Galveston-bound cruise sets Guinness record for margaritas sold in 8 hours

Cruise passengers making their way back to Galveston are coming home with more than just souvenirs. The team is bringing home a Guinness World Record.

The Regal Princess has set a new record for the highest number of margaritas sold in an eight-hour timeframe while docked in Cozumel on February 17, achieving a remarkable total of 3,410 drinks, as confirmed by Guinness World Records. The total has exceeded the former record of 2,728.

The figure translates to over 426 margaritas served per hour, which is nearly one for every guest aboard. The Regal Princess accommodates up to 3,560 passengers.

“The atmosphere of celebration was palpable in every bar of Regal Princess,” stated Guinness adjudicator Thomas Bradford in a recent news release.

In a remarkable achievement, the record-setting margaritas were crafted using Pantalones Organic Blanco Tequila. Texas-born actor and entrepreneur Matthew McConaughey, along with his wife Camila Alves, established this brand. The couple has taken on the role of godparents for Princess Cruises’ latest vessel, Star Princess, and collaborated with the cruise line’s Love Line Premium Liquors collection in October 2024.

Princess Cruises has announced that the Pantalones 24K Margarita has emerged as its most popular cocktail, with over 1 million servings recorded from January 1, 2025, to January 7. Among the Pantalones-branded cocktails available on board are the Pants on Fire, Sea Legs, and Fancy Pants Paloma.

“Pantalones embodies a spirit of joy, storytelling, and easygoing adventure that reflects the Princess onboard experience,” stated Sami Kohen, the cruise line’s vice president of food and beverage, in a recent release. “The achievement of serving 1 million 24K Margaritas and securing a Guinness World Records™ title on National Margarita Day highlights the remarkable spirit and enthusiasm of our guests, who contributed to this historic moment at sea. This milestone will forever be etched in the annals of Princess history.”

The Regal Princess is set to make its return to the Port of Galveston on Sunday morning, coinciding with National Margarita Day.

Galveston asserts its connection to the cocktail's origin story. A widely circulated account attributes the origin of the margarita to the year 1948. According to this narrative, Santos Cruz, the head bartender at the Balinese Room, reportedly made a notable alteration to a sidecar cocktail by replacing brandy with tequila for singer Peggy Lee and her husband, guitarist Dave Barbour, following their return from Mexico. While alternative origin stories have emerged, the legend continues to occupy a key position in the island's cultural narrative.

Galveston has achieved yet another milestone in its storied history, this time with the addition of a new margarita offering.