Our HONEST Margaritaville at Sea Islander Cruise Review

Margaritaville at Sea Islander Review
0:00 Introduction
0:55 Main Dining Room
3:35 Signature Entertainment
6:11 Bars and Lounges
5: 04 Main Dining Room
8:55 The Pool Deck
10:30 The Staterooms
12:28 Casual Dining
14:47 Specialty Dining
18:31 Onboard Activities
20:32 Nightlife and Live Music
22:15 Sports Deck

🌴 Margaritaville at Sea Islander Cruise Review: What We Loved and Hated

We didn’t love Margaritaville at Sea’s first ship, Margaritaville at Sea Paradise. Our experience on that ship was the worst weekend we have ever spent on a cruise. So, we were reluctant to sail again with the cruise line.

But, the new ship received a more extensive renovation, plus it was a larger class of cruise ship, featuring more amenities and balcony staterooms! Thus, we decided to hop onboard one of the first cruises to see if the cruise line is still as bad as we remember it being in 2022.

In some ways, the cruise line hasn't changed a bit. But, in others, they have heard the feedback from guests and are trying to make some improvements.

What We Loved About Margaritaville at Sea Islander.
• Casual Eats: The new Islander boasts some of the best quick-service food at sea. Among the standouts are the Cheeseburger at Paradise Burger Bar and the pizza at Frank and Lola's Pizzeria. These offerings rank among the best for casual dining at sea.
• Island-Inspired Bars and Lounges: Sip on signature Margaritaville cocktails while enjoying panoramic ocean views at the various bars and lounges scattered across the ship.
• Vibrant Nightlife and Live Music: Experience the lively atmosphere of Margaritaville at Sea's nightlife scene. Dance under the stars to live music and entertainment that keeps the party going well into the night.
• Relaxing Pool Deck: Unwind and soak up the sun on the expansive pool deck. It's the perfect spot to lounge, swim, or simply enjoy a cocktail in paradise.
• Stylish Staterooms: The stateroom decor impressed us with its cozy and modern design, providing a comfortable retreat after a day of activities onboard.

Aspects We Weren't Crazy About:
• The Main Dining Room and Upcharges. Overall, the main dining room did not impress us. We thought the food was lackluster and the process was at times chaotic. Not to mention, we encountered unexpected upcharges for additional entrees, which detracted from an otherwise enjoyable dining experience.
• Challenges at JWB Prime Steakhouse: Specialty dining at JWB Prime Steakhouse fell short of our expectations. While the ambiance was elegant, the service and food quality didn't quite match up to other dining options onboard.
• Sports Court Location and Amenities: The location and amenities of the sports court didn't meet our expectations. It felt less accessible and lacked the variety of activities we were hoping for.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MARGARITAVILLE AT SEA ISLANDER BACK ON THE BLOG

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[TRAINRUNNA]

My wife and I just got off of this ship on the 30th. I've been on 5 Carnival ships, from the Fascination to the Mardi Gras and going on the Jubilee on the 10th. This cruise line is definitely on its way to compete with the major cruise lines.The buffet area is not small at all for the size of this ship, and the food at the buffet is really, really good. Way more choices than chicken and fish. I respect people's opinions but you have to experience it for yourself. I'll definitely go on this ship again but to each his own.

[Mary]

Its mind boggling ppl criticize a budget Cruise thats the cheapest cruise line

[robertb]

I beg to differ here. We just got off the Islander and every night we ate in the main dining room. The food was delicious, and the choices were very good. We walked in and waited at the most 5 minutes for a table. One of the meals, the chicken dinner, my wife and our daughter shared it. The portion was very generous. Enough for 2 people. I will admit that I'm getting tired of the aerialists in the theaters. The Tiki pool area could use more clam shells or covered daybeds on deck. It was never crowded, and we were always able to find loungers somewhere. The burgers were great, tied with Guy's if not better. The ship was decorated nicely throughout the areas. We liked so much, I booked another one for next year. We were never disappointed.

[porkins]

Wait… you didn’t try the buffet? 95% of guests use the buffet. Review invalid.

[johndefalque]

The bars look very inviting, I would love to go on this cruise!

[thedragonofdalzell]

The differences between Islander and Paradise is almost night and day. This ship looks to be in much better shape and looks like a fun time

[mmarks]

Thanks Super Video - We've done many cruises and are looking for new experience. Been to the Margaritaville Hotel Resort several times an enjoy. We book Islander for Nov. and our cabin will be exact same place as yours but opposite side (7168). Based on your video i think will have a Great Cruise. Two small questions how was the air conditioning and shower water pressure for your room?

[nateclark]

With all do respect. I don't think it's useful to compare this ship to other ships or cruise lines. Not everyone has cruised before, and you may be discouraging them to check out this ship. I think it'll be more helpful to highlight the positive features and maybe a couple of not so positive experiences. I've cruised on Carnival a couple of times many years ago, and I really enjoyed their cruises. You almost had me changing my mind about this ship. I live in Tampa, and I'm considering this ship because it'll be convenient for me. Anyway, thanks for the review. The information was thorough, and it looked like a good time.

[Xiomara-dt]

My wife and I just got off of this ship on the 30th. I've been on 5 Carnival ships, from the Fascination to the Mardi Gras and going on the Jubilee on the 10th. This cruise line is definitely on its way to compete with the major cruise lines.The buffet area is not small at all for the size of this ship, and the food at the buffet is really, really good. Way more choices than chicken and fish. I respect people's opinions but you have to experience it for yourself. I'll definitely go on this ship again but to each his own.

[Tjlopez]

I have been on the cruise ship it was so much fun 🎉

[bobk]

You keep comparing MAS Islander to the many new massive cruise ships that are out there but that's not a fair comparison. If you compare the ship to other ships available from Port Tampa, all of which are older and smaller, it compares very favorably. Especially price-wise. I believe Islander is the largest ship sailing from Tampa. Let's compare apples to apples. Appreciate the video; the ship looks very impressive. Can't wait to try her out later this year!

[donnakuhn]

We’re going February! Looking forward to it! Thanks!

[Rapture_Ready]

I want to cruise on this ship! I love older ships and I hope to get to go on the Margarita Ville soon!!!! Thanks for sharing this video!!!🙌❤️⚓️🛳️

[craigcoleman]

We disagree with your assessment. We never had to wait to get seated for dinner and found the food surprisingly good. Overall service was fantastic. We did feel that the entertainment especially poor. We’ve cruised quite a bit and found this to be a very fun and relaxing cruise.

[silvershadow]

Compared to the video I watched on her sister ship. The islander is a big step in the right direction and look forward to seeing were the cruise line goes from here

[susankara]

Great review and helpful. Going next month first time 🎉

[nikkimd]

How long were you on the cruise? I've seen 2-3 day sailings. Seems you were able to experience so much. I appreciate your very detailed review because I'm considering this for my birthday celebration with friends. Thanks for sharing!! 💚

[Nerdology-nerd]

Im not trying to be rude here, but if you want a bathroom with better doors you need to get a more expensive room and with the outlets… just bring an extension cord next time.

[louss]

I’ve been one the Celebrity Eclipse, and have the Ascent booked for January. I’ve watched a ton of videos and this ship looks great for the price. Booking it for March 2025.

[xlplayzz]

great ship. going august 4-9, i compare it to a slightly smaller royal caribbean freedom class, i think it is a great ship. the problem is people compare ships nowadays to mega ships, like icon.