<p class="ingestion featured-caption">I cruised with Margaritaville at Sea's Islander this year. Lauren Mack</p><ul class="summary-list"><li>I went on a 5-night cruise aboard the Margaritaville at Sea Islander that began sailing this year.</li><li>Its cabins and amenities are superior to Paradise, the first ship in the cruise line's fleet.</li></ul><p><a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/margaritaville-at-sea-cruise-photos-not-worth-it-review-2023-7">Margaritaville at Sea</a> had a rocky entrance into the cruise industry — but things could be looking up with its newest ship.</p><p>A partnership between Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line and Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville, Margaritaville at Sea had its maiden voyage with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/margaritaville-at-sea-cruise-review-2023-5">Paradise</a> in 2022.</p><p>It didn't go well. Early cruisers called Margaritaville at Sea the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/margaritaville-cruise-tiktok-the-spirit-airlines-of-the-sea-2023-4">"Spirit Airlines" of the sea</a>, criticizing Paradise as having quality issues and a lack of engaging entertainment, dining options, and thematic touches.</p><p>I didn't absolutely love my time on Paradise, either, but I recently gave the brand another chance with its second ship, Islander.</p>