Jimmy Buffett-branded cruise ship chooses Tampa for home port

Margaritaville at Sea officials say Tampa, with its highly rated airport restaurants, hotels and more, has the just-right vacation vibe.

By Beth Luberecki
| 5:00 a.m. July 9, 2024
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The Islander can accommodate up to 2,650 passengers.

Tampa Bay-Lakeland

When the Margaritaville at Sea cruise line was searching for a home base for its new ship Islander, Port Tampa Bay floated to the top.

“I live in Orlando, and I’ve just watched the transformation of Tampa, the Channelside District, everything that they’ve been doing broadly over the last five to 10 years,” says Christopher Ivy, CEO of Margaritaville at Sea. “Where you start and where you finish [a cruise experience] is really important…I believe Tampa is a fantastic destination to start and end a cruise.”