Margaritaville at Sea has announced major upgrades and new experiences for its ship Margaritaville at Sea Paradise. The Palm Beach-based vessel will feature reimagined dining and beverage venues as well as new entertainment, ports of call, and enhanced terminal processes starting in late March 2025. Many changes will align Paradise more closely with sister ship Margaritaville at Sea Islander.

“This exciting new lineup of guest experiences on Paradise will match the fun and energy of the new destinations we’re charting this year,” said Anthony Stice, Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations for Margaritaville at Sea. “Whether it’s a two-night getaway or a long weekend escape, we’re ready to welcome guests with refreshed dining, elevated cocktail experiences, and unforgettable entertainment.”

Dining & Drinks

Hemisphere Dancer Craft Spirits

Islander’s much-loved craft spirits bar debuts on Paradise, where guests can reflect on the day’s adventures with carefully crafted cocktails in a cozy, leather-bound piano lounge. Fans of the line will recognize favorites like the Mile High, featuring Woodford Reserve Bourbon, Filthy black cherry syrup, sweet vermouth, and orange bitters with a smoked finish.

Far Side Sushi

Also making its way to Paradise is Far Side Sushi, an all-new specialty dining option in a sophisticated, bamboo-accented space featuring a menu of sushi rolls, small plates, and rice and ramen bowls — with something available for just about all dietary preferences.

Frank and Lola’s

The cruise line’s popular pizza outlet will now be inclusive for all guests to enjoy as part of an upgraded experience at the Port of Indecision Buffet. Guests can expect handcrafted pizzas with familiar favorite flavors, as well as a rotating menu of seasonally-inspired specialty pizzas.

License to Chill and 12 Volt Bar

Guests looking to quench their thirst poolside can head to the updated License to Chill and adults-only 12 Volt Bar. In addition to all-new menus, guests will enjoy renovated spaces, including License to Chill’s re-theming as a Key West-inspired beach bar, complete with ping pong and billiards.

JWB Prime Steakhouse

A signature Margaritaville favorite, the upscale JWB Prime Steakhouse will feature an upgraded menu with wine pairings and seasonal specialties while still maintaining the elevated, personalized service that’s popular with guests.

Entertainment

Margaritaville at Sea Paradise will be debuting all-new live entertainment featuring new artists around the ship.

New Port Stop and Other Improvements

In addition to stopping at Key West and Grand Bahama Island, Margaritaville at Sea is adding Nassau to the schedule for Paradise. With the addition of this stop, Margaritaville has added a new excursion called Sail and Splash: Margaritaville Beach Resort Nassau Excursion. The partnership gives guests sailing on Paradise priority access to the resort, including the Fins Up! Water Park, creating a seamless start-to-finish Margaritaville island escape.

Other improvements on the ship include general stateroom updates. In addition, Margaritaville at Sea has partnered with the Port of Palm Beach to expedite the arrival and debarkation process. The port has added advanced facial recognition technology for guests carrying U.S. passports, along with new parking options including self-parking and valet.

Best Sail Ever

During Margaritaville at Sea’s Best Sail Ever, through February 17th, guests can book the newly reimagined Paradise for 60 percent off all itineraries with 3rd and 4th guests free, plus onboard credit to sip, savor, and take in the exciting new enhancements.

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The post Margaritaville at Sea Paradise to Undergo Its Largest Renovation Yet appeared first on EatSleepCruise.com.

We recently decided to give the budget-friendly Margaritaville at Sea cruise line another chance. After having a not-so-great experience on the line’s first ship, Paradise, we were hesitant to test out the newly launched Islander. But, we gave it a go and booked a completely renovated Margaritaville at Sea Islander balcony room. Now, we’re back to share what we thought and how it stacks up to the competion in our latest cabin tour and review.

We Stayed in a Newly Renovated Margaritaville at Sea Balcony Room, and Here’s What We Thought

For our 5-day sailing over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, we secured a Margaritaville at Sea balcony room, stateroom 7175. This cabin is actually an extended balcony room on Deck 7. It is located on the starboard side of the ship between the forward and midship elevators (but somewhat closer to the forward bank). This balcony room measures in at approximately 185 square feet with a 55 square foot balcony.

Layout of a Margaritaville at Sea Islander Balcony Room

Immediately entering our cabin, we were pleasantly surprised! Unlike our Paradise room a couple years prior, this cabin was fresh, bright, and looked almost brand-new. In fact, we think the cabins are one of Islander’s biggest selling points. 

The bathroom was to the right and the closet was on the opposite wall. Continuing into the room, there was the desk/vanity area with the sofa across the way. The bed was closer to the balcony which is our preferred configuration. It was located on the aft wall facing forward.

The room was on point with what you would expect from a Margaritaville resort. It exuded “Islander” vibes with its bright colors and beachside decor. The color palette features neutral tones with nautical blues and Margaritaville-inspired accents.

Inside the Margaritaville at Sea Islander Balcony Room

Bathroom

Honestly, the bathroom was the one area of this Margaritaville at Sea Islander balcony room that didn’t appear to be fully refreshed. While there were new elements, other areas of the bathroom showed signs of the ship’s age.

The shower in particular is reminiscent of older cruise ships as it still features a shower curtain, albeit one with palm trees. Unlike some other cruise lines, it does have containers with body wash, shampoo, and conditioner though.

Aside from the shower, the bathroom features a strategically designed sink and toilet area with a few small shelves for storage on either side along with some counter space. For additional storage, we always bring a hanging shoe organizer where we place many toiletries and other small items.

The size of the actual bathroom and vanity area are small by hotel standards but what we’ve come to expect from cruise ships. The one nice addition in this bathroom that is often absent in cruise cabin bathrooms is a liquid hand soap dispenser.

While we have heard of issues with bathroom plumbing on the ship, we only had a minor issue with delayed flushing of the toilet at times.

Main Cabin Area

Near the entrance of this Margaritaville at Sea balcony room, there were three separate closet doors. Two featured full length clothes bars with hangers to serve as his and hers closets. The third had a series of shelves where the life jackets and safe were also housed. Unfortunately, they were sparse on hangers though.

The desk/vanity area positioned on the left wall of the cabin was fairly standard in size. There were four drawers for some additional storage, one of which contained the hair dryer, as well as the mini-fridge. Though, the ship is 25 years old, so the desk only had one 220-volt and one 110-volt outlet.

Beyond the desk was an additional dry bar-type setup. Here, there was a cabinet for additional storage below, a shelf for storing items like water bottles and the ice bucket, and the television above.

The flip-flop decals on the mirror, artwork, and Jimmy Buffett quote above the television were all nice touches adding to the theming.

The seating area on the right included a somewhat larger sofa and a very on-brand coffee table. It provided plenty of space for two adults to sit and even stretch out a bit, along with coordinating decorative pillows and artwork.

The Margaritaville bed was on the right (aft) wall. Additionally, there was a small night stand on each side of the bed with two small shelves. Both sides of the bed had a lamp with a USB and USB-C connection. Thus, we were still able to charge multiple devices overnight without issue despite the lack of additional outlets in the cabin.

Once again, with the deluxe Margaritaville bedding and “island time” touches, the bed provided adequate comfort during our trip. We had no issues falling asleep after our long days and nights eating and drinking our way around Islander.

Balcony

Finally, there was the balcony, which on Spirit-class vessels is approximately 55 square feet. However, it did seem larger than that to us. There was more than enough space for the two upright chairs and table.

This was our place to enjoy the views away from the crowds of the pool deck. Although, it would have been nice to have the adirondack chairs pictured on the cruise line’s website.

Recap of Our Margaritaville at Sea Islander Balcony Room Review

While still no comparison to the likes of modern mega-ships, this Margaritaville at Sea Islander balcony room shines when compared to ships of its age and to the competition sailing from Tampa, Florida.

Not only is the cabin a vast upgrade, but pricing is significantly cheaper! When comparing the cost of a balcony room on a 5-day sailing on Margaritaville at Sea Islander to a 5-day sailing on Carnival Paradise, both from Tampa (and both of comparable age) in January 2025, MVAS Islander is less than HALF THE PRICE!

This makes Margaritaville at Sea Islander a great value.

The balcony cabin was a pretty typical size AND provided us with direct access to ocean views. The accommodations were comfortable and had plenty of storage. Our stateroom had easy access to the stairs and elevators, with the public areas only a few decks below or above us. Not to mention, the decor certainly put us on island time.

Of course, Margaritaville at Sea Islander does offer a variety of other accommodations, ranging from the cozy interior staterooms up to luxurious suites. So, there’s something to suit all tastes and budgets on this newly relaunched cruise ship.

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As you might expect Margaritaville at Sea Islander offers a variety of bars and lounges all with signature drink menus inspired by Jimmy Buffett and the iconic lifestyle brand. Not sure where to start? Our complete look at all the Margaritaville at Sea Islander bars includes all of the bar menus to help you make the difficult decisions, like which bar to visit first!

Our Complete Look at All the Margaritaville at Sea Islander Bars With Menus and Drink Prices

When it comes to drinks on Margaritaville at Sea, guests can enjoy filtered water, brewed coffee, hot and iced tea, lemonade, and juices included in the cruise fare. However, all alcoholic beverages will cost extra. To help you budget appropriately, we have all the menus and current drink prices for each of the Margaritaville at Sea Islander bars.

If you plan to test out all the signature margaritas and boat drinks during your cruise, you may want to consider purchasing a drink package. The Ultimate Beverage Chill package is $59.99 per person, per day and covers all alcoholic beverages up to $20 as well as some non-alcoholic drinks.

Follow along as we test out all the bars and signature drink menus. After all, it’s 5 o’clock somewhere!

Learn More With Our Margaritaville at Sea Islander Review Video

Coral Reef Lounge (Deck 1)

On Margaritaville at Sea Islander, you can head below deck to the aquarium-themed Coral Reef Lounge. This venue is typically only open in the evenings and hosts family and adult karaoke sessions along with a few other activities like the adults-only Quest game show. This is one venue that seemed rather under-utilized.

Nonetheless, if you need a little liquid courage during your karaoke session, there is a full bar here with a signature drink menu featuring ocean-inspired cocktails and mocktails.

Coral Reef Lounge Menu

Far Side of the World Lounge (Deck 2)

The Far Side of the World Lounge is a Pacific-inspired venue that features a bar alongside a small sushi menu. The lounge hosts a variety of activities including dance classes, game shows, the cruise director’s morning trivia, arts and crafts sessions, the family circus workshop, and more. While the venue occasionally hosted live music, it seemed a bit under-utilized in the evenings as well.

The signature drink menu here features bubble and fruit teas, some zero-proof cocktails, Far East libations like the Geisha or Far Side Margarita, sake, and Asian beer.

Far Side of the World Lounge tended to open around 11 AM on sea days or 3/4 PM on port days and remained open until late.

Far Side of the World Menu

Love and Luck Casino Bar (Deck 2)

The Love and Luck Casino Bar isn’t your typical casino bar as it too features its own signature drink menu. If you’re feeling lucky, you can even roll the die and get a drink based off your number rolled. The menu includes drinks such as the Moneyline Margarita, Aces High, or Vegas Sour. There’s also a similar menu for shots.

The casino and bar tended to open around 10 AM on sea days and after leaving port on the other days and remained open until late.

Love and Luck Casino Bar Menu

Flip Flop Atrium Bar (Deck 2)

The Flip Flop Atrium is a hub of activity on Margaritaville at Sea Islander. It hosts live music, various pop-up performances with the production cast, and a rather unique Captain’s reception. The central bar opens between 9 and 10 AM most days and closes at midnight.

So, whether you just want to take a selfie with the signature flip flop, are mingling with other guests, or enjoying the entertainment, you’ll definitely want to grab a drink off the signature cocktail menu.

The menu features drinks like the Flip Flop margarita, Old Fashioned, and Red Sky at Night. There’s also a Key Lime Pie martini on the menu, but they didn’t have the ingredients to make it during our sailing.

Flip Flop Bar Menu

Hemisphere Dancer Craft Spirits (Deck 2)

The Hemisphere Dancer bar is the signature cocktail bar on the ship. It usually opens between 4 and 5 PM in the evenings and remains open until late. This is where the rock band performs along with a rotating list of other musicians. The Blaze Band ended up being our favorite musical act.

In terms of cocktails, they are all travel-inspired with names like Frequent Flier, Mile High, and Jet Lag. If you like a smoky drink, definitely try the Mile High. This bar also makes a great espresso martini.

Hemisphere Dancer Bar Menu

Hot Hot Hot Night Club (Deck 2)

The Hot Hot Hot Night Club is the late night spot on Margaritaville at Sea Islander. It’s also one place where it’s evident there were few updates made. This venue typically only opened at 11 PM for the late night party with DJ Kash.

This night club doesn’t have a signature drink menu, but it does have a full bar where you can order up your favorite cocktails while dancing the night away. We don’t dance, so we didn’t really spend any time here during our cruise.

Havana Daydreamin’ Sports Bar (Deck 3)

Havana Daydreamin’ Sports Bar is one of the largest venues on Margaritaville at Sea Islander. With a bar, a few compartmentalized seating sections, a stage, and some additional cafe style seating in the nearby hallway, it resembled more of a Latin bar or cafe than it did a sports pub. But, it did have some requisite televisions that played sporting events.

Havana Daydreamin’ tended to open around 10 AM on sea days and 4 PM on port days. The venue hosted a Latin duo in the evenings and a few other activities like craft sessions, meet ups, and name that tune.

On the drink menu, the Big Guava Margarita, Watermelon Daiquiri, and Rum Old Fashioned were our favorites. But, there were other Cuban cocktails too, like mojitos or a Cuba Libre.

Havana Daydreamin’ Bar Menu

Bubbles Up Lounge (Deck 3)

The Bubbles Up Lounge is the piano lounge and champagne bar on Magaritaville at Sea Islander. This cozy venue is a great place to grab a pre-dinner drink as it’s located right before the Islander Dining Room and one deck above the Fins Main Dining Room.

This lounge opened most days between 4 and 5 PM and remained open until 10 or 11 PM. It also usually hosted live piano music; though, it certainly wasn’t the same lively vibe that you find at Carnival’s Piano Bar 88 or Royal’s Schooner Bar.

On the menu, there are a variety of sparkling wines, along with signture cocktails and spritzes. We enjoyed the limoncello and raspberry spritzes here as well as the French 75.

Bubbles Up Bar Menu

Landshark Bar and Lookout (Decks 9, 10, 11)

Heading outdoors, guests have three main bar options. The Landshark Bar and Lookout technically spans three decks. The main bar is located on Deck 9 nearby the Landshark Pool. There is a smaller bar upstairs on Deck 10, and there’s additional seating space (and views overlooking the pool deck) on Deck 11 at the Landshark Lookout.

This pool bar tended to open between 10 AM and noon each day and closed somewhere between 6 and 8 PM. The Deck 10 bar opening times varied, but it was usually open 10 to 5 PM on sea days.

The Landshark Bar menu is the same at both locations. It features the signature Landshark Margarita, frozen cocktails, sangria, beer, and more.

Landshark Bar Menu

5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar (Deck 9)

The 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar is what you could consider the main pool bar. It’s adjacent to the 5 O’Clock Somewhere Pool which has a retractable roof so guests can use this pool no matter the weather outside. It’s also nearby the Six String Stage which features live music and Caribbean vibes.

This bar was open 8 AM to 10 PM daily for all your beverage needs. The menu features all your favorite margaritas and boat drinks, perfect for enjoying during sail away or a deck party or while lounging poolside on a sea day.

5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar Menu

Margaritaville Coffee Shop (Deck 9)

Located within the Port of Indecision buffet is the Margaritaville Coffee Shop. This venue serves specialty coffee along with upcharge breakfast, lunch, and snack options. Unlike most cruise lines though, this specialty coffee is NOT included in the Islander drink package.

Thus, all drinks (and food) here will cost you extra money. As an example of pricing, an espresso is $3, a medium latte is $5.25, chai tea is $4.50, and an iced frappe is $5.50.

The Margaritaville Coffee Shop is open daily from 6:30 AM to 10 PM. But, unlike its sister ship Paradise, it doesn’t have that coffee shop vibe where you’d want to chill or maybe do a little work. The only seating is shared seating with the buffet.

