Margaritaville Islander brings 2,650 cruise passengers and will return to Aruba in 2027

ORANJESTAD — Margaritaville at Sea Islander made its inaugural call in Aruba on September 9, 2026, bringing approximately 2,650 cruise passengers to the island. The visit marks the vessel’s entry into Aruba’s cruise traffic, with a return already scheduled for September 2027.

Representatives of the Aruba Tourism Authority, Aruba Ports Authority NV and port agent SEL Maduro & Sons marked the occasion with the traditional exchange of plaques, a maritime custom celebrating a ship’s first visit to a port.

The Islander entered service with Margaritaville at Sea in 2024 following an extensive transformation. The ship is approximately 965 feet long and features more than 1,100 cabins, 12 passenger decks, multiple restaurants and bars, three pools, a casino, spa and entertainment facilities.

Margaritaville at Sea launched in 2022, building its cruise concept around the lifestyle associated with the music and philosophy of Jimmy Buffett. The company has since expanded its Caribbean presence.

The ship also includes environmental measures such as food-waste biodigesters designed to process organic waste and reduce conventional disposal.

For Aruba, the call adds another vessel to the island’s cruise portfolio. With a return already planned for 2027, the relationship between Margaritaville at Sea and Aruba is set to continue beyond a single inaugural visit.