MARGARITAVILLE AT SEA

Aviation and Seaport Committee · 2026-06-08 · resolution

The Board of County Commissioners adopted Resolution R-630-26 approving a Preferential Berthing Rights Agreement between Miami-Dade County and Classica Cruise Operator Ltd. d/b/a Margaritaville at Sea (MVAS). The agreement grants MVAS preferential berthing rights at Cruise Terminal C at PortMiami for a five-year term commencing upon the first vessel call on January 9, 2027, through April 30, 2031, with two optional five-year renewal terms. The anticipated positive fiscal impact to the County is $23,148,594.00 over the five-year term, with approximately one million passenger movements and approximately 170 confirmed vessel calls. The agreement includes a Minimum Annual Guarantee, a unitary fee per passenger aligned with PortMiami tariff equivalency subject to 3% annual escalation, and incentives for parking, marketing, non-peak day calls, and evening calls. The County retains reassignment rights for Force Majeure events, construction activities related to the North Bulkhead Rehabilitation Project and Berth 10 Project, and governmental directives. The agreement was forwarded to the Board with a favorable recommendation by the Aviation and Seaport Committee on June 8, 2026, and adopted by the Board on July 21, 2026. During committee discussion, Commissioner Milan Orbis expressed appreciation for the revenue and gladness about bringing another cruise line into the port, but wished to proceed with caution given issues facing the port, asking whether it was advisable to enter into long-term agreements and grant berthing rights to new cruise lines. Mr. Wong explained the barriers to entry in the cruise industry, noted the last major cruise line to begin operating at the seaport was Virgin Voyages, described the agreement as notable in structure with a five-year term and two five-year renewal options, and stated it was unique among the port's cruise agreements and would operate out of Terminal C. Mr. Wong confirmed entering into the agreement was advisable and that he had no hesitation regarding the grant of berthing rights to a new cruise line. Commissioner Gilbert III restated the question following a point of order. The agreement is the first preferential berthing agreement with a new cruise line partner since the Port's 2019 agreement with Virgin Voyages. MVAS is an emerging cruise line backed by private equity firm Sycamore Partners, expanding from a single vessel to a three-ship fleet by 2027, including the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise, Islander, and the newly acquired and refurbished Beachcomber, which will homeport in Miami beginning in January 2027. In August 2025, the Port and MVAS executed a Confirmation of Berthing Request confirming an initial deployment of approximately 170 calls. The Seaport Department staff responsible for monitoring the agreement are Frederick P. Wong, Jr., Deputy Port Director, Operations, and George Andrews, Assistant Director, Strategy and Economic Development. PortMiami is located within District 5, represented by Commissioner Vicki L. Lopez, and the impact of the item is countywide.