Coffee Shop Menu

Tiki Bar (Deck 9)

The Tiki Bar is located aft on Deck 9 in the adults-only area. This area features a sundeck, pool, bar, and two up-charge food stations so you never have to leave. The bar is quite large and features a covered seating section for those who want to enjoy some food or drinks in the shade.

The Tiki Bar opened most days around 9 or 10 AM until late. This bar’s menu features a list of all your favorite island drinks. From the Frozen Crazy Mango, to a Rum Runner, Pina Colada, Zombie, or Mai Tai, you can’t go wrong with any of the selections.

Tiki Bar Menu

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Do you have plans to sail with Margaritaville at Sea soon? What is your favorite of the Margaritaville at Sea Islander bars? Drop us an anchor below to share your picks for best cruise drinks.

The post We Tested All the Margaritaville at Sea Islander Bars: Here’s Our Complete Guide With Menus and Drink Prices appeared first on EatSleepCruise.com.

Margaritaville at Sea Islander is the second ship in the Margaritaville at Sea fleet. We’ve just returned from one of the ship’s first voyages and made sure to test out all the dining venues. Now, we are back and share all the details with you in our complete guide to the Margaritaville at Sea Islander restaurants with menus. See what we liked and what we suggest you skip during your cruise on this “new” ship.

Complimentary Margaritaville at Sea Islander Restaurants

When it comes to complimentary dining, Margaritaville at Sea offers a traditional main dining room and cruise ship buffet. There’s also free burgers, Mexican, pizza, and ice cream at various stations around the pool deck.

While the main dining room and buffet did fall a bit short for us, we enjoyed the casual options especially the burgers and pizza.

Learn More With Our Margaritaville at Sea Islander Review Video

Fins Main Dining Room (Deck 2)

Fins is the main dining room on Margaritaville at Sea Islander. Unlike most cruise line MDR’s, Fins is completely open seating, nightly from 5:30 to 9 PM. There are no set dinner times; there is also no ability to pre-make reservations to dine here.

Each evening, guests need to wait in line to dine at this restaurant. If there are no tables available, you will receive a pager much like a restaurant on land. Unfortunately, the average wait time for a table of two was 40-45 minutes during our sailing.

The restaurant does feature a new menu each evening with a selection of starters, entrees, and desserts. Some of the highlights included the Cajun Gumbo, Caribbean Egg Rolls, Braised Short Ribs, and 48 Hour B&B Pudding. Overall though, we would say this main dining room experience was mediocre at best.

Of note, guests can enjoy all the appetizers and desserts they want, but extra entrees will cost $7 each. Yes, even a second entree costs extra money.

Fins is also open for breakfast from 7:30/8:30 to 9:30/10:30 AM serving typical breakfast selections like omelets, French toast, pancakes, eggs, and breakfast meats.

However, Fins is not open for lunch at all, not even on sea days.

Breakfast | Wine List | Dinner 1 | Dinner 2 | Dinner 3 | Dinner 4 | Dinner 5

Mexican Cutie Cantina (Deck 9)

Mexican Cutie Cantina is a poolside eatery on the portside of Deck 9 nearby the 5 O’Clock Somewhere Pool. This venue serves quick service style Mexican food for breakfast and lunch. Think BlueIguana Cantina on Carnival or El Loco Fresh on Royal Caribbean.

For breakfast, the venue is open 8 to 10:30 AM daily serving breakfast burritos with Mexican eggs, sausage, chicken, and potatoes, along with additional toppings.

The venue reopens for lunch from 12 to 2/3:30 PM serving tacos and rice bowls. The meat selections include chicken, pork, and beef. Guests can then further customize their meals at the small nearby toppings bar. Cheese quesadillas are also available. However, there is no burrito option for lunch, nor are there nacho chips.

Cheeseburger in Paradise (Deck 9)

Opposite the Mexican Cutie Cantina, you’ll find Cheeseburger in Paradise on the starboard side of the pool deck. As the name implies, this station serves customizable burgers from 12 to 6 PM daily. Toppings include lettuce, tomato, onions, islander sauce, mushrooms, sauteed onions, pickles, hot peppers, and more. Alongside the burgers, you can enjoy some pretty tasty seasoned fries.

If you don’t like burgers, you’re out of luck at this spot as there are no other options available like chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, or veggie burgers. However, if you do like burgers, you don’t want to pass these up as they definitely rival Guy’s Burger Joint on Carnival Cruise Line.

Port of Indecision Buffet (Deck 9)

The Port of Indecision Buffet is Margaritaville at Sea Islander’s pretty lackluster buffet. While technically three stations, there were only two identical stations open during our sailing. The Port of Indecion Buffet serves breakfast from 7 to 10:30 AM, lunch from 12 to 2/3:30 PM, and dinner from 6 to 9:30 PM daily.

Breakfast featured all your typical selections including continental items, eggs and breakfast meats, fruit, and more. For lunch and dinner, you can expect to find a small salad bar, a soup of the day, cold cuts, a limited selection of hot entrees, and desserts. At lunchtime, there’s an area for hot dogs and sausages as well.

In comparison to other cruise line buffets, this one was small and lacked variety. However, the gem here is Frank and Lola’s Pizzeria.

Frank and Lola’s Pizzeria (Deck 9)

Unlike MVAS Paradise which features a pizza parlor, Frank and Lola’s Pizzeria on Islander is found within the buffet. This centrally located station is open from 12 PM to 2 AM daily serving up slices of cheese, pepperoni, or mushroom pizza.

While still good, the slices are smaller and there wasn’t as much variety when compared to Paradise. The wait times for pizza also fluctuate as the pies are small and the staff do not make many at a time. Thus, you might need to wait in line for a bit to get your slice.

Still, it does rival the pizza on Virgin Voyages and Princess Cruises.

Ice Cream (Deck 9)

It’s not a cruise without some soft serve ice cream, right? Luckily, Margaritaville at Sea Islander has two stations, one on each side of the ship near the buffet entrance. These stands serve cones and bowls of vanilla, chocolate, and twist from 12 PM to 9:30 PM daily.

Specialty Margaritaville at Sea Islander Restaurants

While you don’t have to spend money on food while cruising on Margaritaville at Sea Islander, there are quite a few up-charge restaurants that might be worth the splurge. There’s a signature steakhouse along with several casual a la carte options and a Sparkling Wine Brunch.

While the JWB Prime Steakhouse was a bit of a letdown for us, we did enjoy the selections at Island Eats and the Tiki Grill as well as the brunch.

If you are considering dining at a few of these venues, you might want to purchase a dining package. The options available include:

• Ultimate Dining Chill- $119 per person
• Prime Dining Package- $69 per person
• Far Side Sampler Package- $59 per person

Additionally, the Islander Signature Chill Package (from $459 pp) and the Ultimate Islander Escape (from $739 pp) include specialty dining along with many other add ons.

The Ultimate Dining Chill package includes one of each of the following: JWB Steakhouse, Sparkling Wine Brunch at Islander Dining Room, dinner at Islander Dining Room, $25 dining credit for a la carte purchases at each Tiki Grill, Island Eats, and Far Side Sushi. The 18% gratuity is also included.

The Prime Dining package includes one of each of the following: JWB Steakhouse, Sparkling Wine Brunch at Islander Dining Room, and dinner at Islander Dining Room. The 18% gratuity is also included.

The Far Side Sampler package includes a $25 dining credit for a la carte purchases at Tiki Grill, Island Eats, and Far Side Sushi for a value of $75. This package is only available for guests 18+.

Far Side Sushi (Deck 2)

Margaritaville at Sea Islander doesn’t have a dedicated sushi restaurant, but it does offer sushi and a few other Asian-inspired dishes at the Far Side of the World Lounge.

This Pacific-themed venue hosts various activities during the cruise. So, if you get hungry along the way, you can order up a few items off this a la carte menu.

Far Side Sushi is open for lunch on sea days from 12 to 3 PM and nightly from 5 PM to late.

Far Side Sushi Menu

Islander Dining Room (Deck 3)

A bit odd, but the Islander Dining Room serves a dual function. It is the restaurant for suite guests, but also an up-charge restaurant for other guests. Guests can pay $20 per person to dine here for dinner or $15 per person to enjoy Sparkling Wine Brunch on sea days.

The Islander Dining Room is basically the second floor of the Fins Main Dining Room. It serves the same menu as Fins with an additional insert of a few upgraded offerings (3 apps, 2 entrees, and 1 dessert). Although, there’s really nothing all that upscale on these exclusive menus. There’s no lobster or escargot or anything along those lines. Some selections included shrimp cocktail, ahi tuna, crab cake, flat iron steak, blackened salmon, and beef wellington.

Personally, the only benefit to dining here for us was to avoid the wait times at the main dining room.

We did enjoy the Sparkling Wine Brunch though. This menu features both breakfast and lunch items, but given we dined here at 9:30 AM, we only sampled breakfast items. The chicken and waffles and the overnight French toast were both good. There’s also items like steak and eggs, huevos rancheros, and a burger on the menu.

Sparkling Wine Brunch is served from 8:30 to 11:30 AM, and dinner is served nightly from 5:30 to 9 PM. Just like Fins, additional entrees at the Islander Dining Room are also a $7 fee.

Brunch Menu | Dinner 1 | Dinner 2 | Dinner 3 | Dinner 4 | Dinner 5

Margaritaville Coffee Shop (Deck 9)

Also located within the Port of Indecision buffet is the Margaritaville Coffee Shop. This venue serves specialty coffee along with upcharge breakfast, lunch, and snack options. Unlike most cruise lines though, this specialty coffee is NOT included in the Islander drink package.

Thus, all drinks here will cost you extra money. As an example of pricing, an espresso is $3, a medium latte is $5.25, chai tea is $4.50, and an iced frappe is $5.50. Further, you’ll have to pay $7 for a lunch sandwich, $5 for croissants, $3 for cinnamon rolls, and $4-6 for pastries.

While specialty coffees are a given for us on a cruise, we did try a few of the upcharge food items as well which were hit or miss.

The Margaritaville Coffee Shop is open daily from 6:30 AM to 10 PM. But, unlike Paradise, it doesn’t have that coffee shop vibe where you’d want to chill or maybe do a little work. The only seating is shared seating with the buffet.

Coffee Shop Menu | Breakfast and Pastry Menu | Food Menu

Tiki Grill (Deck 9)

Located aft on Deck 9 in the adults-only area are two up-charge food counters. The Tiki Grill is on the portside. This venue serves a menu of upgraded food items at a la carte prices. There’s chicken wings, conch fritters, buffalo shrimp, and more. Everything we sampled here was good, and we would definitely pay to dine here again.

However, the venue is only open from 3 PM to late. It would have been nice to have these offerings open at lunchtime on sea days as we ended up waiting until 3 PM for lunch on a couple days just to try these items.

Tiki Grill Menu

Island Eats (Deck 9)

Across the way on the starboard side, also right near the Tiki Pool and Tiki Bar, is Island Eats. Similar to Tiki Grill, this venue also serves a menu of upgraded items at a la carte prices daily from 3 PM to late.

While both menus are heavy on seafood, this one serves lobster rolls, ceviche, crab legs, mussels, and more. Even though it was $18, the lobster roll was good, and we would definitely recommend trying out some of the offerings here.

Of note, if using the dining package at either of these spots, the $25 credit must be used all at one time and can not be split over multiple visits.

Island Eats Menu

JWB Prime Steakhouse (Deck 10)

Lastly, JWB Prime Steakhouse is the most traditional of the Margaritaville at Sea Islander specialty restaurants. This restaurant is open nightly for dinner from 5:30 to 9:30 PM and has an upcharge of $55 per person.

This restaurant is located on Deck 10 overlooking the open atrium which does make it a bit noisy and takes away some of the ambiance that you’d expect at an upscale steakhouse.

The menu features a wide selection of starters from pork belly, to wagyu meatballs, oysters, burrata, onion soup, lobster bisque, and salads. For entrees, the cuts of beef are the obvious choice but there’s also short ribs, rack of lamb, pork chop, pan-roasted chicken, a catch of the day, and lobster on the menu.

Despite the $55 charge to dine here, lobster tail and surf & turf are both an additional $24 charge. If you want to add a 5 oz. grilled lobster tail to your entree that will cost an extra $20.

The filet we had here was perfectly seared to the requested medium-rare temperature. We also enjoyed the pork belly and bib & walnut salad; however, the meatball, burrata, and all the sides were disappointing.

Honestly, we probably wouldn’t pay to dine here again. Instead, we’d spend the money on the up-charge casual eats.

JWB Steakhouse Menu | JWB Steakhouse Kids Menu

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Margaritaville at Sea now has two cruise ships, and both feature different drink package structures. To help you differentiate the packages and decide whether purchasing one is right for you, we’ve put together this complete guide to Margaritaville at Sea drink packages.

Complete Guide to Margaritaville at Sea Drink Packages (2024)

What drinks do you get free on Margaritaville at Sea?

While alcoholic drinks and specialty beverages cost extra on Margaritaville at Sea, there are some drinks that are included in the cruise fare. These include filtered water, tea (hot and iced), drip coffee, lemonade, and juice.

Beverages that cost extra include alcoholic drinks, soda, bottled water, mocktails, bottled/canned drinks, and specialty coffee.

Margaritaville at Sea Paradise Drink Packages

Instead of having a traditional alcoholic drink package, Margaritaville at Sea Paradise offers two options for guests to pre-pay for 10 drinks at a set price. This system essentially operates like a pre-paid punch card program, but with an RFID bracelet instead. There’s also the Blender Cup Package, which we’ll detail as well.

Boat Drinks

The Boat Drinks option allows for 10 cocktails, beer, wine, and/or mocktails worth up to $12 each. For top-shelf beverages, guests just have to pay the difference above the $12 limit. Boat Drinks costs $99 per person.

No Doubts

The No Doubts option allows for 10 specialty cocktails, liquor, beer, or wine by the glass. However, there is no price restriction. This option costs $119 per person.

Both the Boat Drinks and No Doubts programs include an RFID keepsake wristband that are preloaded with 10 drink credits. Both options require that you use two drink credits for double shots. The 18 percent gratuity is included in the price of the package.

Blender Cup Package

The Blender Cup Package includes a 22 oz. souvenir Blender Cup filled with a Boat Drink, and allows for five additional refills throughout the cruise. Boat Drinks, margaritas, and a limited selection of specialty cocktails can be used for the refills.

This comes in the form of an RFID keepsake wristband that is preloaded with six drink credits with no price maximum. The 18 percent gratuity is included in the price of the package, which is $119 per person.

Margaritaville at Sea Islander Drink Package

Unlike on Paradise, Margaritaville at Sea Islander has a more traditional beverage package that cruisers who are familiar with other lines will be used to. The ship’s alcoholic drinks package, called Ultimate Beverage Chill, costs $59.99 per person, per night.

It includes all beers, wines by the glass, cocktails, and Boat Drinks worth up to $20 each. Soda and 500 ml bottled water are also included, as are juices and mocktails. There’s also a 25 percent discount for wine and champagne by the bottle.

The package does not include bottles of liquor, buckets of beer, blender cups or blender cup refills, bottles of water larger than 500 ml, specialty coffee drinks from the Margaritaville Coffee Shop, canned/bottled items like Gatorade and Red Bull, in-room wine service and mini bar, or any beverages ordered from room service.

Drinks purchased through the Ultimate Beverage Chill package may not be shared with other cruisers. Only one drink may be ordered and served at a time. There’s a daily limit of 15 alcoholic and specialty beverages per guest (this does not include soda and bottled water).

If a beverage costs more than $20, the guest must pay the difference. The $59.99 per night price does not include an 18 percent service charge, which is included in the final price when purchasing the package.

Unlimited Soda Package

The Unlimited Soda Package is available for $10 per person, per day on both Margaritaville at Sea ships. It includes unlimited refills of fountain sodas (the cruise line carries Coca-Cola products) and a Margaritaville at Sea souvenir cup. An 18 percent service gratuity is automatically added to the package price at checkout.

Only one soda may be ordered at a time, and they cannot be shared with other guests. To redeem the package, head to the designated pickup location once on the ship.

