Wind Gave One Margaritaville Cruise an Extra Day at Sea

Margaritaville at Sea Paradise left the Port of Palm Beach on Friday, October 23, on a four-night cruise that was meant to end on Tuesday morning. After a stop in Key West, the ship was due in Freeport, Bahamas, on Monday for an eight-hour visit. High winds and dangerous swells forced the cruise line to cancel that call, and the ship spent the day at sea instead. Prepaid Freeport excursions were cancelled automatically and refunded to guests’ stateroom accounts.

The weather problem then followed the ship home. With severe conditions expected at Palm Beach, the port authority advised against a Tuesday morning arrival. The cruise line responded by adding Nassau as an extra port on Tuesday and pushing the return to Wednesday, October 28, one full day later than scheduled. For passengers on board, the change meant a bonus stop in the Bahamas in place of the one they lost.

Guests on the current sailing get their purchased packages, including Wi-Fi and drinks, extended by a day at no extra charge. The delay also squeezes the next voyage, the three-night Nassau Escape that was due to leave Tuesday. Passengers on that trip were notified by email and text that it will be shortened, since the ship cannot sail on schedule. Palm Beach and Nassau are roughly 200 miles apart, so the line may keep most of the itinerary and drop the sea day, though it has not confirmed the plan.

For those guests, the cruise line is offering a prorated refund credit for per-day packages such as drinks and Wi-Fi, a $50 credit toward a future Margaritaville at Sea sailing, and the option to reschedule without rebooking fees. Margaritaville at Sea cautioned that the refund amounts reflect what is known now and could change if weather, the itinerary or port guidance shifts again. The notice is posted on its travel advisory page, and affected passengers are being contacted directly.

Sources: Cruise Hive, Margaritaville at Sea