Cruisers sailing aboard Margaritaville at Sea's newest ship reported receiving free drinks while playing in the casino.
Most cruise lines only reward players with so many points through their respective casino loyalty programs. However, Celebrity Cruises offers complimentary beverages to cruisers actively playing in the casino, and it seems Margaritaville at Sea is following suit.
Ron Spurlock shared the news in the public "Margaritaville at Sea Islander Fans" Facebook group. "Margaritaville Islander is giving free drinks while playing table games. Some said that [it] is for slots as well. I am sure in 2 nights I have drank a bottle of bourbon," he said.
"The poker dealer told me they recently changed from earning drinks via casino card points, to free drinks while playing. Not sure how permanent of a change it is."
Spurlock added that bartenders were walking around with complimentary beverages while playing slots.
In the past, players needed to accumulate a specific number of points through the Margaritaville at Sea Players Club Casino Loyalty Program to qualify for free drinks.
There are four tiers within the program: Bronze (0 - 149.99 points), Silver (150 - 299.99 points), Gold (300-749.99 points), and Platinum (750+ points). Unlike cruise loyalty status, players must qualify annually for their casino tier, as the validity of each status is 13 months on Margaritaville at Sea.
Perks range from free Bingo cards and specialty dining to stateroom upgrades, onboard credits, private transfers, complimentary drinks, and more.
Others said they've also seen gamblers receive free drinks in Islander's casino
Spurlock isn't the only guest aboard Islander who noticed the major change. For instance, Heather Bell Forrester commented that she got a free drink while playing slots.
Additionally, Charise Richards remarked, "My husband got free margaritas at the blackjack table!"
Others chimed in about how recent the change must have been. Kris Huebsch, for example, said they sailed aboard Islander in January before the casino offered free drinks.
Cameron Oxendine shared a similar sentiment, claiming that when they sailed on Islander in February, complimentary drinks were based on each guest's casino points.
It's unclear if players in Paradise's casino can also enjoy complimentary drinks
Islander is Margaritaville at Sea's newest ship, sailing from Tampa, Florida, to the Western Caribbean. The cruise line's original vessel, the Paradise, sails exclusively from Palm Beach to the Bahamas. That said, the Facebook post only specified that free beverages were offered aboard Islander.
Receiving complimentary drinks while playing could incentivize cruisers to skip the drink package, especially if they plan on spending a lot of time in the ship's casino.
Margaritaville at Sea's Unlimited Beverage Chill Package starts at $64.99 per night on Islander and $74.99 on Paradise. It includes up to 15 alcoholic beverages, as well as unlimited soda and bottled water. The package used to only be available on Islander; however, the cruise line recently expanded the package to Paradise as well, effective April 2, 2025.
Without a package, you can expect to spend $10.00 to $15.00 on craft cocktails and $8.50 to $9.00 for beer and cider. Pro tip: Did you know each bar on Islander has a unique menu?
Read more: I tried Margaritaville at Sea's drink package that costs $81 per day
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 traveled frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas during her freshman year of high school. Having sailed on nearly 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