How do you purchase drink packages on Margaritaville at Sea?

If you want to add a beverage package when you’re initially making your cruise booking, you can add it to your cart at checkout.

To add it onto an existing reservation, you will need to call Margaritaville at Sea at 877-553-5299. A guest management portal, called Cruise Control, is also in the works. This will give guests the ability to add a package to their reservation once their cruise booking is paid in full.

You also have the option to add a drink package to your cruise once on board, either on the first or second day of the sailing.

Margaritaville at Sea Drink Prices

To get an idea of how much drinks cost on Margaritaville at Sea, plan to spend about $12 to $15 for most cocktails. Signature cocktails are on the high end at around $15. Wine costs around $10 to $12 per glass, and beer will run you around $8.50 to $9.

Bottles of water are $2.50 each, and soda costs $2.50. For specialty coffees, plan to pay similar prices to what you’d pay at Starbucks. For instance, an espresso is $3, a medium latte is $5.25, and medium iced frappes are $5.50.

Can just one person get a drink package on Margaritaville at Sea?

If one guest in a stateroom purchases the Ultimate Beverage Chill package, all other guests in the same cabin that are 21+ must also purchase the package. Limited exceptions to this policy (such as a documented medical condition) may be made at the discretion of the cruise line and may require authorized approval.

You must be 21 or older to purchase any alcoholic beverage package. Minors are not required to get the soda package when adults in the same cabin get a drink package.

Is the Margaritaville at Sea drink package worth it?

Margaritaville at Sea Paradise

When thinking about whether the Margaritaville at Sea drink package is worth it on Paradise, let’s talk about the Boat Drinks package first. If you plan to buy mostly $12 and $13 cocktails, the plan is easily worth it as it costs $99 and $12 x 10 is $120. For $13 cocktails, you’d only pay $10 in additional fees ($1 extra per drink) and that still puts you below the menu price at $109.

If you’re going to mostly be drinking beer and wine, the package may not be worth it. Those beverages generally cost less per glass than a cocktail. So, you’ll want to do the math to decide if the package is right for you.

The No Doubts package is similar: if you plan to mostly purchase $14 and $15 cocktails and top-shelf spirits, this is easily worth it as those incur a higher price tag. For example, ten $14 cocktails is $140 list price, and ten $15 cocktails is $150 list price — both above the $119 cost of the No Doubts package.

With the Blender Cup package, you get six 22 oz. Boat Drinks. Keep in mind that 22 oz. is about double the size of a normal cocktail, so it’s like getting the quantity of 12 cocktails for $119. Plus you get a Blender Cup souvenir. If you’re happy with drinking a lot (or sharing) with each serving, the Blender Cup package is a great value.

Margaritaville at Sea Islander

The package on Islander is $60 per day and includes drinks worth up to $20 each. If you drink around five cocktails per day, you’ll break even. The same goes for if you drink seven beers or five to six glasses of wine. The fact that some nonalcoholic beverages are included also helps with the value. Do remember that specialty coffee, room service drinks, and blender cup beverages aren’t included though.

Whether or not the drink package is worth the price ultimately depends on your preferences and what you plan to drink during your sailing.

Here are two things to keep in mind. Your cruise has port days where you’ll spend many hours off the ship and not take advantage of your drink package. You also need to remember that if you’re traveling with another 21+ adult in the same cabin, they must purchase the package too. If one person is a non-drinker, it may make more sense to go a la carte.

Soda Package

Lastly, you’ll break even on the soda package if you purchase four sodas (at $2.50 each). If you’ll be drinking that much or more per day, it’s probably easiest to prepay for the soda package. That way, you won’t have to think about the price at all during your cruise!

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Heidi and I were among the first cruisers to test out Margaritaville at Sea when the new cruise line launched in 2022. Now, the cruise line has another “new” ship. The former Costa Atlantica underwent a multi-million dollar makeover to re-emerge as Margaritaville at Sea Islander. We are back from a recent sailing and share what it’s really like on the second ship in this fleet with our honest Margaritaville at Sea Islander cruise ship review scorecard.

Get a Inside Look With our Margaritaville at Sea Islander Cruise Ship Review

What It is Really Like on Margaritaville at Sea Islander

An Improved Layout and Design

Unlike the first ship in the fleet, the 85K gross ton Islander has a more familiar layout given it’s a Carnival Corp. Spirit class vessel. Likewise, it is very apparent that MVAS Islander received a more complete renovation than Margaritaville at Sea’s first vessel. Thus, the ship feels more in align with the lifestyle brand in terms of colors, décor, and atmosphere.

Although, elements of the old Costa Cruises ship are still peeking through in some areas. For instance, a large mermaid in the middle of the Tiki Pool still stands, now holding a giant margarita in her hand.

Additionally, the Hot Hot Hot Night Club presumably didn’t receive many updates either. In fact, the chairs and tables look like they were holdovers from the previous ship’s owner. There’s also some other signs of the ship’s age as evidenced in multiple maintenance issues that were being addressed.

However, Margaritaville at Sea Islander does boast over 10 bars and lounges that are well-themed, with new names, beachy colors, and funky furniture.

The two dining rooms on decks 2 and 3 offer unique dining experiences, but both have nods to island life as well. Pops of seafoam blue and small details like the nets on the lights in the Fins Main Dining Room give this restaurant a seaside vibe. The more upscale Islander Dining Room on deck 3 complements its counterpart with a similar aesthetic.

Further, cruisers can’t miss the brand’s signature flip flop in the 9-story atrium. Adorned with fish, parakeets, and a sea plane, this focal point is lively, open, and where everyone’s cruise begins. It is a fitting introduction to what’s in store on Margaritaville at Sea Islander.

The Staterooms on Margaritaville at Sea Islander

The staterooms on Margaritaville at Sea Islander are fresh and upbeat. The bright color palette, new furniture, and fun accents gave the cabin a beachy glow. Our balcony cabin, stateroom 7175, was an extended balcony cabin on the starboard side, forward of the midship bank of elevators.

This stateroom had plenty of space and storage for the two of us. Its layout ensured we had a comfortable stay during our five-day cruise.

Immediately upon entering the room, our closet was on the left, and the bathroom was on the right.

Inside, the cabin had a refinished desk/vanity setup with some drawers, the mini-fridge and the television, along with three small closets that featured a series of shelves and clothes bars with hangers, and a seating area. Nautically inspired lamps, shoreline art, and funky accents certainly put us “On Islander Time”.

The ship is 25 years old, so the desk only had one 220-volt and one 110-volt outlet. However, the new lamps on each side of the bed contained a USB and USB-C connection. Thus, we were able to charge multiple devices overnight without issue.

After a long day ashore, we had no problems falling asleep on the deluxe Margaritaville bedding and mattress.

The balcony was quite large, with more than enough space for the two chairs and table. It was our place to enjoy the views away from the crowds of the pool deck.

Of all the updates in the room, the bathroom seemed to have the fewest improvements. Still, it offered adequate storage, liquid hand soap, and bath products in the shower. We would have liked a shower door instead of the branded shower curtain. Yet, it was still a vast improvement over the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise bathrooms.

Wasted Away Again on the Pool Deck

The 5 O’Clock Somewhere Pool and the Landshark Pool received some minor upgrades, but they made quite a difference. Some new tables and chairs, art, palm trees, and a few coats of paint breathed new life into this 25 year old pool deck.

Various loungers, tables, and some day beds are available next to these pools; though, we would have expected more. The pools and nearby hot tubs were definitely popular places to be on hot sea days.

Our ship was sailing at about 90% of double occupancy. Yet, it was never an issue getting a lounger on the deck 10 sundeck.

Aft on deck 9 is the Tiki Pool and Tiki Bar. This is an adults-only area. We liked the large and shaded bar in this area but felt the space overall received only a minor facelift. There were a couple of cabana-style huts, one hammock, three daybeds, and some lounge chairs.

Given its size though, this aft pool and sun deck could have used more fun and funky furniture to go with the island theme of the bar and nearby up-charge eateries.

With many onboard embracing the no shirt, no shoes, no problem mindset, the pool decks were a lively and fun place throughout the entire cruise. With a variety of poolside music, Fins Up crew activities, and plenty of margaritas, the vibe on the outdoor decks would make any parrothead proud.

Sports Deck

Forward on deck 11 is the Dis ‘N Dat sports deck. It is home to a small running track with approximately 16 laps equaling one mile. There’s also a 9-hole mini golf course and an interesting cornhole course. It wouldn’t be a new ship if there wasn’t a pickleball court here, too.

We appreciated the attempt at branding the mini-golf course, but half the course is located near the ship vents, so your golf balls are blown all over the course. Also, for many, it is confusing where the course begins and ends, as the first three holes are alongside the last 3 holes.

The cornhole course is a unique family-friendly touch not found on most cruise ships. It features very on-brand elements, but we weren’t sure how to score this game.

Currently, guests must secure pickleball equipment, mini-golf clubs, and golf balls from the towel stand down on deck 9. I’m not sure what this says about the cruise line or its guests that we were not trusted to have access to these necessities at the sports deck like every other cruise line.

Additionally, aft on deck 11 is the Caribbean Amphibian Play Pad and slide. This outdoor playground is designed for little kids, but it’s in direct sunlight with no shade. So, we never saw many junior cruisers testing out this addition.

There is also a small fitness center forward on deck 5. It has some new equipment, like treadmills, stationary bikes, and a small free-weight section. But this small space is not on par with modern gyms on most cruise ships.

Finally, on deck 9 is the St. Somewhere Spa and Salon. This renovated space offers traditional massages and treatments as well as hair, nail, and other beauty services. However, there is no thermal suite.

Main Dining Room

Perhaps the main dining room was the biggest letdown for us when it came to dining. For our cruise, the Fins Dining Room served sit-down breakfast and dinner daily, but there was no sea day lunch.

For breakfast, Margaritaville at Sea Islander offered omelets, eggs benedict, pancakes, and French toast.

At night, dinner is open seating from 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM. Like most major cruise lines, the menu rotates each evening. However, there are no standard items, like steak or chicken. Although, there was at least one vegetarian dish on the menu each night.

Given its open seating, there are no set dinner times and guests can not pre-make reservations. This resulted in long wait times. The few times we tried to get a table, we were told it was a 40-45 minute wait.

So, we opted to eat at the Islander Dining Room on deck 3. This restaurant is reserved for suite guests, but other guests can pay $20 a person to dine here as well. For those with a dining package, one dinner at Islander is included.

Besides some linens on the table, the menu is mostly the same in the two restaurants. The Islander menu does include three upgraded starters, two unique entrees, and one dessert each evening in addition to the selections on the Fins menu.

We wouldn’t say that anything in the main dining room wowed us. The gumbo and flat iron steak on Night 4 were well-prepared with plenty of flavor. Night 5 featured a braised short rib and stir-fried rice, which were also among the better options we sampled. I also enjoyed the bread pudding dessert and the cruise line’s signature pina colada lush dessert.

However, most other dishes were either on par or subpar when compared to other cruise lines. Most dishes were also served lukewarm at best.

Overall, the main dining room food fell short for us when compared to the competition. Even the upgraded Islander menus didn’t include lobster or anything of that sort. Plus, guests are only allowed one entree with additional entrees an extra $7 each.

The one saving grace was the service. From breakfast to dinner, the service teams were mostly friendly and fast, especially when we were seated in I Made’s section. We never waited long for a server to take our order, and the pacing of our meals was also efficient.

Specialty Dining

As we mentioned already, Islander is technically a specialty restaurant for most guests. While the service was good, the food here is not worth the cover charge in our opinion.

In addition to nightly dinner, the Islander Dining Room also offers a Sparkling Wine Brunch on the two sea days. For $15 a person, this brunch includes a morning mimosa and an extensive menu with breakfast and lunch items. One brunch is also included in the dining package.

This menu features breakfast items like chicken and waffles, steak and eggs, and overnight French toast. In addition, guests can choose from lunch items like penne alla vodka or a “bubbles up” burger. We did enjoy this meal and would probably pay the up-charge again.

The only other sit-down specialty restaurant is the JWB Prime Steakhouse. This restaurant requires reservations that can be made as soon as you board the ship.

We dined here on Night 2 and our experience was hit or miss. The braised pork belly was perhaps the best starter I had all week. My medium-rare filet was perfectly seasoned and cooked to my ideal temperature. The banana cream pie and key lime pie were sweet endings to this meal as well.

However, the burrata and all the side dishes we sampled were not good. Further, if you’d like a lobster tail or surf & turf, this will cost an extra $24 on top of the already high $55 up-charge to dine here. After our experience dining at JWB on Islander, we probably would not return which is a disappointment as we enjoyed our meal at JWB on Paradise.

The rest of the specialty dining on Margaritaville at Sea Islander is casual fare. With the dining package, cruisers get a $25 credit to each of these three venues. So, we sampled food from two of the three eateries.

I am usually opposed to paying for casual dining while on a cruise. Although, for this Margaritaville at Sea Islander review, we wanted to try the offerings. And I was glad we did. Honestly, this food was among some of the best food on the ship.  

The buffalo wings were a crispy and spicy poolside snack available at the Tiki Grill. The conch fritters were light and airy, and the crunchy buffalo shrimp paired well with tangy cocktail sauce.

While I am usually skeptical of trying a Maine lobster roll on a cruise ship, the one available at Island Eats was full of tender chunks of lobster and came on a toasted split hot dog bun.

Both of these eateries are in the adult-only Tiki Pool area aft on deck 9. The third casual option is Far Side Sushi on deck 2. Within the Far Side of the World Lounge is a bar and sushi counter which offers sushi and a few other Asian dishes at a la carte prices. With only five days, I didn’t get to try any of the sushi though.

Finally, the Margaritaville Coffee Shop is located in the back of the buffet. And unfortunately, the Islander drink package does not cover the specialty coffees and drinks here like most other cruise lines.

The Coffee Shop also features up-charge menu items throughout the day. Among the offerings are breakfast pastries and sandwiches, all-day desserts, paninis, and grilled sandwiches. They ranged in price from $3 to $7. While a modest up-charge, items like these should be complimentary. I did enjoy the Muffin Man breakfast sandwich though.

Casual Dining

In keeping with the laid-back and relaxed vibe, MVAS Islander offers some complimentary casual dining options as well.

Near the 5 O’Clock Somewhere Pool is the Mexican Cutie Cantina. This taco stand is open for breakfast most days from 8 to 10:30 AM. Morning options include a bowl or burrito with Mexican eggs and a choice of breakfast meats, potatoes, and accompaniments.

Similarly, guests could choose from three different meat options when building a custom bowl or tacos at lunch. The nearby salsa bar had additional toppings for spicing things up. While not the best Tex-Mex at sea, this was a good quick service option that didn’t cost extra.

A better offering though was the Cheeseburger in Paradise, also nearby the 5 O’Clock Somewhere Pool. Open most days from noon to 6 PM, the freshly made burgers here rival the fast food equivalent of Guy’s Burger Joint on Carnival. While there are no signature burgers, there are staple toppings and the Islander sauce. Along with a few more additional customizations at the toppings bar, it is easy to craft your unique creation.

While the burgers were definitely standout, we can say the same for the pizza slices at Frank and Lola’s. Churning out pizzas from about noon to 2 AM, this pizza, too, rivals some of the best pizza at sea. We just wish it wasn’t in the Port of Indecision buffet. We missed the pizza parlor vibe from Paradise.

Finally, the Port of Indecision Buffet is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Given our aversion to buffets in general and the offerings, we didn’t need to try the buffet.  

To be honest, none of the selections looked all that appetizing. My few passes for breakfast looked like the buffet had pretty typical offerings. There was a salad bar, a daily soup offering, and rotating entrees for lunch. Most days, there was a chicken, fish, and beef main course with some side dishes.

Overall, it was small and underwhelming when compared to other cruise lines.

Bars and Lounges

If there is one thing the Margaritaville brand is known for, it’s drinks. So, we are happy to report that the bars on Islander are certainly the hub of activity.

Across the ship, most of the bars have a signature cocktail menu. In fact, each bar even has an exclusive margarita that is only available at that location.

