Monday, April 1, 2024

Margaritaville at Sea Paradise Cruise Ship Review

margaritaville cruise ship reviews

The ship is not without its cons — it's an older ship, which shows in things like slow elevators and deck layout. The electrical work is subpar and, despite bringing power strips and plug adapters as had been suggested on social media, there were plugs in my stateroom that just wouldn't work. On these two-day sailings, the ship draws a diverse passenger base that goes far beyond Jimmy Buffett fans, reaching all ages and demographics. The ship did not have any LGBTQ or solo meetups, but there is a daily meeting for Friends of Bill W. When reached for comment, a representative from Margaritaville at Sea said the disembarkation "process has been greatly streamlined and improved since those first early sailings." Even the midnight parties hosted on the main deck were essentially just a small crowd listening to the tunes coming from the DJ booth.

Easy Escape to Paradise

The second dining venue on Deck 8 is the up-charge specialty restaurant, JWB Steakhouse. As part of this Margaritaville at Sea Paradise cruise review, we dined here on the second night of our cruise. The complimentary restaurant is the large main dining room, Fins. This venue looks like a pretty typical main dining room on a cruise ship.

Dinner and Drinks With Friends

The ocean view cabin has a comfortable king-size bed with plenty of space between the king-size bed and the desk. In the style of cabin I stayed in, on Deck 7, the bed is closer to the ocean view porthole wall, and it gets a little narrow on that side of the bed. The ocean view cabin that I stayed in during the inaugural event was very comfortable and reminded me a lot of the hotel rooms at the various Margaritaville resorts.

margaritaville cruise ship reviews

Margaritaville's First Cruise Ship Is Setting Sail for the Bahamas in 2022

Margaritaville at Sea Islander's inaugural voyage will take place on June 14, 2024. The sailing will consist of a four-night itinerary from Tampa featuring a stop in Cozumel and two sea days. There will be no shortages of places to eat and drink on Margaritaville at Sea. A standout all-new venue is the three-story Landshark Bar which will take center stage on the pool deck. It will have two decks of shaded and seated bar areas topped by The Lookout, a terrace with 360-degree outdoor views.

margaritaville cruise ship reviews

Instead of questions, the three couples competed in three different challenges. Like most versions of this game, it was funny and entertaining to watch. Leaving the theater, we found seats in the Euphoria Lounge for the first game show of the evening. One thing that did surprise us was that there was no Muster Drill. There was a safety video on the television, but it was not required to visit your muster station. These steps are still requirements on all other cruise lines with digital muster drills.

Thankfully, our portside oceanview room, 7129, was in much better shape than the cabin we stayed in during the one night special event. The room itself did receive renovations, including new bedding, paint, and accessories making it cheerful yet minimalistic. However, the bathroom was not updated and definitely showed the age of the ship. Lastly, there is the Hangout on deck 14, which seemed like a rather hodge-podge venue. Near the entrance on both sides are arcade style games, like skee ball. Then, all the way forward is a small dance floor and a DJ booth, hosting the late night nightclub experience.

More about Margaritaville at Sea Paradise

We suspect this restaurant was not updated much during the refurb. Because we had the License to Chill package, we were off the ship within minutes and headed to our car. One complaint I've seen routinely in Facebook groups and on social media, however, is that without the accelerated package, wait times both to board and leave the ship can be extreme. For that reason, it may be worth it to purchase a License to Chill package and save your group some valuable time — it is only a two-night cruise after all. Unlike most cruise lines, Margaritaville at Sea allows its passengers to get off the ship in the Bahamas and stay at an all-inclusive resort on Grand Bahama Island.

From the main pool area, to the Oasis and Euphoria lounges, to the public restrooms, it’s evident that these areas did not receive many upgrades. We share all the details of what it's like to sail on this new cruise line in our day-by-day Margaritaville at Sea Inaugural Cruise Review. This room certainly felt more complete than the cabin on deck 4 that we stayed in for the prior media event.

At a quick glance through the windows, they look like simple one-room facilities with toys and activities for the kids. There are two pools aboard the Margaritaville At Sea, but one of them is for adults only. Margaritaville at Sea Paradise has a number of restaurants, about half of which are included in your fare. The current state of the ship is interesting because many remnants of the ship’s previous branding can be found in the decor. Make it your own personal scavenger hunt if you’re so inclined. Still, the Margaritaville branding reigns supreme and gives Parrotheads like me the tropical vibes they crave.

Parrothead's Review: Margaritaville At Sea Paradise Cuise Ship - Attractions Magazine

Parrothead's Review: Margaritaville At Sea Paradise Cuise Ship.

Posted: Sun, 15 May 2022 07:00:00 GMT [source]

However, the one glaring omission to the update was the bathroom! All of the features were functional, but it certainly felt dated. While I thought it was manageable for two nights, the wife struggled with the size of the shower, which was small even by cruise ship standards. Finally, there is the 5 O’clock Somewhere Bar and Grill located aft on deck 10. Menu items included burgers, tacos, chicken wings, and more at a la carte prices.

While these public spaces featured a variety of entertainment, some updates would have been nice. The ship leaves and returns to Port of Palm Beach, a small cruise port in Riviera Beach, Fla. Other family-friendly attractions include a mini-golf and cornhole challenge course as well as the pickleball court Paradise Pickleball at Sea.

What it's like to sail aboard Margaritaville at Sea cruise line - Yahoo Life

What it's like to sail aboard Margaritaville at Sea cruise line.

Posted: Thu, 23 Mar 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

At Grand Bahama Island guests can participate in shore excursions including dolphin experiences and swimming with the Bahamian pigs. The live show could be fun for kids who do enjoy live theater and performances. There are a handful of slower moments in the show, but they aren’t very long. Most of the show is made of upbeat songs with colorful costumes, lighting, props, and fun energy. Jimmy Buffett has written a number of books, one of which is the best-selling “Tales from Margaritaville,” featuring the protagonist Tully Mars. As this was my second time sailing with Margaritaville at Sea, I was interested to see all the updates and refurbishments that were made onboard.

During my two nights onboard, I was impressed to see the counselors leading groups of fun-having children around the ship many times. Of course, it wouldn't be a tropical getaway without some live poolside music, which guests can enjoy while lounging on the lido deck. We were going to be in florida any way so we booked this cruise for the end of our vacation. After reading some of the reviews, i felt i needed to give my opinion of the cruise.

With Frank and Lola’s Pizzeria not opening until 3 PM, we still decided to pack up and head inside early anyway. We chilled (literally) at the still-not-open coffee shop waiting for the pizza place to open up. We were not alone, as a few other cruisers were hovering in anticipation of the venue opening. As a side note, reservations for dining, shore excursions, spa treatments, and drink package purchases can be made in the terminal prior to boarding the ship.

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