Margaritaville at Sea is one of the most fun and affordable cruise lines afloat.
Even if you’ve never heard of it, you’ve almost certainly heard of Jimmy Buffett, the musician behind the restaurants and beach resorts that also bear the Margaritaville name. Besides the obvious Buffett-influenced air of escapism onboard, there’s plenty that sets the two— (soon to be three—) ship line apart from its competition.
Here's a look at some of the offerings you’ll only find when you sail with Margaritaville at Sea.
Cocktail Roulette
Feeling lucky — and, perhaps, indecisive? Head to the Love and Luck Casino Bar on Islander, where you can literally roll the dice to find out what your next cocktail or shot will be. The numbers on the die correspond to six numbered drinks on the menu.
Examples include a Tequila Sunrise (tequila, orange juice, and grenadine) and a Vegas Bomb (Jack Daniels, peach Schnapps, cranberry juice, and Red Bull) if you opt for a shot. Choose a cocktail, and you might end up with a Casino Royale (vodka, Aperol, St. Germain elderflower, and grapefruit) or a Vegas Sour (bourbon, sour mix, cherry, and orange), among four other concoctions.
Go ahead; take a chance. You’re in the casino, after all. Just be aware that you’ll also be gambling on cost, as shots range from $7 to $10 each, and mixed drinks run from $12 to $14.
Tattoos With a Twist
Although Virgin Voyages was the first cruise line to offer tattoos at sea, the line’s ships have always had dedicated tattoo parlors with space for one tattoo artist.
On Margaritaville at Sea Paradise, the tattooist takes up residence in the ship’s spa, offering a different vibe for passengers from that found on Virgin’s vessels. On Margaritaville’s Islander ship, a newly built tattoo shop houses space for two artists instead of one.
Inking yourself on board is a great way to create a lasting memento from your cruise, and Margaritaville offers these services in a way that other lines don’t.
Making Noise, Quietly
If you’re a cruiser who craves exclusivity, you’ll want to look into QMN — Quietly Making Noise — on Islander.
This experience is a VIP speakeasy that’s open to only a handful of passengers on each sailing. It comes with an added fee, but it benefits Singing for Change, one of Jimmy Buffett’s charities. Plus, although I don’t want to give anything away, the drinks and conversation are so good that the event is worth every penny.
If you have concierge access, ask about it there, or head to the shore excursions desk to inquire.
Blender Cups
Because there’s always “booze in the blender” when you’re in Margaritaville, the line’s ships should sell special refillable souvenir blender cups. You can snag a cup — more like a mug with a lid, really — by itself for $13 at the Flip Flop Bar in the Flip Flop Atrium. You can also buy one with an alcoholic beverage in it for $29.
Because the cups are extra-large, each time you request a refill, you’ll pay the regular price of the drink you order plus an additional $8. That essentially gets you 22 ounces (or roughly two drinks) at a discount from what you’d pay to order that much cocktail without the cup.
Lost (and Found) Shakers of Salt
Although they aren’t quite as cute as rubber ducks, salt shakers are totally on brand for Margaritaville. That’s why cruisers often hide them, instead of ducks, throughout the line’s ships for other passengers to find.
I personally have yet to see a shaker in the wild on one of my voyages, but from what other travelers post in some of the line’s Facebook groups, it seems to have become a bit of a trend onboard.
Cornhole — With Obstacles
Margaritaville’s ships are older and smaller than the largest ships from lines like Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, and Norwegian Cruise Line, but that doesn’t mean they’re short on top-deck fun.
In addition to pickleball courts on both of the line’s current vessels, there’s a small family-friendly play area and water park on Islander’s top deck, along with a miniature golf course.
But what truly caught my attention was Islander’s cornhole course. Instead of just a pair of standard cornhole boards for the sport, which is similar to beanbags, the ship has a setup similar to miniature golf, where several boards are set up in different orientations and with various obstacles that challenge players. I’ve never seen anything like it on another cruise line’s ships.
Bottom Line
Margaritaville at Sea provides unpretentious, reasonably priced fun.
When you sail, you’ll find the usual production shows in the theater, space for lounging on the sun deck, and unlimited buffet food. But you’ll also have the opportunity to experience a few things that you can’t find on ships in other cruise lines’ fleets.
Whether you’re a Parrothead or someone who just appreciates a good time, there’s plenty that sets Margaritaville apart from its competition, from cocktails to cornhole.
Ashley Kosciolek
Ashley boarded her first cruise more than 20 years ago and never looked back. Her experience encompasses nearly 100 sailings across every major cruise brand, as well as niche luxury, river and expedition lines. She has written thousands of cruise tip features; ship, port and shore excursion reviews; and industry news articles for The Points Guy, Cruise Critic and other publications. She has been quoted as an expert by outlets that include The New York Times, CNBC, Fox Business, Forbes, Good Morning America and others.
