I Sailed on the World's 'Most Affordable Cruise'—Here's Why I'd Do It Again

Zippy Sandler, Cruise & Travel Contributor

Sat, July 11, 2026 at 11:10 AM UTC

I almost didn't take this cruise.

That probably sounds strange coming from someone who spends more than a dozen weeks at sea every year, but Margaritaville at Seasimply wasn't on my radar. I'd heard the comments. I'd read the reviews. I'd watched the videos. Somewhere along the way, I'd convinced myself that this budget-friendly cruise line couldn't possibly appeal to someone who regularly sails luxury suites, spa cabins, and premium cruise brands. Starting at $179 per person, how good could it possibly be?

But that's not why I was taking the cruise. I was challenging myself to do something a little different. Something that I thought was out of my comfort zone. Still, I wasn't sure.

So I did something every traveler should do once in a while. I stopped listening to everyone else and went to see for myself.

I'm glad I did.

The biggest lesson from this cruise had nothing to do with the Bahamas. It had nothing to do with where I was heading or where I was coming from. It had nothing to do with my "idea" that you had to be a parrot head or listen to Jimmy Buffett tunes, or even love a certain type of cruise vacation.

It was a reminder that sometimes our expectations tell us more about ourselves than the places we're visiting.

First impressions aren't always fair

Our sailing departed from the Port of Palm Beach, and the one hiccup of embarkation wasn't the cruise line at all. Guests are assigned arrival times for a reason, especially at a smaller port.

When hundreds of people decide to arrive hours early, a terminal designed for a much smaller crowd naturally becomes congested. So, if I could make one very important suggestion to your cruise, it would be to arrive at your assigned time.

Once boarding actually began, everything moved surprisingly efficiently. We checked our luggage, received our room keys immediately, and were free to begin exploring while waiting for our cabin to open.

Like almost everyone else, I eventually found myself standing in front of the ship's enormous flip-flop sculpture.

You'll probably take that picture too.

A ship that doesn't take itself too seriously

One thing Margaritaville understands exceptionally well is its own identity. This isn't a ship trying to imitate luxury cruising. It's trying to create a vacation where people smile more than they check the daily schedule.

From the tropical décor to the live music echoing through the atrium from the floor above, the atmosphere feels relaxed from the moment you step aboard. Nobody seems interested in pretending they're somewhere they're not.

The ship knows exactly what it wants to be, and that confidence is refreshing.

My biggest surprise started with the cabin

We stayed in an Oceanview stateroom, and honestly, it exceeded my expectations. Now, I'm a spa suite kinda gal, so the fact that we'd only have a porthole for the trip made me a big wary. But the amount of light that came through and the view through the window was just as beautiful as any balcony I've stood looking out from. The ocean , the Florida sun, all made their way into our stateroom.

The rooms are all newly refreshed with Margaritaville's signature island-inspired décor, plenty of natural light, more storage than I anticipated, and comfortable robes waiting in the closet. There is also a refrigerator, safe, and one of the largest vanity areas I've seen on a ship in any category below a suite.

As someone who always packs magnetic hooks for extra storage, I even discovered I didn't need them. The cabin already had plenty of space.

The shower featured St. Somewhere Spa bath amenities, and while nobody books a cruise because of shampoo, little touches like that reinforce that the line has invested in making older ships feel new again.

The Fins Up Crew are the key

I've sailed on ships carrying more than twice as many passengers. Ironically, this smaller ship often felt more energetic.

The Fins Up Crew didn't simply host activities. They were actively involved and encouraged everyone to participate. Whether it was a pool party, trivia , game shows, live music, or evening entertainment, passengers weren't just watching. They were joining in.

That sense of participation became one of my favorite parts of the cruise. It also explained why complete strangers, when boarding, were laughing together by the second day. New friendships are made easily.

Then came the food

This was the moment that completely changed my opinion.

I've eaten on enough cruise ships to know that feeding thousands of passengers is an enormous challenge. Good food is impressive. Great food is memorable.

I wasn't expecting memorable. Yet meal after meal kept surprising me.

Every morning began with a perfectly prepared cortado from the Margaritaville Coffee Shop. The sushi from Far Side Sushirivaled restaurants I've happily paid much more for on land. Even the gelato deserved repeat visits.

The High Tide Marketgave guests plenty of casual options, with not only a buffet but also stations like Mexican Cutie Cantina, Frank & Lola's Pizzeria, and more. And of course, you can't forget the iconic Cheeseburger in Paradise. But I found myself thinking about the Fins Dining Roomand specialty restaurants like Far Side Sushi and JWB Steakhouselong after returning home.

It's not often that a cruise dining room consistently delivers beautifully prepared meals, and this was my biggest surprise. As someone who used to own restaurants, I know how difficult it can be to put out consistently good food day after day to your customers, but when you've got 1400 of them on a ship, it gets even more difficult. This is where Margaritaville at Sea Paradise really shines.

Even my embarkation-day Cheeseburger in Paradise turned out to be exactly what I wanted while sitting on deck watching my vacation officially begin. Oh, and if you're a coffee lover, you'll want to visit Mark at the Margaritaville Coffee Shop. I couldn't have started my day without him.

