Margaritaville at Sea

Costa Cruises is most known for the deadly capsizing of the Costa Concordia in 2012, where over 30 people lost their lives when the ship's captain strayed from the original course and sailed dangerously close to the Tuscan island of Giglio.

Still, many travelers report disappointing experiences aboard Costa ships, and it's often thought of as the worst-rated cruise line at sea. Common complaints include poor-quality food, bad customer service, dirty cabins, and disorganized operations.

Compared to established lines like Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian, Margaritaville at Sea is a relatively new player in the cruise industry. 

However, the brand has quickly gained attention for its Jimmy Buffett-inspired vibe and affordable sailings, setting itself apart from mainstream cruise offerings. 

Margaritaville at Sea shows no signs of slowing down, either. Recently, they announced they're expanding their fleet with their third ship since their debut in 2022. 

Building on the success of its two current ships, Margaritaville at Sea has announced plans to expand its fleet with a third vessel set to launch in 2026. 

The relatively new cruise line launched its first ship, Margaritaville at Sea Paradise, in 2022. Paradise initially set sail in 1991 for Costa Cruises as Costa Classica, before being renamed Costa neoClassica in 2014 and finally leaving the Costa fleet in 2018 when sold to Bahamas Paradise as Grand Classica. 

Margaritaville at Sea's newest ship features more drinks than basic Bahama Mamas and strawberry daiquiris. 

Enjoying a refreshing poolside cocktail or sipping on a glass of wine before an evening show are quintessential cruise experiences. However, guests will find an enhanced beverage program designed to be different than your average cruise ship bar aboard Margaritaville at Sea's Islander.

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. 

Margaritaville at Sea is giving away free 7-night cruises on its newest ship, the Islander. The catch? They're only available to eligible heroes. 

Expanding on the line's successful "Heroes Sail Free" program, Margaritaville is releasing new offers ahead of Heroes Month in May. These include free staterooms for two on 7-night Caribbean sailings, fundraising events, and dedicated onboard tributes with community-building partners. 

When Margaritaville at Sea launched, the cruise line's sole ship offered short 2-night cruises from Palm Beach, Florida, to the Bahamas. 

I've been cruising since I was five years old and have been on many of the major lines including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Disney, Princess, and Celebrity. However, one relatively new cruise line that often gets overlooked but is worth considering is Margaritaville at Sea. 

Margaritaville is one of the newest cruise lines at sea. As such, even veteran cruisers might not know what to expect on a ship where it's always 5 o'clock onboard! 

All jokes aside, I recently sailed onboard Margaritaville at Sea's newest ship, the Islander, on a 4-night getaway from Tampa to Progreso, Mexico. While most of the overall cruise experience was consistent with what you might expect on popular lines like Royal Caribbean and Carnival, there were a few distinct features that set Margaritaville apart.