks your question against the line’s current prices for your date.
DiningParadise dining · 6.7/10Five food-hall counters, the $55 steakhouse, and when the $89 bundle pays.Read it →EntertainmentParadise entertainment · 5.0/10Two shows, a piano lounge, karaoke and a top-deck club.Read it →CabinsParadise cabins, category by categoryPublished sizes, who fits where, and the one balcony.Read it →Line guideMargaritaville at Sea, all three shipsParadise, Islander and Beachcomber side by side.Read it →
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Quick answers
Where does Margaritaville at Sea Paradise sail from?
The Port of Palm Beach, 1 East 11th Street, Riviera Beach, Florida. Trips run two to five nights to Grand Bahama, Nassau, Key West, Bimini and, on a 5-night promotion, Puerto Plata.
How much is the fuel supplement on Paradise?
$15 per person, per night, as of June 1, 2024, per the line. Islander’s is $0. With $22 stateroom gratuities, Paradise adds $37 per person, per night before drinks or taxes.
What was Margaritaville at Sea Paradise before?
Costa Classica from 1991, then Costa neoClassica, then Grand Classica with Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, per Wikipedia. The line’s own 2022 release confirms the Grand Classica name. She became Paradise in April 2022.
How big is Margaritaville at Sea Paradise?
52,926 gross tons, 723.6 feet long, with room for 1,680 guests and 590 crew, per the line’s December 2025 deck plan. She has 658 staterooms on 10 passenger decks.
What are the dining and entertainment scores for Paradise?
Seabound scores Paradise’s dining 6.7 out of 10 and her entertainment 5.0 out of 10. Both are editorial ratings from weighted rubrics, not guest reviews. Seabound doesn’t score cabins.
Does Margaritaville at Sea Paradise have balcony cabins?
Only the Grand Terrace Suites on Deck 10. The Junior Suites have two large portholes, not a balcony, and the other categories have a window or none.
Is there a waterslide on Paradise?
None appears on any of the line’s Paradise pages or in the deck-plan text we checked. She has two pools, one adults-only, plus a pickleball court and cabanas.
What is the January 28, 2027 Nassau event?
A one-time gathering of all three Margaritaville ships in Nassau with a Zac Brown Band concert at the Nassau Cruise Port Amphitheatre, for guests of those sailings. Paradise’s part is a 4-night trip from Palm Beach to Freeport and Nassau. VIP packages cost extra.
When was Paradise last refurbished?
January 2026, in a drydock that brought the High Tide Market food hall and cabanas. Earlier refits came in May 2023 and late March 2025.
Can babies sail on Paradise?
Yes, from 6 months old on the first day of the cruise. Kids clubs start at age 3.