Margaritaville Islander itinerary map for December 5, 2026 (5 nights)
Margaritaville Islander cruise ship

Margaritaville IslanderDecember 5, 20265-Night Key West and Progreso on Margaritaville at Sea

This 5-night cruise aboard the Islander departs from Tampa, Florida on Saturday, December 5, 2026 and returns on Thursday, Dec 10th. December weather across this route averages 83°/47°F.

The itinerary safety score for this sailing is 7.0 out of 10 — Tampa (6.9), Key West (7.9), Progreso (6.1).

Cruise Length
5
Night Cruise
Departure Port
Tampa
Florida
Port Stops
3
Sea Days
2

Cruise Itinerary Map - 5 Night Key West and Progreso

Margaritaville Islander · December 5, 2026

The Margaritaville Islander sails on December 5, 2026 for a 5 Night Key West and Progreso. The ship will depart the port of Tampa, Florida at 2:30 PM and will return to the port of Tampa, Florida on Dec 10th at 6:00 AM. During the 6-day journey, the Margaritaville Islander will visit 2 additional ports and will spend 2 days at sea.

Cruise itinerary route

5 Night Key West and Progreso

  • DEC05
    Tampa, Florida
    Tampa, Florida
    A: — - D: 2:30 PM
  • DEC06
    Key West, Florida
    Key West, Florida
    A: 12:00 PM - D: 6:00 PM
  • DEC07
    At Sea
    At Sea
    A: — - D: —
  • DEC08
    Progreso (Merida), Mexico
    Progreso (Merida), Mexico
    A: 7:00 AM - D: 3:00 PM
  • DEC09
    At Sea
    At Sea
    A: — - D: —
  • DEC10
    Tampa, Florida
    Tampa, Florida
    A: 6:00 AM - D: —
Loading map...

Cruise Ports

December 5, 2026 · 5 Night Key West and Progreso

Tampa, Florida — Day 1 of Margaritaville Islander December 5, 2026 cruise
Day 1Saturday, Dec 5

Tampa, Florida

Arrival:Departure: 2:30 PM

Tampa, Florida, offers docking at Port Tampa Bay. Travelers explore Ybor City and Tampa Riverwalk. Excursions include manatee tours at Crystal River. Local markets sell Cuban sandwiches. The peak season, December to April, brings warm weather for coastal tours. Photography captures historic cigar factories and Gulf vistas. Dining onboard includes grouper, a Floridian favorite. Souvenirs, like seashell crafts, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Seminole history. Light clothing and sun protection suit the subtropical climate, while comfortable shoes enhance city walks. Tampa’s cultural charm offers a vibrant American stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of historic districts and scenic waterways, making Tampa an engaging destination for exploration.

Key West, Florida — Day 2 of Margaritaville Islander December 5, 2026 cruise
Day 2Sunday, Dec 6

Key West, Florida

Arrival: 12:00 PMDeparture: 6:00 PM

Key West, Florida, offers docking at Mallory Square Port. Travelers explore Duval Street and Hemingway House. Excursions include snorkeling at Dry Tortugas. Local markets sell key lime pie. The peak season, December to April, brings warm weather for coastal tours. Photography captures colorful homes and Gulf vistas. Dining onboard includes conch fritters, a Floridian favorite. Souvenirs, like seashell crafts, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Conch Republic history. Light clothing and sun protection suit the subtropical climate, while comfortable shoes enhance city walks. Key West’s vibrant charm offers a lively American stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of literary history and scenic coasts, making Key West an engaging destination.

Day 3 at sea — Margaritaville Islander December 5, 2026 itinerary
Day 3Monday, Dec 7

At Sea

Arrival: 11:00 PMDeparture: 10:59 PM

Day at sea aboard the Islander — featuring Tiki Grill, Twister Waterslide, Tiki Bar & Retail Shops.

Progreso (Merida), Mexico — Day 4 of Margaritaville Islander December 5, 2026 cruise
Day 4Tuesday, Dec 8

Progreso (Merida), Mexico

Arrival: 7:00 AMDeparture: 3:00 PM

Progreso (Merida), Mexico, offers docking at Progreso Port with excursions to Merida. Travelers explore Chichen Itza and Merida’s Plaza Grande. Excursions include cenote swimming. Local markets sell cochinita pibil. The peak season, December to April, brings warm weather for coastal tours. Photography captures Mayan pyramids and Gulf vistas. Dining onboard includes sopa de lima, a Yucatecan favorite. Souvenirs, like hammocks, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Mayan history. Light clothing and sun protection suit the tropical climate, while water shoes enhance cenote exploration. Progreso’s cultural gateway offers a vibrant Mexican stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of ancient ruins and scenic coasts, making Progreso an engaging destination.

