06/17/2026
Margaritaville at Sea Islander Review
Stateroom:
We stayed in a Serene Suite, which was roomier and more comfortable than expected for the price point. The beds were comfortable, and when we requested extra pillows, the request was handled quickly. There was plenty of storage space as well. The balcony was a great touch, with two loungers, two chairs, and a table, giving us plenty of room to relax outside. Water pressure in the shower was great. The only downside was that the room ran warm at times, but maintenance was responsive whenever we asked for help.
Food:
The main dining room was a highlight, with good dishes, and suite room guests get additional menu options to choose from. The salmon was consistently fantastic no matter when we ordered it. Late-night pizza was great. The buffet was the one weak spot, with fairly limited selection compared to the rest of the food options onboard.
Ship Staff:
The crew genuinely seemed happy to be there, and it made a noticeable difference in how enjoyable the trip felt overall. If you’re a suite guest, you have your own dedicated concierge, which helps you avoid long lines. When our Wi-Fi package wasn’t working properly, the staff stepped in to help troubleshoot, which we appreciated.
Entertainment
The shows weren’t full Broadway-style productions, but they were enjoyable and well done for what they were. There were several variety acts rather than a full show every evening. There was no shortage of things to do, and trivia in particular was a consistent highlight that we looked forward to.
Ship:
The layout was a pleasant surprise. The casino was non-smoking, and you didn’t have to go up a deck and back down just to pass through it, which made getting around the ship much more convenient. Everything was also easy to find. The design and ambience throughout the ship felt very serene. There were also nice tributes to Jimmy Buffett found throughout various areas of the ship. The ship is an older vessel and does show some signs of wear and tear, but given the price point, that’s to be expected.
Overall:
For the price point, Margaritaville at Sea Islander delivers a solid cruise experience: good-sized rooms, plenty of activities, and strong food options. One thing to note is that the cruise line doesn’t currently offer an app for viewing activities or deck plans — instead, a paper planner is left in your room each evening to let you know what’s happening the next day. The main drawbacks were that some rooms run hot with no fans provided, and the premium Wi-Fi package didn’t perform as advertised — if streaming is important to you, you’ll need to upgrade to the business Wi-Fi package instead.
Final thoughts:
Would I cruise on this ship again? Absolutely. It checked off all the boxes I find necessary on a cruise: a comfortable and clean room with enough space and storage, good food variety and quality, friendly and attentive staff, enjoyable entertainment and activities to fill the days, an easy-to-navigate ship layout, and smooth embarkation and disembarkation.
