In August 2022, I cruised on Margaritaville at Sea’s Paradise ship for the very first time. When I stepped onboard, the ship had only been operated by Margaritaville at Sea for three months. I was prepared for the unexpected and boarded the ship with an open mind to see what the brand brought to the high seas.
In 2023, Paradise went to drydock and received a multi-million dollar renovation. The excitement for this cruise line has seemed to have grown since its start in 2022, as the first voyage after its dry dock experienced a sold-out success.
This month, I had the opportunity to sail onboard Margaritaville at Sea’s Paradise once more. I was excited to see what new amenities and experiences had been improved upon since my last voyage.
For my recent sailing in March 2024, I was honored to be hosted onboard with Margaritaville at Sea. Cruise.Blog had the opportunity to see exactly what changes and improvements had been made to Margaritaville at Sea’s Paradise since its original debut in 2022. For my sailing, I was gifted a Wi-Fi Package, package for 10 drinks, and onboard credit, which I used to eat at the specialty restaurant onboard, JWB Prime Steakhouse.
While I was hosted onboard Margaritaville at Sea's Paradise, all the following observations and personal opinions are completely my own.
New activities and amenities
One of the most interesting recreational amenities that was added in the 2023 renovation was an all-new outdoor Pickleball court located on Deck 12 above the main pool area at the front of the ship. Guests can pick up paddles on Deck 11 near the pool.
There's also a brand-new arcade for children and the young at heart, which can be found on Deck 8. The Fin City Arcade, which is open 24 hours a day, features new games, as well as a simulator and other video game experiences.
These two additions are a great way for guests to have fun onboard and explore the ship during their 2-night cruise. I was excited to see that Margaritaville used these spaces to provide new amenities to guests.
On my previous sailing, there wasn't much occupying these areas, so filling them with activities and amenities was a great way to get guests involved in fun while onboard.
Updated and refreshed staterooms
On my first cruise with Margaritaville, some aspects of the stateroom could have used a refresh. I was pleased to see these things have been addressed during the dry dock, providing a clean and comfortable space for guests to make the most of their 2-night getaway.
One of my favorite features of the Oceanview Stateroom was the awesome porthole window, which was a lovely place to watch the sunrise from my cabin. I enjoyed the seating area near the window, too, as it made the stateroom feel quite spacious.
The queen-sized bed was very comfortable and cozy. I appreciated how clean the room was despite showing inevitable signs of age. There was plenty of storage for my belongings, as well as two robes to wear during my stay onboard.
While the stateroom's bathroom was relatively standard, it did feature a large amount of counter space. The showers seemed to have received updated shower curtains as well since my last sailing.
My favorite aspect of the staterooms is the theming and decor. The tropical motifs scattered throughout the room immerse guests in the Caribbean atmosphere that is present throughout the entire Paradise ship.
The large Caribbean map mural on the walls is a fun way to envision your path as you sail toward Grand Bahama Island and back to the Port of Palm Beach.
Read: Guide to Margaritaville at Sea
New and exciting entertainment
Since my first time onboard in 2022, there are now two brand new theater stage shows: “Radio Margaritaville Live at Sea" and “Caribbean Heat."
"Radio Margaritaville" is all about the fun of popular music in nearly every genre. This show is accompanied by a talented cast. While small, the mighty cast of performers included several singers, dancers, and awe-inspiring variety acts, such as a juggler and acrobatic team.
“Caribbean Heat" features energetic music, dancing, and acrobatics. You won't want to close your eyes, as there are seven different colorful costume changes during the show that takes place on the second, and final, night of the cruise.
I found both productions to be entertaining and would recommend them to those sailing on Paradise, as they're sure to leave a lasting impression!
More live music around the ship, including a new music venue
While onboard Margaritaville at Sea Paradise, I noticed that there was more live music playing compared to my first time onboard.
