Key Aspects:
- Passengers sailing on Margaritaville at Sea Paradise on May 7, 2026, are being asked to arrive later for embarkation.
- Embarkation times have been pushed back by one hour.
- Passengers can find their new schedules in the Cruise Control portal.
Passengers heading to the Port of Palm Beach in Florida for a quick Bahamas getaway this week will need to adjust their timing before they step on board.
Margaritaville at Sea is rolling out a revised boarding plan for its May 7 sailing of Margaritaville at Sea Paradise, warning guests in advance that embarkation will be delayed and arrival times have been pushed back.
“At this time, we are anticipating a delayed embarkation for your May 7, 2026, sailing,” the notice reads. “For your comfort and to minimize your wait times at the terminal, we request that you arrive 1 hour after the scheduled arrival time currently printed on your Boarding Pass.”
The 4-night roundtrip cruise is scheduled to depart Palm Beach at 3:30 p.m., with stops in Freeport on May 9 and Nassau on May 10 before returning on May 11.
Under the updated plan, passengers are being instructed to arrive one hour later than the original time listed on their boarding pass. An 11:00 a.m. arrival window, for example, is now a 12:00 p.m. arrival.
Updated boarding times will appear in Margaritaville at Sea’s Cruise Control portal, and the cruise line is asking all guests to double-check this portal to see their updated boarding times before heading to the port.
The advisory does not specify the cause of the delay or if the delayed embarkation will also push back the cruise’s departure time.
The 52,926-gross-ton vessel is currently on a 4-night Cozumel Express sailing that is scheduled to return to Palm Beach at 8:00 a.m. on May 7.
Palm Beach Boarding
The Port of Palm Beach has long been active, but mostly for cargo and ferry service. Its role as a cruise homeport dates back to 2016 when Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, now Margaritaville at Sea, began sailing short itineraries from the port.
Since then, it has remained a one-ship operation built around quick turnarounds and shorter cruises.
The 1,316-passenger Margaritaville at Sea Paradise, originally built as Costa Classica for Costa Cruises, has been sailing from Palm Beach for years and was rebranded in 2022 when Margaritaville at Sea launched.
The vessel recently completed a 2-week dry dock in Freeport in January 2026 that included upgrades and refreshes to its 658 staterooms, dining venues, and the Euphoria Lounge. Following the multimillion-dollar refurbishment, Margaritaville at Sea Paradise returned to service in Palm Beach and resumed back-to-back sailings.
This is not the first time the cruise line has pushed back embarkation timing at the Port of Palm Beach. As a small terminal, amenities are limited, with no dedicated lounges or indoor waiting spaces for early arrivals. Because of that setup, arrival windows are strictly enforced to prevent crowding.
Guests who arrive before their assigned boarding time will be required to enter through the Standby Check-in Lane and may experience delays before being allowed to board.
For those who do arrive early, there are a few casual dining options within a short distance of the port, including a restaurant about a five-minute walk away.
