Our Honest Margaritaville at Sea Islander Review

Heidi and I were among the first cruisers to test out Margaritaville at Sea when the new cruise line launched in 2022. Now, the cruise line has another “new” ship. The former Costa Atlantica underwent a multi-million dollar makeover to re-emerge as Margaritaville at Sea Islander. We are back from a recent sailing and share what it’s really like on the second ship in this fleet with our honest Margaritaville at Sea Islander cruise ship review scorecard.

What It is Really Like on Margaritaville at Sea Islander

An Improved Layout and Design

Unlike the first ship in the fleet, the 85K gross ton Islander has a more familiar layout given it’s a Carnival Corp. Spirit class vessel. Likewise, it is very apparent that MVAS Islander received a more complete renovation than Margaritaville at Sea’s first vessel. Thus, the ship feels more in align with the lifestyle brand in terms of colors, décor, and atmosphere.

Although, elements of the old Costa Cruises ship are still peeking through in some areas. For instance, a large mermaid in the middle of the Tiki Pool still stands, now holding a giant margarita in her hand.

Additionally, the Hot Hot Hot Night Club presumably didn’t receive many updates either. In fact, the chairs and tables look like they were holdovers from the previous ship’s owner. There’s also some other signs of the ship’s age as evidenced in multiple maintenance issues that were being addressed.

However, Margaritaville at Sea Islander does boast over 10 bars and lounges that are well-themed, with new names, beachy colors, and funky furniture.

The two dining rooms on decks 2 and 3 offer unique dining experiences, but both have nods to island life as well. Pops of seafoam blue and small details like the nets on the lights in the Fins Main Dining Room give this restaurant a seaside vibe. The more upscale Islander Dining Room on deck 3 complements its counterpart with a similar aesthetic.

Further, cruisers can’t miss the brand’s signature flip flop in the 9-story atrium. Adorned with fish, parakeets, and a sea plane, this focal point is lively, open, and where everyone’s cruise begins. It is a fitting introduction to what’s in store on Margaritaville at Sea Islander.

The Staterooms on Margaritaville at Sea Islander

The staterooms on Margaritaville at Sea Islander are fresh and upbeat. The bright color palette, new furniture, and fun accents gave the cabin a beachy glow. Our balcony cabin, stateroom 7175, was an extended balcony cabin on the starboard side, forward of the midship bank of elevators.

This stateroom had plenty of space and storage for the two of us. Its layout ensured we had a comfortable stay during our five-day cruise.

Immediately upon entering the room, our closet was on the left, and the bathroom was on the right.

Inside, the cabin had a refinished desk/vanity setup with some drawers, the mini-fridge and the television, along with three small closets that featured a series of shelves and clothes bars with hangers, and a seating area. Nautically inspired lamps, shoreline art, and funky accents certainly put us “On Islander Time”.

The ship is 25 years old, so the desk only had one 220-volt and one 110-volt outlet. However, the new lamps on each side of the bed contained a USB and USB-C connection. Thus, we were able to charge multiple devices overnight without issue.

After a long day ashore, we had no problems falling asleep on the deluxe Margaritaville bedding and mattress.

The balcony was quite large, with more than enough space for the two chairs and table. It was our place to enjoy the views away from the crowds of the pool deck.

Of all the updates in the room, the bathroom seemed to have the fewest improvements. Still, it offered adequate storage, liquid hand soap, and bath products in the shower. We would have liked a shower door instead of the branded shower curtain. Yet, it was still a vast improvement over the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise bathrooms.

Wasted Away Again on the Pool Deck

The 5 O’Clock Somewhere Pool and the Landshark Pool received some minor upgrades, but they made quite a difference. Some new tables and chairs, art, palm trees, and a few coats of paint breathed new life into this 25 year old pool deck.

Various loungers, tables, and some day beds are available next to these pools; though, we would have expected more. The pools and nearby hot tubs were definitely popular places to be on hot sea days.

Our ship was sailing at about 90% of double occupancy. Yet, it was never an issue getting a lounger on the deck 10 sundeck.

Aft on deck 9 is the Tiki Pool and Tiki Bar. This is an adults-only area. We liked the large and shaded bar in this area but felt the space overall received only a minor facelift. There were a couple of cabana-style huts, one hammock, three daybeds, and some lounge chairs.

Given its size though, this aft pool and sun deck could have used more fun and funky furniture to go with the island theme of the bar and nearby up-charge eateries.

