Most people have heard of cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian. However, there’s a relatively new player in the market: Margaritaville at Sea.
Margaritaville at Sea launched its first ship, the Paradise, in May 2022. A year later, the ship underwent a massive two-week dry dock before re-entering service in June. However, the cruise line launched another vessel in June 2024: Margaritaville at Sea Islander.
Islander was built for Costa Cruises and operated as Costa Atlantic from 2000 until 2019. She was sold to CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping, which is now Adora Cruises Limited. This new joint venture aimed to offer Chinese cruise travelers a dedicated cruise line. However, nothing came of the ship until Margaritaville finally purchased the then-Costa Atlantic in 2023.
Sailing exclusively from Tampa, Florida, Islander gives passengers a big ship option compared to the 52,900 gross registered ton (GRT) Paradise that sails from West Palm Beach. Plus, Islander offers longer itineraries to destinations like Grand Cayman; Progreso, Mexico; and more.
Having grown up cruising with Royal Caribbean, it’s sometimes difficult for me to branch out. However, I’ve prioritized sailing on new-to-me lines within the past two years, including Carnival, Celebrity, Princess, MSC, and—most recently—Margaritaville at Sea.
I embarked on a 4-night journey aboard Islander from Tampa to Progreso in February. Though it was a shorter cruise, I quickly realized why the line has quickly become a favorite, winning awards such as the No. 1 “Best Cruise Ship for Families” in the 2025 Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards.
The no-frills ship and laid-back atmosphere embody the essence of the Margaritaville brand perfectly. From the moment you step onboard, you're instantly welcomed by nothing other than a giant flip-flop, palm trees, and floating fish.
Embarkation was easy thanks to an efficient team at Port Tampa
After a lengthy boarding process in Jacksonville, Florida, last year when embarking on Carnival Elation, I'm usually hesitant when cruising from smaller, older ports. It took over forty minutes to go through security and have our documents checked. Plus, the outdated terminal lacked air conditioning!
Cruise lines like Royal Caribbean have made the process more efficient than ever thanks to state-of-the-art terminals. For example, I've boarded massive Oasis Class ships with over 5,000 guests in less than fifteen minutes in places like Port Canaveral and Miami!
Islander's terminal in Tampa is not nearly as new, but that doesn't mean it lacks efficiency. When boarding Islander for my 4-night cruise, we were fully checked in, through security, and onboard in less than twenty minutes.
Read more: Cruise ship embarkation tips and tricks
My Grand Terrace Suite felt like a boutique hotel room in Key West
As someone who cruises frequently, I don't stay in as many balconies or suites as I'd like. However, on my 4-night voyage aboard Islander, Margaritaville at Sea was kind enough to upgrade my friend and me to a Grand Terrace Suite on Deck 9.
I was more impressed with the suite than I thought I would be. Measuring over 270 square feet, including the balcony, it was spacious and well-appointed with bedside outlets, quality toiletries, a comfortable sofa, and plenty of storage. Of course, the highlight was the oversized balcony.
The moment I stepped inside, I couldn’t believe it—there was no way this ship was more than 20 years old! The massive refit by Margaritaville really showed, especially in the staterooms.
Our suite came with a range of perks including priority boarding, access to the Concierge Lounge, reserved theater seating, and more. The Concierge Lounge was easily the best perk. Not only did it have some of the best coffee onboard thanks to the complimentary Nespresso machine, but there were also included sodas.
The service was great, too. Our Concierge, Diana, was always incredibly helpful and attentive. She went above and beyond, from making dinner reservations at JWB Steakhouse to fixing a billing issue on our onboard statement. She also arranged a private bridge tour with other suite guests on the first sea day!
That said, this suite isn't the most affordable cabin on Islander. According to Margaritaville's website, the Grand Terrace Suite starts at around $1,000 per person for a 4-night cruise.
Thankfully, Islander has more cost-effective cabins for those watching their spending. We initially paid just $863.58 for our interior stateroom. This comes out to $431.79 each, including taxes, port fees, and gratuities.
There was a nice variety of dining options
Overall, the dining onboard Islander impressed me far more than I thought. Going into it, I assumed it would be average cruise food—nothing inedible but nothing to write home about. I couldn't have been more wrong.
The casual poolside dining reminded me a lot of Guy’s Burger Joint and BlueIguana Cantina on Carnival cruise ships. Mexican Cutie Cantina served up yummy tacos and Mexican-inspired bowls with your choice of toppings, ranging from guacamole to cilantro, pico de gallo, and plenty of salsas, while Cheeseburger in Paradise grilled up fresh, juicy patties.
I kept my burger pretty plain and just topped it with some of the secret sauce. However, they have tons of fixings for those who prefer a loaded burger, including lettuce, tomatoes, jalapeños, and more.
Between the two, my favorite was Mexican Cutie Cantina; however, I'm a sucker for a good salsa bar, and Islander definitely delivered. The only thing that would have made it better would be tortilla chips for dipping.
Aside from the fast-casual options, I also enjoyed a specialty meal at JWB Steakhouse, which I was pleasantly surprised by. Having eaten at cruise ship steakhouses on lines like Royal Caribbean and Carnival, I wasn’t sure what to expect.
