I cruised with one of many least costly cruise traces within the trade, and — spoiler alert — I cherished it.
Cruise fares are the very 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 affordable within the trade, and even extras like Wi-Fi and drink packages price lower than they might with most different traces.
However what does that imply for you as a passenger? Listed here are 5 explanation why Margaritaville at Sea is price contemplating in your subsequent cruise.
1. The sailings are inexpensive
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 folks. That is solely $12.50 per particular person, per day.
You may’t even purchase an honest lunch for that value, 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 embrace taxes and charges, that are roughly $200 per particular person.
However even Margaritaville at Sea’s most costly lodging are moderately priced. On the time of publication, the most important 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 comparable 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) have 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 discount, both. Margaritaville at Sea’s drink packages price 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 inexpensive (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 in some way be subpar — as a result of it isn’t. What you may discover on board is fortunately the other.
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You may anticipate cabins which were up to date with vivid, fashionable fixtures, Margaritaville Resort gentle furnishings and a beachy vibe; meals that features glorious most important eating room fare, burgers and pizza free of charge, 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 may discover a dose of classic attraction, with each ships having retained lots of the unique touches added after they have been first constructed.
However maybe the most effective factor a couple of cruise with Margaritaville at Sea is that it affords its personal particular model of escapism — a time period made standard by Jimmy Buffett’s songs, that are crammed with lyrics about leaving the day-to-day grind behind in favor of leisure and time spent with good associates. 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 in search of an inexpensive and cheerful trip, a fast weekend getaway, a crusing to rejoice an important day or a strategy to carry your loved ones or good friend group collectively in a means that matches everybody’s schedule and finances, that is it.
3. It does 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 exhibits in how rapidly changes are made following cruiser suggestions and the way joyful 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 tired of maintaining with the Joneses in relation to newer and larger ships. It proudly operates two midsize vessels — Islander and Paradise — that have been bought, closely used, from Carnival Corp. Each former Costa Cruises ships have been extensively refurbished and proceed to function properly 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 stated. 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 wanting so as to add a 3rd ship, Ivy stated that, though there’s nothing at the moment within the works, it isn’t off the desk.
“There’s nothing on the market formally, however we want 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 usually kinds between members of the crew and the passengers they serve — one which is not all the time attainable on bigger vessels, notably in the event you’re solely cruising for 3 or 4 days.
“You may not even see the identical crew member twice,” he stated. “That is the stuff that makes the larger distinction.”
And a small firm measurement is simply as vital as a small fleet. Groups lose one thing after they develop so massive that leaders can not often spend one-on-one time with workers and prospects — 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 return via,” Ivy stated, including that he and his group — together with the chief monetary officer, the chief advertising officer and lodge operations supervisor — all spend a big 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 brought about some hiccups for the model.
The disclosing of the road’s second ship, Islander, went considerably extra easily following a multimillion-dollar refurbishment. But it surely wasn’t with out its personal set of hurdles, together with clogged bogs, leaks throughout inclement climate and malfunctioning air con. Nevertheless, reviews from passengers within the ship’s Fb group indicated that the problems have 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 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 can 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.
“In the beginning of 2024, we have been operating one ship from one port to 1 port …” Ivy stated. “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 vital inexpensive cruise choices afloat, Margaritaville at Sea has discovered methods to offer 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 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 charges) to members of the army and first responders as a strategy to thank them for his or her service and assist them unwind. Though many different cruise traces provide army reductions, solely Margaritaville affords cruise fares free of charge.
Backside line
Margaritaville at Sea actually lives as much as the Margaritaville model’s fame. It affords unpretentious enjoyable at a terrific value and in an informal ambiance with terrific lodging, meals and leisure. Plus, it iterates rapidly on what passengers say they need.
However the line’s choices transcend inexpensive enjoyable. They foster neighborhood by giving again and permitting passengers to flee to a spot that is all about good vibes — one thing modeled each day by the individuals who run the corporate.
As Ivy parted methods with TPG following the interview, he lingered behind, making his rounds via the eating room to greet passengers and chat with crew — a lot of whom he knew by title. With a CEO that engaged — a rarity within the cruise trade — the corporate is certain to offer one thing particular.
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