We recently decided to give the budget-friendly Margaritaville at Sea cruise line another chance. After having a not-so-great experience on the line’s first ship, Paradise, we were hesitant to test out the newly launched Islander. But, we gave it a go and booked a completely renovated Margaritaville at Sea Islander balcony room. Now, we’re back to share what we thought and how it stacks up to the competion in our latest cabin tour and review.

We Stayed in a Newly Renovated Margaritaville at Sea Balcony Room, and Here’s What We Thought

For our 5-day sailing over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, we secured a Margaritaville at Sea balcony room, stateroom 7175. This cabin is actually an extended balcony room on Deck 7. It is located on the starboard side of the ship between the forward and midship elevators (but somewhat closer to the forward bank). This balcony room measures in at approximately 185 square feet with a 55 square foot balcony.

Layout of a Margaritaville at Sea Islander Balcony Room

Immediately entering our cabin, we were pleasantly surprised! Unlike our Paradise room a couple years prior, this cabin was fresh, bright, and looked almost brand-new. In fact, we think the cabins are one of Islander’s biggest selling points. 

The bathroom was to the right and the closet was on the opposite wall. Continuing into the room, there was the desk/vanity area with the sofa across the way. The bed was closer to the balcony which is our preferred configuration. It was located on the aft wall facing forward.

The room was on point with what you would expect from a Margaritaville resort. It exuded “Islander” vibes with its bright colors and beachside decor. The color palette features neutral tones with nautical blues and Margaritaville-inspired accents.

Inside the Margaritaville at Sea Islander Balcony Room

Bathroom

Honestly, the bathroom was the one area of this Margaritaville at Sea Islander balcony room that didn’t appear to be fully refreshed. While there were new elements, other areas of the bathroom showed signs of the ship’s age.

The shower in particular is reminiscent of older cruise ships as it still features a shower curtain, albeit one with palm trees. Unlike some other cruise lines, it does have containers with body wash, shampoo, and conditioner though.

Aside from the shower, the bathroom features a strategically designed sink and toilet area with a few small shelves for storage on either side along with some counter space. For additional storage, we always bring a hanging shoe organizer where we place many toiletries and other small items.

The size of the actual bathroom and vanity area are small by hotel standards but what we’ve come to expect from cruise ships. The one nice addition in this bathroom that is often absent in cruise cabin bathrooms is a liquid hand soap dispenser.

While we have heard of issues with bathroom plumbing on the ship, we only had a minor issue with delayed flushing of the toilet at times.

Main Cabin Area

Near the entrance of this Margaritaville at Sea balcony room, there were three separate closet doors. Two featured full length clothes bars with hangers to serve as his and hers closets. The third had a series of shelves where the life jackets and safe were also housed. Unfortunately, they were sparse on hangers though.

The desk/vanity area positioned on the left wall of the cabin was fairly standard in size. There were four drawers for some additional storage, one of which contained the hair dryer, as well as the mini-fridge. Though, the ship is 25 years old, so the desk only had one 220-volt and one 110-volt outlet.

Beyond the desk was an additional dry bar-type setup. Here, there was a cabinet for additional storage below, a shelf for storing items like water bottles and the ice bucket, and the television above.

The flip-flop decals on the mirror, artwork, and Jimmy Buffett quote above the television were all nice touches adding to the theming.

The seating area on the right included a somewhat larger sofa and a very on-brand coffee table. It provided plenty of space for two adults to sit and even stretch out a bit, along with coordinating decorative pillows and artwork.

The Margaritaville bed was on the right (aft) wall. Additionally, there was a small night stand on each side of the bed with two small shelves. Both sides of the bed had a lamp with a USB and USB-C connection. Thus, we were still able to charge multiple devices overnight without issue despite the lack of additional outlets in the cabin.

Once again, with the deluxe Margaritaville bedding and “island time” touches, the bed provided adequate comfort during our trip. We had no issues falling asleep after our long days and nights eating and drinking our way around Islander.

Balcony

Finally, there was the balcony, which on Spirit-class vessels is approximately 55 square feet. However, it did seem larger than that to us. There was more than enough space for the two upright chairs and table.

This was our place to enjoy the views away from the crowds of the pool deck. Although, it would have been nice to have the adirondack chairs pictured on the cruise line’s website.

Recap of Our Margaritaville at Sea Islander Balcony Room Review

While still no comparison to the likes of modern mega-ships, this Margaritaville at Sea Islander balcony room shines when compared to ships of its age and to the competition sailing from Tampa, Florida.

Not only is the cabin a vast upgrade, but pricing is significantly cheaper! When comparing the cost of a balcony room on a 5-day sailing on Margaritaville at Sea Islander to a 5-day sailing on Carnival Paradise, both from Tampa (and both of comparable age) in January 2025, MVAS Islander is less than HALF THE PRICE!

This makes Margaritaville at Sea Islander a great value.

The balcony cabin was a pretty typical size AND provided us with direct access to ocean views. The accommodations were comfortable and had plenty of storage. Our stateroom had easy access to the stairs and elevators, with the public areas only a few decks below or above us. Not to mention, the decor certainly put us on island time.

Of course, Margaritaville at Sea Islander does offer a variety of other accommodations, ranging from the cozy interior staterooms up to luxurious suites. So, there’s something to suit all tastes and budgets on this newly relaunched cruise ship.

Comments

Have you sailed with Margaritaville at Sea yet? What is your preferred cabin category when you cruise? Drop us an anchor below to share your Margaritaville at Sea room reviews.