I’ll admit it. I went into this cruise with my guard up.
I’d read the stories online. I’d heard the whispers. Everything I’d absorbed about Margaritaville at Sea told me this wasn’t going to be my kind of cruise. I’ve spent too much time in suites on luxury ships, spa cabins on premier vessels, and the like. I watched too many videos, and I wasn’t going to do it. But a couple of my travel friends who’d sailed the Margaritaville at Sea Islander kept telling me I was wrong, so I packed away my preconceived notions along with my sunscreen and boarded the Paradise out of West Palm Beach with an open mind.
Was I glad I did? Absolutely.
Let’s start with embarkation, because it was chaos, and I want to be very clear about whose fault that was. It wasn’t Margaritaville’s. Guests are given specific boarding times for a reason, and when 500 people decide their assigned time is more of a suggestion and all show up at once to a terminal that comfortably holds maybe 200, something has to give. That something was me, standing outside in the Florida sun for a long time, surrounded by other people who were whining about a situation they created themselves. My advice, and I mean this with love: come at your designated time.
But, you know me. I make the best of almost every situation and stood in line making friends. Once we were actually inside, though, check-in was a breeze. The lines to check in were divided up so there wasn’t a long wait, and room cards were given to us on the spot (no waiting until we could actually get to our cabin like on some of the other ships). That meant we could easily use them right away. So, having already checked our luggage with the valet before entering the terminal (there’s one on either side, make it easy on yourself and check your bags), we wandered the ship, walked past the giant flip flop that anchors the lobby (you cannot miss it, and you will take a photo, don’t fight it), and went looking for food since we had a half hour to kill before our cabin opened up. The High Tide Market, Margaritaville’s take on a something between a food truck rally and a buffet (with stations like Frank & Lola’s Pizzeria, License to Chill Sandwich Shack, Mexican Cutie Cantina, Cheeseburger in Paradise and a small buffet area), was already packed, so instead of waiting for a table I headed for a signature Cheeseburger in Paradise and fries to go and took it up on deck with a virgin colada to hold me over while I scoped out what was happening topside.
Belly’s full, we were ready to check things out.
Our cabin turned out to be a pleasant surprise. Margaritaville has clearly put money into upgrading Paradise, and the staterooms have that fun, breezy island vibe you’d expect from the brand. Balcony rooms are limited on this ship, so we stayed in an Oceanview, which gave us plenty of natural light and a solid view of the water. You have a safe and a refrigerator, and there is LOTS of storage. The closet is an average stateroom size, and there were robes hanging just waiting for me to put on and head to the spa, but there were more drawers than the usual cabin.
Note: I always bring magnetic hooks for extra hanging, but the walls are not made of metal, so leave yours at home. You won’t need them anyway.
Bathrooms include a shower with their signature St. Somewhere Spa amenities (shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel) and the vanity and mirror were actually larger than my guest bathroom at home. There’s no need to live out of your suitcase. But the cabin wasn’t really where the magic happened. That was on deck.
I headed up to Lisence to Chill by the pool to find the Fins Up Crew had the entire ship up and dancing at the Welcome Aboard party, and the energy was real. This was clearly a full sailing, and the crowd was ready to have a good time. Over four nights on board, the thing I kept noticing was that there was never a shortage of good music or people actually enjoying themselves. The crew understands their passengers in a way I haven’t always seen on bigger ships. Game shows, deck parties, evening events, all of them pulled bigger crowds than I’ve experienced on larger vessels. And while this is a ship geared toward first-time cruisers and a crowd that might not fit the typical cruise mold, the staff know exactly how to get people engaged, and it shows.
There’s more here than you’d expect, too.
Wine tastings, if you can believe it. A genuinely cool tattoo parlor on board (I’m too much of a chicken to have tried it myself, but I admired the artwork from a safe distance). I even met a friend who got her first tattoo on board to celebrate her 100th sailing (seems like the perfect way to commemorate).
Pools, though, because this is a smaller ship, are on the smaller side and got crowded quickly. That was never the draw for me anyway. Our itinerary had plenty of beach time, and as a Floridian, I can jump in my own pool whenever I want. What I do care about is a good spa, and the St. Somewhere Spa & Salon delivered. The same goes for the casino, which is non-smoking, something I genuinely didn’t think existed outside of one other cruise line. That alone made me a very happy cruiser.