I never expected one of the most affordable cruises at sea to deliver some of the most enjoyable meals.

Yet that's exactly what happened.

Don't skip the entertainment

After more than a dozen cruises every year, I often use embarkation afternoon to explore the ship, unpack, or simply find a quiet spot to watch the shoreline disappear. This time, though, I wandered up to the pool deck just as the Fins Up Crew kicked off the Welcome Aboard Party.

I'm so glad I did.

Within minutes, loungers were empty, strangers were dancing together, and nearly everyone on deck was singing along. It didn't feel staged or forced. It felt like one big beach party where everyone was welcome. That energy carried throughout the entire cruise and set the tone for the days ahead.

One piece of advice I would give every first-time Margaritaville at Sea cruiser is this: don't miss the first night's variety show in the Stars on the Water Theater. On my sailing, it was Nassau Nights , and it turned out to be the perfect introduction to the entertainment you'll find throughout the cruise. Think of it as a preview reel.

Each act gives you a taste of what's coming later in the week, making it easy to decide which full productions you'll definitely want to return for and which evenings you might prefer to spend listening to live music in one of the lounges or trying your luck in the casino.

The entertainment lineup offers something for everyone. Radio Margaritaville combines a live concert atmosphere with energetic dance numbers set to a soundtrack of Margaritaville favorites and Yacht Rock classics. Comedy night featured both a family-friendly performance and a separate adults-only show, giving everyone a chance to laugh at their own comfort level.

My favorite, though, was the final night's performance— Caribbean Heat . It had everything I look for in cruise entertainment: music I love, impressive acrobatics, colorful costumes, and a cast of singers and dancers whose talent rivaled productions I've seen on much larger ships. It was energetic and simply a lot of fun.

Whether you're someone who never misses a production show or someone who usually skips the theater altogether, I'd encourage you to give that first night's showcase a chance. You may find yourself planning the rest of your evenings around the performances, just like I did.

There was always something happening

While the Stars on the Water Theater delivered polished production shows with talented singers, dancers, and acrobats, elsewhere around the ship, karaoke, Lip Sync or Swim, bingo, audience participation games, and live music filled lounges that stayed busy well into the evening.

Personally? Those smaller venues became some of my favorites. They felt less like performances and more like parties where everyone happened to be invited. Audience participation and engagement were sky-high, with people singing, laughing, dancing, answering questions, and having the time of their lives.

Even the kids looked genuinely happy

One afternoon, I shared a table with a family in the buffet when seating was scarce. I felt like a fly on the wall listening. Their children couldn't stop talking about the kids' clubs. Their teenagers actually volunteered that they'd had a great time. TEENAGERS admitting that they had a great time?

Any parent of teenagers knows that's practically a five-star review.

The spa, casino, and tattoo parlor earn bonus points

I checked out the St. Somewhere Spa, which was exactly the peaceful retreat I was hoping to find (although I didn't have time for a treatment on this cruise).

One onboard surprise I never expected was the tattoo parlor. Permanent Reminderis a fully functioning tattoo studio where guests can commemorate a special trip, milestone, or simply embrace the vacation spirit with a little new ink. I admired the incredible artistry from a safe distance, but a friend of mine celebrated her 100th cruise by getting her very first tattoo on board, and I have to admit, it was a pretty unforgettable souvenir.

The casino also deserves recognition for something I genuinely appreciate. It's non-smoking. If you've ever walked through a smoke-filled casino on vacation, you'll understand why that immediately moved up my list of favorite onboard spaces. Plus, it's been completely redesigned from the ceiling lighting to the new carpet and every table in between.

Sometimes staying on board is the best excursion

On this voyage, my itinerary included Freeportand Nassau. In Freeport, I made what many people would consider a strange decision.

I stayed on the ship.

With most passengers ashore, the pools, lounges, and public spaces suddenly became wonderfully quiet. It turned into one of my favorite afternoons of the trip.

Nassau was different.

My husband had never visited Atlantis Paradise Island, so we took a taxi over for a few hours of exploring, a little casino time, and plenty of admiration for the breathtaking Dale Chihulyglass sculptures that fill the resort.

It was exactly the balance I wanted. One day of complete relaxation. One day of adventure. Truly a vacation for anyone, no matter what you're looking for.

The moment that told me everything

My husband isn't easily impressed. His favorite vacation activities generally involve excellent food, a comfortable chair, and a casino. By the end of this cruise, he looked at me and asked a simple question.

"When are we coming back?"

That may have been the strongest endorsement of the entire trip.

Would I sail again?

Without hesitation.

Not because Margaritaville at Sea tries to compete with luxury cruise lines. It doesn't. It offers something entirely different. An affordable vacation where people genuinely seem to be having fun. Sometimes that's exactly what a cruise should be.

I boarded expecting to confirm everything I'd heard. Instead, I discovered that keeping an open mind is still one of the best travel tips I've ever learned.

Now I'm already looking at sailing the Margaritaville at Sea Islander.

For more information, visit: Margaritaville at Sea

At this writing, cruises start at $179 per person, with a free stateroom upgrade and 3rd & 4th guests sail free

This story was originally published by Parade on Jul 11, 2026, where it first appeared in the Travel section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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