Jimmy Buffett travel tips

I've never really been a fan of Jimmy Buffett's music, and the late musician's Margaritaville hotels and restaurants have always struck me as a little cheesy.

Margaritaville at Sea's new ship, Islander, officially set sail on its first voyage from Tampa on Tuesday. So far, it's doing a great job of catering to Parrotheads with plenty of tropical decor, including a giant flip-flop photo backdrop in the atrium, two dining rooms with giant palm trees in the middle and renovated cabins that feel more like you're renting someone's beach house than taking up residence on a ship.

Summer is for music festivals and the best way to celebrate tunes and sunshine is at a new resort in the Riviera Maya. Located along Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, Margaritaville Island Reserve Riviera Maya opened last June and is the place to be for an adults-only vacation with endless island vibes. The resort, inspired by the lyrics and lifestyle of singer, songwriter, and bestselling author Jimmy Buffett, is beautifully decorated with quotes, photos, and artwork. There are murals of colorful parrots around the property and cheerful and laid-back Buffett fans are fondly known as “parrot heads”.

I've been living in New York City for five years, and I grew up on Long Island, just 30 miles or so from Manhattan. But I try to avoid Times Square —  one of New York City's biggest tourist destinations — as much as I can.

Margaritaville at Sea is once again honoring first responders, military members, and more with its Heroes program — and this time around there's some new perks.

The late Jimmy Buffett turned his carefree, beach-loving, beer-drinking lifestyle into a billion-dollar empire long before his death in September 2023.

Cruise vacations can be economical with a base fare that includes accommodations, food, activities, and stops at several destinations.

When Margaritaville at Sea launched last year, the company offered short and inexpensive 2-night getaways. Now, the cruise line is expanding with 3-night sailings to take advantage of a long weekend.

Margaritaville at Sea is celebrating Veterans Day early with a new pass offering unlimited cruises to military service members, first responders, and teachers for less than $300.

Iconic magazine first lent its brand name to a hotel venture in late 2022, when its resort opened in Cap Cana in the Dominican Republic. Yet the forces behind Sports Illustrated Resorts aim to expand its footprint relatively quickly.

The late Jimmy Buffett’s popular song “Margaritaville” was based on his time in Key West. Although Margaritaville was a fictional oasis (turned restaurant and resort) where people operated on island time, the Florida Keys is a real-life sanctuary where the sun sets in the west and it's always five o’clock. It's also a great place for a group trip. I hadn’t been on one of this magnitude since my high school marching band and I bombarded the staff at Kalahari. During the week-long vacation with 14 friends, I was most interested in going to the beach, enjoying the pool, and napping in the sun (lathered in sunscreen, of course) without a care in the world.

Parrotheads—and just anyone who’s generally enamored with the Margaritaville brand’s iconic island vibe and laid-back lifestyle proposition—will be delighted to learn that Margaritaville at Sea has launched a flash sale to coincide with the Labor Day holiday. 

Vacation seekers ready to waste away again in Margaritaville can soak up the sun and fun for less with this Margaritaville at Sea Labor Day flash sale.

Cruise line Margaritaville at Sea is making back to school a bit easier by offering Caribbean getaways starting at just $49 per person for teachers

My brother and I sailed on the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise, the first cruise ship operated by the Jimmy Buffett-founded hospitality brand, from Palm Beach to Grand Bahama in June.

Jimmy Buffett's famed franchise Margaritaville recently unveiled a multimillion-dollar refresh on its notorious 30-year-old cruise vessel. But after my lackluster experience sailing on the ship in 2022, I'm not sure these upgrades will be enough to turn its "Spirit Airlines of the sea" reputation around.