6 Things that Make the New Margaritaville at Sea Islander Cruise Ship a Budget-Friendly Cruise Option
The view over the pool deck on Margaritaville at Sea Islander. (Photo by John Roberts)
Margaritaville at Sea is celebrating a new ship — well, new to the line — that is sure to help the reputation of the budget cruise line. Margaritaville at Sea has been bashed by bloggers and vloggers as the worst cruise line at sea, with horrid reviews littering the Internet from cruisers who have sailed on the line’s first ship Paradise.
Now, Islander joins the fleet, and the 24-year-old vessel, formerly known as Costa Atlantica, looks like a grand upgrade for the brand.
Video: Best Suite on Islander (More Cabin Tours at Bottom of this Post)
The ship has been almost completely refurbished, with a special emphasis on the staterooms. While I never have cruised on the 36-year-old Paradise, my first experience with Margaritaville at Sea, on a two-day preview voyage on Islander, was mostly positive.
This is a wallet-friendly cruise ship, with four- and five-day sailings that start around $250 per person and visiting destinations like Cozumel and Progreso, Mexico, as well as Key West.
Margaritaville at Sea Islander cruises from Tampa, Florida. (Photo by John Roberts)
Islander offers six new dining concepts and 11 bars and lounges that are exclusive to this ship. Cruisers who have sailed on sister ship Paradise can expect quite a different experience.
Islander carries 2,210 passengers in 1,105 refurbished and lovely cabins and suites. Check out my cabin tours linked in the description box below.
Margaritaville at Sea Islander celebrates all things Jimmy Buffet and the flip-flop beach-loving lifestyle.
The ship features the world’s only three-story LandShark Bar at Sea, offering 360-degree ocean views. You also will see Margaritaville favorites such as JWB Prime Steakhouse and Cheeseburger in Paradise.
Here are six things cruisers will like about Margaritaville at Sea Islander.
1. Dining Options, Included and Specialty Eateries
My steak at JWB Prime Steakhouse, one of the specialty restaurants on Margaritaville at Sea Islander. (Photo by John Roberts)
There are two specialty restaurants on the ship and two fast-casual eateries that cost extra.
Far Side of the World Sushi Bar is an Asian-fusion sushi bar and lounge. The menu here includes Sea-Cuterie Boards and favorites like Crunchy Volcano Rolls and Far Side Sushi. It opens for meals at 3 p.m. daily.
The huge lounge space here is used for live music and events like “Name That Tune Trivia.” This was a hugely popular event on our sailing with everyone singing along and dancing.
Our favorite meal on Islander was at JWB Prime Steakhouse. It’s a cool space set up on two levels with dizzying views that show off a life-size airplane hanging above the atrium. You can descend a see-through staircase here, too.
The kitchen is an open concept, and you can watch them cook your steaks and seafood. There also is a small bar in the corner.
The meal costs a $55 cover charge and you get appetizer, salad, main course and up to six sides to share at the table, in addition to a dessert. A sparkling brunch also is offered at the steakhouse.
Island Eats is a seafood shack tucked inside the Tiki Bar. This is an adults-only space at the back of the ship with a pool and hot tubs back here on a large sun deck.
Island Eats offers small plates priced a la cart, such as peel-and-eat shrimp, tuna nachos, crab salad and more.
Tiki Grill is on the opposite side of the bar from Island Eats, and it offers small plates like chicken wings, conch fritters, fried clams and buffalo shrimp.
We loved the ceviche at Island eats and the Taste of Peru, which is marinated sirloin strips and vegetables over rice, at Tiki Grill.
The ship’s complimentary dining options include Fins main dining room, which has a different daily menu that features Caribbean specialties and traditional favorites.
This is a beautiful dining space, and upstairs is another main dining room. It’s called Islander and comes with a $20 cover charge for an elevated menu and white table cloth dining. You can order the same items as you can downstairs in Fins but also have a set menu of premium specialty items to choose from.
Additional entrees cost $7 (at both Fins and Islander) if you have a big appetite for dinner.
Fins also is open for breakfasts, and the cruise program features a Bubbly Brunch at Islander ($15) during your voyage.
Margaritaville Coffee Shop also offers a range of sandwiches and tasty desserts for an added charge in addition to specialty coffees. This is located within the Port of Indecision buffet restaurant.
