Margaritaville at Sea: dress code, drinks, and what you can bring aboard
Published by CruiseDayGuide · Updated August 25, 2026 · sources checked August 25, 2026
Margaritaville at Sea policy at a glance
One row per policy area, with the rule Margaritaville at Sea publishes, the page it appears on, and the detail that trips people up at the terminal or the gangway.
| Option | What the policy says | The published figure | Where the line publishes it | What trips people up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alcohol you may carry aboard | What the policy saysNone. Outside alcoholic beverages are not permitted on board, in carry-on or checked luggage, on embarkation day or on port days. | The published figureZero — there is no wine or champagne allowance of any size, the allowance every other line on this site publishes in some form. | Where the line publishes itmargaritavilleatsea.com FAQ, "Can I bring my own alcohol, soda or bottled water on board?" | What trips people upThe ban covers port days too. A bottle picked up ashore does not ride to your cabin — it is collected at the gangway when you re-board and stored on the ship. |
| Water, soda and other drinks | What the policy saysNo outside non-alcoholic beverages, "including but not limited to water, soda, and juices", in carry-on or checked luggage. | The published figureZero bottles or cans, on embarkation day and port days alike. Exceptions exist only for guests with special needs, approved by the line before the cruise. | Where the line publishes itmargaritavilleatsea.com FAQ, and the Guest Safety & Conduct Policy, section 5.11 | What trips people upHabits from other lines do not transfer. The twelve-pack of soda or case of water that boards elsewhere is turned away here, and a cooler to carry it in draws a $55 fee at any size besides. |
| Alcohol bought in port | What the policy saysCollected at the gangway upon ship re-entry and safely stored on board. | The published figureStored for the rest of the sailing — it is not available to drink on board. | Where the line publishes itmargaritavilleatsea.com FAQ, "Can I bring my own alcohol, soda or bottled water on board?" | What trips people upDuty-free purchases from a port stop travel home in the ship's storage, not in your stateroom. Plan on drinking what the bars pour, not what you carried up the gangway. |
| Dress code at dinner | What the policy saysDinner and evening attire is casual chic, with proper attire required for select restaurants: collared shirts, blouses, pants, dresses and skirts. | The published figureThe packing FAQ describes casual chic evenings and names no formal night — no gown or tuxedo appears anywhere in the line's own packing guidance. | Where the line publishes itmargaritavilleatsea.com FAQ, "What should I pack?" | What trips people upTank tops and swimsuits are not permitted in the dining areas, so the pool-day outfit needs a change before dinner even at the casual venues. |
| Smoking and vaping | What the policy saysSmoking only in the designated smoking areas on the outdoor decks. All other areas are non-smoking, including staterooms, suites, verandas, restaurants and public rooms. | The published figureA vessel safety fine of up to $500 per guest, and electronic cigarettes fall under the same rule as tobacco. | Where the line publishes itmargaritavilleatsea.com FAQ, "Is smoking allowed onboard the ships?", and the Guest Safety & Conduct Policy, section 5.8 | What trips people upEach ship has its specific spot — Paradise's is on Deck 9 adjacent to the License to Chill Pool, Islander's on Deck 10 overlooking the LandShark Pool. A veranda is not a smoking area. |
| Oversized and non-standard luggage | What the policy saysStandard cases sail without a fee; oversized luggage, large duffels, coolers, boxes, bins and sports gear draw an excess-luggage fee. | The published figure$55 per item: luggage over 28 by 17 by 12 inches, duffel bags over 30 by 13 by 12, coolers of all sizes, golf equipment, bicycles, kayaks, scuba gear, musical instruments, and boxes or rubber bins of any size. | Where the line publishes itmargaritavilleatsea.com FAQ, "How much luggage can I bring on board?" | What trips people upCoolers carry the fee at any size — and the beverage rule above means there is little you could legally fill one with anyway. |
| Drinking age on board | What the policy saysThe minimum drinking age for all alcoholic beverages on the vessel is 21. | The published figureViolations can draw a fine of up to $500, and the policy reserves the right to fine each guest or travel party member. | Where the line publishes itGuest Safety & Conduct Policy, section 5.7, and the FAQ's onboard alcohol policy answer | What trips people upThere is no 18-to-20 exception with a parent's consent on any itinerary — 21 applies to every sailing and every bar on board. |
marks a row carrying at least one figure read on the operator’s own page during the source check. Each figure above is quoted from the Margaritaville at Sea page named in the same row, read on 2026-08-25. The line can revise any of these without notice; the sources at the bottom of this page link the exact pages to recheck.
Margaritaville at Sea publishes the strictest carry-on beverage rule of any line this site covers: nothing from outside comes aboard, not even bottled water. That one sentence catches more first-time guests than any dress code, because every other major line's policy trains you to expect at least a wine allowance, and the packing advice that circulates online assumes one exists. Everything on this page was read from Margaritaville at Sea's own FAQ and Guest Safety & Conduct Policy on the date shown beside each source. Rules like these change without notice, so confirm the current wording on margaritavilleatsea.com before you pack — the sources at the bottom of this page name the exact pages to check.