With many onboard embracing the no shirt, no shoes, no problem mindset, the pool decks were a lively and fun place throughout the entire cruise. With a variety of poolside music, Fins Up crew activities, and plenty of margaritas, the vibe on the outdoor decks would make any parrothead proud.

Sports Deck

Forward on deck 11 is the Dis ‘N Dat sports deck. It is home to a small running track with approximately 16 laps equaling one mile. There’s also a 9-hole mini golf course and an interesting cornhole course. It wouldn’t be a new ship if there wasn’t a pickleball court here, too.

We appreciated the attempt at branding the mini-golf course, but half the course is located near the ship vents, so your golf balls are blown all over the course. Also, for many, it is confusing where the course begins and ends, as the first three holes are alongside the last 3 holes.

The cornhole course is a unique family-friendly touch not found on most cruise ships. It features very on-brand elements, but we weren’t sure how to score this game.

Currently, guests must secure pickleball equipment, mini-golf clubs, and golf balls from the towel stand down on deck 9. I’m not sure what this says about the cruise line or its guests that we were not trusted to have access to these necessities at the sports deck like every other cruise line.

Additionally, aft on deck 11 is the Caribbean Amphibian Play Pad and slide. This outdoor playground is designed for little kids, but it’s in direct sunlight with no shade. So, we never saw many junior cruisers testing out this addition.

There is also a small fitness center forward on deck 5. It has some new equipment, like treadmills, stationary bikes, and a small free-weight section. But this small space is not on par with modern gyms on most cruise ships.

Finally, on deck 9 is the St. Somewhere Spa and Salon. This renovated space offers traditional massages and treatments as well as hair, nail, and other beauty services. However, there is no thermal suite.

Main Dining Room

Perhaps the main dining room was the biggest letdown for us when it came to dining. For our cruise, the Fins Dining Room served sit-down breakfast and dinner daily, but there was no sea day lunch.

For breakfast, Margaritaville at Sea Islander offered omelets, eggs benedict, pancakes, and French toast.

At night, dinner is open seating from 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM. Like most major cruise lines, the menu rotates each evening. However, there are no standard items, like steak or chicken. Although, there was at least one vegetarian dish on the menu each night.

Given its open seating, there are no set dinner times and guests can not pre-make reservations. This resulted in long wait times. The few times we tried to get a table, we were told it was a 40-45 minute wait.

So, we opted to eat at the Islander Dining Room on deck 3. This restaurant is reserved for suite guests, but other guests can pay $20 a person to dine here as well. For those with a dining package, one dinner at Islander is included.

Besides some linens on the table, the menu is mostly the same in the two restaurants. The Islander menu does include three upgraded starters, two unique entrees, and one dessert each evening in addition to the selections on the Fins menu.

We wouldn’t say that anything in the main dining room wowed us. The gumbo and flat iron steak on Night 4 were well-prepared with plenty of flavor. Night 5 featured a braised short rib and stir-fried rice, which were also among the better options we sampled. I also enjoyed the bread pudding dessert and the cruise line’s signature pina colada lush dessert.

However, most other dishes were either on par or subpar when compared to other cruise lines. Most dishes were also served lukewarm at best.

Overall, the main dining room food fell short for us when compared to the competition. Even the upgraded Islander menus didn’t include lobster or anything of that sort. Plus, guests are only allowed one entree with additional entrees an extra $7 each.

The one saving grace was the service. From breakfast to dinner, the service teams were mostly friendly and fast, especially when we were seated in I Made’s section. We never waited long for a server to take our order, and the pacing of our meals was also efficient.

Specialty Dining

As we mentioned already, Islander is technically a specialty restaurant for most guests. While the service was good, the food here is not worth the cover charge in our opinion.

In addition to nightly dinner, the Islander Dining Room also offers a Sparkling Wine Brunch on the two sea days. For $15 a person, this brunch includes a morning mimosa and an extensive menu with breakfast and lunch items. One brunch is also included in the dining package.

This menu features breakfast items like chicken and waffles, steak and eggs, and overnight French toast. In addition, guests can choose from lunch items like penne alla vodka or a “bubbles up” burger. We did enjoy this meal and would probably pay the up-charge again.

The only other sit-down specialty restaurant is the JWB Prime Steakhouse. This restaurant requires reservations that can be made as soon as you board the ship.

