5 causes I really like this small, reasonably priced, little-known cruise line

You’ll be able to’t even purchase a good lunch for that value, however this oceangoing arm of the favored Jimmy Buffett resort model gives a trip that features a room, three meals a day (plus loads of between-meal choices), fundamental drinks (water, soda, juice), leisure and port-to-port transportation for that quantity.

To be clear, the $99-for-four-people fares aren’t at all times obtainable. When they’re, they’re restricted in quantity, cowl essentially the most fundamental lodging and do not embrace taxes and costs, that are roughly $200 per particular person.

However even Margaritaville at Sea’s costliest lodging are fairly priced. On the time of publication, the biggest suite on the road’s Islander ship was going for simply $1,499 per particular person ($375 per particular person, per night time) for a four-night Mexico crusing from Tampa on Feb. 23, 2026. For comparability, the costs for four-night sailings to comparable places in suites of roughly the identical measurement on Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas and NCL’s Norwegian Star (which debuted in 2000 and 2001, respectively) have been $1,929 per particular person ($482 per particular person, per night time) and $1,793 per particular person ($448 per particular person, per night time), with each voyages departing Feb. 26, 2026.

It is not simply cabins which can be a cut price, both. Margaritaville at Sea’s drink packages value about 32% much less per day than Royal Caribbean’s and about $10 much less per day than Carnival’s. Plus, its Wi-Fi is a number of the most reasonably priced (and dependable, due to Starlink) at sea.

2. The standard is excessive

Permit me to cease you earlier than you assume that, for the value, the expertise should by some means be subpar — as a result of it isn’t. What you may discover on board is fortunately the other.

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You’ll be able to count on cabins which were up to date with vibrant, trendy fixtures, Margaritaville Resort comfortable furnishings and a beachy vibe; meals that features wonderful predominant eating room fare, burgers and pizza at no cost, in addition to upcharge sushi, steak and cafe gadgets; and leisure that is enjoyable and interesting with out being tacky or “an excessive amount of.”

Plus, you may discover a dose of classic enchantment, with each ships having retained lots of the unique touches added once they have been first constructed.

However maybe the perfect factor a couple of cruise with Margaritaville at Sea is that it gives its personal particular model of escapism — a time period made widespread by Jimmy Buffett’s songs, that are crammed with lyrics about leaving the day-to-day grind behind in favor of leisure and time spent with good associates. Its informal atmosphere is replete with events, reside music and a vibe that is “come as you might be” (however not trashy).

3. It does not need the most important ships or largest fleet

As a result of Margaritaville at Sea is small, executives personally learn each suggestion and piece of suggestions submitted by passengers — one thing I found throughout an unique dinner interview with Margaritaville at Sea’s CEO, Christopher Ivy, on the road’s latest ship, Islander.

Higher administration is concerned within the line’s day-to-day operations in any respect ranges, and it exhibits in how shortly changes are made following cruiser suggestions and the way glad the crew appears to be. Everybody — from room stewards to the CEO — can (and does) reply shortly to cruiser suggestions.

The road can be tired of maintaining with the Joneses in terms of newer and greater ships. It proudly operates two midsize vessels — Islander and Paradise — that have been bought, closely used, from Carnival Corp. Each former Costa Cruises ships have been extensively refurbished and proceed to function properly into their second and third a long time, respectively.

“By no means say by no means, however we’re not planning to launch a 250,000-ton ship any time quickly,” Ivy mentioned. He additionally famous that the road is not desirous about ballooning its fleet to dozens of vessels.

As for whether or not or not Margaritaville at Sea is trying so as to add a 3rd ship, Ivy mentioned that, though there’s nothing at present within the works, it isn’t off the desk.

“There’s nothing on the market formally, however we wish to develop the enterprise.”

By way of what’s attainable when a cruise line and its ships keep small, Ivy famous that there is a particular bond that usually types between members of the crew and the passengers they serve — one which is not at all times attainable on bigger vessels, significantly should you’re solely cruising for 3 or 4 days.

“You may not even see the identical crew member twice,” he mentioned. “That is the stuff that makes the larger distinction.”

And a small firm measurement is simply as essential as a small fleet. Groups lose one thing once they develop so massive that leaders can not often spend one-on-one time with workers and clients — one thing Ivy, who likes to get his fingers soiled, indicated he does not need to occur.

“Issues in surveys take a very long time to come back by way of,” Ivy mentioned, including that he and his crew — together with the chief monetary officer, the chief advertising officer and lodge operations supervisor — all spend a major period of time on board. “If I spend two hours within the eating room, strolling round, speaking to folks … the suggestions loop simply tightens.”

The revealing of the road’s second ship, Islander, went considerably extra easily following a multimillion-dollar refurbishment. But it surely wasn’t with out its personal set of hurdles, together with clogged bogs, leaks throughout inclement climate and malfunctioning air con. Nevertheless, studies from passengers within the ship’s Fb group indicated that the problems have been largely resolved by the third and fourth voyages. (And TPG can affirm issues on Islander are at present ship-shape.)

Now, due to nimble responses from higher administration, the crew appears to have discovered its stride, exhibits have been fine-tuned and meals in lots of the onboard eating places rivals the perfect you may discover on any mainstream ship, particularly when it comes to worth.

Following first-sailing complaints, the plumbing now works because it ought to, leaks have been patched, cabin numbers not seem on keycards (one thing that was a safety concern) and dishes are cleared and tables wiped promptly in public areas. (This was an issue initially, significantly within the buffet.)

As one other testomony to how intently the road’s executives monitor what’s working and what’s not, simply six months after the debut of Islander, Margaritaville at Sea introduced it will be including a number of of Islander’s standout bars and eating choices — together with the Hemisphere Dancer bar and Far Facet Sushi — to older sister Paradise. It’s going to even be updating the menu at JWB Prime Steakhouse.

Talking of Paradise, following the success of its two-night sailings between Palm Seaside, Florida, and Freeport, Bahamas, the road has expanded the ship’s itineraries to incorporate three- and four-night cruises which have added the Bahamian metropolis of Nassau to the combo.

“At first of 2024, we have been working one ship from one port to at least one port …” Ivy mentioned. “That was it. With the launch of Islander, we have moved to a brand new house port. We launched with simply four- and five-night sailings to Cozumel, Progreso and Key West. What we heard very early on was ‘Hey, these [ports] are nice, however what else you bought? The place else can we go?'”

In response to these questions, Islander now visits ports throughout the Bahamas and the Caribbean, too, with itineraries starting from 4 to seven nights.