economie

I sailed on Margaritaville at Sea’s newest ship. The 5-night cruise is a pretty great value, but I wouldn’t go again.

August 27, 20240
The Margaritaville at Sea Islander first sailed in June 2024.

Lauren Mack

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.
My interior stateroom on the Islander had island vibes.

Lauren Mack

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.
Fins is Margaritaville at Sea’s main dining room.

Lauren Mack

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.
I didn’t go in the pool on the Margaritaville Islander.

Lauren Mack

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.
The Margaritaville at Sea Islander is a decent value.

Lauren Mack

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.