On my first sailing, the Euphoria Lounge was a great open space with plenty of seating and a full bar; however, it was often empty throughout the day. On my second cruise, live music was frequently performed in the lounge and was often accompanied by some dancing. This was a great addition and kept this large venue filled with guests enjoying their evening.
Live piano performances have been something that has been present onboard Margaritaville at Sea’s Paradise from the very beginning.
On my second cruise, I discovered that they still offered live pianist performances on certain evenings. Guests can request songs inside the Stars On The Water Bar on Deck 8.
While the standard piano bar wasn't a new addition, the refurbishment of Margaritaville at Sea's Paradise brought the brand-new venue called "Keys On The Water Dueling Piano Bar," which can be found on Deck 9.
Dueling pianos is such a fun and interactive form of live music entertainment. I think this is an excellent addition to Margaritaville at Sea’s Paradise. Currently, Margaritaville at Sea also conducts karaoke sessions with the ship’s activity team here.
Of course, it wouldn't be a tropical getaway without some live poolside music, which guests can enjoy while lounging on the lido deck.
Passengers can catch two sailaway parties with music on both days of the 2-night voyage.
Space for the youngest cruisers
Margaritaville st Sea has taken a step towards making their unique 2-night cruise more kid-friendly with the refreshment of the kids' clubs. There are currently three kids clubs onboard Margaritaville st Sea’s Paradise: Jolly Mon Kid’s Club for little ones ages 3-6 years of age, Parakeet Kid’s Club for those between 7-12 years of age, the Teen’s Club for cruisers ages 13-17 years.
During the 2023 refurbishment of Margaritaville st Sea’s Paradise, the Jolly Mon and Parakeet Kid's Clubs were included in the renovation.
Here, qualified youth counselors entertain kids with activities like games, arts, and crafts, shows, tours, and more. During my two nights onboard, I was impressed to see the counselors leading groups of fun-having children around the ship many times.
Children onboard can enjoy complimentary activities in the clubs each day from 3:00pm to 5:30pm. From 6:30pm to 12:00am, there is an additional charge.
New fitness equipment
Working out during vacation may not be for everyone, but for those cruisers who pride themselves on their fitness, there is a completely refreshed fitness center onboard to enjoy.
Powered by Echelon Fitness, the new fitness center features some of the most advanced fitness experiences, including a Reflect Touch Fitness Mirror for yoga. Those staying in suites will be able to enjoy connected mirrors from the comfort of their stateroom.
There are also new connected bikes, rowing equipment, and more. Plus, you'll be able to workout with panoramic ocean views.
The Fins Up! Fitness Center is located on Deck 11 and is open from 9:00am to 9:00pm. It's located inside the same venue as the St. Somewhere Spa & Salon.
Additionally, if you are someone who wishes to book a spa treatment, I highly recommend making an appointment early on during the first day of the cruise. The spa can become booked by the end of the second night.
Read: What is it like to sail on a very short & cheap 2-night Margaritaville at Sea Cruise?
New space to dance the night away
For those who love to dance, Margaritaville at Sea has added a brand new venue at the very top of the ship for adult guests. The newest adult-only venue is called the Hemisphere Nightclub and can be found on Deck 14.
The refreshed nightclub features a brand-new cocktail menu, as well as bottle service and live DJ.
Adult passengers can visit and explore the Hemisphere Lounge starting at 11:00pm each night of their 2-day sailing. The venue is open from 11:00pm to late into the evening, or early morning depending on how you see it!
Improved menus and dining options
I thoroughly enjoyed the food and dining options onboard Margaritaville at Sea’s Paradise my second time onboard. The Main Dining Room featured a new menu with island-inspired signature dishes, a new selection of cocktails and wines, and scratch-made desserts.
"Fins Dining," the Main Dining Room located on Deck 8, is beautiful and offers an atmosphere of sophistication with a Caribbean flair.
When I was onboard, the dining room was only open for dinner. The first seating started at 5:45pm, while the second commenced at 8:00pm.