Day 5 at sea — Margaritaville Islander December 5, 2026 itinerary
Day 5Wednesday, Dec 9

At Sea

Arrival: 11:00 PMDeparture: 10:59 PM

Day at sea aboard the Islander — featuring Tiki Grill, Twister Waterslide, Tiki Bar & Retail Shops.

Weather Forecast

Margaritaville Islander - December 5, 2026 Weather Forecast

Average monthly weather for your cruise ports

Tampa, Florida

December

Typical Weather

83°F

Average High

33°F

Average Low

Rainfall

0.08in

Daily average

2.6 in monthly total

Shore Excursions

Explore the most popular excursion options at each port.

From beach breaks and snorkeling to local food tours and cultural landmarks, these shore excursions help you make the most of every stop. Browse by port below to compare top-rated options and plan your day before you board.

Itinerary Safety Score

Based on comprehensive research of cruise port safety information, including recent crime reports, travel advisories, Global Peace Index rankings, and specific port security concerns, we've created a "safety score" for each cruise port stop. The overall rating below represents a combined score for your specific cruise itinerary.

Itinerary Safety Rank
70 / 100
safer than 70% of all cruises
70
7
/ 10
Tampa, Florida
Tampa
Tampa is generally safe for cruise travelers, but visitors should remain vigilant in higher crime areas and stick to well-trafficked locations.
8
/ 10
Key West, Florida
Key West
Visitors to Key West should remain vigilant against petty crime, particularly theft, while taking standard precautions to ensure safety.
6
/ 10
Progreso (Merida), Mexico
Progreso
Progreso is generally safe for travelers, but it's crucial to stay vigilant against pickpocketing and scams, especially in crowded areas.

Cruise Ship

Margaritaville Islander

⚓ Tonnage

85,619

vs avg 69,273

🛠️ Year Built

2,000

vs avg 1,994

📏 Length (ft)

959

vs avg 841

👥 Passenger Count

2,114

vs avg 1,897

The Islander has a construction date of 2000 and a total size of 85,619 gross tons. The ship measures 959 feet in length. Margaritaville Islander is included in Margaritaville at Sea’s Spirit class. At full capacity, the Margaritaville Islander holds 2,114 passengers. That includes 1,217 cruise vacationers and 897 staff members. The Islander total number of staterooms is 1,105.

Click above for more Margaritaville Islander stats, tips, imagery, and more.

  • 📊Size comparison chart against other ships
  • 🍸Bars, restaurants, and venue highlights
  • 🛠️Renovation and dry-dock schedule
  • FAQ's about Margaritaville Islander

Also of interest:

Other Margaritaville Islander Sailings

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Margaritaville Islander December 5, 2026 FAQ

What's the cheapest cabin on the Margaritaville Islander December 5, 2026 cruise?

Live pricing is not currently available for this sailing. Sign up for price-drop alerts above to be notified when fares appear.

What's the weather like on the Margaritaville Islander December 5, 2026 route?

Across the ports visited on this 5-night route, December averages 83°F highs and 47°F lows. See the per-port weather forecast section above for daily detail.

How safe is the December 5, 2026 Margaritaville Islander itinerary?

This itinerary scores 7.0 out of 10 on the Gangwaze Itinerary Safety Score, with per-port scores of Tampa 6.9, Key West 7.9, Progreso 6.1. We weight current travel advisories, recent crime data, and Global Peace Index signals — see the Safety Score section above for the full per-port breakdown.

When does the Margaritaville Islander sail and return on this itinerary?

The Margaritaville Islander departs Tampa, Florida on Saturday, December 5, 2026 at 2:30 PM and returns on Thursday, Dec 10th, 2026 at 6:00 AM. Total duration: 5 nights.

Who is the cruise director for the Margaritaville Islander sailing on December 5, 2026?

Cruise director assignment for this sail date is not currently confirmed in our records.

Can I track price drops for this Margaritaville Islander itinerary?

Yes — use the price tracking opt-in on this page to get an email when cabin prices drop for this exact sailing. We snapshot fares daily.

Researched and assembled by Gangwaze Cruise Editorial using daily-refreshed itinerary, pricing, weather, and safety data.

Last Updated: May 19, 2026