Among our favorite drinks were the watermelon daiquiri and big guava margarita at Havana Daydreamin’. This sports bar had a weird layout and vibe though. Since it was previously a café, it maintained that similar feel only with Cuban decor and some random televisions.

Another popular venue for drinks and music was the Hemisphere Dancer. The smoky Mile High was on par with signature cocktails at the high-end cocktail bars on competitor cruise lines. The Bubbles Up bar’s flavored Spritzes and French 75 were some of the more refreshing drinks on the ship as well.

Other indoor bars include the Pacific-themed Far Side of the World. This venue was home to Far East inspired drinks. There is also the main atrium bar, the Flip Flop Bar, with classic cocktails like an Old-Fashioned. Even the casino bar has its own signature drink menu, as does the aquarium-themed Coral Reef Lounge.

Additionally, each themed pool had its own themed bar. Of course, the 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar is the chief margarita and boat drinks bar on the ship. Here, cruisers can get something strong and tall, like the Pink Cadillac or Uptown Shelf margaritas.

The Landshark Bar serves frozen cocktails, along with poolside favorites like a Sunset Sangria, as well as beer and even shots.

The outdoor bar we frequented the most was the Tiki Bar. This bar features cruiser favorites such as a Mai Tai or Rum Runner and the most seats in the shade of any outdoor bar. Not to mention, there weren’t any little kids running around.

The Islander Drink Package

Unlike its sister ship, Margaritaville at Sea Islander does have a drink package. Onboard, the package costs $59.99 a day plus an 18% gratuity; cruisers can save 10% purchasing pre-cruise.  

With most cocktails and drinks being around $12 to $15, all it takes is about 5 – 6 drinks a day to make the package worth it. While bottled water and soda are included, other premium non-alcoholic drinks like Red Bull or Gatorade are not. Also, specialty coffees are not part of the drink package.

While there is a max of 15 alcoholic drinks a day, a drink package is a no-brainer if sailing on this ship.

Onboard Activities on MVAS Islander

The Fins Up Crew keeps guests busy from morning until night. The cruise ship serves up a variety of family-friendly entertainment as well as some adult-only activities. The Fins Up Crew were upbeat and visible around the ship at all times of the day.

Compared to our last sailing with the cruise line, we did notice considerably more children and families on this cruise. According to the youth director on the ship, there were over 425 kids onboard.

Luckily, the ship does have three themed youth areas. For younger kids, Jolly Mon and Parakeets is forward on deck 5.

Tweens can make new friends and chill at the Hangout forward on deck 3. Forward on deck 2 is the Far Out teens lounge. This lounge is home to video games, a pool table, and staff-led events and activities.

Throughout the ship, cruise director Zee-Jay and the rest of the activities staff made sure cruisers got involved and were having fun. The activities were typical for any contemporary cruise ship, including deck parties, trivia sessions, arts and crafts, games and challenges, dance classes, karaoke, and even the cruise line’s version of the Quest. A majority of these activities occurred in the Far Side of the World Lounge or the Coral Reef Lounge.

Tucked away forward on Deck 4 is Quietly Making Noise. Labeled as QMN on the deck plans, this unique onboard experience is reserved for a lucky few each cruise and is invite only.

Hosted by Kai, an enthusiastic member of the Fins Up Crew, cruisers can learn a little more about the Margaritaville brand and the man behind it, Jimmy Buffett, during this intimate experience. With some exclusive cocktails and music memorabilia like Jimmy’s first guitar, this onboard speakeasy is a great “secret” addition to the ship. It was actually the perfect way to end our cruise.

Live Music and Nightlife

Pretty much all of the bars and lounges on Margaritaville at Sea Islander had live music or other nighttime activities to keep cruisers entertained.

On Deck 1, the Coral Reef Lounge was the resident karaoke bar. This venue offered nightly sing-a-longs with family and adult sessions most nights. It also hosted the adult-only Quest game show.

On Deck 2, the Blaze Band rocked out the Hemisphere Dancer Bar, and DJ Kash spun late night hits at the Hot Hot Hot Night Club.

Further, several solo artists rotated sets during the early and late evening at the Atrium’s Flip Flop Bar. Among the musicians were guitarists Emman or Pedro and rock violinist Belén. The production cast also put on short pop-up performances here several nights of the cruise. Occasionally, there was live music or evening trivia in the Far Side of the World Lounge.

On Deck 3, Ellie tickled the ivories at the Bubbles Up piano bar, and the Latin duo Fama played in the Havana Daydreamin’ Bar along with an occasional name that tune game.

The Blaze band and rock violinist were among our favorites. I was fond of the piano bar as well, but the quirky pianist didn’t always jive with that night’s crowd, so the atmosphere in that lounge was hit or miss.

Up on the pool deck, the Six String Stage was home to various musical acts and events during the day. Along with pool games, one could jam out to island vibes from Opal, a steel drummer. Or, enjoy the Salt Air Sounds of the Prisma Band.  

On the other end of the pool deck, the Landshark Pool’s screen played Jimmy Buffett concerts during the day.

Thus, cruisers had plenty of options to enjoy live music alongside their cocktails on Margaritaville at Sea Islander day and night.

Signature Entertainment

Even though I am not a huge Jimmy Buffett fan, the show on the first Margaritaville ship was enjoyable. So, I had slightly higher expectations for the two signature production shows on Margaritaville at Sea Islander.

Again, the cruise line did not disappoint.

While both were your typical cruise revue shows, the productions in the Stars on the Water theater were fast-paced, the set lists were spot on, and the cast were a talented group of singers, dancers, and aerialists.

Night 3 was Coastal Country Elegance night. Many fellow cruisers donned their cowboy boots and line danced their way to the theater for Conky Tonkin’ at Sea. While neither of us like country music, this 45-minute show had a set list of pop-country songs that even Heidi and I recognized.

So, like most of the crowd, we sang along and stomped our feet to favorites from artists like Garth Brooks, Johnny Cash, Shania Twain, and more.

The stage was more advanced than we expected for a ship of this age as well, giving the show added range and dimension. While not a Royal Caribbean signature production, this show was better than many cruise shows we’ve seen over the recent years.

On the final night of the cruise, we settled into the slightly more cheesy Caribbean Heat Remix. At least this time, we had the right outfits, as tonight’s dress was tropical resort wear. In this revue show, we traveled to several Caribbean destinations featuring music and artists from these locales.

With popular pop and dance tunes from Pitbull, Rihanna, Bob Marley, and even Ricky Martin, the show and set pieces went from one high-energy number to the next. Again, utilizing the aerialists and stage design to their fullest, this show was a fitting end to our cruise. Though, we did prefer Conky Tonkin’ at Sea more.

Even though the ship was near double occupancy, there was only one 9:30 PM showtime for each of these signature productions.

One drawback is definitely the theater design. The three-deck theater offers lounge-style seating on deck 2 and stadium-style seats on decks 3 and 4, but the sightlines weren’t ideal.

So, to ensure we had our preferred seats, we did arrive around 40 minutes before showtime.

In addition to the two production shows, there was a Variety show on the first night of the cruise. On the other two days, there were headliner acts, which consisted of a mediocre comedian and magician duo.

Overall Impressions of Margaritaville at Sea Islander

If your ideal vacation consists of relaxing poolside, with some live music and a cold drink in hand, then Margaritaville at Sea might just be your cruise line. The new Islander delivers well-themed bars, an equally energetic Fins Up Crew, and a variety of casual dining options.

This is the cruise where you can essentially live in your shorts and flip flops all day and be right at home.

At night, there is more of the same with live music, well-crafted cocktails, and upbeat theater productions.

The cabins are bright and cheery, with adequate storage and brand-new furnishings that go along with the nautical vibe of Margaritaville’s land-based resorts.

The crew were warm and friendly throughout the ship. While there are still some training and consistency issues, we are sure that with time, the ship’s teams will function more cohesively.

At 12 decks and around 2,000 passengers, this ship is the perfect size with just the right amount of amenities and features to not seem overwhelming. Yes, there are some signs of the ship’s age and maintenance issue present. But, there were plenty of crew and vendors out and about addressing these concerns during our sailing.

Besides the maintenance issues, the sit-down dining experience could use some work. However, Margaritaville at Sea Islander is a vast improvement over our first sailing with the brand on Paradise, inching the cruise line closer to realizing its potential.

Perhaps the only way Margaritaville at Sea can truly compare to its land-based resorts, and to newer ships from competitor cruise lines, is to build a brand-new ship itself. By relying on previously built ships from other cruise lines that are 20+ years old, Margaritaville at Sea will forever be constrained in what it can offer guests.

Still, it is a worthy contender for a budget-friendly trip. It’s also an obvious choice for those nearby to Tampa or Parrotheads.

Margaritaville at Sea Islander currently offers 4- and 5-night sailings from Tampa to Key West and Progreso and Cozumel, Mexico that could appeal to families, couples, and groups of friends looking for some island time.

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Margaritaville at Sea Islander Cruise Ship Overview

Margaritaville at Sea Islander is the new cruise line’s second ship. Formerly Costa Atlantica, this 85K gross ton ship originally launched in 2000 as part of the Costa Cruises fleet. This ship was then sold to CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping for a new joint venture for the Chinese cruise market. However, it never entered the Adora Cruises fleet and was sold to Margaritaville at Sea in 2023 instead.

This 24-year-old Spirit-class vessel holds just over 2,200 passengers at double-occupancy and underwent an extension renovation before re-entering service. Spending millions of dollars on this transformation, Margaritaville heavily invested in the accommodations. All 1,105 staterooms were fully renovated. They feature nautical decor with nods to the brand and were definitely a highlight of the ship.

Learn More With Our Latest Margaritaville at Sea Islander Review Video

With retheming of the pools, most of the bars and lounges, dining rooms, and sports deck, guests will definitely feel like they are on island time. There’s also a fun vibe with friendly staff, family-friendly activities like mini-golf and cornhole, and two new signature productions. We liked that the ship featured all the classic cruise staples with a Margaritaville twist.

There’s the Bubbles Up piano bar, Hemisphere Dancer cocktail lounge, Havana Daydreamin’ Latin bar, the lively Flip Flip Atrium Bar, and three well themed pool bars: 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar, Landshark Bar, and Tiki Bar, among others. Each features its own signature cocktail menu. Many also feature live music and various activities like trivia, dance classes, arts and crafts, or karaoke.

When it comes to food, Islander’s options were hit or miss. The casual options shined including Frank and Lola’s Pizzeria, Cheeseburger in Paradise, and the up-charge Tiki Grill and Island Eats. However, the main dining room as well as JWB steakhouse were a bit of a let down. From long wait times to dine in the MDR, to extra charges for entrees, to lukewarm food temperatures, we actually preferred the casual dining to the sit-down meals…well, with the exception of the Port of Indecision buffet.

We did like that Margaritaville at Sea now offers dining and drink packages, but the fact that specialty coffee is not part of the drink package was a big disappointment for us.

We also missed the lack of technology. There is no cruise app, not even a place on the television to view your account balance. They even took reservations for the steakhouse with pen and paper! This also lead to another complaint of ours– excessive in-cabin announcements. While most cruise lines have reduced the number of ship annoucements, Margaritaville was the other extreme.

Further, there’s currently no online cruise planner which means you need to call to purchase packages and other add-ons after booking the cruise. There’s also still an in-person muster drill rather than a digital muster drill like most other cruise lines.

Finally, the ship still had several maintenance issues present despite the recent updates. From clearly rusted areas just painted over on the outdoor decks, to broken seats at the bars and theater marked with caution tape, to ripped up flooring in a few different areas around the ship, we were reminded of the ship’s age.

There were also buckets collecting water from leaks and some signs of water damage found around the ship too. We couldn’t help laughing that every time we walked down a hallway, we seemed to pass maintenance staff. I guess that means they are at least addressing these issues.

Nonetheless, if you are looking for a budget-friendly cruise, Margaritaville at Sea Islander is a worthy contender. It’s an easy choice for those nearby to Tampa and hardcore Parrotheads. With the lively atmosphere and varied activity offerings, families, couples, and groups alike can enjoy themselves.

If you’re considering a cruise on this “new” ship, here’s the cliff notes version:

Pros-

• Newly renovated staterooms
• Signature bars and drink menus
• Most casual food options
• Family-friendly activities and entertainment offerings

Cons-

• Mediocre main dining room experience
• Lack of technology and excessive announcements
• Number of up-charges
• Ongoing maintenance issues

For a more in-depth look at our experiences on Margaritaville at Sea Islander, continue reading our day-by-day review below.

Margaritaville at Sea Islander Review – Day 1

On the Road Again

Home for just a short time since our Disney Fantasy cruise, we were heading back to Florida once again. This time to Tampa to sail on Margaritaville at Sea’s newly refurbished cruise ship, Islander.

We sailed on Margaritaville at Sea Paradise back in 2022 when it first launched, and unfortunately, the ship had quite a few issues. Simply put, it wasn’t ready for paying customers yet. So, we were eager to see how this experience compared. We had seen initial reports from the media sailing and were ready to form our own opinions.

Honestly, we couldn’t remember the last time we sailed from Tampa, Florida. We think the one and only time was our very first cruise together back in 2007! Since it had been a while, we planned to explore the Riverwalk a little and grab some dinner along the water.

But, with travel these days, we ended up with a flight delay of over 3 hours from Boston. So by the time we arrived at our hotel, Tampa Marriott Water Street, we ended up just ordering room service and going to sleep.

Trying to Reason With Hurricane Season

With an early embarkation time of 10:30 AM and the port of Tampa just a short distance away, we left our hotel right around that time.

We were uncertain what the day would hold. We were unfamilar with this port, and we also assumed there would be some changes to our itinerary given Hurricane Beryl. This 5-day cruise was supposed to visit Key West and Progreso, Mexico. Given its position on the Yucatán Peninsula though, it was highly unlikely we’d get to visit this port for the first time.

However, like all cruise lines, we were confident that Margaritaville at Sea would keep us out of harm’s way. When cruising during hurricane season, travelers need to be flexible. While cruises are rarely cancelled, there might be changes to itneraries and/or missed ports of call. But, an altered itinerary with still warm and sunny weather is certainly better than being in the path of a hurricane!

Arriving at the port, we noticed signage for arrival times starting at 11 AM. Thus, we attempted to bypass the line and soon realized there was quite a bit of disorganization. With staff doing little to keep the order, guests were just squeezing their way into the terminal regardless of arrival time.

Making our way through security and the actual check-in process took about 30 minutes, but we were able to board the ship immediately afterwards.

Stepping onto Margaritaville at Sea Islander, the signature flip flop in the atrium greeted us. While we wanted to explore, our first order of business was getting a JWB Prime Steakhouse reservation. With a spot secured for Day 2, it was time to begin our normal embarkation day routine.

Wasting Away Again in Margaritaville

Starting at the top of this eleven deck ship, we explored the outdoor areas like the Dis ‘N Dat Activity Zone which features themed cornhole and mini golf. There’s also a waterslide and the Caribbean Amphibian Play Pad for kids.

Additionally, there are three themed pool areas. The main pool deck, midship on Deck 9, features the Landshark Pool and Bar and the 5 O’Clock Somewhere Pool and Bar. In line with Carnival Corp.’s Spirit Class ships, the 5 O’Clock Somewhere Pool still has a retractable roof, meaning it’s a pool day no matter the weather outside. The third pool area is aft on Deck 9. This Tiki Pool and Bar is adults-only.

While in the area, we also peeked into the St. Somewhere Spa and Salon. Given the size of the ship, this area is rather small and does not feature a thermal suite. You can still get services like massages, facials, hair care, and manicures/pedicures.

Approaching 1:30 PM, it was time for lunch. The main lunch options are the Port of Indecision buffet and two poolside stands: Cheeseburger in Paradise and Mexican Cutie Cantina. We didn’t like the Port of Indecision buffet on Paradise, and this one didn’t look much better. Thus, we opted for some tacos from the cantina.

Of note, unlike MVAS Paradise, the Margaritaville Coffee Shop and Frank and Lola’s Pizzeria are actually kiosks in the buffet. Unfortunately, this does diminish the atmosphere of these two venues.

