Margaritaville at Sea Just Added Something Wild to Their Cruise Ship—And Yes, It's Permanent
Margaritaville at Sea Islander debuts "Permanent Reminder" tattoo studio with a full-time artist, joining Virgin Voyages as one of the few cruise lines offering onboard ink.
If you’ve ever thought, “You know what would make this cruise vacation even better? A permanent souvenir inked into my skin,” then Margaritaville at Sea just became your new favorite cruise line.
The Margaritaville at Sea Islander has officially launched a dedicated tattoo studio called “Permanent Reminder,” and it’s exactly as epic as it sounds. According to Cruise Industry News, the Tampa-based cruise ship now features a full-time tattoo artist working in a purpose-built studio space—making it one of only a handful of mainstream cruise ships where you can get legitimate ink while sailing the Caribbean.
From Spa Side Hustle to Dedicated Studio
Here’s the thing: Margaritaville at Sea was actually offering tattoos before this, but they were tucked away in a corner of the spa. Now? They’ve gone all-in with a proper tattoo studio that looks and feels like the real deal.
The Permanent Reminder studio features a resident tattoo artist who’s ready to help you commemorate your vacation in the most… permanent… way possible. Whether you want a tiny parrothead on your ankle or a full sleeve of palm trees and margarita glasses (no judgment here), they’ve got you covered.
What Can You Actually Get?
The studio offers two main options:
Pre-Made Designs: If you’re not quite ready to trust your cruise-brain with a custom design decision, there’s a selection of ready-to-go artwork—including Margaritaville-themed options. Because nothing says “I love Jimmy Buffett” quite like a cheeseburger in paradise tattoo.
Custom Work: For the more adventurous cruiser, the onboard artist can create custom pieces. Just maybe give it some extra thought before you commit. That dolphin jumping over a sunset seemed like a great idea after three Landshark Lagers, but you’ll be living with it forever.
The Price of Paradise
Tattoos at Permanent Reminder start at just $75, which is honestly pretty reasonable for both tattoo and cruise ship standards. And here’s a pro tip: if you pre-purchased spa credits before your cruise, you can actually apply those toward your tattoo. That’s right—your massage money can become tattoo money.
Bookings are made once you’re onboard, so you’ll have plenty of time to browse the designs, consult with the artist, and (hopefully) make a well-considered decision.
Welcome to an Exclusive Club
With Permanent Reminder, Margaritaville at Sea joins Virgin Voyages as one of the only mainstream cruise lines offering dedicated tattoo studios onboard. It’s a pretty exclusive club, and it makes sense that these two brands are leading the charge.
Both cruise lines target a younger, more adventurous demographic that’s looking for something different from the traditional cruise experience. Virgin Voyages has their “Squid Ink” tattoo parlor, and now Margaritaville at Sea has Permanent Reminder. It’s like the cruise industry finally realized that not everyone wants to spend their sea days at art auctions and bingo.
About the Islander
For those unfamiliar with the ship, the Margaritaville at Sea Islander is a 2,100-guest vessel that operates year-round out of Tampa Bay. The ship has quite a history—it was originally built for Costa Cruises back in the late 1990s before getting a complete makeover.
After an extensive European refurbishment, the Islander was christened by Savannah Buffett (yes, Jimmy Buffett’s daughter) in mid-2024. The ship now offers four- to ten-night Caribbean and Florida itineraries, giving passengers plenty of time to contemplate their permanent reminder options.
What’s Next for Margaritaville at Sea?
The cruise line isn’t stopping here. A third ship, the Beachcomber, is scheduled to launch in early 2027 and will debut Margaritaville at Sea operations from PortMiami. No word yet on whether the Beachcomber will also feature a tattoo studio, but given how well Permanent Reminder fits the brand, we’d bet on it.
Should You Get a Cruise Tattoo?
Look, we’re not here to tell you what to do with your body. But if you’ve always wanted a tattoo and you’re the type of person who’s drawn to the whole “no shoes, no shirt, no problem” lifestyle that Margaritaville represents, this might be your perfect opportunity.
Just remember: What happens on the cruise ship… stays on your body forever.
Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion, commemorating your first cruise, or just feeling spontaneous after a few too many Margaritas, Permanent Reminder is there to make your vacation memories truly unforgettable—in the most literal sense possible.
The Margaritaville at Sea Islander sails from Tampa Bay year-round. Fin tattoos sold separately.