Key Aspects:
- Margaritaville at Sea is removing the traditional cruise buffet and replacing it with a market-style dining hub on its new Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber.
- The new High Tide Market with feature five distinct venues serving freshly prepared dishes ranging from barbeque and salads to pizza and desserts.
- Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber will also introduce several new included and specialty restaurants.
Cruise buffets have long been a staple of vacation dining, but Margaritaville at Sea is betting that the next generation of cruisers want something different.
When the all-new Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber debuts in early 2027, it will introduce a lineup of dining concepts designed to move past the era of one-stop buffet service.
Instead of sprawling buffet counters, the ship’s main dining hub will be the Hide Tide Market, a food-hall setup featuring five distinct venues.
New additions will include Kickin’ & Pickin’ Chicken, specializing in tenders, sandwiches, and roasted dishes with rotating sauces; Sun Baked BBQ, serving coastal-style smokehouse meats and sides; and Provisions Salads & More, offering greens, grains, and fresh toppings that change daily.
Returning favorite Frank & Lola’s Pizzeria handles stone-baked slices, while the new Slice of Paradise joins the lineup to offer pastries and other desserts.
The move follows other cruise lines who have been making a shift to market-style food halls and more made-to-order options, including Virgin Voyages, which was the first cruise line to remove the buffet altogether.
Royal Caribbean’s Icon-class ships introduced a similar concept with the AquaDome Market, Norwegian Cruise Line added the Indulge Food Hall on its Prima-class vessels, and Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Wish features Marceline Market for a station-based approach.
But Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber is adding more than a food hall. Outside the market, the new License to Chill Sandwich Shack gives guests another daytime option with made-to-order hot dogs and piled-high sandwiches, and Floridays Coastal Cuisine adds a new sit-down concept focused on seafood and Florida-inspired small plates.
Slice of Paradise on Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber (Photo Credit: Margaritaville at Sea)
Casual venue favorites Mexican Cutie Cantina, with its tacos and bowls, and Cheeseburger in Paradise’s famous juicy burgers, will be a fixture on board, as will the Margaritaville Coffee Shop, returning as a morning stop for espressos and lattes.
Meanwhile, the ship’s two main dining rooms, Fins and Beachcomber, also remain central venues for diners with table service. But guests looking for upgraded dining can choose from several specialty restaurants, including F&L Trattoria for Italian, JWB Prince Steakhouse, and Far Side Sushi.
What to Expect on Beachcomber
The newest addition to the Margaritaville at Sea fleet, the Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber, is scheduled to debut in January 2027 and will sail from PortMiami.
At more than 100,000 gross tons and with an anticipated capacity for nearly 3,450 guests at double occupancy, the ship is larger than the brand’s two current vessels, Margaritaville at Sea Paradise and Margaritaville at Sea Islander.
Read Also: What You Should Never Do at the Cruise Ship Buffet
Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber was previously the Costa Fortuna, part of Carnival Corporation-owned Costa Cruises, and will undergo an extensive refit in late 2026 to transform the ship into the Margaritaville at Sea experience.
The redesign will incorporate the brand’s signature laidback Caribbean aesthetic with updated staterooms, refreshed public venues, and new dining and entertainment features.
A standout will be the ship’s aft-located “5 O’Clock Somewhere” pool deck venue, which spans four decks and is billed at the largest of its kind. This area will house the main pool, waterslide, hot tubs, stadium-style tiered seating, live music stages, and cabana seating.
Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber will offer 6- and 8-night Caribbean itineraries to destinations such as Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, and Puerto Rico.
Appeared first on: Cruisehive.com