The Mexican Cutie Cantina features only tacos and rice bowls with chicken, pork, or beef. It would have been nice to have a burrito option or some nachos as well. We’d put this venue on par with El Loco Fresh on Royal Caribbean but still think that Carnival’s BlueIguana Cantina is better.

Time to Check Out Our Cabin

With the announcement recently made, we decided to head to our cabin following lunch. Our Deck 7 extended balcony stateroom, 7175, was located on the starboard side of the ship between the forward and midship elevators. At first glance, we were pleasantly surprised.

While the cabins on Paradise were refurbished too, these looked much nicer. In fact, it’s one of the ship’s biggest selling points. It didn’t appear that the bathroom had been fully refreshed, but the rest of the room looked brand new. It featured beachside decor and island vibes perfect for the brand.

Since the weather was so hot, we spent some time in our cabin cooling off and getting the necessary photos and videos prior to muster drill. Yes, unlike our huge red flag moment on Paradise, there was a muster drill on Islander. The unfortunate part is that muster drill on this ship occurs outside.

After being crammed outside in the Florida heat for about 20 minutes during this mandatory safety briefing, it was time to get this 4th of July cruise started. This is also when the Captain informed us that our itinerary was in fact changed. We would be visiting Nassau, Bahamas instead of Progreso, Mexico.

It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere

Up to the 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar, we grabbed our first drink of the cruise, some margaritas and boat drinks of course. While we sailed away from Tampa, the Fins Up Crew hosted a pretty typical sail away party. While we were to sail under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge around 6:30 PM, the weather was starting to cloud up and I couldn’t take the heat anymore.

We decided to head back to the room to cool off and get ready for dinner. I watched the sail under the bridge from our balcony, and Don ran up to the pool deck to watch.

By now, it was close to 6:45 PM and time for dinner. Margaritaville at Sea Islander has one main dining room, Fins on Deck 2. However, it is all open seating and no reservations. When we arrived, the hostess told us there was a 45 minute wait. Back on land, we never dine at a restaurant without a reservation. We wouldn’t even wait 45 minutes for a high end restaurant, nevermind a cruise ship main dining room.

Slightly annoyed and hangry, we went upstairs to the Islander Dining Room on Deck 3. A bit odd, but this restaurant is where suite guests dine but also an up-charge venue for other guests. It’s basically just the second floor of the Fins Main Dining Room. Islander features the same main dining room menu with a small insert of additional items with a price tag of $20 per person.

There’s still no lobster or escargot or anything of that nature on the menu. So honestly, it’s not worth the up-charge but the only way to dine without a wait. With our Ultimate Dining Chill dining package, we did get one meal here for free. But, we ended up talking to the hotel director who allowed us to dine here the rest of the cruise without a fee.

Tonight, our waiter was I Made who provided some of the best service on the ship. He was friendly and attentive and went out of his way to make sure our needs were met.

For dinner, I ordered the cuban croquettes, watermelon feta salad, and grilled brick chicken. Don ordered shrimp cocktail, ahi tuna, and striploin steak all off the Islander exclusive menu. For dessert, we tried the hazelnut “honey do” cake and chocolate cappucino icebox pie. Aside from the ahi tuna, nothing was really a standout dish for us.

Our First Evening on Margaritaville at Sea Islander

Following dinner, it was showtime. Margaritaville at Sea Islander features two signature productions, along with typical headliner acts in the Stars on the Water theater. Tonight was a pretty typical welcome aboard show at 9 PM where we met the cruise director Zee-Jay, some of the production cast, and the headliners that would be performing full shows this week. While relatively new at the cruise director role, Zee-Jay did a great job and was very visible around the ship.

After the show, it was time to check out more of the interior of the ship. Margaritaville at Sea Islander has plenty of well-themed bars and lounges that all feature a signature drink menu. So, it was time to check off the second bar on our “drink around the ship”. The Flip Flop Bar on Deck 2 is the open atrium bar which has live music and pop-up performances throughout the cruise.

With a Key Lime Pie Martini on the menu, it was an obivous pick for me. Alas, they didn’t have the ingredients to make it. This seemed to be a reocurring theme during the cruise. Since it’s a “new” ship and new menus, you’d think they would have the appropriate supplies, but that wasn’t the case.

Nonetheless, we watched the Motown pop-up performance with production cast and listened to the guitar player Pedro for a bit before calling it a night around 11 PM.

Margaritaville at Sea Islander Review – Day 2

On Island Time

Day 2 of this Margaritaville at Sea Islander review was our first port of call in Key West. Though, we wouldn’t be arriving until 1 PM. Since this port is on few large ship itineraries, we’ve only visited Key West a few times. So, we certainly had plans to get off the ship for a while today.

Up around 8 AM, Don set off on his normal morning routine collecting pictures and videos around the ship while I got ready. Of course, he also returned with our morning coffees. A big miss for we espresso lovers, specialty coffee is NOT part of the Ultimate Beverage Chill drink package as it is on most other cruise lines.

This meant that our twice-daily drinks from the Margaritaville Coffee Shop cost us extra. In fact, everything at this coffee shop cost extra money. Unlike the coffee cafes on most other cruise lines, the sandwiches and desserts here all came with a fee too. Another miss for me was that even though menus around the ship indicated skim milk was available, we were told the only milk options were whole, almond, and soy. So much for my nonfat caramel latte this week!

Around 9:30 AM, we opted for sit-down breakfast in the main dining room. Thankfully, there wasn’t a wait this time. The menu selections were pretty typical breakfast items, yet nothing was served warm. This was also a recurring trend during the cruise.

Following breakfast, we caught the end of trivia in the Far Side of the World Lounge and walked around exploring the remaining areas of the ship. While this former Costa Cruises’ ship did undergo a multi-million dollar renovation, it was evident which areas of the ship had been updated and which hadn’t like the Hot Hot Hot Night Club.

A Sunny and Hot Day in Key West

Back to our room around noontime, we watched Islander sail into Key West. It was a beautiful day with no signs of Hurricane Beryl lurking. But for us New Englanders, the weather was quite hot and oppressive.

With the ship finally cleared around 1:30 PM, we made our way to the gangway located on Deck A. While we had seen a few maintenance issues around the ship, nothing really impacted our experience thus far. But, disembarking the ship in Key West was a different story.

Not only was it disorganized and crowded, we could have done without this behind-the-scenes tour.

Nonetheless, we strolled Front Street and Duval Street for as long as we could take the heat. We also stopped in at Kermit’s for some key lime ice cream. While we contemplated grabbing some lunch ashore, we had reservations at JWB tonight so decided against it.

Back onboard, we grabbed our afternoon coffee and cooled off in the air conditioning for a bit. Next, we continued our drink around the ship at the Tiki Bar. This bar is located in the adult-only area and has a fairly large shaded seating area.

While the Tiki Pool itself is rather small, the sun deck is spacious. It features rows of standard loungers along with some patio-style furniture on the starboard side, two coconut-shaped loungers under a thatched-roof frame, and just one hammock.

Specialty Dinner and Some Laughs

This evening, we had a 6:30 PM reservation at JWB Prime Steakhouse. Since this was a highlight of our Paradise experience, we were looking forward to dining here once again. The price to dine at JWB is $55 per person.

This menu does feature a chicken dish for myself, along with a catch of the day, and several cuts of beef. However, a lobster tail and surf & turf were both an additional $24 up-charge which seems a bit excessive. This would mean that cruisers are paying nearly $80, more than many restaurants on land would charge for a similar offering.

Don’s filet was perfectly seared to a medium-rare temperature and was certainly on par with comparable steakhouses on other cruise lines. He also enjoyed the braised pork belly. Though, my burrata and all the sides we sampled were a letdown. Honestly, we probably wouldn’t pay to dine here again.

Following dinner, we watched the country pop-up in the atrium and grabbed some drinks at Bubbles Up while listening to some piano tunes. The Bubbles Up menu features champagnes and spritzes. We enjoyed the drinks, but the piano player was rather quirky.

Next up was a double feature in the main theater. First was Adrenaline Magic at 9:30 PM featuring a pretty standard set of disappearing acts. Then, there was an adult comedy show with Jay Whittaker at 10:45 PM. While he had a great personality and was also repping our home state of MA, he didn’t have much material. He literally just talked to the audience for most of the show.

Finishing up around 11:30 PM, we called it a night.

Margaritaville at Sea Islander Review – Day 3

Happy 4th of July

Day 3 of this Margaritaville at Sea Islander review was a sea day and the 4th of July. And what better way to start the day than sea day brunch?

Up around 8 AM, Don headed out on his normal morning routine returning with lattes in hand. Showered and ready for the day, we made our way to the Islander Dining Room for the “Sparkling Wine Brunch”.

While the Fins Main Dining Room offers complimentary breakfast most days of the cruise, this brunch is an up-charge of $15 per person and was only available on our two sea days. It’s also included in the dining package.

This brunch was one of the better meals of the cruise as I enjoyed the overnight French toast with nutella, bananas, and strawberries and Don liked his chicken and waffles. While we would probably pay the $15 again to dine here, we aren’t really sure that it was much better than Carnival’s Sea Day Brunch which is free.

Since the weather was so hot this cruise, we alternated being outside with soaking in the air conditioning in our cabin while doing a little work for the remainder of the morning. A bit later, Don took a tour of the kids’ clubs to collect some photos and videos. He may have got a sneak peek at a secret venue on the ship too. More on this later.

Then, we enjoyed some late lunch at the Tiki Grill.

The Tiki Grill is one of the two casual up-charge food stalls in the adult-only area on Deck 9 aft. These menus feature a la carte items. With a dining package, guests get a $25 food credit at each. While they are heavy on seafood (which you probably know by now that I don’t eat), Don did enjoy the offerings. The only critique is that they should open earlier on sea days.

Today, Don enjoyed the Why Knot Wings and Buffalo Shrimp. If the cruise was longer, he would have easily ordered these items again. As for me, I grabbed a couple slices of pizza from Frank and Lola’s Pizzeria in the nearby buffet. This became my near daily lunch as there was not much else that I liked. On a positive note, it was some of the best pizza at sea rivaling Virgin Voyages and Princess Cruises. I only wish it were more like a restaurant as it is on sister ship Paradise.

After lunch, we headed midship to the pool deck for the 4th of July party and red, white, and blue parade where guests donned their best American outfits in hopes of winning the best dressed competition. We also grabbed some drinks from the nearby Landshark Bar…except they were out of Landshark beer today.

Continuing our drink around the ship, we then headed back indoors to check out the Havana Daydreamin’ Sports Bar. While it doesn’t look much like a sports bar, it’s very Cuban-inspired with a few televisions thrown into the mix. While enjoying our cocktails, we got sucked into watching the hot dog eating competition on tv.

A Captain’s Toast Unlike Any Other

Tonight was Margaritaville at Sea’s version of formal night. The dress code was “coastal country elegance”, which meant there were lots of cowboy boots on display. The captain’s toast was also ocurring at 6 PM and the first production show, Conky Tonkin’ at Sea, at 9:30 PM.

Thus, it was time to head back to our room to change up for the evening’s festivities. As we all gathered around the Flip Flop Atrium, we witnessed Captain Theo do a bit of a striptease, swapping out his captain shirt for a Caribbean one and giving a toast unlike any other–with a giant margarita!

We then headed off to dinner at the Islander Dining Room. For research purposes, we did pop into Fins a couple evenings to check on wait times, and they were always around 40 to 45 minutes. We really hope the cruise line figures out a better system. Perhaps, suite guests AND those with packages are allowed to dine in Islander nightly and the remaining guests have Fins but with the option to go standby or make reservations ahead of time.

Unfortunately, we were not sat in I Made’s section tonight. So, we went from having some of the best dining room service with him to the worst of the trip.

Additionally, there are definitely some inconsistencies on the dining room menus in terms of labeling and ingredients. Each evening, there is a signature pasta dish, which is not labeled as vegetarian but also does not detail if seafood, meat, etc. are included.

For instance, there was creole pasta which simply states “creamy vodka sauce, basil oil”. While I certainly would have ordered this dish if it were just pasta, I hesitated as I thought it might have seafood in it. When I questioned our waiter, he had no idea…which was a huge red flag. While it’s a preference not an allergy for me, waitstaff not knowing ingredients (or menus not detailing such) could lead to issues.

He eventually returned to tell me that his colleague “said there’s seafood in it”. So instead, I went with a Caesar salad, Mediterranean chicken, and pina colada lush dessert. Don did the salmon poke, sausage and onion flatbread, blackened salmon, and tiramisu. While he also enjoys cioppino and frito misto, he actually does have an allergy to scallops so passed on them just in case. Once again, nothing that we ate tonight wow’ed us.

Of note, while some cruise lines have begun charging for extra lobster tails on formal night or Carnival has begun charging for the third (and beyond) entrees, Margaritaville actually only allows one. This is true even in the up-charge Islander Dining Room. All menus state that there is a $7 supplemental charge for additional entrees, which really seems like nickel and diming to us.

A Conky Tonkin’ Good Time

Following dinner, we made our way to 90’s Name That Tune in Havana Daydreamin’. This was a standing room only activity. While we didn’t win, it definitely took us back to our high school days and was a lot of fun.

Next up was a drink at the Far Side of the World Lounge. This Pacific-inspired venue is quite large but seems under utilized in the evenings. So, we ordered a round from the signature menu and moved on to the theater for tonight’s signature production show.

Since neither one of us like country music, we weren’t expecting much from Conky Tonkin’ at Sea. Yet, it pleasantly surprised us. While still a pretty typical cruise revue show, it was high energy and fast moving keeping us entertained throughout. It also featured a talented cast and many popular hits that even non-country enthusiasts will know. Of course, it’s not a Royal Caribbean signature production, but it was better than many cruise shows we’ve seen over the recent years.

In an upbeat mood after the show, we headed to the Hemisphere Dancer Craft Spirits Bar for some cocktails and live music. Here, the Blaze Band was performing, which turned out to be our favorite musicians on the cruise. We also ordered up some drinks from the signature menu, but neither one of us liked our choices. So instead, we ended the night with some espresso martinis which were quite tasty.

Margaritaville at Sea Islander Review – Day 4

Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes

Day 4 of this Margaritaville at Sea Islander review was our itinerary change due to Hurricane Beryl. Instead of visiting Progreso, Mexico, we were visiting Nassau, Bahamas. Even though we’ve been to Nassau several times, nice weather here over tropical conditions in Mexico was the obvious choice.

Ready for the day and caffeinated by around 9 AM, we decided to try the breakfast burritos at Mexican Cutie Cantina. While not as good as BlueIguana on Carnival, they were still a pretty solid alternative to the buffet.

With the ship cleared and many passengers already ashore, we decided to check out the Dis ‘N Dat Activity Zone. You know we are always good for a friendly mini-golf competition. We really liked the theming of this area, and it’s a great family offering too. Although, there were a couple things that had us asking why.

First, you need to sign out golf clubs and golf balls at a towel stand that’s not even immediately nearby the mini-golf course on Deck 11. Second, the course wraps back onto itself, meaning Hole 3 and 7 are side-by-side, 2 and 8, and 1 and 9. This wouldn’t be a huge deal except there is a giant air vent near Hole 3 which makes it nearly impossible to play as the ball just rolls across onto the Hole 7 course due to the air current from the vent. Oh well, we just called the game a tie.

With the Nassau cruise port recently updated, we had yet to get off a ship in port to check it out. So, today was the day we decided to do so. It’s actually a really nice area with some shops, a Junkanoo museum, and more. You can also exit the gated area to the Straw Market which is directly across the street.

Instead, we headed for Starbucks! Since specialty coffee isn’t part of the drink package anyway, I convinced Don to go so I could get my properly made iced caramel latte with nonfat milk.

Cheeseburger in Paradise

After a couple hours ashore, we headed back onboard Islander first cooling off in the room then grabbing some lunch. For lunch today, Don decided to try a Cheeseburger in Paradise. This pool deck stall is opposite the Mexican Cutie Cantina and serves burgers only. This meant more pizza for me. While not all cruise ship burger stations serve chicken sandwiches, it would have been nice if this one did.

