Margaritaville at Sea just launched a 2027 Annual Cruise Membership, and it’s one of the more interesting cruise deals I’ve seen in a while. Pay once, then sail as often as you like through December 31, 2027. It starts at $2,499 for two adults, and returning Paradise Pass holders can get in for $1,999 for a limited time. As with any “unlimited” offer, though, the details matter, so I went through the terms to see what you’re really getting.
What You Get
The membership covers unlimited eligible sailings of up to seven nights, in one stateroom per booking, in categories up to a Breezy Balcony. It starts the day you buy it, so early buyers get about 15 months of use. The big change from the old Paradise Pass is that this one works across the whole fleet:
- Paradise from the Port of Palm Beach
- Islander from Port Tampa Bay
- Beachcomber from PortMiami on sailings from January through September 2027, then from the Port of Galveston beginning in October 2027
Want a third or fourth guest along? You can add them when you buy the membership at discounted rates. Otherwise, extra guests pay the regular rates at booking.
How Booking Works
This is built for spontaneous cruisers, not planners. You can’t book online. Membership bookings go through the cruise line’s call center, and only between 30 days and 24 hours before sailing. You can hold one booking at a time, and you can’t book back to back sailings. Cabins are first come, first served, and owning a membership doesn’t guarantee you a spot, even on dates that aren’t blacked out. If your category isn’t available, you may be offered a lower one or a different date, with no refund or credit.
What You’ll Still Pay
The $2,499 covers the membership, not the extras. Each time you sail, you’ll pay taxes and port fees, per night gratuities, a fuel supplement if sailing on Paradise, parking, and everything you spend onboard. You also have to sail with a second guest. If you want to go solo, the single supplement is $159 for 2 to 3 night sailings or $259 for 4 to 7 nights, which for solo cruisers like myself, is an immediate turn off.
Let’s do some quick math, five sailings works out to about $500 per trip before those extra fees, and ten sailings is closer to $250, so the value is in how many times you plan to cruise. If you only plan on sailing two or three times, you’ll probably come out better paying the regular fare.
Blackout Dates
Each ship has its own list. Paradise has 19 blackout dates, Beachcomber has 14, and Islander has seven. They land mostly on holidays and busy weekends, like New Year’s, Valentine’s Day weekend, Thanksgiving and Christmas. The line can also add more at any time. The full lists are on the membership page.
Fine Print Worth Knowing
- Memberships are non refundable and non transferable, and unused time isn’t extended.
- Cancel less than seven days before sailing and it counts as a no show, which forfeits your membership.
- Payment is due in full at purchase, and you must be 18 or older and a U.S. resident.
- The line can change the terms and can suspend or revoke a membership for policy violations.
If you live near Palm Beach, Tampa or Miami and love quick, flexible getaways, this could be a great deal. Think of it as something you use often, not a trip you save up for. If you plan cruises far in advance, want a suite, or only sail a couple of times a year, all the restrictions probably won’t work in your favor.