Additionally, guests can enjoy a complimentary burger bar at the Cheeseburger In Paradise Burger Bar on Deck 10. This is a great option for an afternoon snack or lunch while on your cruise.
Itinerary and shore excursions
Just as when Margaritaville at Sea first made its debut, Paradise still sails its original 2-night itinerary from the Port of West Palm Beach to Grand Bahama Island and back.
This quick cruise is unique in the cruise line industry, as it's rare to find a 2-night sailing on any cruise line. This is a great perk that can be enjoyed with Margaritaville at Sea, especially for those who aren't sure if they'll enjoy cruising or not.
Guests can book excursions for their day at Grand Bahama Island onboard the ship at the Excursions Desk on Deck 5 midship.
I highly recommend either planning out your day ahead of time or booking an excursion once onboard. Margaritaville at Sea’s Paradise ship docks in an area of the island that is not close to many attractions or beaches. For this reason, guests will need some form of transportation to best explore the island once they arrive.
While there's no denying that the dry dock focused on refreshing the onboard experiences, Margaritaville at Sea also took time to expand its shore excursion offerings on Grand Bahama Island.
Now, guests can find tours like an Ultimate Party Boat and Snorkeling Experience, as well as Grand Bahama Cycling Adventure on top of their old options like swimming with the pigs, dolphin encounters, and all-inclusive day passes.
You should keep a lookout for special shore excursion discounts that are occasionally offered on the first night of the cruise!
Onboard activities hosted by the Cruise Director & Fins Up Crew
Something I noticed had improved onboard this sailing was the addition of more onboard activities.
On both the first and second day of the cruise, guests will be able to find activities such as free gaming lessons in the casino, mixology fun by the main pool, evening karaoke, great sailaway parties, crafts with the onboard activity team, trivia, corn hole toss tournament, beer pong competition, dance classes, and more.
I was pleased to see so many activities happening onboard and at such a wide variety!
My second experience onboard Margaritaville at Sea's Paradise
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. I can confidently say that the cruise was a good experience that improved upon my last.
I was able to try out some of the different food venues and selections this time that I was not able to the first time. For dinner, for instance, I ate at the specialty JWB Prime Steakhouse located on Deck 8.
The staff was very friendly, and the food was delicious. For my appetizer, I ordered the French Onion Soup and was surprised by how delicious it was. I can't help but think it might be the best I've had on a ship so far.
Currently dining at the JWB Prime Steakhouse will cost $65 per person, which allows guests to choose from a selection of appetizers, entrees, side dishes, as well as a dessert.
On the second night of the cruise, I choose to dine at the buffet. On my first cruise, I was only able to dine at the buffet for breakfast, so I was curious to see what the Port of Indecision Buffet offered for dinner.
While the buffet may be smaller than other large-scale cruise ships, there is still a decent amount of options to choose from. The Butter Chicken Masala and the Creme Brûlée were my two favorite items at the dinner buffet.
A word of caution for guests sailing onboard Paradise: the walls are quite thin in the staterooms. Because of the fun-loving nature of the Margaritaville brand, many guests onboard will be enjoying the cruise experience with their travel companions, and this can lead to late-night partying, music, and loud noises. For this reason, if you are someone who is a light sleeper, I highly recommend packing a pair of earplugs.
Margaritaville at Sea offers a unique and affordable way to cruise roundtrip to Grand Bahama Island
After sailing onboard the Paradise the first time, I was intrigued to see how Margaritaville At Sea had improved since 2022. It was our honor to be hosted onboard by Margaritaville at Sea, and while we were invited onboard, all of these opinions are genuinely my own.
There is a cruise line out there for nearly every type of traveler, and I am sure that Margaritaville at Sea can be a great quick cruise vacation for residents of South Florida and beyond. The improvements made to the ship Paradise make it that much more fun and exciting for cruisers!
Hayley Phillips
Hayley Phillips is a military spouse currently living in Florida and loves all things travel and travel planning.