By Don’s assessement, these burgers were really good and defintely rivaled Carnival’s Guy’s Burger Joint. It wouldn’t be a cruise without some soft serve ice cream to top off the lunch as well. There are two soft-serve stations on Islander that are open most days from 12 to 9:30 PM.

We spent the rest of the afternoon doing a little work in our cabin and enjoying the sail away from Nassau.

Falling into Our Normal Evening Routine

Tonight was more of the same on Margaritaville at Sea–dinner, drinks, live music, and a theater show.

Back to the Islander Dining Room around 6:30 PM, we requested a table in I Made’s section. Yet, we were sat is a different section with a third different waiter. This waiter, Hedi, was good but we had I Made for two other meals and just prefer consistency.

Tonight’s dinner menu was one of our favorites. I had the Caribbean egg rolls, tortilla salad, and rotini pasta. While this pasta was also not marked vegetarian, our waiter did confirm that it only contained mushrooms. Don ordered the Cajun gumbo, flat iron steak, and 48 hour B&B pudding. All courses were solid choices this evening.

Following dinner, we grabbed some drinks at the Bubbles Up bar. Since there wasn’t much else happening this evening, we decided to attend the family comedy show in the Stars on the Water theater. While we debated heading to Hemisphere Dancer to enjoy more from the Blaze Band after the comedy show, we were tired so called it a night instead.

Margaritaville at Sea Islander Review – Day 5

Last Mango…at Sea

Day 5 of this Margaritaville at Sea Islander review was already the last day of the trip; it was also our second sea day.

Wanting to test out as many of the food and drink options on the ship as possible, we decided to try the a la carte breakfast items at the Margaritaville Coffee Shop this morning. I tried the cinnamon roll for $3 and Don the muffin man sandwich for $4. While pretty good, we did miss complimentary grab-and-go options on the ship.

We then spent the next few hours checking off some of the remaining items on our to-do list, getting a little work done, and packing. This took us to lunch time, where Don sampled more of the food from the Island Eats and Tiki Grill using our dining package credit. On his menu today were a lobster roll and conch fritters, both of which he enjoyed.

Besides the complimentary burgers and pizza, our takeaway was that you have to pay for better food on Islander. Further, the casual food (both complimentary and for-fee) were better than most of the main dining room options. Of note, there’s also sushi at Far Side Sushi, but we can’t comment on this as we didn’t try it.

Dinner and a Show

Since we had express disembarkation and planned to carry off our own luggage tomorrow morning, we didn’t have to worry about putting our bags outside our cabin tonight. Still, we wanted to make sure that we mostly packed our bags, as disembarkation was early at 6:45 AM.

Still ready rather early, we grabbed some drinks at the Hemisphere Dancer Bar and listened to part of Emman’s set before dinner. The drinks we got this time around were much better.

For our final evening in the Islander dining room, we were seated in our requested section with I Made. While this was Don’s second overall favorite menu, there wasn’t much that I would eat on the menu.

Don sampled the crab cake, stir-fried rice, and braised short rib. I did a Caesar salad and was just going to get the mushroom and goat cheese app as my entree. However, our waiter insisted that he would talk to the chef to custom the stir-fried rice to include only chicken for me (no shrimp or beef). While I said it wasn’t necessary, he did it anyway. This was appreciated as I realize I’m a picky eater. We then rounded out the meal with some apple pie.

Finishing dinner a bit too early for the show, we attempted to get espresso martinis at both the Flip Flip Bar and Bubbles Up but were told they couldn’t make them. So, we just waited in line to get into the theater instead. Tonight was the second production show Caribbean Heat Remix.

This show takes guests on a musical journey through popular Caribbean spots like Cuba, Barbados, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and more. Of course, it featured songs of artists from these destinations. While this production was also upbeat, we actually enjoyed the Conky Tonkin’ at Sea show better.

Quietly Making Noise

Earlier in the cruise, we were invited to a secret event. It was supposed to occur earlier in the day but got rescheduled to immediately following this production show. This hush, hush event is invite only and reminded us of Virgin Voyages where guests get invites to the crew bar for a secret magic show.

We were escorted down A1A and through some firedoors to a secret room, which we later learned was formerly the chapel on Costa Atlantica. This speakeasy featured memorabilia near and dear to the Buffett family, including Jimmy’s first guitar and an extensive record collection.

While not complete just yet, this intimate event will eventually include signature drinks from a whiskey cart and stories from the life of Jimmy Buffett. Kai, one of the Fins Up Crew, did a great job recounting events, his interactions with Savannah Buffet (Jimmy’s daughter and godmother of this ship), and explaining the story behind each guitar in the room. There were 6 of them!

This was actually the perfect way to end our cruise on Margaritaville at Sea Islander.

If you are lucky enough to get an invite to this speakeasy during your sailing, you’ll return home with a Quietly Making Noise guitar pick as a souvenir.

Margaritaville at Sea Islander Review – Disembarkation

Given the congestion during embarkation, we weren’t sure what to expect from disembarkation. We had priority disembarkation which meant we needed to meet in the Fins dining room at 6:45 AM.

By 6:30 AM, we were still coasting into the Port of Tampa so took our time getting ready as we knew there was no way we’d be cleared to leave by then.

We did have an early flight, but we figured as long as we were off the ship along with the self-assist departure guests, scheduled for 7:30 AM, that we’d be fine.

Departing our cabin just after 7 AM, we quickly secured an elevator down to Deck 2. We could see that disembarkation hadn’t started yet, and there was a small queue of self-assist guests starting to form near the gangway. So, we figured we might as well head to Fins to meet the rest of the priority disembarkation group.

But, as luck would have it, just as we were passing the gangway, they opened it. Instead, we hopped in line and were among the first twenty or so guests off the ship. From here, it was a quick Lyft ride to the Tampa Airport. And suprisingly, our 10:30 AM flight was right on time. I think this was our first flight all year that didn’t have a delay!

Home by late afternoon, we had under two weeks to settle in before our busy stretch of travel. Next up is back to back trips on Utopia of the Seas and Atlas Ocean Voyages World Traveller. Stay tuned!

Comments

Did you find our Margaritaville at Sea Islander review helpful? Do you have plans to sail on this “new” cruise ship? Drop us an anchor below to share your thoughts on Margaritaville at Sea.

The post We Just Returned from a Cruise on Margaritaville at Sea Islander – Here’s Our Day-By-Day Review appeared first on EatSleepCruise.com.

I often get the question, “Which cruise line is the absolute best?” and I have to immediately follow it with, “For who?”. With so many cruise lines available to book, it might seem like we’re simply comparing anchors to anchors, but almost every cruise line at sea excels in different aspects of the cruise experience.

For example, the best cruise for a young couple and their kids will not be the same as the best sailing for a couple’s retreat or a vacation for retirees with a penchant for adventure travel.

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Take a look at your travel group, your destination, and your personal preferences. If your palate doesn’t extend beyond chicken parm, maybe don’t worry about finding a ship with an established culinary program. Likewise, nightlife might not matter much to you if you’re an early bird always on the first available excursion.

We’ve chosen some key cruising superlatives and weighed in on which cruise lines shine in each category. While it’s not a comprehensive list, it should point you in the right direction when choosing the best cruise line — for you and only you.

Which Cruise Line is the Best?

Best Cruise Line for Budget Travelers

Our pick: MSC Cruises

Runner-up: Carnival Cruise Line

Honorable Mention: Margaritaville at Sea

Carnival has long been associated with wallet-friendly pricing, and it still is one of the best value cruise lines out there. However, MSC Cruises has blazed onto the scene with consistently cheap deals that make it hard to resist booking that budget cruise vacation. Five of the European cruise line’s mega ships now depart from the U.S., and weeklong Caribbean vacations are on average $100 per person, per night or less. Consider too the fleet is relatively young, with most of the stateside ships debuting within the past few years. MSC World America will sail from Miami when it debuts in 2025.

MSC has ships deployed worldwide, from its home in the Med to South America, Dubai and the Red Sea. This allows for competitive pricing, like a weeklong Western Mediterranean sailing from $65 per person, per night.

Among the cheapest cruise lines, we’d be remiss not to mention Margaritaville at Sea (formerly Bahamas Paradise), which runs short sailings to and from West Palm Beach. The two-ship company is currently one of the absolute lowest fares out there, with feel-good two-night sprints to Grand Bahama Island for less than $200 (total for two people).

Best Cruise Line for Luxury Travelers

Our pick: Silversea Cruises

Runner-up: Seabourn Cruise Line

Butlers, suites and caviar, oh my! When credit card statements are less of a concern, turn to ultra-luxury cruise lines Silversea and Seabourn, which both offer stellar itineraries, fine dining and intuitive service in plush and swanky surrounds. Both cruise lines offer an all-inclusive product, which touches on everything from premium wines and spirits to laundry and included gratuities. Book either line if you don’t want to have to lift a finger during the entirety of your voyage.

While both cruise lines offer a wide range of itineraries and even expedition-style offerings, Silversea has such a substantial footprint, including a ship dedicated to the Galapagos, that it edges out the competition. Special events on world cruises are an unmatched effort of once-in-a-lifetime experiences and the Silversea fleet is about double the size of Seabourn’s seven ships.

Best Cruise Line for Adventurous Travelers

Our pick: Lindblad-National Geographic

Runner-up: HX Hurtigruten Expeditions

Crave more than the standard-issue walking tour? Expedition cruise lines answer the call of the wild with journeys that bring you into the heart of nature. Staffed with experts and naturalists, these companies bring guests up close to wildlife with hikes, Zodiac cruises, and kayaking.

Lindblad not only offers the far-flung and lesser-traveled destinations associated with expedition — like the Arctic or the Amazon — but even more offbeat voyages that extend into Scotland, Japan and the Pacific Northwest. In addition to experienced expedition staff, Lindblad also features a National Geographic photography expert onboard and its newest ships are sleek and engineered for ice.

There are so many standout cruise lines infusing adventure into their offerings, so we also must shoutout Norway-based cruise line Hurtigruten, which has expanded rapidly into North America. Hurtigruten is constantly pushing the boundaries of introducing new ports and sustainable practices. It also features Arctic excursions under the midnight sun or northern lights, as well as a cruise through West Africa.

Best Cruise Line for Families

Our pick: Disney Cruise Line

Runner-up: Carnival Cruise Line

In one of the toughest and most competitive cruise categories of them all, “family” cruise lines abound. Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and MSC also offer an absolutely mind-boggling amount to do with your kin, plus very solid kids clubs and partnerships like LEGO (MSC). However, the two cruise lines that always seem to have family at the very forefront are Disney and Carnival.

It’s hard to argue with a name like Disney when it comes to creating family vacation magic. From its thoughtfully outfitted cruise rooms to first-run films, state-of-the-art live productions of Disney favorites like “Frozen” and themed dining, the diversions never end. Its world-class kids clubs range from babies to teens and incorporate touches of Star Wars and Marvel in the mix, which is enough to make the adults jealous. Luckily, an adults-only array of bars and lounges cater to caretakers once the kids are in bed.

Carnival holds its own with its Seuss at Sea partnership, dedicated Family Harbor cabins and crowd-pleasing entertainment including “Hasbro, the Game Show.”

Best Cruise Line for Adults

Our pick: Viking Cruises

Runner-up: Virgin Voyages

Sometimes you just need a break from tiny humans, and you don’t want to be judged for it. While many cruise lines feature adults-only spaces such as lounges or sun decks, very few limit their passenger base to the over-18 crowd. Luckily, if that’s just what you’re looking for, there are options.

Look to the Vs for adult-only sailings, offered by both Viking and Virgin. Viking offers a comfortable, Scandinavian aesthetic onboard with high-quality cuisine (its buffet is one of the best at sea) and a chic thermal suite that is open to all. High marks also go to service and enrichment onboard a Viking cruise, which lacks a casino, though its guests don’t seem to mind.

If you are looking to get away from your beloved children and let looser, Virgin invites a fun-for-all atmosphere with tons of (included) restaurants, fitness classes, and edgy entertainment options. Plus, a private beach club on Bimini in the Bahamas is a port day experience clearly designed by Branson himself.

Best Cruise Line for Couples

Our pick: Celebrity Cruises

Runner-up: Princess Cruises

Thoughtful, contemporary décor sets the tone for what feels like an upscale resort onboard any of Celebrity’s ships. It’s this atmosphere, with engaging art, flying martini flights, and alfresco terraces where couples can canoodle. Spend the day in the stunning spa or thermal suite; eat your way through the ship or soak up the sun hand in hand. Celebrity offers both relaxing retreats and engaging performances to keep lovers occupied, especially on its ultra-modern Edge Class.

Couples of all ages can find some romance on the original Love Boats, which Princess continues to proudly advertise. Booked in a balcony room? Splurge on a full, course-by-course breakfast before beginning the day with your sweetheart. Later, be sure to attend the wine and chocolate pairing or surprise them with one of Princess’ many romance packages for an extra flourish of amor.

Best Cruise Line for Solo Travelers

Our pick: Norwegian Cruise Line

Runner-up: Virgin Voyages

Cruising alone is by no means lonely. Travelers taking to the seas solo can appreciate the considerate amenities of cruise lines who organize meetups or even dedicated lounges for singles. Norwegian Cruise Line made a statement about solo cruisers with the introduction of its studio cabin complex, featuring moderately priced rooms for one that also have access to a lounge where solo cruisers can meet up with others traveling independently. Studios can now be found across at least eight of Norwegian’s ships.

Another cruise line now supporting the solo cruiser is Virgin, which has waived the pesky solo supplements, or additional fee for being just one to a room. Though relatively new to the industry, Virgin is courting solo travelers with a whopping 46 single cabins onboard each ship, with six lucky guests snagging forward-facing ocean views. Virgin’s inclusive and welcoming atmosphere breaks the ice a bit better than most cruise lines when it comes to making new sailing friends.

Best Cruise Line for Entertainment

Our pick: Royal Caribbean

Runner-up: Norwegian Cruise Line

There are many times you’re likely to say “wow” on a Royal Caribbean ship, whether it’s at professional ice-skating flips, aquatic high-diving twists, or a roaming piano player who might fit those keys inside an elevator. Remember, this is all while you’re at sea! The variety and caliber of Royal Caribbean’s onboard talent is vast, but there is plenty more to do other than the shows, parades, and live music. You can also book an escape room, play laser tag, climb a rock wall, try surfing or fly down the top-deck waterslides, just to name a few.

Norwegian is hot on the tail of Royal Caribbean when it comes to on-deck attractions, from an impressive waterpark and ropes course to its scenic speedway go-kart track. However, when it comes to the stage, Norwegian has an absolute knack for landing Broadway- and West End-worthy talent…straight from the theaters of Broadway and the West End. These productions, ranging from “Jersey Boys” to “Beetlejuice,” bring all the pizzazz of the world’s best stages to cruise ship audiences — entirely free of charge.

Best Cruise Line for Enrichment

Our pick: Cunard Line

Runner-up: Holland America Line

If the thought of learning something on vacation attracts rather than repels you, consider these cruise lines for their guest lectures, their library collections and onboard facilities like Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 planetarium or Holland America’s Explorations Central (EXC) zones.

Cunard is a historic cruise company, with a legacy of onboard enrichment that stretches back for decades. Theme cruises — referred to by Cunard as “event voyages” — delve into topics more deeply, including insight from actual veterans as far back as WWII on their “Greatest Generation” sailings; the musical talents of a national symphony orchestra; or festivals at sea from food and wine to literature. Ballroom dancing classes, language lessons, and the dedicated Cunard Insights enrichment program all round out the academic offerings and are available on just about every sailing.

Holland America Line has updated its shelves with modern libraries as well as trending enrichment like free pickleball instruction. A partnership with BBC Earth results in a spectacular live orchestral performance set to footage of nature called “Earth in Concert.”

Best Cruise Line for Foodies

Our pick: Oceania Cruises

Runner-up: Silversea Cruises

Be sure to stretch your stomach before boarding an Oceania cruise, where the culinary arts have long been a focus and remain a top priority across the fleet. Dishes are continually being refined in every dining venue, including the Grand Dining Room, with recent additions like poke bowls in Waves Grill or an expanded Sunday Brunch as part of the line’s OceaniaNEXT improvements. Jacques Pepin is the cruise line’s longtime executive culinary advisor, and his onboard venues are a testament to French gastronomic excellence.

