I sailed on the Margaritaville at Sea cruise for $330. I wouldn't do it again, but you might like it if you go in with low expectations.

Lauren MackJul 23, 2023, 21:15 IST

I sailed on the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise in June 2023.Lauren Mack

I booked a 176-square-foot interior stateroom on the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise.
Despite the ship's recent renovation, I found some of the amenities dated and lackluster.

My brother and I sailed on the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise, the first cruise ship operated by the Jimmy Buffett-founded hospitality brand, from Palm Beach to Grand Bahama in June.

The 30-year-old vessel embarked on its inaugural voyage as the rebranded Margaritaville at Sea Paradise in 2022 and has since undergone a multimillion-dollar renovation. So, our three-day trip gave us an opportunity to check out the results.

Plus, the price was low — I booked our room during the cruise line's spring sale, scoring a 40% discount that brought the total cost for each passenger to $330.70 — and I love anything Buffett-related.

Here's what it was like.

The Paradise, which has 10 passenger decks and 658 cabins, docked in Palm Beach, Florida.

The Margaritaville at Sea Paradise stopped at Grand Bahama halfway through the voyage.Lauren Mack

A massive flip-flop sculpture in the ship's entryway set the Margaritaville mood.

Each deck had Margaritaville-inspired names, like License to Chill, 5 O'Clock Somewhere, and Coral Reef.Lauren Mack

When we booked our accommodation, we could choose a deck but not a specific room, meaning its location was a gamble.

The interior staterooms are on decks four, five, six, and seven.Lauren Mack

We moved rooms twice after smelling cigarettes in the first two cabins.

The first room we entered, pictured above, was on deck seven.Lauren Mack

My brother and I ended up in a 176-foot interior stateroom on deck six. It was one of the largest I've ever seen on a cruise, but I found the decor outdated and uninspired.

Interior staterooms accommodate up to four people.Lauren Mack

My brother and I ended up in a 176-foot interior stateroom on deck six. It was one of the largest I've ever seen on a cruise, but I found the decor outdated and uninspired.

It had two twin-size beds, two retractable bunk beds, a desk, a wet bar, and storage galore, including two closets and two bureaus.

The main closet was on the right side of the entryway.Lauren Mack

The bathroom had a decent amount of space, with a circular shower, a full-length mirror, and a vanity.

The shower featured a handheld showerhead with five adjustable settings and impressive water pressure.Lauren Mack

I thought the room's decor lacked Margaritaville-specific details, and I noticed that none of the staterooms I entered had the armchairs or cute throw pillows I saw in the website's photos.

There were small homages to Margaritaville in the cabin, but they were subtle.Lauren Mack

I thought the room's decor lacked Margaritaville-specific details, and I noticed that none of the staterooms I entered had the armchairs or cute throw pillows I saw in the website's photos.

Margaritaville at Sea added the Fin City Arcade during the renovation, but I thought it could've used more Margaritaville branding.

Fin City Arcade has a variety of arcade games and other indoor activities.Lauren Mack

The ship had ample amenities, including two pools and a casino. However, some of these areas looked dated to me.

I went in with high expectations after reading about all of the changes.Lauren Mack

The live entertainment was excellent. We could choose from two nightly song-and-dance productions, a comedy show, and dueling pianos.

We were never bored during our two-night cruise.Lauren Mack

Swimming with pigs during an excursion on Grand Bahama was a highlight. It was well-run, and the $90 I paid for transportation and five hours at a beautiful, uncrowded beach was worth it.

The pigs don't roam freely — handlers released them to swim with about 50 guests at a time.Lauren Mack

Swimming with pigs during an excursion on Grand Bahama was a highlight. It was well-run, and the $90 I paid for transportation and five hours at a beautiful, uncrowded beach was worth it.

The food in the main dining room, buffet, pizzeria, and coffee shop was decent and comparable to the meals I've eaten on other budget cruise lines.

The Paradise had plenty of snack, meal, and dessert options.Lauren Mack

Of course, I could also get an above-average cheeseburger at the Cheeseburger in Paradise Burger Bar.

The pun ties back to Buffett's 1978 song "Cheeseburger in Paradise."Lauren Mack

The St. Somewhere Spa & Salon, which has a steam room and dry saunas, is functional but looked old-fashioned.

