The Margaritaville Islander is the newest ship in the Margaritaville at Sea fleet. The ship sails from Tampa and offers a variety of sailings. This sailing was a 5 night sailing with one stop in Cozumel and two days at sea. ​Overall, it was a fun and relaxing trip, but like any cruise, there were a few things to be aware of. Let’s dive into the pros and cons!

Pre-Cruise Stay at Tampa Marriott Water Street 

​We left Thursday morning for a four-hour drive across the state to Tampa.  While I could technically make the trip on the day of embarkation, as a travel advisor, I follow my own advice and prefer to arrive the day before. Traffic can be unpredictable. I stayed at the Tampa Marriott Water Street and had a great experience. The location is perfect — right in the heart of downtown and just across the street from a ton of great restaurants, which made finding a place to eat incredibly easy. The rooms were clean, comfortable, and felt fresh, which made it a relaxing spot to unwind after a busy day. The port is just a short drive away, making embarkation day smooth and stress-free. 

The Islander is one of the oldest ships I've sailed, but was reburbished to relect a very Buffet style, however as it was an older and smaller ship, the movement of the ocean was strongly felt. It was one of the rockiets sailings, but nothing a little medicine (and libations) couldn't cure. Let's dive into the pros and cons. 

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Pros:

✅ Homage to Jimmy Buffett:
If you're a Jimmy Buffett fan (or just enjoy the laid-back "island escape" vibe), you’ll love this ship. From the décor to the music playing around the ship, it beautifully honors Buffett’s legacy and spirit of adventure. Every corner feels like a cheerful nod to "Margaritaville."

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✅ Impeccably Clean:
One thing that stood out immediately was how spotless the ship was kept. From public areas to the dining rooms and staterooms, the crew worked hard to maintain a clean and comfortable environment throughout the voyage.

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✅ The Friendliest Staff at Sea:
I can’t say enough good things about the crew. Every staff member I interacted with was genuinely friendly, helpful, and always seemed to have a smile. It really elevated the whole cruise experience.

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✅ Comfortable Staterooms:
My stateroom was cozy, well-maintained, and offered everything I needed for a relaxing stay. The beds were particularly comfortable — a huge plus after a long day of exploring and enjoying the ship.

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✅ Good Food:
The dining experience was pleasantly surprising! While the buffet could use a bit more variety (more on that below), the main dining options and specialty restaurants served up tasty, satisfying meals.

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✅ Smoke-Free Casino:
Unlike many other ships where smoke can be a problem in and around the casino, Margaritaville at Sea Islander boasts a completely smoke-free casino. It made playing a few rounds at the tables much more enjoyable.

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✅ Efficient Embarkation and Disembarkation:
Getting on and off the ship was smooth and impressively fast, both in Tampa and back at the end of the cruise. No long waits, no confusion — just efficient, well-run processes.

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Cons:

❎ Very Slow Internet:
If staying connected is important to you, be warned: the Wi-Fi is painfully slow. Streaming, uploading photos, and even simple browsing was a challenge. It's manageable if you're trying to disconnect, but frustrating if you need to stay in touch or work remotely.

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❎ No Ship App:
This was a major inconvenience. Most modern ships offer a free app to view daily activities, restaurant menus, and (most importantly) check your folio. Without an app, you have to manually visit guest services or call for folio updates, which isn’t ideal.

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❎ Limited Outdoor Pool Seating:
There’s not a ton of seating around the pool area, so snagging a good lounge chair can be competitive, especially on sea days. If you’re hoping for a prime spot, plan to get there early.

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❎ No Quiet, Adults-Only Retreat:
One thing I missed was a designated quiet space like a solarium or adults-only lounge area. With the lively Margaritaville vibe, it would have been nice to have a peaceful area to unwind away from the bustle.

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❎ Buffet Needs More Variety:
While the food quality was good, the buffet selection stayed fairly static from day to day. A bit more rotation and variety would have kept it more exciting.

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❎ Only One Evening Show per Day:
There was only one main show each evening, always scheduled at 9:30 PM. If you prefer an earlier or later option — or just more entertainment choices — you might find this a little limiting.

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