The 2026 calendar for Margaritaville Paradise is the most ambitious the ship has ever run. The headline is the Cozumel Express - a one-off Cinco de Mayo sailing in May 2026 that marks the first time Paradise has ever called at a Mexican port. Beyond that special, the year introduces 4-night sailings with a sea day, new Nassau and Key West combinations, and an expanded 3-night schedule. The core 2-night Freeport weekend run still exists, but it is no longer the only option. If you have been eyeing this ship and waiting for a reason to book beyond a long weekend away, 2026 gives you several.

Port of Palm Beach: What to Know Before You Arrive

All Paradise sailings leave from Port of Palm Beach in Riviera Beach, Florida. This is not the same as Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale or PortMiami. It is its own smaller terminal, and that is one of the best things about it.

The nearest airport is Palm Beach International (PBI), about 15 minutes away. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood (FLL) is around 45 minutes in normal traffic. If you are flying into Miami (MIA), allow 90 minutes. I would not fly into Miami specifically for a Paradise sailing - PBI or FLL is the smarter call.

Check-in opens at 11 AM. Boarding starts at 1 PM and all-aboard is 4:30 PM. Sailaway is typically between 5:00 and 5:30 PM. Parking on site runs around £16 ($20) per day - pre-book it. The lot fills up on busy Friday departure days.

If you want a pre-cruise night near the port, West Palm Beach is the better option over Riviera Beach itself. There is more to do, better dining, and easier access to the terminal in the morning. The Hilton West Palm Beach is a solid, central choice close to the waterfront.

Embarkation at Port of Palm Beach is fast compared to the major Florida ports. You are not queuing behind 5,000 passengers. On a normal day, from car to deck is under 30 minutes.

2026 Itineraries: Region by Region

Bahamas Year-Round: The 2-Night and 3-Night Core

The 2-night Grand Bahama Getaway - roundtrip Palm Beach to Freeport - is still running in 2026, primarily on Friday departures. It is the original Paradise format. You leave Friday, spend a day in Freeport, and you are home by Sunday. Inside cabins are running from around £325 ($409) for the May example.

Worth being honest about Freeport on a 2-night sailing: the port is limited. The International Bazaar area is dated and many attractions require a taxi ride. It works for a quick beach day at Lucaya, but it is not a destination I would structure a trip around on its own.

The 3-night options are better value for time. The Nassau Escape (3 nights, roundtrip to Nassau) runs regularly through 2026 with inside cabins from around £310 ($389) in April. Nassau gives you a full day at Cable Beach, the Atlantis complex, or the Margaritaville Beach Resort Nassau if you want to stay on-brand. That is a much more useful day ashore than Freeport.

The 3-night Bimini and Nassau sailing hits two ports in the same trip. Bimini is small - think bone-white beaches and laid-back bars - while Nassau is the fuller destination experience. This pairing works well. You get a contrast in pace between the two stops.

4-Night Bahamas: The Sea Day Addition

The 4-night Grand Bahama and Nassau sailing was introduced in late 2025 and continues across the full 2026 season. It calls at both Freeport and Nassau and includes a sea day between the two ports. That sea day is notable because Paradise has historically been a ship where you are either in port or en route to port - a proper lazy day at sea with the pool and the bar options is a different experience on this ship.

Pricing for the 4-night Bahamas is from around £205 ($259) for a cabin for two via cruise.com, running across the full season from late March through late December. That is aggressive pricing for four nights. On a per-night basis, this is the best value itinerary on the 2026 calendar.

Key West and Nassau Mix: New 4-Night Weekday Sailings

Cruise Critic confirmed in December 2025 that Paradise is adding new weekday 4-night sailings featuring Nassau, Key West, and Freeport in 2026. These run as weekday departures (as opposed to the traditional Friday weekend format) and cover various combinations of those three ports.

Key West is a strong addition. It is an easy, walkable port day - Duval Street, the Hemingway House, Mallory Square at sunset. It has more to offer independently than Freeport, and it suits the mid-week traveller who has more flexibility on departure days.

Not every sailing in this mix calls at all three ports. The 3-night weekend version focuses on a subset. Check the specific sailing you are looking at before booking.

Cozumel, Mexico: The May 2026 Special

The Cozumel Express is the most interesting sailing on the entire 2026 calendar. This is a 4-night roundtrip from Palm Beach to Cozumel, sailing May 3-7 2026 as a Cinco de Mayo themed departure. It is the first time in the ship's history that Paradise has sailed to a Mexican port.

Pricing is from around £240 ($299) interior, £265 ($329) ocean view, or £1,115 ($1,399) for a suite. For a special themed sailing with a marquee destination, those prices are reasonable.

Cozumel is a world-class port. The reef diving and snorkelling off the island is some of the best in the Caribbean - the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef runs directly offshore. There are also cenotes a short drive away on the mainland. For a 4-night sailing, you could easily fill the day ashore in Cozumel and still want more time.

This is not a regular itinerary that repeats through the year. It is a one-off in May. Book it early.

What to Book and What to Skip

Book the 4-night Bahamas if you want value. From around £205 ($259) for a cabin, with a sea day built in and two port stops, it is the strongest combination of price, time, and experience on the 2026 schedule. It runs from late March through December, so there is no shortage of departure dates.

Book the Cozumel Express if you want the headline sailing. May 3-7 2026, Cinco de Mayo theme, first-ever Mexico port for this ship. Interior from £240 ($299). This will sell out - it is a limited special with a genuine destination attached. Do not wait on this one.

The 3-night Nassau sailings are solid for first-timers. Nassau is a proper day ashore with real options. If you have never sailed Paradise before and want a sensible first trip, the Nassau Escape or Bimini and Nassau 3-night is where I would start.

Skip the 2-night Freeport if you have any flexibility. It is a short trip by design and Freeport does not reward it. The only reason to choose the 2-night is if Friday to Sunday is literally the only gap in your calendar. Otherwise, add a night and get a better itinerary.

The 4-night Key West and Nassau weekday sailings are worth considering for mid-week departures if your schedule allows. Key West adds quality to the port list.

Themed sailings on the 2026 calendar - Margaritaville released a full themed calendar in March 2025 - tend to fill faster than standard departures. If you see a sailing with a theme you like, treat it like the Cozumel Express: book early.

Shore Excursions

Ship excursions through Margaritaville at Sea exist for all ports and are the path of least resistance. They are fine if you want everything packaged. But for common Bahamas and Caribbean ports, you can usually do better independently.

For Nassau, independent excursions cover the full range - from Atlantis day passes to snorkel tours to city walking tours. Nassau shore excursions on Viator often cost less than the ship equivalent and run on similar schedules.

Freeport has fewer independent choices. The Lucaya Beach area is the main draw and taxis will take you directly from the port. For Freeport specifically, the ship's beach club excursion is actually a reasonable option if you want a packaged beach day without logistics.

For Cozumel, do not book the ship excursion. The port has a thriving independent operator market. An independent Cozumel snorkel tour through Viator will take you to the actual reef, not just the shallows. Research your excursion operator before you sail - check reviews on both platforms and book something that specifically mentions the Palancar or Columbia reef systems.