Beyond meals, Oceania guests can take part in culinary-themed excursions or book a cooking class at the Culinary Center. Mixology is included in this high-standard F&B mix, with the latest techniques — including zero-proof cocktails — incorporated into onboard bar menus.

Silversea is a luxury cruise line with a cornucopia of quality dining options, but its S.A.L.T. (Sea and Land Taste) program takes the epicurean experience and turns it up to 11. Stretching from onboard kitchens, dining rooms and a themed bar to immersive shore tours, S.A.L.T. is a finely tuned culinary program that draws most of its inspiration from your itinerary and local products and customs. The full experience is currently available on select ships, including Silver Moon, Silver Dawn and Silver Nova.

Best Cruise Line for Nightlife

Our pick: Virgin Voyages

Runner-up: Carnival Cruise Line

No sleep till debarkation! Everyone has their own cruise style, and nothing is wrong with active days and relaxing evenings. However, for some, being able to dance past dawn and hit the town (er, decks) is all part of being on holiday. If that’s the plan, we recommend Virgin Voyages, who excel at tripping the light fantastic for their guests.

A Scarlet themed night with festival-style pop-up acts complements a nightly roster of stage performances including sexy takes on classic scripts, cabaret-style shows, a thumping nightclub and plenty of cool bars to hop from. It’s a ship that stays up, even if you are winding down, with a 24/7 diner and pizza shop and leisurely brunch options for the Morning After.

Carnival has long been known as a fleet of party ships, and while that reputation has faded over the years with more family offerings and longer sailings, the Fun Ships still know how to boogie down. Carnival makes it easy for anyone to have a good time with an incredible drink from Alchemy Bar or a home-brewed beer from the Key West-inspired RedFrog Pub, complete with live music.

Piano bars, sports bars and pool bars all have different vibes and promise to keep the good times rolling for as long as you can roll. Adult-only comedy shows and other after-hours entertainment add to the many reasons you should make every effort to enjoy Carnival’s nightlife.

Best Cruise Line for the Caribbean

Our pick: Royal Caribbean

Runner-up: Windstar Cruises

With cruising and the Caribbean going hand in hand, it’s hard to pick just one cruise line who excels there. But with “Caribbean” in the name, it’s hard to argue with Royal Caribbean and its fleet of almost 30 ships, including the world’s largest. Offering various ship classes, sizes and price points, Royal overwhelms with its Caribbean options. Sail short, weekend cruises from Port Canaveral or 11-night Southern Caribbean voyages from Cape Liberty, NJ.

Pair idyllic Caribbean ports like St. Maarten with Bermuda, or opt for a Bahamas cruise, which includes private island Perfect Day at CocoCay. Plus, homeports include Baltimore, New Orleans, Galveston and Jersey in addition to the various ports of Florida.

Taking a totally different tack, Windstar’s yachts and sailing ships offer an intimate way to visit the Caribbean. Unlike the bustling touristic areas where mega-ships dock, Windstar’s small vessels can anchor in tucked-away harbors on lesser-visited islands. It’s a completely different and revelatory way to see the many islands of the Caribbean beyond the marquee ports.

Best Cruise Line for Alaska

Our pick: Princess Cruises, Holland America (tie)

Runner-up: UnCruise Adventures

The Great State of Alaska — it’s another cruise destination frequented by many but mastered by the following lines. For a comprehensive, ocean cruising experience through the Last Frontier, you can’t go wrong with either Princess or Holland America.

Both cruise lines offer incredible lodges and land programs (with the Alaska Railroad) for extended Alaska cruise tours; both dedicate a multitude of ships to the region each season, with varying itineraries; and both offer cohesive onboard programming that highlights the cuisine, culture, and incredible wildlife of Alaska. If you’re looking for a difference, Holland America ventures up into the Yukon. For families, we recommend the North to Alaska programming from Princess.

If choosing between those two Alaska cruise heavyweights isn’t enough, we introduce a third option, and that is a small-ship expedition sailing that is a world apart from mainstream cruising. UnCruise is partially based in Juneau, with authentic ties to the state. Extensions in Juneau or to Denali are possible, but it’s all about the unique sailing and exploration opportunities onboard, which include dates typically outside the average cruise season.

Active pursuits like hiking and kayaking are all included, plus all meals and gear. Want to truly get away from it all? UnCruise does not offer onboard Wi-Fi, allowing you and your loved ones to be present in this magnificent destination.

Best Cruise Line for the Mediterranean

Our pick: Azamara Cruises

Runner-up: Viking Cruises

Rounding out the top cruise destinations, the Med is on the bucket list of nearly every traveler — and for good reason. Encompassing some of the world’s most popular vacation plans, you’ll find Italy, Greece, France, Spain and other European delights throughout the Mediterranean, drenched in stunning scenery and even better food and wine.

Serving this all up on a silver platter is Azamara, who is our pick for their immersive, country-intensive itinerary options. Rather than simply offering a sampler of one piece of the Med, home in on one country, spending 10 or 11 days in Italy or island-hopping Greece. The line’s AzAmazing evenings in port along with their signature all-white deck party add flair to any itinerary.

Another wonderful pick for the Med is Viking, whose ultra-comfortable ships ply a wide range of sailings here, from Istanbul to Athens and Barcelona to Venice, as well as Rome to Lisbon or a voyage with extended time in Malta, Morocco and Spain. Onboard, gorgeous outdoor spaces like the Aquavit Terrace and infinity pool are the perfect place to watch the sunset with a spritz. Italian dining doesn’t get much better than Manfredi’s.      

Best Cruise Line for Hawaii

Our pick: UnCruise Adventures

Runner-up: Norwegian Cruise Line

Perhaps a controversial pick, but if you’re looking for the ultimate Hawaiian experience on a cruise ship, consider expedition company UnCruise. Once again, we are nominating them for their intimate, onboard experience and the innate flexibility to sail where the weather and the waves are just right for a dip off the watersports platform.

Flagged in the U.S, UnCruise is one of the very few cruise lines approved to sail solely within Hawaii, embarking guests in Molokai and leaving them in Kona. Special experiences include night snorkeling with Pacific rays and plenty of time interacting with locals at events like a pa’ina feast and jam session.

Another option suited to larger groups and families is Norwegian’s Pride of America, the only other cruise ship approved to sail the Hawaiian Islands without a long stretch of sea days. Sail round trip on a weeklong cruise right from Waikiki in Honolulu, which makes pre- or post-cruise stays on the Big Island a breeze. Visit three other islands including Maui, Hawaii and Kauai, with pre-arranged land extensions as an option through Norwegian.

Best Cruise Line Private Island

Our pick: Perfect Day at CocoCay (Royal Caribbean, Celebrity)

Runner-up: Castaway Cay (Disney)

Honorable Mention: Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve (MSC Cruises)

A land-based extension of some cruise lines is their carefully crafted private island experiences. Many of these islands are located in the Bahamas (including every mention here). The difference of where you might call depends on which cruise line or company you are sailing (for example, Celebrity is owned by the same parent company as Royal Caribbean and will join Royal’s calls at Perfect Day).

What we love most about the appropriately named Perfect Day at CocoCay is that it has been finely tuned to provide the ideal vacation day for nearly every passenger on any budget. Spend nothing more than time by the turquoise shores on a beach lounger or splurge on the impressive Thrill waterpark.

The island is aptly divided into “thrills” and “chills” directing guests to a poolside oasis or a 135-foot drop from Daredevil’s Peak. As with nearly any cruise line private island your onboard drink and Wi-Fi packages extend to shore.

Another immaculately crafted island experience comes from none other than Disney and its Castaway Cay with its always family-friendly attention to detail. Enjoy gentle swimming coves, bike rentals, plenty of grub and maybe even an appearance from your favorite characters — in their swim trunks.

High marks go to relatively new private island Ocean Cay, from MSC Cruises, which has focused a lot on rehabilitation of the island and its surrounding coral and marine life. Fun in the sun is still the focus, with great swimming spots, bars with a view and even fish-shaped ice cream cones. A differentiator? By night, stick around for a traditional Junkanoo parade followed by a laser lights show and dance party.

Comments

Which cruise line is the best in your opinion? Do you stay loyal to one brand or sail with multiple cruise lines? Drop us an anchor below to share your favorite cruise lines.

The post Which Cruise Line is the Best? appeared first on EatSleepCruise.com.

You’re on a tight budget, but giving up a chance for a cruise vacation is out of the question. The solution? Find the cheapest cruise line possible, so you can still get your dose of sun and sea without breaking the bank.

It’s important to note that a cheap cruise is not the same as a value-for-money cruise. Cheap simply refers to the lowest price, while a sailing that has a great value might include the most amenities given its competitive cruise fare. Here, we’ll be selecting the absolute cheapest cruise lines, while also giving a few tips about cruise pricing, sales, and inclusions.

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What is the Cheapest Cruise Line? Top 3 Contenders

Margaritaville at Sea

Formerly Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, this short-cruise ship based in Florida now boasts Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville branding. Though, it remains the epitome of cheap and cheerful. Sailings run for two nights, from Palm Beach over to Grand Bahama Island and back. There are often deals and promotions, such as BOGO (buy one, get one) cruise fares, which make the price of entry even more appealing.

With the cruise line’s current promotion, a two-night cruise for two adults in September is listed as $169. A standard way to measure cruise pricing is per person, per night. In this case, you can board a Margaritaville at Sea cruise for $42.25 per person, per night. In some instances, the entire cruise fare could be less than the cost of dinner for two at an upscale restaurant.

Of course, you have to be okay with only a short getaway. And if you’re not near Palm Beach, you also have to factor in the cost of a flight. Meals, accommodations, and entertainment are included in the cruise fare on Margaritaville at Sea, but actual margaritas will be additional. The ship just underwent a refurbishment in late May to early June 2023, so expect refreshed staterooms and public spaces.

Are you a veteran, an educator, a law enforcement officer or a first responder? With the cruise line’s “Heroes Sail Free” program, you could very well qualify for a free cruise. It does not get cheaper than free.

MSC Cruises

MSC is a privately owned Italian cruise line making major waves in North America in the past few years. With a fleet of more than 20 ships deployed worldwide, MSC Cruises is stretching its footprint, but not its prices. More ships than ever are being based in the U.S. and still at competitive prices.

In a search on the MSC website, we found a weeklong December cruise to the Bahamas, round trip from New York, for $469 per person, including taxes and fees. The total price for this seven-night cruise for two is $938, but at a per-night price it’s $67 per person, per night.

Like many major cruise lines, MSC offers to bundle inclusions at a discount rate if booked in advance. Basic cruise fare includes the price of an interior stateroom, meals, and entertainment (on Meraviglia, a ship built in 2016 with an impressive list of amenities). However, you would still pay extra for gratuities, drinks, or Wi-Fi.

For $759 per person ($1,518 for two), MSC is selling the same weeklong Bahamas cruise, but with a drinks package, Wi-Fi, and onboard credit — the amount varies by sailing.

Because we’re discussing the cheapest cruises and not the best bundles, we defer to the original price of $938 for two guests. A three-night Bahamas cruise during the same time onboard the same ship lists for $224 per person, including taxes and fees ($448 for two). That’s about $75 per person, per night. Both sailings call on MSC’s Bahamian private island, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.

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Carnival Cruise Line

The stalwart of cheap cruises has been and continues to be Carnival. But cheap is not to be confused with low quality. Carnival has invested heavily in its extensive fleet. The cruise line has added many new ships with jaw-dropping features like roller coasters and restaurants helmed by celebrity chefs like Emeril Lagasse.

Still, when we loaded up its homepage, Carnival’s main messaging is “We pride ourselves on fun for absolutely everyone”. It also touts a promo of 40 percent off all sailings plus up to $50 in onboard credit.

Starting with the absolute cheapest Carnival fares, you have the three-night weekend getaways. We found a Bahamas sailing from Miami in January for $179 per person. With taxes and fees, that is a total cruise price of $620.80 for two people. Per person, per night, the cruise is about $103. While reduced deposits and choice of room location make the booking process much breezier, we did notice that the sailing was onboard an older ship (Carnival Conquest), and oddly it was for a sailing way out in 2025.

Sometimes a slightly longer sailing will reduce the per-night price. A five-night Western Caribbean cruise on Carnival Paradise from Tampa in December 2024 is $744.40 total, for two people with taxes and fees included. That breaks down to less than $75 per person, per day.

Verdict

The cheapest cruises are going to typically be warm-weather Bahamas or Caribbean sailings from Florida. Here, that cheapest cruise line is Margaritaville at Sea, but if you’re are looking for a longer sailing or a bigger ship with more dining options, consider an MSC or Carnival cruise.

Alternatively, if you live near Los Angeles, a cheap cruise for you will be any sailings on the West Coast from the Port of Long Beach or Los Angeles — and not flying all the way across the country. Look at the bigger picture of the entire vacation and not just the first list price you see slapped online. 

Essentially, while you are looking for that low number, also factor in the taxes and fees, gratuities for crew, transportation costs to the port, and any other extras you know you might covet onboard. If you’re looking for an ocean view, that is going to be additional — though sometimes the amount is negligible, so always click around.

Cruises are based on double occupancy, so if you think you are getting away with a single cruise fare, it’s not going to be half of these totals. Solo cruisers unfortunately and often pay a supplement to be one person to a room. So, look for solo deals or talk to the cruise line.

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Cheapest Cruise Lines Q&A

What is a good price for a cruise?

A good price for a cruise is like a good bottle of wine — it’s the one that you like and the one you can afford. However, a solid ballpark estimate for a well-priced cruise is one that is less than $100 per person, per night.

If there is a cruise fare for less than $50 per person, per night, then you, my friend, have found yourself a super-cheap cruise.

Where to book cheap cruises?

Cruise lines typically do their best to offer the very best rates through their own channels. However, working with a travel advisor can help with additional perks like a free bottle of wine or onboard credit when booking. In terms of the baseline price, advisors can help you determine if you qualify for any special discounts like a AAA membership or a reduced group rate if you’re sailing with a bunch of friends or family.

There are of course third-party websites and retailers that sell cruises, but always look through the fine print before finalizing the purchase in case you need to cancel or update your booking. Have a Costco membership? The wholesale chain is actually known for having some decent deals on travel packages as well as the occasional cruise.

Is it cheaper to book directly with cruise line?

When looking for the cheapest price, we return to the idea of the greatest value. You might find the absolute lowest price on a third-party website, but are you missing out on any cruise line promotions that include a drink package or prepaid gratuities?

Total what you would spend for everything and make sure you shop around — or use a travel advisor specializing in cruise — to price out where you can save with a package deal or other perks.

How often do cruises go on sale?

Cruise lines used to pull out their biggest promotions during a period known as wave season, which would run during the low season of January to March. However, these days it seems that various sales and deals run on a contiguous basis.

Like other online retailers, you will find cruise sales around major holiday periods like Black Friday or even Memorial Day. Of course, some promotions are better than others and these might still be seen during slow booking periods between winter break and spring break.

Bookmark the sites of the cruise lines you are considering to check in on the latest promotions (they will often list expiration dates of current deals). Or, a less manual approach is to set up automatic alerts, available on various websites, when the price of your cruise dips below a certain amount.

How do you take a cruise on a budget?

The price to get onboard aside, you will be confronted with many opportunities to spend during your cruise vacation. Consider the following tips for keeping on budget.

• How much do you drink? If you and your guests both want to indulge without worrying about the beers tallying up, buy a drink package. However, these packages typically must apply to both people in a room. So, if only one of you drinks, it might be cheaper to buy drinks a la carte.

• Do you plan on dining out at specialty restaurants? If your ship has many options for an extra-fee night out, consider booking a specialty dining package. Alternatively, there are sometimes deals on specialty dining during the very first night onboard.

• Have a weakness for the casino? Are the kids eyeing the arcade? Vacation is about a little excess. But when you are keeping to a budget, make sure those boundaries are outlined prior to boarding. Set a hard limit on how much you will put down on the blackjack table and use parental controls to rein in spending on your child’s cruise card.