We dined here on Night 2 and our experience was hit or miss. The braised pork belly was perhaps the best starter I had all week. My medium-rare filet was perfectly seasoned and cooked to my ideal temperature. The banana cream pie and key lime pie were sweet endings to this meal as well.

However, the burrata and all the side dishes we sampled were not good. Further, if you’d like a lobster tail or surf & turf, this will cost an extra $24 on top of the already high $55 up-charge to dine here. After our experience dining at JWB on Islander, we probably would not return which is a disappointment as we enjoyed our meal at JWB on Paradise.

The rest of the specialty dining on Margaritaville at Sea Islander is casual fare. With the dining package, cruisers get a $25 credit to each of these three venues. So, we sampled food from two of the three eateries.

I am usually opposed to paying for casual dining while on a cruise. Although, for this Margaritaville at Sea Islander review, we wanted to try the offerings. And I was glad we did. Honestly, this food was among some of the best food on the ship.  

The buffalo wings were a crispy and spicy poolside snack available at the Tiki Grill. The conch fritters were light and airy, and the crunchy buffalo shrimp paired well with tangy cocktail sauce.

While I am usually skeptical of trying a Maine lobster roll on a cruise ship, the one available at Island Eats was full of tender chunks of lobster and came on a toasted split hot dog bun.

Both of these eateries are in the adult-only Tiki Pool area aft on deck 9. The third casual option is Far Side Sushi on deck 2. Within the Far Side of the World Lounge is a bar and sushi counter which offers sushi and a few other Asian dishes at a la carte prices. With only five days, I didn’t get to try any of the sushi though.

Finally, the Margaritaville Coffee Shop is located in the back of the buffet. And unfortunately, the Islander drink package does not cover the specialty coffees and drinks here like most other cruise lines.

The Coffee Shop also features up-charge menu items throughout the day. Among the offerings are breakfast pastries and sandwiches, all-day desserts, paninis, and grilled sandwiches. They ranged in price from $3 to $7. While a modest up-charge, items like these should be complimentary. I did enjoy the Muffin Man breakfast sandwich though.

Casual Dining

In keeping with the laid-back and relaxed vibe, MVAS Islander offers some complimentary casual dining options as well.

Near the 5 O’Clock Somewhere Pool is the Mexican Cutie Cantina. This taco stand is open for breakfast most days from 8 to 10:30 AM. Morning options include a bowl or burrito with Mexican eggs and a choice of breakfast meats, potatoes, and accompaniments.

Similarly, guests could choose from three different meat options when building a custom bowl or tacos at lunch. The nearby salsa bar had additional toppings for spicing things up. While not the best Tex-Mex at sea, this was a good quick service option that didn’t cost extra.

A better offering though was the Cheeseburger in Paradise, also nearby the 5 O’Clock Somewhere Pool. Open most days from noon to 6 PM, the freshly made burgers here rival the fast food equivalent of Guy’s Burger Joint on Carnival. While there are no signature burgers, there are staple toppings and the Islander sauce. Along with a few more additional customizations at the toppings bar, it is easy to craft your unique creation.

While the burgers were definitely standout, we can say the same for the pizza slices at Frank and Lola’s. Churning out pizzas from about noon to 2 AM, this pizza, too, rivals some of the best pizza at sea. We just wish it wasn’t in the Port of Indecision buffet. We missed the pizza parlor vibe from Paradise.

Finally, the Port of Indecision Buffet is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Given our aversion to buffets in general and the offerings, we didn’t need to try the buffet.  

To be honest, none of the selections looked all that appetizing. My few passes for breakfast looked like the buffet had pretty typical offerings. There was a salad bar, a daily soup offering, and rotating entrees for lunch. Most days, there was a chicken, fish, and beef main course with some side dishes.

Overall, it was small and underwhelming when compared to other cruise lines.

Bars and Lounges

If there is one thing the Margaritaville brand is known for, it’s drinks. So, we are happy to report that the bars on Islander are certainly the hub of activity.

Across the ship, most of the bars have a signature cocktail menu. In fact, each bar even has an exclusive margarita that is only available at that location.

Among our favorite drinks were the watermelon daiquiri and big guava margarita at Havana Daydreamin’. This sports bar had a weird layout and vibe though. Since it was previously a café, it maintained that similar feel only with Cuban decor and some random televisions.

Another popular venue for drinks and music was the Hemisphere Dancer. The smoky Mile High was on par with signature cocktails at the high-end cocktail bars on competitor cruise lines. The Bubbles Up bar’s flavored Spritzes and French 75 were some of the more refreshing drinks on the ship as well.

