MARGARITAVILLE AT SEA

Board of County Commissioners · 2026-07-21 · resolution

The Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners adopted Resolution R-630-26 (File Number 260906) 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, with a five-year term commencing upon the first vessel call on January 9, 2027, through April 30, 2031, and two optional five-year renewal terms. The anticipated positive fiscal impact to the County is $23,148,594.00 over the five-year term. The agreement includes a Minimum Annual Guarantee based on approximately 170 confirmed vessel calls, 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 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 regarding long-term agreements and berthing rights for new cruise lines. Mr. Wong explained that barriers to entry were significant, noted the last major cruise line to begin operating was Virgin Voyages, described the agreement as a five-year term with two five-year renewal options, unique among the port's cruise agreements, operating out of Terminal C, and confirmed that entering into the agreement was advisable and that he had no hesitation regarding the grant of berthing rights. 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 Sycamore Partners, expanding from a single vessel to a three-ship fleet by 2027, including the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise, Islander, and Beachcomber, which will homeport in Miami beginning in January 2027. The agreement includes County reassignment rights for Force Majeure events, construction activities related to the North Bulkhead Rehabilitation Project and Berth 10 Project, and governmental directives. The Seaport Department staff responsible for monitoring are Frederick P. Wong, Jr., Deputy Port Director, Operations, and George Andrews, Assistant Director, Strategy and Economic Development.