Grammy-Winning Country Icon Named Godfather of Margaritaville at Sea’s Newest Ship

Few musical pairings feel quite as natural as Jimmy Buffett and Zac Brown. Long before Buffett passed away in 2023, the two icons shared a legendary creative friendship, trading verses on sun-soaked anthems like “Knee Deep” and collaborating on Brown’s hit “Same Boat.”

Now, that laid-back, barefoot coastal spirit is heading straight to open water.

Margaritaville at Sea officially announced that multi-platinum artist and three-time Grammy Award winner Zac Brown will serve as the official Godfather of its newest flagship, Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber.

Brown will carry out the longstanding maritime tradition of christening the vessel in Miami on January 9, 2027, wishing safe travels to the ship, its crew, and future passengers before taking the stage for a special onboard performance for inaugural guests.

“It’s been so much fun working with the Margaritaville at Sea family to bring Same Boat on Beachcomber to life,” said Brown. “I’m really proud of what we’ve created together, and being named Godfather of Beachcomber is a true honor. I’m also really thankful for their support of the tour and for how this partnership has grown. What I love most is knowing that people are going to step on this ship with their families and friends, have an amazing time and make memories they’ll have forever. I’m just really excited to be a part of it and can’t wait for people to experience her.”

Related: Zac Brown Teams Up With Cult-Favorite Cruise Line for Unique Vacation Experience

View this post on Instagram

“Zac has become an important part of the Margaritaville at Sea family, and naming him Godfather of Beachcomber is a natural next step in a partnership that continues to grow,” said Christopher Ivy, Chief Executive Officer of Margaritaville at Sea. “He shares our belief that great music, memorable experiences and bringing people together can turn a vacation into something much more. Zac has already put his own stamp on Beachcomber, and we couldn’t imagine a better person to help us officially welcome her to the fleet.”

Rather than simply waving from the pier, Brown’s influence will be permanent inside the hull. He worked hand-in-hand with the cruise line to develop Same Boat, the world’s first artist-designed live music venue at sea. Brown had a hand in everything from the venue’s visual design and acoustic layout to curated artwork and ongoing music programming, which will showcase a rotating roster of live artists throughout the inaugural season.

Related: Margaritaville at Sea Reveals First Artists for Zac Brown’s ‘Same Boat’ Venue Aboard the New Beachcomber

The collaboration has already made headlines on land. Margaritaville at Sea is currently the presenting sponsor of the Zac Brown Band’s 27-date Love & Fear tour. During the band’s historic 15th consecutive sold-out show at Fenway Park on August 2, Brown stunned the crowd by gifting a free Margaritaville at Sea cruise vacation to every single fan in the stadium—totaling over 35,000 attendees in the largest audience giveaway in live entertainment history.

The party continues in the Bahamas later this winter. On January 28, 2027, Brown will headline a massive, exclusive private concert at the Nassau Cruise Port Amphitheatre when Beachcomber, Islander, and Paradise meet up for the very first time, bringing all three ships together for a historic fleet-wide gathering.

Launching out of PortMiami in January 2027, Beachcomber will feature more than 15 brand-new venues alongside fan-favorite Margaritaville bars and restaurants, sailing four- to eight-night getaways to the Eastern and Southern Caribbean before repositioning to Galveston in October 2027 for Western Caribbean and Mexico itineraries.

For travelers who love country music, cold drinks, and easy Caribbean breezes, stepping aboard in 2027 will feel like sailing into a real-life song.

Related: Margaritaville at Sea’s New Beachcomber Is Coming to Galveston With Caribbean Cruises and a Zac Brown Venue