Other indoor bars include the Pacific-themed Far Side of the World. This venue was home to Far East inspired drinks. There is also the main atrium bar, the Flip Flop Bar, with classic cocktails like an Old-Fashioned. Even the casino bar has its own signature drink menu, as does the aquarium-themed Coral Reef Lounge.

Additionally, each themed pool had its own themed bar. Of course, the 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar is the chief margarita and boat drinks bar on the ship. Here, cruisers can get something strong and tall, like the Pink Cadillac or Uptown Shelf margaritas.

The Landshark Bar serves frozen cocktails, along with poolside favorites like a Sunset Sangria, as well as beer and even shots.

The outdoor bar we frequented the most was the Tiki Bar. This bar features cruiser favorites such as a Mai Tai or Rum Runner and the most seats in the shade of any outdoor bar. Not to mention, there weren’t any little kids running around.

The Islander Drink Package

Unlike its sister ship, Margaritaville at Sea Islander does have a drink package. Onboard, the package costs $59.99 a day plus an 18% gratuity; cruisers can save 10% purchasing pre-cruise.  

With most cocktails and drinks being around $12 to $15, all it takes is about 5 – 6 drinks a day to make the package worth it. While bottled water and soda are included, other premium non-alcoholic drinks like Red Bull or Gatorade are not. Also, specialty coffees are not part of the drink package.

While there is a max of 15 alcoholic drinks a day, a drink package is a no-brainer if sailing on this ship.

Onboard Activities on MVAS Islander

The Fins Up Crew keeps guests busy from morning until night. The cruise ship serves up a variety of family-friendly entertainment as well as some adult-only activities. The Fins Up Crew were upbeat and visible around the ship at all times of the day.

Compared to our last sailing with the cruise line, we did notice considerably more children and families on this cruise. According to the youth director on the ship, there were over 425 kids onboard.

Luckily, the ship does have three themed youth areas. For younger kids, Jolly Mon and Parakeets is forward on deck 5.

Tweens can make new friends and chill at the Hangout forward on deck 3. Forward on deck 2 is the Far Out teens lounge. This lounge is home to video games, a pool table, and staff-led events and activities.

Throughout the ship, cruise director Zee-Jay and the rest of the activities staff made sure cruisers got involved and were having fun. The activities were typical for any contemporary cruise ship, including deck parties, trivia sessions, arts and crafts, games and challenges, dance classes, karaoke, and even the cruise line’s version of the Quest. A majority of these activities occurred in the Far Side of the World Lounge or the Coral Reef Lounge.

Tucked away forward on Deck 4 is Quietly Making Noise. Labeled as QMN on the deck plans, this unique onboard experience is reserved for a lucky few each cruise and is invite only.

Hosted by Kai, an enthusiastic member of the Fins Up Crew, cruisers can learn a little more about the Margaritaville brand and the man behind it, Jimmy Buffett, during this intimate experience. With some exclusive cocktails and music memorabilia like Jimmy’s first guitar, this onboard speakeasy is a great “secret” addition to the ship. It was actually the perfect way to end our cruise.

Live Music and Nightlife

Pretty much all of the bars and lounges on Margaritaville at Sea Islander had live music or other nighttime activities to keep cruisers entertained.

On Deck 1, the Coral Reef Lounge was the resident karaoke bar. This venue offered nightly sing-a-longs with family and adult sessions most nights. It also hosted the adult-only Quest game show.

On Deck 2, the Blaze Band rocked out the Hemisphere Dancer Bar, and DJ Kash spun late night hits at the Hot Hot Hot Night Club.

Further, several solo artists rotated sets during the early and late evening at the Atrium’s Flip Flop Bar. Among the musicians were guitarists Emman or Pedro and rock violinist Belén. The production cast also put on short pop-up performances here several nights of the cruise. Occasionally, there was live music or evening trivia in the Far Side of the World Lounge.

On Deck 3, Ellie tickled the ivories at the Bubbles Up piano bar, and the Latin duo Fama played in the Havana Daydreamin’ Bar along with an occasional name that tune game.

The Blaze band and rock violinist were among our favorites. I was fond of the piano bar as well, but the quirky pianist didn’t always jive with that night’s crowd, so the atmosphere in that lounge was hit or miss.