The beverage rule: nothing from outside, not even water
This is the policy to internalize before you pack, because it is the one that behaves differently from every other line this site covers. Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Norwegian each publish some outside-beverage allowance — a bottle of wine per adult, a ration of cans — and a decade of cruise packing advice is built on those allowances. Margaritaville at Sea's FAQ closes the door completely: no outside food, no outside alcoholic beverages, and no outside non-alcoholic beverages, named right down to water, soda and juice, whether carried on or packed in checked luggage. The rule holds on embarkation day and again at every port stop, so there is no restocking run ashore. What the line sells instead is its own beverage program on board; information about drink packages lives under Packages & Upgrades on the line's site, and pricing there is the line's to quote, not this page's.
- No outside alcoholic beverages in carry-on or checked luggage — there is no wine or champagne allowance of any size.
- No outside water, soda or juice either — the half of the rule that most surprises guests arriving from other lines.
- The ban applies on embarkation day and on every port day of the sailing.
- Exceptions exist only for guests with special needs, approved by Margaritaville at Sea before the cruise.
- Alcohol purchased while visiting a port is collected at the gangway on re-entry and safely stored on board.
Where this comes from
Quoted from the margaritavilleatsea.com FAQ answer "Margaritaville at Sea does not permit outside food, alcoholic beverages or non-alcoholic beverages (including but not limited to water, soda, and juices) to be brought on board either as a carry-on or checked luggage on both embarkation and port days", read 2026-08-25.
Casual chic, decoded
The dress code is a single published sentence, and it is genuinely relaxed: dinner and evening attire is casual chic, with proper attire required for select restaurants — collared shirts, blouses, pants, dresses and skirts. No formal night appears anywhere in the line's packing guidance, which puts the wardrobe closer to a beach resort's dinner service than to a traditional cruise's gala evening. The one hard edge is the pool-to-table transition: tank tops and swimsuits are not permitted in the dining areas, full stop. In practice that means one change of clothes between the afternoon and dinner covers the entire dress code, and the select-restaurant standard is met by anything with a collar or the equivalent. Pack for the weather and the pool deck first; the dinner rule asks very little beyond dry clothes with sleeves.
- Evenings are casual chic — the line's own words — with no published formal night.
- Select restaurants require proper attire: collared shirts, blouses, pants, dresses and skirts.
- Tank tops and swimsuits are not permitted in any dining area.
Where this comes from
From the margaritavilleatsea.com FAQ, "What should I pack?", read 2026-08-25.
Luggage sizes, the $55 line, and what cannot board at all
Margaritaville at Sea draws its luggage line by dimensions and category rather than by weight. A standard suitcase inside 28 by 17 by 12 inches boards without a fee; beyond that, the FAQ lists a $55 excess charge per item for oversized luggage, duffel bags beyond 30 by 13 by 12 inches, coolers of all sizes, golf equipment, bicycles, kayaks, scuba gear, musical instruments, and boxes or rubber bins of any size. Separately, the Guest Safety & Conduct Policy bars anything dangerous outright: no weapon, explosive, or other item presenting a risk of harm to people or property is permitted on any vessel, and no illegal drugs or substances may board — the policy names medical marijuana specifically, with exceptions only for special needs approved by the line before the cruise. The distinction matters at the pier: an oversized item costs $55 and sails; a prohibited item does not sail at any price.
- Standard luggage inside 28 x 17 x 12 inches boards free; larger cases draw $55 per item.
- Coolers, boxes and rubber bins carry the $55 fee at any size.
- Sports and specialty gear — golf bags, bicycles, kayaks, scuba equipment, musical instruments — is fee-carrying, not banned.
- Weapons, explosives and anything presenting a risk of harm are prohibited outright, as are illegal drugs including medical marijuana without prior special-needs approval.
Where this comes from
Fee categories and dimensions from the margaritavilleatsea.com FAQ, "How much luggage can I bring on board?"; the prohibited-item language from the Guest Safety & Conduct Policy, section 5.11. Both read 2026-08-25.
Check-in runs through Cruise Control, not an app
Margaritaville at Sea manages boarding through Cruise Control, its online cruise management portal, and by email — the line's own pages describe no check-in app. Through Cruise Control you can view your party's check-in arrival window and download and print boarding documents, features the FAQ currently describes for Port Tampa Bay sailings; luggage tags are sent by email before sailing and become available to view and download in the portal beginning approximately seven days out. The document rules reward reading early: the name on your reservation must exactly match your travel documentation, and if it does not, the supporting paperwork — a marriage license, divorce decree or legal name-change order — must be the original or a notarized copy, because photocopies, photographs and reproductions are not accepted. The FAQ also warns that no refunds are given to guests who arrive without proper documentation, which makes the line's Travel Requirements page worth a read the week you book, not the week you sail.
