Margaritaville at Sea Paradise returns to service following refit and refurbishment

Margaritaville at Sea Paradise has returned to service following a refit and refurbishment programme during a recent drydock in Grand Bahama.

The 1991-built vessel returned to operations after undergoing a series of interior and public area upgrades, including upgrades to the ship’s Euphoria Lounge, casino, buffet, and more.

Details of the work were shared by the company through a social media video, offering a behind-the-scenes overview of the refurbishment process and the changes introduced onboard.

According to Taylor Karr, Senior Director for Strategy and Operations at Margaritaville at Sea, a significant portion of the work focused on refreshing existing venues rather than introducing structural alterations.

One of the key areas addressed was the ship’s Euphoria Lounge, which underwent a comprehensive interior update.

The lounge received new carpets, upholstery, wall coverings, and lighting fixtures.

“We removed the flooring all the way down to the bare steel, laid some incredible-quality underlay and added a really incredible woolen carpet that looks good and feels really nice to walk on,” said Karr.

The Margaritaville Casino was also refurbished as part of the drydock, with extensive updates to both finishes and fittings.

“In the casino, we’ve done a tremendous amount of work. All of our tables have been freshly refinished including new upholstery and new felts,” Karr said.

Additional changes to the casino included a newly painted black ceiling and the installation of a tropical-themed vinyl wrap across the lighting elements. New carpeting was installed throughout the venue, and additional gaming options were introduced.

“(We also added) new carpets throughout the whole venue and tons of new games for our guests to enjoy,” Karr added.

One of the most notable changes onboard Paradise is the introduction of High Tide Market, which replaces the ship’s former self-service buffet. The venue is designed as a food hall-style concept, featuring multiple stations serving different types of cuisine.

Karr said the transformation required a full overhaul of the existing space. “We painted the entire thing in the most beautiful shade of blue, we took all of the floors down to nothing and we laid brand new carpet,” he said, adding that new lighting and a redesigned ceiling were also installed.

Outdoor guest areas were also included in the refurbishment. The main pool deck now features newly added cabanas, while the ship’s 12-Volt Pool underwent a more extensive renovation. The original deck surface surrounding the pool was removed and replaced with synthetic flooring.

“We took the tiles around the pool, we took it all out, and replaced it with a material called Life Floor,” Karr said. The area was also updated with new loungers and fresh paint.

As part of the drydock, Margaritaville at Sea Paradise also added a Permanent Reminder Tattoo Studio on Deck 8. The venue previously debuted onboard Margaritaville at Sea Islander and has now been introduced on Paradise as part of the fleet-wide rollout of the concept.

The refurbishment forms part of Margaritaville at Sea’s ongoing efforts to update its ships while keeping them in service, with the work on Paradise focused primarily on interior renewals and guest-facing enhancements rather than major structural modifications.