On July 21, 2026, Margaritaville at Sea officially secured preferential berthing rights at PortMiami’s Terminal C for their newest ship Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber! This agreement gives the cruise line a dedicated home in one of the world’s busiest cruise ports. While talking about the news during this week’s Sail Talk Saturday livestream, Rocky and I started brainstorming what the “C” in Terminal C could stand for. Coconut? Caribbean? Candy? That’s when we accidentally stumbled onto a nickname we haven’t been able to stop saying since…
A New Chapter for Margaritaville at Sea
On September 3, 2025, we excitedly announced that Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber was open for bookings. But the big news in the announcement was that the ship would call PortMiami home! The announcement was a signal from the brand that they intend to go after the cruise market in a much bigger way. PortMiami is the “Cruise Capital of the World.” Millions of cruisers travel through the port each year, giving the brand a BIG boost.
Calling PortMiami Terminal C Home
According to the Memorandum published by Miami-Dade County, Margaritaville at Sea would receive preferential rights to Terminal C beginning January 9, 2027. This coincides with the inaugural sailing of Beachcomber (which we’ll be on). The agreement would provide the cruise operator access to the terminal until April 30, 2031. It also includes two optional five year renewals.
In return, Margaritaville at Sea has committed to “approximately one million passenger movements and at least $23.15 million in guaranteed revenues…” according to the memorandum. If Beachcomber exceeds passenger volume targets, there’s additional upside to the port, exceeding the Minimum Annual Guarantee already committed to.
What Does Preferential Berthing Rights Mean?
For those that might not be familiar with preferential berthing rights, it basically means that Margaritaville at Sea would have first priority at Terminal C on specified dates in the agreement. The terminal would still be open for use to other cruise lines. However, Margaritaville at Sea would “own” the dates listed at the end of this article.
Additionally, the cruise nerd in me gets excited as these dates provide insight into Beachcomber’s likely schedule all the way through April 27, 2031! With that said, the brand could move current flagship Margaritaville at Sea Islander – or a 4th, yet to be named ship – to PortMiami during any of these periods to take over for Beachcomber.
Our Live Reaction to Margaritaville at C
As we were sharing the news on Sail Talk Saturday, Rocky and I were joking what the C could stand for. Perhaps Candy? Viewers even got into the fun. C for Caribbean? C for Coconut? When we went to close the segment, we said Margaritaville at Sea – and that’s when you see it hit both of us at the same time: Margaritaville at C! What a *brilliant* opportunity for the brand to market around!
There are a handful of dates in the five-year agreement where Terminal C isn’t available on a specified date. In those instances, Margaritaville at Sea will receive preferential berthing rights at an alternate PortMiami terminal. However, the vast majority of calls will call Margaritaville at C home.
Are You Booked on Beachcomber?
Have you already booked on Margaritaville at Sea’s latest flagship, Beachcomber? If so, tell us what you’re most looking forward to in the comments below. And if you’ve ever been interested in joining Rocky and me on a Group Cruise, check your schedule in late February 2027! We’ll be hosting our 3rd Annual This Cruise Life Group Cruise on board Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber. You can find all the details on our dedicated Group Cruise page.
We hope to C you at Margaritaville at C!
Preferential Berthing Rights: Dates
For those cruise nerds out there, below is the entire list of Preferential Berthing Rights listed in the memorandum. Keep in mind, these are subject to change. Additionally, Margaritaville at Sea isn’t required to berth on any of these dates, the memorandum simply states that they have the preferential right to the terminal on the specified dates.
January 9, 2027-May 1st, 2027 (19 calls)
- Cruise Terminal C Dates: 1/9/27, 1/16/27, 1/23/27, 1/30/27, 2/5/27, 2/9/27, 2/13/27, 2/20/27, 2/27/27, 3/6/27, 3/11/27, 3/27/27, 4/3/27, 4/10/27, 5/1/27
- Cruise Terminal E Dates: 3/15/27, 3/20/27, 4/16/27, 4/24/27
Saturdays at Cruise Terminal 3 from May 1, 2027 through September 30, 2027 (22 Calls)
- Cruise Terminal C Dates: 5/1/27, 5/8/27, 5/15/27, 5/22/27, 5/29/27, 6/5/27, 6/12/27, 6/19/27, 6/26/27, 7/3/27, 7/10/27, 7/17/27, 7/24/27, 7/31/27, 8/7/27, 8/14/27, 8/21/27, 8/28/27, 9/4/27, 9/11/27, 9/18/27, 9/25/27
Sundays at Cruise Terminal C November 5, 2028-April 27, 2031 (130 Calls)
The memorandum explicitly states that these Sunday dates are “upon completion of Berth 10” which is estimated for October, 2028. Notably missing from the date range are October, 2028 dates.
- Cruise Terminal C Dates: 11/5/28, 11/12/28, 11/19/28, 11/26/28, 12/3/28, 12/10/28, 12/17/28, 12/24/28, 12/31/28, 1/7/29, 1/14/29, 1/21/29, 1/28/29, 2/4/29, 2/11/29, 2/18/29, 2/25/29, 3/4/29, 3/11/29, 3/18/29, 3/25/29, 4/1/29, 4/8/29, 4/15/29, 4/22/29, 4/29/29, 5/6/29, 5/13/29, 5/20/29, 5/27/29, 6/3/29, 6/10/29, 6/17/29, 6/24/29, 7/1/29, 7/8/29, 7/15/29, 7/22/29, 7/29/29, 8/5/29, 8/12/29, 8/19/29, 8/26/29, 9/2/29, 9/9/29, 9/16/29, 9/23/29, 9/30/29, 10/7/29, 10/14/29, 10/21/29, 10/28/29, 11/4/29, 11/11/29, 11/18/29, 11/25/29, 12/2/29, 12/9/29, 12/16/29, 12/23/29, 12/30/29, 1/6/30, 1/13/30, 1/20/30, 1/27/30, 2/3/30, 2/10/30, 2/17/30, 2/24/30, 3/3/30, 3/10/30, 3/17/30, 3/24/30, 3/31/30, 4/7/30, 4/14/30, 4/21/30, 4/28/30, 5/5/30, 5/12/30, 5/19/30, 5/26/30, 6/2/30, 6/9/30, 6/16/30, 6/23/30, 6/30/30, 7/7/30, 7/14/30, 7/21/30, 7/28/30, 8/4/30, 8/11/30, 8/18/30, 8/25/30, 9/1/30, 9/8/30, 9/15/30, 9/22/30, 9/29/30, 10/6/30, 10/13/30, 10/20/30, 10/27/30, 11/3/30, 11/10/30, 11/17/30, 11/24/30, 12/1/30, 12/8/30, 12/15/30, 12/22/30, 12/29/30, 1/5/31, 1/12/31, 1/19/31, 1/26/31, 2/2/31, 2/9/31, 2/16/31, 2/23/31, 3/2/31, 3/9/31, 3/16/31, 3/23/31, 3/30/31, 4/6/31, 4/13/31, 4/20/31, 4/27/31