• Shore excursions are part of the enjoyment of any cruise vacation. However, they can easily add up, especially if you are traveling as a family. A cruise that stops at a private island is a great way to spend a quality beach day together without spending any additional money. Meals, beach loungers, pool access and more are often included during these special port days. And if you have a drink or Wi-Fi package onboard, those usually extend to the cruise line’s island.

• Find a cruise that’s close to home or a short flight away. The cruise might be a bargain, but air travel and gas prices these days can be a major drag. Never forget about transportation (including parking) when tallying up the total price for your cheap cruise.

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Have you sailed with one of these cheapest cruise lines? Do you try to travel on a budget? Drop us an anchor below to share your experiences sailing with these wallet-friendly cruise lines.

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Ship Overview

Margaritaville, known for its upscale resorts on land, just launched a brand new cruise line. To us, it just seems like a natural progression. After all, cruising delivers good food, entertainment, and plenty of island vibes.

Margaritaville at Sea is presently a one ship cruise line. The “new” Margaritaville at Sea Paradise is the former Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line’s Grand Classica. This 52K gross ton ship offers 10 public decks for guests to enjoy during their Bahamas jaunts.

With Margaritaville at Sea, you can opt for a 2-day cruise, or upgrade to a 4-day or 6-day cruise and stay package. These packages combine the cruise and a resort stay in Grand Bahama, with all-inclusive options at the Viva Wyndham and Grand Lucayan.

While this 31-year old ship did undergo a multi-million dollar update, unfortunately, some public areas do still show its age. Some notable upgrades include a brand new foyer with the signature Margaritaville flip flop. Deck 10 aft also received the updated and rebranded 5 O’clock Somewhere Bar and Grill. This vibrant spot is exactly what we would expect from the brand.

Further, the staterooms on Margaritaville at Sea Paradise did receive extensive updates as well. They come complete with new bedding, furniture, televisions, and colorful accessories. Though, the stateroom bathrooms remain dated.

Structurally, the ship’s design does not allow for many balcony cabins. If you are used to relaxing on your balcony with some ocean breezes, you won’t be able to do so on this ship unless you book one of the few suites available.

The Stars on the Water Theater has also been rebranded for the new signature production show Tales from Margaritaville: Jimmy’s Ship Show. The stage set, along with the talented cast, make for a great addition to the ship. This high energy and interactive show is comparable to production shows that you would find on any other cruise line.

While hints of Margaritaville shine around the ship, there are many elements that more resemble the former Grand Classica. From the main pool area, to the Oasis and Euphoria lounges, to the public restrooms, it’s evident that these areas did not receive many upgrades. The electrical and WiFi systems seem dated as well.

In terms of dining, all of the venues have been rebranded to include a main dining room, specialty restaurant, cruise ship buffet, coffee shop, grill, and pizzeria. However, besides the Fins main dining room and the Port of Indecision buffet, all of the other venues are up-charges. While the food at Frank and Lola’s Pizzeria and JWB Steakhouse were a step above the complimentary venues, the prices are on the high-end when compared to other cruise lines.

We share all the details of what it’s like to sail on this new cruise line in our day-by-day Margaritaville at Sea Inaugural Cruise Review.

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Margaritaville at Sea Inaugural Cruise Review – Day 1

Back Onboard, Again

While this was officially the inaugural cruise for Margaritaville at Sea Paradise, we were able to join a one-day preview sailing on the prior Thursday. So, we had a general sense of the ship and its offerings already.

Still, we arrived to the Port of Palm Beach cruise terminal early to get this Margaritaville at Sea inaugural cruise review underway.

By 10:30 am, there was already a small queue outside. Once we figured out the correct line to join, we entered the terminal building for security and check-in in an efficient manner.

Since this cruise line is the first to allow unvaccinated passengers to sail, there were three lines outside- one for those who were vaccinated and had a test in hand, one for those who were vaccinated but did not have a test, and one for unvaccinated guests who needed to undergo mandatory testing at the pier.

An antigen test at the pier costs $75, and a PCR test costs $150.

Since we were hosted by the cruise line on this Margaritaville at Sea inaugural cruise, we were told that there was no booking number. All we needed to do was show up at the port. As cruisers with 50+ sailings under our belts, that did not seem right to us.

Thus, it was no surprise that when we went to check-in at the cruise terminal, there was no record of our reservation. A few texts, emails, and two hours later, we had a booking and were back onboard the cruise ship.

Normally, this delay would have put us way behind our typical embarkation day routine. However, since we were able to tour the ship during the previous event, we were already “ahead” of other cruisers.

The good thing about boarding “late” was that our stateroom was ready. So, we dropped off our bags at the room first.

Thankfully, our portside oceanview room, 7129, was in much better shape than the cabin we stayed in during the one night special event. The room itself did receive renovations, including new bedding, paint, and accessories making it cheerful yet minimalistic. However, the bathroom was not updated and definitely showed the age of the ship.

Tip: Make sure to bring a power converter as there is only one 110V outlet in the cabin.

A Perfect Day for a Sail Away

Taking a few minutes to capture some photos and videos of the cabin and arrange our gear, we then headed to the top deck to continue capturing shots of the outdoor decks and interior spaces for about the next hour.

By now, it was time to grab lunch. The only option was the cruise ship buffet, the Port of Indecision Buffet. The food selections were rather typical. Along with a small salad bar, there were offerings like hot dogs and hamburgers, fried chicken, and hot entrees. The food quality was average, but it sufficed.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Margaritaville at Sea lunch without grabbing some signature margaritas too!

After lunch, we had to stop at Guest Services as we were having some connectivity issues. Apparently, we were not alone as the WiFi was currently not working. We also grabbed a daily while we were here. Since these daily programs are not delivered to the staterooms, we always seemed to miss important information about the day’s events.

Not to mention, we snuck in a selfie in front of the main focal point on Deck 5, the signature Margaritaville flip flop.

Finished with our informal ship tour, we returned to our cabin for a bit. Typically, we would unpack at this point, but given this was a very short cruise, we just lived out of our suitcases for the two days.

Like clockwork, we were back upstairs to prepare for the 4:30 PM sailaway. Like many of the activities, the cruise director Jeffy and his Fins Up Crew hosted a fun sailaway party that was full of energy, loud music, and plenty of line dancing. Before we knew it, we were pulling away from the port and backing into the channel.

One thing that did surprise us was that there was no Muster Drill. There was a safety video on the television, but it was not required to visit your muster station. There was also no ship-wide Captain’s announcement. These steps are still requirements on all other cruise lines with digital muster drills.

The concerning part is that the television in our cabin was “buffering” for hours, so we didn’t actually watch the safety drill until hours after we had already sailed away. Even worse, the television in our deck 4 cabin during the preview cruise didn’t work. While we made it a point to locate our assigned muster station, I can only imagine that many other passengers did not.

By now, it was already approaching our 6 PM dinner time. After chatting with some cruise friends also onboard, we made the rare decision to go to dinner without freshening up or changing clothes.

The Main Dining Room on Margaritaville at Sea Paradise

Currently, the cruise line has set dining times of 6 PM and 8:30 PM. Prior to boarding, we “reserved” the 6 PM dining time. This did not really seem to matter, as there was a long line at the Fins restaurant when we arrived a few minutes past 6 PM.

As a side note, reservations for dining, shore excursions, spa treatments, and drink package purchases can be made in the terminal prior to boarding the ship.

Fortunately, the queue moved quickly, and we were escorted to a table for two at the very back of the restaurant.

Like most cruise lines, dinner in the Fins MDR consisted of a three-course rotational menu. However, the menu did not include any “standard” items. Instead, there are daily selections and some additional enhancements. These up-charge “enhancements” include things like lobster tail. It appears there is a beef, chicken, fish, pasta, and vegetarian option each night.

Our waiter came by relatively quickly to introduce himself and take our drink order. Then, we waited for close to 50 minutes for our drinks and first course. Sadly, we were not alone.

Once the food did arrive, the quality was pretty average. Thankfully, the remaining courses did come in succession with appropriate pacing.

For a starter, I went with the shrimp cocktail and the wife did the caprese salad. My short rib entrée was tender and hot. Further, it was served as requested, with rice instead of mashed potatoes. Typically, cruise ship desserts don’t wow us, and this was true on Paradise as well.

Checking All the Boxes on the First Night

Given the long delays with service, we did not finish dinner until close to 8 PM. This meant we were 15 minutes late for the 7:45 PM show in the main theater. Luckily, we already saw Tales from Margaritaville: Jimmy’s Ship Show once during the media event.

This production show is entertaining and interactive. It was exactly the type of theater production you would expect on a Margaritaville cruise ship. The talented cast performed several popular Jimmy Buffett songs during this 45 minute show.

The show was over just in time for those with second dinner. Leaving the theater, we found seats in the Euphoria Lounge for the first game show of the evening.

The assistant cruise director, Natasha, hosted this ship’s version of the Love and Marriage game show. Instead of questions, the three couples competed in three different challenges. Like most versions of this game, it was funny and entertaining to watch.

A Late Night on Margaritaville at Sea Paradise

The game show ended at 9:15 PM, and the house band took the stage. This was our queue to take a stroll.

We popped into one of the onboard shops to look for our obligatory cruise ship t-shirt and ornament. For this trip, I scored a pretty sweet t-shirt. Although, there were no ornaments. After quickly dropping off our purchase in the cabin, we returned to the central Euphoria Lounge on Deck 8 for the Battle of the Sexes game show.

The cruise director Jeffy was the host for this cruise staple. The contestants were an odd, and rather drunk, mix of passengers. Unfortunately, the men did not come out victoriously. Although, this did not surprise me.

This show ended close to 11 PM. Wanting to ensure we saw all the entertainers, we headed to the Oasis Lounge on Deck 9. Here, there was a late night set from the ship’s piano player, John Massey. This performer was a member of the band that performs in the main theater. His set was entertaining with a wide range of songs from Bon Jovi to Britney Spears and the Commodores, just to name a few.

Finally, we decided to call it a night just before midnight.

Related Post: Margaritaville at Sea Paradise Ship Scorecard Review

Margaritaville at Sea Inaugural Cruise Review – Day 2

A Morning in the Shade

For this 2-day Margaritaville at Sea inaugural cruise review, the second day was a stop in Freeport, Bahamas. Since we were not given a daily, we had no idea what time we were calling in port. Regardless, our plan was to stay onboard the ship for the day.

The cruise line does offer some excursions, like all-inclusive beach breaks and swimming with the pigs.

This morning, I was up around 6:45 AM getting some additional videos and photos, along with Heidi’s morning latte.

For some reason, the ship’s Margaritaville coffee shop is not open in the morning. Though, guests can purchase espresso-based beverages at the Euphoria Lounge.

Ready for the day, we headed to breakfast around 8:45 AM. Unfortunately, the only dining venue open for breakfast is the buffet. While we generally skip the buffet completely on other cruise lines, we had no other options. Of note, the buffet is self-service, with staff only serving the custom-made omelets.

Surprisingly, breakfast was better than expected. The selections were diverse and the omelet passed the wife’s test.

If you’d prefer to sit outdoors, you can head to the seating area at the 5 O’clock Somewhere Bar and Grill. That is exactly what we did, as it was the perfect morning for some al fresco dining.

Following breakfast, we found some loungers on the starboard side of the License to Chill Pool (main pool area). This became our morning office for the next few hours. In the shade, it was the ideal temperature to get caught up on some work.

An Afternoon in the Sun

By afternoon, we decided to switch up our location for some sun and relaxation. Plus, it was time for a “boat drink”. So, we headed to the 12 Volt Pool and Bar at the aft of the ship.

This adults-only pool area was much busier than the main pool. Yet surprisingly, the bar did not open until 2 PM. However, there were bar servers making the rounds. So, we ordered a pina colada and banana daiquiri.

This completely exposed back deck was much hotter than we expected, and there are only a few loungers with nearby umbrellas. Even with multiple applications of sunscreen, we didn’t last more than an hour and a half.

With Frank and Lola’s Pizzeria not opening until 3 PM, we still decided to pack up and head inside early anyway. We chilled (literally) at the still-not-open coffee shop waiting for the pizza place to open up. We were not alone, as a few other cruisers were hovering in anticipation of the venue opening.

Luckily, the pizza was worth the wait. Though, it is an up-charge. These 14″ inch pies range in price from $12.99 to $16.99. Our pepperoni pizza was plenty for two to share. One unique feature of this venue is that robot waiters deliver the pizza to your table.

Lunch was quick, and we were done just in time to get to the pool deck for a special Junkanoo celebration. We suspect this Bahamian hallmark was to commemorate the ship’s inaugural call into the island nation.

Dinner and Drinks With Friends

After dancing along with the marching band, it was time to head back to the room to prepare for the evening. Given the heat, we both needed to shower and cool off.

Tonight, we were dining with friends at the ship’s specialty restaurant, JWB Steakhouse. In addition to the main dining room, the ship features this up-charge steakhouse, in a curtained off section of the main dining room portside on Deck 8.

Predictably, we were a few minutes late for our 7 PM reservation. Thus, our friends were already seated at a table with a porthole view.

This food here was much better than the main dining room. My fried oyster appetizer was well balanced and flavorful, without being heavy. The filet was cooked to my requested medium rare temperature. Even the key lime pie had a tangy and slightly sweet flavor, making it the perfect end to my meal. The Princess enjoyed her deviled eggs, chicken entrée, and banana cream pie as well.

The waitstaff were friendly and accommodating even if the service was slow again tonight. Our drinks did arrive quicker this time, but it still took close to an hour for our appetizers to arrive.

At a cover charge of $58 per person, it is on the pricey side for a cruise ship steakhouse. However, we found that the up-charge food items were much better than the complimentary offerings on the ship.

Bouncing Around the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise

Following dinner, there were a number of events occurring this evening. Given the longer than expected dinner, we missed most of the Quest game show. So, we decided to head to the Oasis Lounge for the piano player’s 10:30 PM set. It was certainly busier here than the previous night. I guess the word got out that he put on a good show.

After a few songs, we meandered up to the Tropical Glow Party on the pool deck. Surprisingly, the party was not busy at all. Still, Natasha and the Fins Up Crew were dancing and engaging the crowd. Here, we grabbed our last drink of the cruise then returned to catch the final few songs of the piano player after about 30 minutes at the party.  

When the musician called it a night around 11:45 PM, so did we. Well, sort of. Getting back to the room, there were no instructions for the next day’s departure nor did we have our final invoice. So, I headed back down to Guest Services.

Like others on the cruise, we were disappointed in the lack of communication, especially important announcements like what time we needed to be ready to disembark tomorrow morning.

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Margaritaville at Sea Inaugural Cruise Review – Disembarkation

Getting Off the Ship

The night before, Guest Services had informed me that disembarkation should start around 8:30 AM and that breakfast was from 7:30 to 9 AM. Our flight wasn’t until 3:30 PM, so we didn’t have to rush off the ship today.

Unfortunately, neither of us got much sleep as there is no sound proofing, and there was a lot of rowdiness in the hallway well past 2 AM. So, I struggled to get out of bed this morning.

Through the porthole window, we could see the ship was already close to the port. Thus, we anticipated being cleared earlier than originally stated.

Around 7:30 AM, the Captain announced that the ship had already been cleared by local authorities. So, we decided that we would pass on the buffet breakfast and grab coffee and sandwiches at the airport Starbucks instead.

We were ready to exit the ship slightly after 8 AM. Surprisingly, we did not need to wait long for an elevator ride down to deck 5. Further, there was virtually no line to check-out.

The entire process from getting off the ship, through customs, and curbside for an Uber took only about 15 minutes. This was much smoother than the media event’s disembarkation process a few days earlier.

Finally Home

We got to the airport early in hopes of changing our flight. Unsuccessful with that, we took up shop for several hours in the pre-security area with Starbucks and laptops in hand.

As luck would have it, our flight was delayed an hour. Thus, we did not get home until around 10 PM.

It was a long few days on this new cruise line, and we needed to rest up!

Comments

Did you find our Margaritaville at Sea Paradise inaugural cruise review helpful? Would you sail on this new cruise line? Drop us an anchor below with your thoughts on Margaritaville at Sea.

The post Margaritaville at Sea Inaugural Cruise Review appeared first on EatSleepCruise.com.