Up on the pool deck, the Six String Stage was home to various musical acts and events during the day. Along with pool games, one could jam out to island vibes from Opal, a steel drummer. Or, enjoy the Salt Air Sounds of the Prisma Band.  

On the other end of the pool deck, the Landshark Pool’s screen played Jimmy Buffett concerts during the day.

Thus, cruisers had plenty of options to enjoy live music alongside their cocktails on Margaritaville at Sea Islander day and night.

Signature Entertainment

Even though I am not a huge Jimmy Buffett fan, the show on the first Margaritaville ship was enjoyable. So, I had slightly higher expectations for the two signature production shows on Margaritaville at Sea Islander.

Again, the cruise line did not disappoint.

While both were your typical cruise revue shows, the productions in the Stars on the Water theater were fast-paced, the set lists were spot on, and the cast were a talented group of singers, dancers, and aerialists.

Night 3 was Coastal Country Elegance night. Many fellow cruisers donned their cowboy boots and line danced their way to the theater for Conky Tonkin’ at Sea. While neither of us like country music, this 45-minute show had a set list of pop-country songs that even Heidi and I recognized.

So, like most of the crowd, we sang along and stomped our feet to favorites from artists like Garth Brooks, Johnny Cash, Shania Twain, and more.

The stage was more advanced than we expected for a ship of this age as well, giving the show added range and dimension. While not a Royal Caribbean signature production, this show was better than many cruise shows we’ve seen over the recent years.

On the final night of the cruise, we settled into the slightly more cheesy Caribbean Heat Remix. At least this time, we had the right outfits, as tonight’s dress was tropical resort wear. In this revue show, we traveled to several Caribbean destinations featuring music and artists from these locales.

With popular pop and dance tunes from Pitbull, Rihanna, Bob Marley, and even Ricky Martin, the show and set pieces went from one high-energy number to the next. Again, utilizing the aerialists and stage design to their fullest, this show was a fitting end to our cruise. Though, we did prefer Conky Tonkin’ at Sea more.

Even though the ship was near double occupancy, there was only one 9:30 PM showtime for each of these signature productions.

One drawback is definitely the theater design. The three-deck theater offers lounge-style seating on deck 2 and stadium-style seats on decks 3 and 4, but the sightlines weren’t ideal.

So, to ensure we had our preferred seats, we did arrive around 40 minutes before showtime.

In addition to the two production shows, there was a Variety show on the first night of the cruise. On the other two days, there were headliner acts, which consisted of a mediocre comedian and magician duo.

Overall Impressions of Margaritaville at Sea Islander

If your ideal vacation consists of relaxing poolside, with some live music and a cold drink in hand, then Margaritaville at Sea might just be your cruise line. The new Islander delivers well-themed bars, an equally energetic Fins Up Crew, and a variety of casual dining options.

This is the cruise where you can essentially live in your shorts and flip flops all day and be right at home.

At night, there is more of the same with live music, well-crafted cocktails, and upbeat theater productions.

The cabins are bright and cheery, with adequate storage and brand-new furnishings that go along with the nautical vibe of Margaritaville’s land-based resorts.

The crew were warm and friendly throughout the ship. While there are still some training and consistency issues, we are sure that with time, the ship’s teams will function more cohesively.

At 12 decks and around 2,000 passengers, this ship is the perfect size with just the right amount of amenities and features to not seem overwhelming. Yes, there are some signs of the ship’s age and maintenance issue present. But, there were plenty of crew and vendors out and about addressing these concerns during our sailing.

Besides the maintenance issues, the sit-down dining experience could use some work. However, Margaritaville at Sea Islander is a vast improvement over our first sailing with the brand on Paradise, inching the cruise line closer to realizing its potential.

Perhaps the only way Margaritaville at Sea can truly compare to its land-based resorts, and to newer ships from competitor cruise lines, is to build a brand-new ship itself. By relying on previously built ships from other cruise lines that are 20+ years old, Margaritaville at Sea will forever be constrained in what it can offer guests.

Still, it is a worthy contender for a budget-friendly trip. It’s also an obvious choice for those nearby to Tampa or Parrotheads.

Margaritaville at Sea Islander currently offers 4- and 5-night sailings from Tampa to Key West and Progreso and Cozumel, Mexico that could appeal to families, couples, and groups of friends looking for some island time.

Comments

Do you have plans to sail on the new Margaritaville at Sea Islander? Have you cruised on the other ship in the MVAS fleet yet? Drop us an anchor below with your latest Margaritaville at Sea cruise reviews.