Cruising on Margaritaville at Sea: A search for flip flops and island vibes: Travel Weekly

Nov 06, 2024

I take my responsibility to report about cruise ships seriously. But in writing about the second ship for Margaritaville at Sea, a cruise brand associated with the famed Jimmy Buffett and Margaritaville hotel and resort brand known for its "no shoes, no shirt, no problem" vibe -- why not loosen up?

I drew a bingo card on the back of my printed-out boarding pass as soon as I boarded the Margaritaville at Sea Islander on a four-day round trip cruise from Tampa, Fla. to Cozumel. Some of the things I would be looking for: "cheeseburger in paradise," "margarita chandelier," "flip flop statue." (Yes, this ship has a giant flip flop on it.)

"Jimmy Buffett karaoke," "pop top" and, per a friend's suggestion, "margarita served in a blender or unusual conveyance" also made the list. I asked guests and people who worked for the line for their ideas. One was an airplane (Buffett was also a pilot), and the speakeasy lined with famous and replica guitars called Quietly Making Noise.

With the bingo board complete, the cruise had officially begun. It was time to cross off some boxes.

The Islander is a 2,650-passenger ship that sails four- and five-night cruises from Tampa. Formerly the Costa Atlantica (built in 2000 and having previously sailed for the China market), the ship now embodies that "5 o'clock somewhere" state of mind, with a casual tropical motif with parrots everywhere.

The ship carries about 1,000 more passengers than the line's other vessel, the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise, which sails two- and three-night cruises to Grand Bahama out of Palm Beach, Fla. Margaritaville at Sea is positioning the Islander as an upgraded experience compared to the Paradise, not only for its longer sailings but for its entirely rebuilt suites, including the Signature Grand Suite I stayed in dotted with Buffett lyrics and books (checked both off the bingo card).

My room included a bar area with the ingredients and directions for make-your-own margs, which was a fun treat for my guest, my margarita-loving mom.

The suite came with access to additional perks, like dining in the Islander, a restaurant just for suite guests; a poolside cabana for a day; and reserved space in the theater for shows.

My Bingo card adventures would lead me to the Cheeseburger in Paradise poolside counter, and it's hard to think of a burger that tasted better. The pizza at the nearby Frank & Lola's Pizzeria near the adult-only bar and swimming area at the aft was also impressive, especially for my mom and I who both grew up on Chicago pizza.

I later found margaritas served in a cup resembling a blender and another cup with a shark head and promptly checked "unusual conveyance" off the card.

The ship had 13 bars and restaurants, although the buffet left something to be desired. JWB Prime Steakhouse was both tasty and interesting with a view of a large plane suspended above the atrium, (cross that one off the card). This ship also includes the Far Side Sushi and the poolside Mexican Cutie Cantina.

Throughout my experience, the ship's service was stellar. My ship's servers were attentive and friendly. I appreciated Primrose, our server in the Islander, who easily adjusted when I told her my mother was hard of hearing and didn't hear her when she approached the table. Primrose then approached us from another side of the table, which quickly remedied the problem.

The most interesting space onboard was the Quietly Making Noise speakeasy, an exclusive, reservations-only experience. I was one of a dozen guests escorted to a secret listening room where our host played records Jimmy Buffett had in his collection. Our host told the late musician's stories, like the one behind recovering his first-ever guitar, which hangs in the room. The experience included specialty-made drinks, and our host insisted we kick off our shoes and get comfortable, and almost everyone from our group did, myself included.

Guests don't need to be Jimmy Buffett fans to enjoy this cruise, but Parrotheads will indeed find several easter eggs throughout the ship to deepen their experience.

The cruise brand had made a lot of improvements since its launch during the pandemic in 2022, said CEO Christopher Ivy. It had a rocky launch, with the Paradise not quite ready and itineraries limited to two-night cruises. "We've moved far beyond that," he said.

On the Islander, the experience felt typical of an inexpensive contemporary cruise line that is true to the Margaritaville theme.

I returned to the Flip Flop atrium, with many boxes crossed off my card but no bingo yet. I stared at the massive flip-flop statue, where people often posed for pictures. After crossing it off the list and checked the box for chandeliers made of margarita glasses, I thought about how hard it is to take things so seriously when you're staring at a giant flip-flop.

As I wasted away in the atrium, I spotted something silver in the "sand" below the flip-flop. That must be the pop top I'm looking for. And now, having read the lyrics to "Margaritaville," I understood the reference.

At that point, I felt like a winner.