- Cruise Control, the line's online portal, holds your arrival window, boarding documents and luggage tags — there is no check-in app to download.
- Luggage tags arrive by email and appear in the portal about seven days before sailing.
- The reservation name must exactly match your travel documents; supporting legal documents must be originals or notarized copies.
- No refunds are given for missing documentation, per the line's own FAQ.
Where this comes from
From the margaritavilleatsea.com FAQ answers on Cruise Control, luggage tags, name mismatches and travel documents, read 2026-08-25.
Where the line sails from the ports this site covers
Margaritaville at Sea operates three ships. Paradise sails short Bahamas itineraries from the Port of Palm Beach, which this site does not cover. Islander sails from Tampa's Cruise Terminal 6, where the terminal guide on this site carries the drop-off, parking and check-in detail for that building. Beachcomber, the line's largest ship and new flagship, begins sailing year-round from PortMiami on January 9, 2027 — Miami-Dade County's own memorandum grants the line preferential berthing rights at Cruise Terminal C from that first vessel call, under an agreement that runs to April 30, 2031. Preferential is not exclusive: the county keeps reassignment rights, and Terminal C remains PortMiami's multi-line building, so the standing advice on the terminal page applies — re-confirm your terminal with the line the day before sailing.
- Islander sails from Tampa — Cruise Terminal 6, covered by this site's Tampa terminal guide.
- Beachcomber sails year-round from PortMiami beginning January 9, 2027, with preferential berthing at Cruise Terminal C.
- Paradise sails from the Port of Palm Beach, outside this site's coverage.
Where this comes from
The Beachcomber berth and start date are from Miami-Dade County's memorandum to the Board of County Commissioners, agenda item 8(J)(1), 2026-07-21, and the line's own PortMiami announcement. Both read 2026-08-25.
Questions cruisers ask about this line
Can you bring water or soda on board Margaritaville at Sea?
No. The line's FAQ states that outside non-alcoholic beverages — naming water, soda and juices specifically — are not permitted on board in carry-on or checked luggage, on embarkation day or on port days. The only exceptions are for guests with special needs, approved by Margaritaville at Sea before the cruise. Beverages on board come from the ship's own bars, restaurants and drink packages.
Can you bring wine on Margaritaville at Sea?
No. Unlike Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Norwegian, which each publish a wine or champagne allowance at embarkation, Margaritaville at Sea permits no outside alcoholic beverages at all, in carry-on or checked luggage. There is no bottle allowance of any size, and the rule applies on embarkation day and every port day of the sailing.
What is the dress code on Margaritaville at Sea?
Dinner and evening attire is casual chic, in the line's own words, with proper attire required at select restaurants — collared shirts, blouses, pants, dresses and skirts. Tank tops and swimsuits are not permitted in any dining area. The line's packing guidance names no formal night, so there is no published requirement for gowns or tuxedos on any sailing.
What happens to alcohol you buy in port on a Margaritaville at Sea cruise?
It is collected at the gangway when you re-board and safely stored on the ship, per the line's FAQ — it is not available to drink on board during the sailing. If you pick up duty-free bottles at a port stop, plan on them traveling in the ship's storage rather than your stateroom for the rest of the cruise.
Where does Margaritaville at Sea sail from?
Three Florida homeports. Paradise sails short Bahamas trips from the Port of Palm Beach, and Islander sails from Tampa's Cruise Terminal 6. Beachcomber, the line's new flagship, begins sailing year-round from PortMiami on January 9, 2027, with preferential berthing rights at Cruise Terminal C under the line's agreement with Miami-Dade County.
Plan the rest of your cruise day
Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber at PortMiami
The ship page for the line's Miami flagship — terminal, parking and boarding-day logistics for sailings beginning January 9, 2027.
Margaritaville Islander at Tampa
Terminal 6 logistics for the line's Tampa ship — drop-off, parking, and the check-in flow through email and the line's portal.
Tampa Cruise Terminal 6
The terminal Islander sails from — directions, parking rates and door times read from the port's and line's own pages.
Carnival policies
The same policy areas read off Carnival's own pages — including the wine allowance Margaritaville at Sea does not offer.
Where these facts come from
- margaritavilleatsea.com — Frequently Asked Questions — checked 2026-08-25
- margaritavilleatsea.com — Guest Safety & Conduct Policy — checked 2026-08-25
- margaritavilleatsea.com — Beachcomber to sail year-round from PortMiami — checked 2026-08-25
- Miami-Dade County — Preferential Berthing Rights Agreement memorandum, item 8(J)(1) — checked 2026-08-25
Research sources and cruise-line policy wording can change after we check them. We date every fact we take from an official source so you can judge how fresh it is, and we leave a claim out rather than repeat one we could not verify. Recheck current official guidance before you pack, plan, or travel.