Margaritaville at Sea had a rocky entrance into the cruise industry — but things could be looking up with its newest ship.
A partnership between Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line and Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, Margaritaville at Sea had its maiden voyage with Paradise in 2022.
It didn’t go well. Early cruisers called Margaritaville at Sea the “Spirit Airlines” of the sea, criticizing Paradise as having quality issues and a lack of engaging entertainment, dining options, and thematic touches.
I didn’t absolutely love my time on Paradise, either, but I recently gave the brand another chance with its second ship, Islander.
I was more prepared for my second Margaritaville at Sea cruise.
The Margaritaville at Sea Islander made its maiden voyage in June.
Like Paradise, Islander is not a new ship but a former Costa Cruises ship. Islander is about 24 years old and has been refurbished for Margaritaville at Sea.
I was curious to see how the 12-deck, 1,105-stateroom ship compared to Paradise, which has 13 decks and 658 cabins.
I selected a cozy interior stateroom, the ship’s entry-level accommodation, for five nights. I booked it during Margaritaville at Sea’s summer sale, which got me about 30% off.
The total cost was $465.05 per passenger, including taxes and port fees. The rate didn’t include add-ons like drink packages or excursions.
This was a great deal compared to what I paid to sail on Paradise last year. On that cruise, I paid $330.70 for a two-night sailing.
I found more Margaritaville fun on the Islander.
If you like Paradise, you’ll probably love Islander. Not only do you get longer cruise itineraries, but also you get more dining, bars, and activities.
There are six new eateries out of one dozen offerings, including the complimentary Mexican Cutie Cantina, which serves street tacos for breakfast and lunch; Island Eats, an adults-only outdoor seafood shack; and Islander dining room, which costs extra.
There are 13 bars and lounges, including a three-story LandShark Bar and Lookout and an invite-only speakeasy.
I think the Islander’s staterooms are better, too.
My interior stateroom was smaller than it was on Paradise, but the cabin was comfortable and had more Margaritaville vibes.
I appreciated the palm-tree wallpaper, duvet covers that had subtle sateen parrots, and a “Livin’ on Islander Time” throw pillow.
I found amenities on Islander that I didn’t experience on Paradise.
While on the ship, I received a printed daily newsletter filled with onboard activities.
These included two new live production shows: the country-themed “Conky Tonkin’ at Sea” and song, dance, and acrobatics show “Caribbean Heat Remix.”
The itinerary also included things like a magic show, theme nights, a mini-golf course, a waterslide, and a circus-themed workshop.
There are several things worth splurging on, too.
Everyone’s fare includes access to Fins, the main dining room. It’s the only complimentary sit-down restaurant, so I opted to add a dining package to my cruise.
During booking, I added the Ultimate Dining Chill package for $107, which allowed me to try all of the specialty restaurants on board.
It includes dinner at JWB Prime Steakhouse, brunch and dinner at Islander Dining Room, and a $25 dining credit to each of the following restaurants: Far Side Sushi, Tiki Grill, and Island Eats.
I recommend this package if you want to try all the dining options.
I also bought unlimited WiFi for $67.50. It was mostly reliable.
I felt there were some downsides to Islander, though.
In my opinion, the ship’s Fins Up! fitness center looked depressing.
I visited daily and found it was almost always empty. Though it was nice to have the place to myself, it still wasn’t my favorite.
The space felt minimally stocked with a couple of treadmills, rowers, and weight machines. Its porthole windows were frosted over, so I couldn’t even admire the ocean while working up a sweat.
I definitely preferred the gym on the Margaritaville at Sea’s older ship, which had much better views.
The Islander’s Port of Indecision buffet also let me down — as one of the few complimentary dining venues, it often had long lines.
Plus, the food selection wasn’t very impressive compared to other cruises I’ve been on.
I expected a dozen or more stations with things like sushi or build-your-own noodle bars like I’ve seen on other cruise lines. However, I found the buffet on the Islander felt limited, mostly just featuring a few hot dishes, a salad bar, and desserts.
Fortunately, though, the buffet had plenty of seating to accommodate its crowds.
I was also put off by the color of the pools.
During my trip, the pool water looked greenish and I found it unappealing, making this the only ship I’ve sailed on where I didn’t go swimming.
I asked the onboard crew about the water, and they said nothing was wrong with it.
When asked about the pool, a representative for Margaritaville at Sea wrote in an email that the water can sometimes have temporary discoloration when it’s being actively filtered and chlorinated.
They added, “The water is always safe to swim in even when this occurs and we test the water quality continuously twenty four hours a day, seven days a week through the onboard filtration computer system.”
I think Margaritaville at Sea took the complaints about Paradise into consideration when refurbishing Islander.
On this cruise, I got the sense Margaritaville at Sea really took into consideration the negative feedback it received about Paradise.
I found sailing with the Islander to be a much more improved and elevated experience than when I was on Paradise in 2022.
The staff seemed passionate and proactive, and the rooms looked more thematic. Whereas Paradise lacked an immersive Margaritaville experience, Islander is a spirited good time.
But both ships still lack amenities and luxurious perks that many other cruise lines have that I love, including eateries open 24/7, high-quality gyms, and spas with hydrotherapy and thermal suites.
It’s unlikely I’ll sail Islander again unless there’s another major renovation — but I must admit that Margaritaville at Sea’s price point and vibes can’t be beaten. The Islander a pretty good value for a cruise.
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