I cruised with one of many least costly cruise strains within the trade, and — spoiler alert — I liked it.
Cruise fares are the best they’ve ever been, and cruise strains are making acutely aware efforts so as to add extra for-fee onboard choices for passengers. But one line, Margaritaville at Sea, stays a fierce holdout. Its fares are a number of the most cheap within the trade, and even extras like Wi-Fi and drink packages value lower than they might with most different strains.
However what does that imply for you as a passenger? Listed here are 5 the explanation why Margaritaville at Sea is value contemplating in your subsequent cruise.
1. The sailings are reasonably priced
With its current Black Friday and wave season promotions, Margaritaville at Sea allowed two adults to sail on its two-night voyages, with third and fourth passengers free, for simply $99. That is not $99 per particular person; it is $99 complete — for 4 folks. That is solely $12.50 per particular person, per day.
You possibly can’t even purchase an honest lunch for that worth, however this oceangoing arm of the favored Jimmy Buffett resort model presents a trip that features a room, three meals a day (plus loads of between-meal choices), fundamental drinks (water, soda, juice), leisure and port-to-port transportation for that quantity.
To be clear, the $99-for-four-people fares aren’t at all times out there. When they’re, they’re restricted in quantity, cowl essentially the most fundamental lodging and do not embrace taxes and costs, that are roughly $200 per particular person.
However even Margaritaville at Sea’s most costly lodging are fairly priced. On the time of publication, the biggest suite on the road’s Islander ship was going for simply $1,499 per particular person ($375 per particular person, per night time) for a four-night Mexico crusing from Tampa on Feb. 23, 2026. For comparability, the costs for four-night sailings to comparable places in suites of roughly the identical dimension on Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas and NCL’s Norwegian Star (which debuted in 2000 and 2001, respectively) had been $1,929 per particular person ($482 per particular person, per night time) and $1,793 per particular person ($448 per particular person, per night time), with each voyages departing Feb. 26, 2026.
It is not simply cabins which can be a cut price, both. Margaritaville at Sea’s drink packages value about 32% much less per day than Royal Caribbean’s and about $10 much less per day than Carnival’s. Plus, its Wi-Fi is a number of the most reasonably priced (and dependable, due to Starlink) at sea.
2. The standard is excessive
Permit me to cease you earlier than you assume that, for the worth, the expertise should in some way be subpar — as a result of it isn’t. What you will discover on board is fortunately the other.
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You possibly can count on cabins which have been up to date with shiny, trendy fixtures, Margaritaville Resort smooth furnishings and a beachy vibe; meals that features wonderful fundamental eating room fare, burgers and pizza without spending a dime, in addition to upcharge sushi, steak and cafe objects; and leisure that is enjoyable and interesting with out being tacky or “an excessive amount of.”
Plus, you will discover a dose of classic attraction, with each ships having retained most of the authentic touches added once they had been first constructed.
However maybe the very best factor a few cruise with Margaritaville at Sea is that it presents its personal particular model of escapism — a time period made common by Jimmy Buffett’s songs, that are stuffed with lyrics about leaving the day-to-day grind behind in favor of leisure and time spent with good buddies. Its informal atmosphere is replete with events, reside music and a vibe that is “come as you might be” (however not trashy).
It is not a luxurious line, to make sure, and the ships aren’t new. However in case you’re on the lookout for an affordable and cheerful trip, a fast weekend getaway, a crusing to have a good time a special day or a solution to deliver your loved ones or good friend group collectively in a method that matches everybody’s schedule and price range, that is it.
3. It would not need the most important ships or largest fleet
As a result of Margaritaville at Sea is small, executives personally learn each suggestion and piece of suggestions submitted by passengers — one thing I found throughout an unique dinner interview with Margaritaville at Sea’s CEO, Christopher Ivy, on the road’s latest ship, Islander.
Higher administration is concerned within the line’s day-to-day operations in any respect ranges, and it reveals in how rapidly changes are made following cruiser suggestions and the way completely happy the crew appears to be. Everybody — from room stewards to the CEO — can (and does) reply rapidly to cruiser suggestions.
The road can also be bored with maintaining with the Joneses in relation to newer and greater ships. It proudly operates two midsize vessels — Islander and Paradise — that had been bought, closely used, from Carnival Corp. Each former Costa Cruises ships had been extensively refurbished and proceed to function properly into their second and third a long time, respectively.
“By no means say by no means, however we’re not planning to launch a 250,000-ton ship any time quickly,” Ivy mentioned. He additionally famous that the road is not concerned with ballooning its fleet to dozens of vessels.
