I cruised with one of many least costly cruise strains within the trade, and — spoiler alert — I cherished it.
Cruise fares are the very best they’ve ever been, and cruise strains are making acutely aware efforts so as to add more for-fee onboard options for passengers. But one line, Margaritaville at Sea, stays a fierce holdout. Its fares are among 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 below are 5 the reason 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 individual; it is $99 whole — for 4 individuals. That is solely $12.50 per individual, 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 affords a trip that features a room, three meals a day (plus loads of between-meal choices), primary 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 primary lodging and do not embody taxes and charges, that are roughly $200 per individual.
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 individual ($375 per individual, per evening) for a four-night Mexico crusing from Tampa on Feb. 23, 2026. For comparability, the costs for four-night sailings to related areas 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 individual ($482 per individual, per evening) and $1,793 per individual ($448 per individual, per evening), with each voyages departing Feb. 26, 2026.
It is not simply cabins which are 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 among the most reasonably priced (and dependable, because of Starlink) at sea.
2. The standard is excessive
Enable me to cease you earlier than you assume that, for the value, the expertise should by some means 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, fashionable fixtures, Margaritaville Resort smooth furnishings and a beachy vibe; meals that features glorious foremost eating room fare, burgers and pizza free of charge, in addition to upcharge sushi, steak and cafe gadgets; and leisure that is enjoyable and fascinating with out being tacky or “an excessive amount of.”
Plus, you will discover a dose of classic attraction, with each ships having retained lots of the authentic touches added once they had been first constructed.
However maybe the very best factor a couple of cruise with Margaritaville at Sea is that it affords its personal particular model of escapism — a time period made in style by Jimmy Buffett’s songs, that are full of lyrics about leaving the day-to-day grind behind in favor of leisure and time spent with good pals. Its informal atmosphere is replete with events, reside music and a vibe that is “come as you’re” (however not trashy).
It is not a luxurious line, to make certain, and the ships aren’t new. However in the event you’re on the lookout for an inexpensive and cheerful trip, a quick weekend getaway, a crusing to have fun an important day or a strategy to deliver your loved ones or pal group collectively in a approach that matches everybody’s schedule and funds, that is it.
3. It does not need the largest 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 exhibits in how shortly changes are made following cruiser suggestions and the way blissful the crew appears to be. Everybody — from room stewards to the CEO — can (and does) reply shortly 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 involved in ballooning its fleet to dozens of vessels.
As for whether or not or not Margaritaville at Sea is wanting 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 want to develop the enterprise.”
By way of what’s attainable when a cruise line and its ships keep small, Ivy famous that there is a particular bond that usually types between members of the crew and the passengers they serve — one which is not at all times attainable on bigger vessels, significantly in the event you’re solely cruising for 3 or 4 days.
“You may not 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 necessary as a small fleet. Groups lose one thing once they develop so giant that leaders can not usually spend one-on-one time with staff and clients — one thing Ivy, who likes to get his palms soiled, indicated he does not need to occur.
“Issues in surveys take a very long time to come back by way of,” Ivy mentioned, including that he and his workforce — together with the chief monetary officer, the chief advertising and marketing officer and lodge operations supervisor — all spend a major period of time on board. “If I spend two hours within the eating room, strolling round, speaking to individuals … the suggestions loop simply tightens.”
4. Issues are addressed shortly
Sadly, when Margaritaville at Sea debuted its first ship, it wasn’t ready for prime time, and it precipitated some hiccups for the model.
The revealing of the road’s second ship, Islander, went considerably extra easily following a multimillion-dollar refurbishment. But it surely wasn’t with out its own set of hurdles, together with clogged bathrooms, leaks throughout inclement climate and malfunctioning air-con. Nevertheless, studies 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 verify issues on Islander are at present ship-shape.)
Now, because of nimble responses from higher administration, the crew appears to have discovered its stride, exhibits have been fine-tuned and meals in lots of the onboard eating places rivals the very best you will discover on any mainstream ship, particularly by way of 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, significantly 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 might 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’ll even be updating the menu at JWB Prime Steakhouse.
Talking of Paradise, following the success of its two-night sailings between Palm Seashore, 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 combo.
“In the beginning of 2024, we had been operating 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 house 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 offers again
Along with being one of the reasonably priced cruise choices afloat, Margaritaville at Sea has discovered methods to provide again to the neighborhood. Should you’re a fan of Jimmy Buffett or just love unique experiences, ask on the shore excursions desk in regards to the hush-hush speakeasy often called 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 individuals (not together with taxes and charges) to members of the navy and first responders as a strategy to thank them for his or her service and assist them unwind. Though many different cruise strains provide military discounts, solely Margaritaville affords cruise fares free of charge.
Backside line
Margaritaville at Sea definitely lives as much as the Margaritaville model’s fame. It affords unpretentious enjoyable at an awesome worth and in an informal ambiance with terrific lodging, meals and leisure. Plus, it iterates shortly on what passengers say they need.
However the line’s choices transcend reasonably priced enjoyable. They foster neighborhood 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 — lots of whom he knew by identify. With a CEO that engaged — a rarity within the cruise trade — the corporate is certain to offer one thing particular.
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