I cruised with one of many least costly cruise traces within the business, and — spoiler alert — I liked it.
Cruise fares are the best they’ve ever been, and cruise traces are making 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 business, and even extras like Wi-Fi and drink packages value lower than they’d with most different traces.
However what does that imply for you as a passenger? Listed here are 5 the explanation why Margaritaville at Sea is value contemplating on your subsequent cruise.
1. The sailings are reasonably priced
With its latest 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 whole — for 4 individuals. That is solely $12.50 per particular person, per day.
You may’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), 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 all the time accessible. When they’re, they’re restricted in quantity, cowl probably the most fundamental lodging and do not embody taxes and costs, that are roughly $200 per particular person.
However even Margaritaville at Sea’s costliest 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 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 measurement 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 evening) and $1,793 per particular person ($448 per particular person, per evening), with each voyages departing Feb. 26, 2026.
It is not simply cabins which might 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, because of Starlink) at sea.
2. The standard is excessive
Permit me to cease you earlier than you assume that, for the worth, the expertise should by some means be subpar — as a result of it is not. What you may discover on board is fortunately the other.
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You may anticipate cabins which were up to date with shiny, fashionable fixtures, Margaritaville Resort tender furnishings and a beachy vibe; meals that features wonderful foremost eating room fare, burgers and pizza totally free, 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 may discover a dose of classic attraction, with each ships having retained lots of the unique touches added once they had been first constructed.
However maybe the most effective factor a few cruise with Margaritaville at Sea is that it affords its personal particular model of escapism — a time period made widespread by Jimmy Buffett’s songs, that are stuffed with lyrics about leaving the day-to-day grind behind in favor of rest and time spent with good mates. 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 should you’re searching for an inexpensive and cheerful trip, a fast weekend getaway, a crusing to rejoice a special day or a method to carry your loved ones or good friend group collectively in a manner that matches everybody’s schedule and funds, that is it.
3. It would 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 comfortable 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 tired of maintaining with the Joneses relating to newer and larger 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 nicely into their second and third many years, 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 all for 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 the moment within the works, it is not off the desk.
“There’s nothing on the market formally, however we wish to develop the enterprise.”
By way of what’s potential when a cruise line and its ships keep small, Ivy famous that there is a particular bond that always varieties between members of the crew and the passengers they serve — one which is not all the time potential on bigger vessels, notably should 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 measurement is simply as necessary as a small fleet. Groups lose one thing once they develop so massive that leaders can now not recurrently spend one-on-one time with workers and prospects — one thing Ivy, who likes to get his arms soiled, indicated he would not need to occur.
“Issues in surveys take a very long time to return by way of,” Ivy mentioned, including that he and his workforce — together with the chief monetary officer, the chief advertising and marketing officer and resort operations supervisor — all spend a big 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 prepared for prime time, and it brought on some hiccups for the model.
The revealing 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 bogs, leaks throughout inclement climate and malfunctioning air-con. Nevertheless, stories 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 the moment 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 most effective you may 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 now 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 carefully 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 Aspect Sushi — to older sister Paradise. It’s going to 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 combination.
“At first of 2024, we had been working one ship from one port to 1 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 provides again
Along with being one of the crucial reasonably priced cruise choices afloat, Margaritaville at Sea has discovered methods to provide again to the neighborhood. When 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 generally known as QMN. It stands for Quietly Making Noise, and a part of the proceeds profit Singing for Change, one in every of Jimmy Buffett’s charities.
Additional, the cruise line has developed the Heroes Program, which gives free cruises for 2 individuals (not together with taxes and costs) to members of the navy and first responders as a method to thank them for his or her service and assist them unwind. Though many different cruise traces provide navy reductions, solely Margaritaville affords cruise fares totally free.
Backside line
Margaritaville at Sea actually lives as much as the Margaritaville model’s popularity. It affords unpretentious enjoyable at a terrific worth and in an informal environment 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 — a lot of whom he knew by identify. With a CEO that engaged — a rarity within the cruise business — the corporate is certain to offer one thing particular.
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