The buffet is basic and unimpressive, and it was our least favorite meal experience during our cruise. There isn’t enough variety, and the food quality was not to our liking. But Frank & Lola’s Pizzeria and the attached dessert station is fantastic. They offer four kinds of delicious pizzas at all times by the slice, and you can place an order for a whole pie if you like.
Mexican Cutie Cantina and Cheeseburger in Paradise are two casual eateries right on the lido deck by all the action outside. These complimentary dining spots form long lines at lunch time. Mexican Cutie is also open for breakfast burritos.
At lunch, cruisers can customize street-style tacos.
Cheeseburger in Paradise offers tasty smash burgers. They come with a side of fries. The fries were kind of flavorless, though, the one time I tried them.
2. Bars and Lounges: Creative Cocktails, Entertainment
The vibrant Flip Flop Bar is a hot spot on Margaritaville at Sea Islander. (Photo by John Roberts)
Islander features 13 different bars around the ship.
The Flip Flop Atrium is the central lounge located at the heart of the ship in the impressive 14-story atrium.
This is a cool spot to hang out and relax during the day or take in the live music in the evening. Guitarists and artists like electric violinists play on a stage perched over the top of the bar. It creates a fantastic atmosphere.
Hot, Hot, Hot Night Club is the ship’s two-story nightclub. It looks like the space was untouched in the refurbishment. It’s got the feel of a classic disco, and it also was the location for pop-up acrobatics shows late at night on our cruise.
Bubbles Up Lounge and Champagne Bar is a lively space to enjoy piano music, upscale wines and Champagne, of course.
Every one of the 13 bars onboard offers a different kind of margarita, and here you can try the sensational Bubbles Up Margarita.
The Bubbles Up Margarita. (Photo by John Roberts)
There also are multiple bars at the two main pools outside, with the three-level Landshark Bar at the center of it all. If you go up to the very top, you get 360-degree views.
The two pools feature hot tubs and a variety of seating areas, with loungers and tables set up in the water or comfy cabanas with a bit of shade (first come first serve on these.) One of the pools can be covered with a magrodome, so you can enjoy the area in all weather conditions.
Coral Reef Lounge is a cool small theater and lounge space, kind of tucked underneath the ship main theater. It’s a eye-catching space with a bar and dance floor, with live music and other entertainment taking place here.
Havana Daydreamin’ Sports Bar has a distinct Cuban flair, and the bar shows sports on TVs and hosts daily activities like trivia.
3. Fun Activities for Families and Kids of All Ages
The Dis ’N Dat activity zone way up top has a walking track, mini golf, cornhole golf and a beautiful pickleball court with all the equipment you need.
At the other end of the ship, you’ll find a waterslide and the Caribbean Amphibian Play Pad & Slide which is a playground for young cruisers. Cruisers must be at least 12 years old, 4 feet tall, 90 pounds and accompanied by an adult to use the waterslide.
4. Casino, Spa and Fitness
Islander has a big casino with all the slots and table games. Plus, there is a bar that shows sporting events.
The ship also has a small spa offering massages and hair and nail services. There are changing rooms with lockers and showers.
The fitness center was not complete yet during our sailing. It’s a bit of a strange space that has some cardio equipment and digital wifi connected resistance-training machines. I was told there would be some free weights like dumbbells added.
5. Designed for Family Cruising
There are kids clubs onboard, too, with programming and spaces for four different age groups. 3 to 5, 6 to 9, 10 to 12 and 13 to 17. There also is a nice little arcade for family fun.
The ship also has large shops and boutiques with a huge variety of items for sale, from Margaritaville at Sea souvenirs and logo wear to sweets, snacks, sunscreens and any other sundry item you might need.
6. High-Quality Production Shows
Islander offers two new production shows, two theme nights, and poolside activities and music unique to this new ship. Original live shows are in the Stars on the Water Theater.
We really enjoyed these new shows.
Conky Tonkin’ at Sea is a lively boot-stomping, feather-shaking tribute to Nashville and the country music genre. It offers a nice mash-up of contemporary and classic country favorites that had us singing right along.
Caribbean Heat Remix is a celebration of Caribbean music — from Jamaica to Barbados to Puerto Rico, Mexico and Key West — mixing in aerial acrobatics and dancing.
To complement the two live shows, Islander features two themed experiences during the cruises: Boots and Bubbles (Dress to Impress) and Rock the Trop.