As for whether or not or not Margaritaville at Sea is trying so as to add a 3rd ship, Ivy mentioned that, though there’s nothing at present within the works, it isn’t off the desk.
“There’s nothing on the market formally, however we wish to develop the enterprise.”
When it comes to what’s attainable when a cruise line and its ships keep small, Ivy famous that there is a particular bond that always types between members of the crew and the passengers they serve — one which is not at all times attainable on bigger vessels, notably in case you’re solely cruising for 3 or 4 days.
“You won’t even see the identical crew member twice,” he mentioned. “That is the stuff that makes the larger distinction.”
And a small firm dimension is simply as vital as a small fleet. Groups lose one thing once they develop so giant that leaders can not often spend one-on-one time with workers and prospects — one thing Ivy, who likes to get his fingers soiled, indicated he would not wish to occur.
“Issues in surveys take a very long time to come back by way of,” Ivy mentioned, including that he and his crew — together with the chief monetary officer, the chief advertising and marketing officer and resort operations supervisor — all spend a major period of time on board. “If I spend two hours within the eating room, strolling round, speaking to folks … the suggestions loop simply tightens.”
4. Issues are addressed rapidly
Sadly, when Margaritaville at Sea debuted its first ship, it wasn’t prepared for prime time, and it induced some hiccups for the model.
The disclosing of the road’s second ship, Islander, went considerably extra easily following a multimillion-dollar refurbishment. However it wasn’t with out its personal set of hurdles, together with clogged bathrooms, leaks throughout inclement climate and malfunctioning air-con. Nevertheless, reviews from passengers within the ship’s Fb group indicated that the problems had been largely resolved by the third and fourth voyages. (And TPG can affirm issues on Islander are at present ship-shape.)
Now, due to nimble responses from higher administration, the crew appears to have discovered its stride, reveals have been fine-tuned and meals in most of the onboard eating places rivals the very best you will discover on any mainstream ship, particularly when it comes to worth.
Following first-sailing complaints, the plumbing now works because it ought to, leaks have been patched, cabin numbers not seem on keycards (one thing that was a safety concern) and dishes are cleared and tables wiped promptly in public areas. (This was an issue initially, notably within the buffet.)
As one other testomony to how intently the road’s executives monitor what’s working and what’s not, simply six months after the debut of Islander, Margaritaville at Sea introduced it could be including a number of of Islander’s standout bars and eating choices — together with the Hemisphere Dancer bar and Far Facet Sushi — to older sister Paradise. It should even be updating the menu at JWB Prime Steakhouse.
Talking of Paradise, following the success of its two-night sailings between Palm Seaside, Florida, and Freeport, Bahamas, the road has expanded the ship’s itineraries to incorporate three- and four-night cruises which have added the Bahamian metropolis of Nassau to the combination.
“In the beginning of 2024, we had been working one ship from one port to at least one port …” Ivy mentioned. “That was it. With the launch of Islander, we have moved to a brand new residence port. We launched with simply four- and five-night sailings to Cozumel, Progreso and Key West. What we heard very early on was ‘Hey, these [ports] are nice, however what else you bought? The place else can we go?'”
In response to these questions, Islander now visits ports throughout the Bahamas and the Caribbean, too, with itineraries starting from 4 to seven nights.
5. The road provides again
Along with being one of the vital reasonably priced cruise choices afloat, Margaritaville at Sea has discovered methods to present again to the group. If you happen to’re a fan of Jimmy Buffett or just love unique experiences, ask on the shore excursions desk concerning the hush-hush speakeasy referred to as QMN. It stands for Quietly Making Noise, and a part of the proceeds profit Singing for Change, certainly one of Jimmy Buffett’s charities.
Additional, the cruise line has developed the Heroes Program, which supplies free cruises for 2 folks (not together with taxes and costs) to members of the navy and first responders as a solution to thank them for his or her service and assist them unwind. Though many different cruise strains provide navy reductions, solely Margaritaville presents cruise fares without spending a dime.
Backside line
Margaritaville at Sea actually lives as much as the Margaritaville model’s fame. It presents unpretentious enjoyable at an important worth and in an informal environment with terrific lodging, meals and leisure. Plus, it iterates rapidly on what passengers say they need.
However the line’s choices transcend reasonably priced enjoyable. They foster group by giving again and permitting passengers to flee to a spot that is all about good vibes — one thing modeled every day by the individuals who run the corporate.
As Ivy parted methods with TPG following the interview, he lingered behind, making his rounds by way of the eating room to greet passengers and chat with crew — a lot of whom he knew by identify. With a CEO that engaged — a rarity within the cruise trade — the corporate is sure to supply one thing particular.
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