The spa is on the License to Chill deck.Lauren Mack

The Parakeets Kid's Club, Jolly Mon Kid's Club, and Teen's Club seemed small and had limited activities.

The clubs are separated by age group.Lauren Mack

The Fins Up! Fitness Center has Echelon equipment, free weights, and plenty of space for workouts.

The studio has cardio equipment, weight machines, and free weights.Lauren Mack

However, some of the exercise machines at the Fins Up! Fitness Center were out of order when I was on the ship.

I was surprised that some machines weren't working considering the ship was so recently renovated.Lauren Mack

The ship's new pickleball courts were a huge win.

The court was part of the recent renovation.Lauren Mack

Margaritaville has all the cruise basics, but I think they're scaled back in quantity and quality. If you temper your expectations and want an extended booze cruise or a beach day on a budget, you may find the cruise worthwhile.

The ship has everything most cruisers look for, but the amenities aren't luxurious.Lauren Mack

Margaritaville has all the cruise basics, but I think they're scaled back in quantity and quality. If you temper your expectations and want an extended booze cruise or a beach day on a budget, you may find the cruise worthwhile.

If you're a first-time cruiser looking for luxurious accommodations and pampering, this experience may not be for you. I made the most of it but likely won't sail with Margaritaville at Sea again unless there are more renovations or a new ship.

I'm glad I got to experience the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise but won't seek out another voyage on the ship.Lauren Mack

If you're a first-time cruiser looking for luxurious accommodations and pampering, this experience may not be for you. I made the most of it but likely won't sail with Margaritaville at Sea again unless there are more renovations or a new ship.

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I sailed on the Margaritaville at Sea cruise for $330. I wouldn't do it again, but you might like it if you go in with low expectations.

The Paradise, which has 10 passenger decks and 658 cabins, docked in Palm Beach, Florida.

A massive flip-flop sculpture in the ship's entryway set the Margaritaville mood.

When we booked our accommodation, we could choose a deck but not a specific room, meaning its location was a gamble.

We moved rooms twice after smelling cigarettes in the first two cabins.

My brother and I ended up in a 176-foot interior stateroom on deck six. It was one of the largest I've ever seen on a cruise, but I found the decor outdated and uninspired.

It had two twin-size beds, two retractable bunk beds, a desk, a wet bar, and storage galore, including two closets and two bureaus.

The bathroom had a decent amount of space, with a circular shower, a full-length mirror, and a vanity.

I thought the room's decor lacked Margaritaville-specific details, and I noticed that none of the staterooms I entered had the armchairs or cute throw pillows I saw in the website's photos.

Margaritaville at Sea added the Fin City Arcade during the renovation, but I thought it could've used more Margaritaville branding.

The ship had ample amenities, including two pools and a casino. However, some of these areas looked dated to me.

The live entertainment was excellent. We could choose from two nightly song-and-dance productions, a comedy show, and dueling pianos.

Swimming with pigs during an excursion on Grand Bahama was a highlight. It was well-run, and the $90 I paid for transportation and five hours at a beautiful, uncrowded beach was worth it.

The food in the main dining room, buffet, pizzeria, and coffee shop was decent and comparable to the meals I've eaten on other budget cruise lines.

Of course, I could also get an above-average cheeseburger at the Cheeseburger in Paradise Burger Bar.

The St. Somewhere Spa & Salon, which has a steam room and dry saunas, is functional but looked old-fashioned.

The Parakeets Kid's Club, Jolly Mon Kid's Club, and Teen's Club seemed small and had limited activities.

The Fins Up! Fitness Center has Echelon equipment, free weights, and plenty of space for workouts.

However, some of the exercise machines at the Fins Up! Fitness Center were out of order when I was on the ship.

The ship's new pickleball courts were a huge win.

Margaritaville has all the cruise basics, but I think they're scaled back in quantity and quality. If you temper your expectations and want an extended booze cruise or a beach day on a budget, you may find the cruise worthwhile.

If you're a first-time cruiser looking for luxurious accommodations and pampering, this experience may not be for you. I made the most of it but likely won't sail with Margaritaville at Sea again unless there are more renovations or a new ship.