The New Margaritaville at Sea Cruise Ship Will Have a Music Venue from Zac Brown

Margaritaville at Sea is building its newest ship around a familiar idea in Jimmy Buffett’s universe: that the best nights always seem to happen around live music, good drinks and the feeling that everyone is, in some way, on the same ride.

The cruise line has announced a new partnership with Zac Brown, the multi-platinum, three-time GRAMMY Award–winning artist whose music has long lived comfortably in the Margaritaville orbit. Together, they’re creating what the company calls the first artist-curated live music venue at sea, a space that will debut aboard Margaritaville at Sea’s newest flagship, the Beachcomber.

Introducing Same Boat

The venue is called Same Boat, a nod to the song Brown recorded with Buffett for the deluxe edition of The Comeback. On the Beachcomber, it will serve as the ship’s central live music destination, designed to deliver nightly performances, elevated cocktails and the kind of front-row energy more commonly associated with a Zac Brown Band show than a cruise ship lounge.

Same Boat is set to be the largest live music venue aboard the Beachcomber, with a design focused on acoustics, sightlines and an atmosphere that keeps the room feeling connected and alive. It’s envisioned as the go-to space on the ship, a place where guests gather not just for a show, but to settle in for the night.

An Artist-Curated Experience

Unlike many branded entertainment concepts at sea, Same Boat is being shaped directly by the artist himself. Brown is working closely with the Margaritaville at Sea team on everything from the room’s artwork and interior design to music programming and overall flow, with the aim of reflecting his musical influences and personal journey.

“When we started talking about this partnership, I knew I didn’t just want to design a room — I wanted to create an experience that truly captures the spirit of Margaritaville at Sea,” Brown said in a statement. “Designing Same Boat has been about bringing that easygoing energy that’s always guided my music to life. Every detail reflects pieces of my own journey — from the stage to the sea — all coming together to create a place where people can connect, share a drink, listen to great music, and feel that incredible sense of freedom you only find at a show or out on the open water.”

A Legacy Connection

For Margaritaville, the collaboration is also about honoring a shared musical history. Brown had a close relationship with Buffett over many years, and the cruise line views Same Boat as a natural extension of that bond.

“Zac has long been a member of the Margaritaville family and had a special relationship with Jimmy over many years,” said John Cohlan, Chief Executive Officer of Margaritaville. “This partnership celebrates that legacy and will bring to life yet another reason to cruise on the ‘Same Boat’ with Margaritaville at Sea.”

Christopher Ivy, Chief Executive Officer of Margaritaville at Sea, said Brown’s involvement reflects the direction the cruise line has been heading.

“Zac Brown brings an energy and authenticity that mirrors what we’ve been building at Margaritaville at Sea – a place where great food, better drinks, and incredible live music meet Margaritaville at Sea’s signature hospitality,” Ivy said. “Same Boat is truly the best place for a cold beer on a Friday night, now at sea.”

A Cruise Line in Expansion Mode

The announcement comes during a period of rapid growth for Margaritaville at Sea. Over the past year, the company has continued its transformation from a single-ship novelty into a multi-vessel cruise line with broader itineraries and ambitions. Following the introduction of the Margaritaville at Sea Islander in 2024, which expanded sailings to longer Caribbean and Mexico itineraries from Port Tampa Bay, the cruise line confirmed the acquisition of a third ship, soon to be rechristened the Beachcomber. When it enters service in 2026, it will become the largest ship in the fleet and a centerpiece of the brand’s next chapter.