Overall, the steakhouse was more casual than I thought—think Outback meets Margaritaville. Instead of white tablecloths, there's a suspended airplane model! The service and food quality, however, were top-notch.
I ordered their filet mignon, which was cooked to a perfect medium—tender, juicy, and seared well. The appetizers and desserts were also tasty, especially the provoleta and lobster bisque! We didn't leave the steakhouse disappointed, which was a bonus as it costs $59.40 per person.
Islander also has a buffet and main dining room called Fins which are included in your cruise fare regardless of whether you stay in a standard inside cabin or suite.
Suite guests have access to the Islander dining room as well, which features the same menu as the regular dining room plus a few extra options.
Regardless of which you're dining in, you can pay extra for premium selections, including filet mignon ($20), colossal shrimp ($20), surf & turf ($24), and a lobster tail ($28). However, most menu items—from the appetizers (opening act) to the encore (dessert)—are included in your cruise fare.
The drink package included great cocktails, but I wish it also included specialty coffee
In addition to upgrading our cabin and gifting us with a specialty steakhouse meal, Margaritaville also treated us to the Unlimited Beverage Chill drink package. For my 4-night cruise aboard Margaritaville at Sea's Islander, the package would have cost $323.96 or $80.99 per day.
The package isn't all-inclusive unlike other cruise lines, namely Royal Caribbean and Celebrity. Instead, it includes up to fifteen alcoholic drinks daily. However, non-alcoholic beverages like soda and bottled water are unlimited.
That said, few alcoholic drinks aren't included in the package. As such, we enjoyed everything from espresso martinis to frozen poolside cocktails and margaritas, of course! Plus, we never came close to hitting our fifteen-daily drink limit, even on days at sea.
One of the best parts about a cruise drink package is that you can try beverages you might otherwise overlook. For example, one evening, I opted to try the Mexican Martini before dinner, intrigued by the pepper-stuffed olives.
I took two small sips and realized it wasn't my favorite drink. There was no need to finish it because I hadn't spent $14 on the single cocktail! Had I been paying for my drinks individually, I likely would not have opted to try something new.
My friend, who isn't the biggest drinker in a normal setting, also had fun working her way through each bar's cocktail menu. She particularly enjoyed the First Flight Out at Hemisphere Dancer Craft Spirits and the Frozen Banana Breeze at the poolside 5 o'clock Somewhere Bar.
The only negative thing about the drink package was that it didn't include specialty coffee at the Margaritaville Coffee Shop. Most other cruise lines include specialty coffees in their packages, so this was a little disappointing.
With the package costing over $80 per person, per day, on our sailing, I would hope it would include coffee since other non-alcoholic drinks are also unlimited. Though minor, shelling out an extra $3.00 for an iced coffee or $4.50 for a hot latte after spending $320 on a 4-night package can feel frustrating and like you're being nickel and dimed.
That said, the package was valuable overall, especially if you plan on drinking at least five cocktails per day while on Islander.
Read more: Are cruise drink packages worth it?
Margaritaville at Sea's Conky Tonkin' production show is an appreciation for all things country music
Country music fans can't miss Conky Tonkin' in Islander's main theater. The 45-minute show is a lively, high-energy performance that captures the essence of country music. The catchy tunes had many cruisers singing and clapping along!
Even if you aren't an avid country music listener, the infectious energy of the performers and the familiar tunes make it easy to tap your feet along to the beat of the music.
The aerialists were also a surprising and impressive addition to the production show. The jaw-dropping stunts added an extra layer to the performance and were a surprising twist to what one might expect during a show focusing on country music.
My least favorite part about Islander was the in-person muster drill
Many mainstream cruise lines adopted a virtual muster drill process following the pandemic. Instead of having thousands of passengers cram together for the safety briefing, they can watch the necessary videos on their mobile app or visit their assigned assembly station for a shorter briefing by the crew.
Years later, it remains one of the best changes in the industry. However, Margaritaville at Sea chose not to adopt a virtual muster drill. Instead, all guests aboard Islander reported to their assigned assembly stations at 3:30pm following the blaring of the emergency signal.
We were packed onto the promenade deck like cattle. With so many passengers in one space, it was nearly impossible to see the crew demonstrating how to properly use a lifejacket. Thankfully, the drill didn't last long, and we were in our cabin awaiting sail away by 3:50pm.
Margaritaville isn't a luxury cruise line, but you can have a great cruise if you manage your expectations!
Most of the mainstream cruise experience is generally consistent on Margaritaville at Sea's Islander, from the main dining room to classic theater productions, trivia, poolside music, and more. It's a great ship for cruisers looking to unwind and have a great time without breaking the bank.
The relaxed atmosphere means you can enjoy a variety of activities at your own pace, whether sipping a cocktail and listening to live music, participating in one of the fun events, or hiding away in a quiet nook to catch up on your reading.
Plus, with Islander's range of itineraries, you can choose the perfect cruise to suit your style. For example, if you're seeking a short getaway, there are plenty of 4-night sailings to Mexico. However, cruisers who want a longer vacation can embark on a 7-night voyage to Mexico, Grand Cayman, and Jamaica. There are plenty of itineraries in between, too.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
