All pictures in the listing seem to be from before the ship’s “Margaritaville” makeover, but it’s definitely the same boat. The rest of that class has been retired and sent to the breakers.
In 2023, it was featured in YouTuber Bright Sun Travels cruise video “North America’s Worst Cruise Ship.” The ship, named the “Margaritaville At Sea Paradise” (at the time of that review), had been purchased second hand and operated by a company called Margaritaville At Sea Cruises (formerly Celebration Cruiseline). All of the Margaritaville and Jimmy Buffett branding was a licensing deal the company made with Buffett’s food service and vacations empire.
The ship was originally launched in 1991 as the Costa Classica for the Costa Cruises company of Italy (the same one of the Costa Concordia disaster infamy).
So, who wants to buy a cruise ship? Not gonna lie to you all… she’s got some problems, not least of which is the Jimmy Buffett theming.
Genuinely curious how much a branded cruise ship goes for.
Just like cars, it depends on age and condition. Usually tens of millions, but it’s all about how well the ship has held up, how many passengers it can accommodate, and if it has special features like being rated for ice.
That might be a fun cruise. On an ice breaker through the arctic.
They have those!
I feel like the real cost would be fueling, maintaining, and staffing it