Now let’s talk about the food…
Because this was the real high point of the trip for me. Feeding hundreds of people on a cruise ship is a tough job, and okay or decent food is usually the ceiling. What I did not expect was for the food on a ship where cabins start right now (there’s a sale) at $59 per night to be genuinely extraordinary. Maybe it’s the smaller scale, maybe it’s a kitchen full of underrated chefs who actually care, but between Mark at the Margaritaville Coffee Shop (FYI, the coffee shop is not included in the drink package, but was quite reasonable) making me a perfect cortado every single morning
to the rolls and sashimi coming out of Far Side Sushi, I had some of the best meals I’ve had at sea. I’ll say it plainly: I was shocked. Even the gelato at the ice cream station was excellent. I spent limited time in the High Tide Market beyond a couple of breakfasts and my one obligatory Cheeseburger in Paradise, but the specialty spots like JWB Steakhouse and even Fins Dining, the main dining room, served food I’m still dreaming about.
The entertainment split into two categories
There were the polished, big stage productions in the Stars on the Water Theater, with acrobatics, dance, and singing from a genuinely talented cast.
And then there were the smaller venues, Hemisphere Nightclub, Euphoria Lounge, and Keys on the Water, where the real, unfiltered fun happened. This is where that passenger engagement I mentioned earlier really came to life. Karaoke for kids and a separate adult version. Lip Sync or Swim, which I watched with great enthusiasm and zero personal participation (I told you, I’m chicken). Buried Treasure Bingo. The Quest for the Lost Shaker of Salt, an adults-only event that had the room roaring.
Kids aren’t an afterthought
I ended up sharing a table with a family at the High Tide Market when I couldn’t find another seat, and their kids couldn’t stop talking about how much fun the kids’ clubs were, especially the teens. If you’ve ever traveled with teenagers, you know that’s not a small compliment. Teens are professionally unimpressed by everything, largely out of principle. Getting a genuine thumbs up from that demographic means the program is doing something right.
And of course
I even did a little shopping on board, because of course I did (and because my bestie Rach collects items that say “Salty” on them).
But the moment that really sealed it for me was watching my husband, Mr. S, a man who is famously allergic to enjoying things unless they involve steak, potatoes, winning at a slot machine, or the television remote, have an unmistakably great time. He was the one who asked when we were going back. THAT my friends says it ALL.
This isn’t a cruise to nowhere
Our first port of call was Freeport on Grand Bahama Island, and I’ll be honest, I didn’t even leave the ship. I was having too much fun on board to trade it in for an afternoon on land, and there was a selfish little thrill in knowing that most of the ship would empty out and I’d have the pools, the deck, and the quiet corners practically to myself. Sometimes the best port day is the one you skip entirely, and this was one of those times.
Nassau was a different story, mostly because I wanted my husband to see Atlantis Paradise Island, somewhere he’d never been. We grabbed a taxi as soon as we docked and made our way over (you can also get there by water taxi right at the port if you feel like a little boat ride). We did a little gambling, because when in Rome, or in this case, when in a casino with a giant aquarium, and I also spent a good chunk of time just standing there looking up at the Dale Chihuly glass installations, one of my favorite artists. It was the perfect contrast to my do-nothing day in Freeport, and exactly the kind of balance a short cruise itinerary should offer.
If I can leave you with one piece of practical advice, it’s this: don’t show up early, arrive at your assigned boarding time, and save your appetite for dinner, especially on embarkation day. Everyone on that ship will be hungry at the same time, and the High Tide Market will be the only option open, so plan accordingly.
One more thing worth knowing before you book.
Margaritaville at Sea runs a Heroes program offering free cruises for military members and veterans, first responders, healthcare workers, and teachers, on top of the line’s already low entry price points. Deals and specific rates change often, so it’s worth checking Margaritaville at Sea’s website directly for current offers, sailing dates, and eligibility details before you book.
I went in ready to be unimpressed. I came home already thinking about my next sailing. Next, I’ll try the Islander!
- Don’t miss a moment of the fun, check out Margaritaville at Sea
and say hello to Mark at Margaritaville Coffee Shop for me!
