Zac Brown Takes the Country Bar Trend Offshore with 2027 Margaritaville Cruise Venue
Zac Brown is joining the country-star bar boom, but his newest venue won’t be on Broadway, it will be aboard a cruise ship.
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| Zac Brown |
Originally reported: November 6, 2025
What Happened
Zac Brown announced a new partnership with Margaritaville at Sea to launch Same Boat, an artist-designed live-music venue debuting on the line’s new ship Beachcomber. The concept nods to Brown’s 2021 hit “Same Boat” and pays homage to the late Jimmy Buffett and the Margaritaville legacy. Beachcomber is slated to begin sailing from Miami in January 2027, with the venue curated by Brown across artwork, design, and programming.
Key Details
• Artist & Venue: Zac Brown; “Same Boat” live-music venue at sea
• Cruise Line: Margaritaville at Sea
• Ship: Beachcomber — former Costa Fortuna, newly acquired and reimagined
• Fleet Status: Beachcomber becomes the line’s flagship and largest ship, joining Paradise and Islander
• Homeport & Launch: Miami; inaugural season begins January 2027
• Booking: The cruise line has begun promoting the 2027 inaugural season and related giveaways; full performance schedules to be announced
• Why it stands out: First artist-curated music venue at sea for the brand, expanding the country-bar trend into a floating destination
Why It Matters
Country’s branded-bar wave is evolving from street-level hubs to destination experiences. A shipboard venue creates built-in audiences, multi-day programming, and new hospitality revenue streams. It also bridges fan travel with live music—turning sailings into rolling festival lounges where country meets coastal culture.
Context & Fan Reaction
Downtown Nashville has seen a surge of superstar venues; Brown’s move shifts that energy offshore. Early reactions focus on how the space will look and sound, whether Brown and collaborators will make surprise appearances, and how the venue’s setlists will differ from land-based rooms.
ByteSize Commentary
Placing a signature venue on a flagship ship trades foot traffic for full itineraries audiences aren’t just dropping in; they’re living in the room’s orbit for days. If “Same Boat” leans into songwriter rounds, coastal cuisine, and curated cameos, it can feel intimate without losing scale, a smart homage to Buffett’s “good-times-anywhere” ethos.
What To Watch Next
Watch for itinerary releases, artist-appearance policies, and any pre-sale windows tied to the inaugural season. Keep an eye on how access works general admission vs. ticketed sessions and whether pop-ups extend onshore in Miami or at select ports.

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