MARGARITAVILLE AT SEA

HAPPY 33RD BDAY TO ME (Part II)!

I took the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise (Jimmy Buffet’s Cruise!) – a mini cruise [2 nights] with a stopover in the middle at Grand Bahama Island (one of the largest of 700 islands in the Bahamas) for 4 nights. My first ever cruise. A little kitchy, but so exciting for this ParrotHead.

[MARGARITAVILLE] CRUISE TIPS

The Cruise & Stay package is a nice alternative if you want more time on the island. Because the resort is all-inclusive, you also get 10 Premium Drink Tokens for the Ship (about $150 value). Total I had 20 drink tokens worth a value of about $200 – and I definitely drank more than if I had been paying a la carte (some mixed drinks were $18!).

I upgraded to the Solo License to Chill package, which I highly recommend. For the price, it really gave a lot of great perks and made the experience that much better, especially Solo ($199 to add).

• VIP pre-boarding lounge + early access onto the ship
• Express disembarktation
• $75 credit for spa service
• Dinner at JWB Steakhouse (only non-included restaurant)
• Wine Tasting
• Free coffee + pastry from the coffee bar
• 5 Regular Drink Tokens (value $60)
• Sparkling Wine Brekkie at JWB Steakhouse (all you can drink)
• Gift (plastic Margaritaville logo drink cup)
• Front Row to the shows (Radio Margaritaville & Caribbean Heat)
• On call VIP Experience Concierge
• WIFI

They also started a first ever Oktoberfest (Pints in Paradise), which was a $35 add on for specialty brews located at different bars on the ship. I opted in, even having the beverage package, and honestly it was worth the $35. I was able to use the 20% in addition to my spa credit, splurged on a fancy souvenir with the gift shop coupon, and got to try some local brews instead of using my drink tokens.

• 15 (3 oz) pours of Oktoberfest Brews
• $25 Credit to the Casino
• 20% Spa Service
• 20% Merchandise

NIGHT 2 “Wasting Away In Margaritaville”

Cruisin’ Time!!! Once you board the ship with early access, it is quite a great way to get your sea legs and navigate the ship without the crowds. We boarded at 1130 and set sail at 5. They do have activities until sailing, but offer lunch on the Port of Indecision Deck (yes, bars are open). Don’t make the error of jumping right into the buffet. Look around first. It wasn’t until I was at the back of the buffet did I realize they offered a made to order Cheeseburger in Paradise station on the outside deck. Plus there were other make to order stations towards the back; which is a lot better than the food on the basic buffet line.

Spa services were all booked so I definitely recommend calling early, like when you book, to make a reservation for when you want. I was luckily able to book someone on the cruise back for a massage. Pre-boarding they have an area to book restaurant spots, extra drink packages, or some in-room amenities [which I did splash out a bit on a chilled bottle of champagne]. I didn’t really participate in any of the activities pre-sailing, except the wine tasting – which wasn’t anything special, but hey more included booze! Then I did take part in the sailing away party, which had Oktoberfest demonstrations and dancing.

The dinner at JWB Steakhouse was good, for a steakhouse I kind of expected better. You get a choice of appetizer, dinner and dessert. I had the steak tartare which wasn’t my favorite, the lamb which was quite delicious and the tres leche cake which also wasn’t all that great. I did attend the Caribbean Heat show…which was a cruise ship show for sure. It was entertaining enough. My stateroom was quite nice, with a window, which allowed me to see when a huge pod of dolphins swam by as we sailed out to sea, the sunrise and sunset. I wish I could have gotten a balcony room, but there were none available.

Breakfast at the steakhouse was actually better than dinner. The mimosas were flowing and they had a good selection of items, plus included pastries. I did wish there was an oats option, but they had healthy options (like egg white omelets) and fresh fruit.

Disembarking was quite easy, just like you would going through customs on a plane. Part of the package was complimentary shuttle to the hotel (and back). Overall, a great first impression of a cruise ship.

NIGHT 7 “Looking For My Lost Shaker of Salt”

Getting back on the ship was quite easy. They stamped me in my passport, baggage went through screening and then back on the ship. I wasn’t sure how it would work with rooms, but they put you back in your original stateroom going back.

Similar activities on the ship, but it was the “Night 2” sail, so some things were different. I tried my luck at the on board casino and actually won a little moolah. Enjoyed dinner at the other restaurant (included) Fins – which was much better than JWB Steakhouse. The server gave me two appetizers when I couldn’t decide (the gumbo & spring rolls), both were very good and thankfully smaller portions. My entrée was the blackened salmon over quinoa and it was most excellent! I again had a hard time figuring out dessert and my waiter brought me TWO, then a THIRD for my birthday. I liked the brownie the most and the Florida Baked Alaska was just okay. I ended up needing a midnight snack and got a pizza – which was not included and cost money but very, very good.

Watched the second show – Radio Margaritaville – which I enjoyed better than the previous one. I attempted to use all my drink tokens and Oktoberfest punches..I did okay, I think I had 3-4 premium drinks remaining and like 4 punches. The extra booze that was also included [Pints in Paradise booths – they did not moderate the “samples”, Wine Tasting & Champagne Brekkie] and the bonus champagne I bought (definitely not needed) was waaay more than enough.

HIGHLIGHTS

It was off season so the ship wasn’t at full capacity and the weather was perfect. It was definitely a more adult oriented cruise and I barely saw kids around. There was a deck that was adults only, which I did appreciate.

IMPRESSIONS FOR SOLO CRUISIN’

I mainly wandered, and didn’t participate in activities. I think cruises are definitely meant for multiple people to enjoy, but I also think it had to do with the size of the ship. It was a much older ship, they have renovated it twice now, but it still shows its age. There weren’t that many interesting activities, and I believe it had to do with the size of the ship overall. When I was in Freeport and saw the Carnival in port beside the Margaritaville, it was enormous ENORMOUS in comparison – at least 4x the size, and just looking at it from the outside you could already see a more abundance of activities on the out decks and it seems like there were a lot of balcony staterooms.

There were not many activities to do on Grand Bahama, and I did not do any of the excursions through the cruise ship. But they didn’t seem overly expensive. I wish they had better choices for activities for cruise & stay guests, they only gave us a grand total of 3 options, none of which were worth it to me.

I would definitely like to do a cruise again, but I think I would want to be on a more established cruise and would pick someone where that has better off ship excursions. But I chose this ship for the novelty, cheaper price and in that aspect it didn’t disappoint [but you also get what you pay for ].

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Food/Drink Stops: Fins (4 ★)(incl.), JWB Steakhouse [Dinner] (2 ★)($$$/incl.) , JWB Steakhouse [Brekkie] (3★)($$$/incl.) Port of Indecision Buffet (2 ★)(incl.), Cheeseburger in Paradise Burger Bar (3 ★)(incl.), Euphoria (4 ★)(incl.), Frank & Lola’s Pizzeria (4 ★)($$), Margaritaville Coffee Shop (3 ★)($), Keys on the Water Dueling Pianos (4 ★)(incl.), 12 Volt (3 ★)(incl.), 5 O’clock Somewhere Bar (4 ★)(incl.), License to Chill Bar (4 ★)(incl.)

Places to Stay: Paradise Margaritaville at Sea (Cruise) (3 ★)($$$)

Shows: Radio Margaritaville, Caribbean Heat

Points of Interest: Pints in Paradise, St. Somewhere Spa & Salon, Margaritaville Casino, Adults-Only Pool Deck

Excursions: https://margaritavilleatsea.com/plan-your-escape/shore-excursions