Another cruise win

The international announcement on Tuesday, Sep 23, 2025, that the Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber will homeport in Miami and sail the Eastern and Southern Caribbean beginning in 2027 is a significant vote of confidence in the region, and in St. Maarten in particular. With Philipsburg among its marquee ports of call, there is a real chance that our island could be the Beachcomber’s first stop, placing us at the front line of this exciting new chapter for a globally recognized brand.

Port St. Maarten and its CEO, Alexander Gumbs, deserve commendation for their role in making opportunities like this possible. Developments of this magnitude do not happen overnight or in a vacuum. They are the result of years of careful relationship-building, strategic positioning, and an unwavering commitment to keeping St. Maarten competitive in the fiercely contested cruise industry. The payoff often comes years later, as we see now with a ship that will not sail until 2027, but whose itinerary announcement already underscores the strength of the island’s cruise product today.

The arrival of Margaritaville at Sea brings with it more than additional cruise traffic. It introduces a fresh demographic of travelers who are loyal to the Margaritaville lifestyle brand, a brand with a reach that extends far beyond cruise ships to hotels, resorts, restaurants, and merchandise. Its presence in our port adds diversity to the cruise mix, attracting both seasoned cruisers and first-timers drawn to the fun, relaxed, “paradise escape” ethos of Jimmy Buffett’s legacy. For St. Maarten, this means exposure to new markets and an even stronger case for tourism diversification.

In the long view, this announcement bodes well for our entire economy. The Beachcomber’s debut in 2027 will be another proud milestone, but the groundwork is being laid today. For that, Port St. Maarten and its leadership deserve full recognition. This success is theirs, and by extension, a win for the entire country.

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