What is different about Margaritaville At Sea?

[AllgoodOnTheRoad]

Good morning everyone, I have sailed 34 cruises across all the lines, but the bulk being Carnival. I have been considering Margaritaville for a while now even after all the bad reviews I have seen, but I am going to try not to let that color my experience. Last week they sent a deal I could not pass up, basically the price of a Quality inn for the weekend to cruise. I think I will try to keep that in mind and compare it to a quality inn weekend at the beach. 

 

My question is what do I not know about the differences between Margaritaville and the other cruise lines? I have been doing research on the differences and this is what I have found so far. 

 

Appears that the only free venue before dinner is the Buffet which they really should have called the Jimmay Buffet, but whatever. 

Looks like dinner times are selected once you check in, but they have a traditional early and late seating.

Check in is by class and floor. 

The ship is old of course, but I was on the Paradise last week for the fourth time, I have no problem with older ships. 

Valet Parking only at the port, but I will leave my car at home. 

No room service in the morning. 

Appears they board much later than Carnival, but I can plan for that. 

 

 

 

Are there any other big differences between Margaritaville and the Economy cruise lines? Anything I have wrong above? I will be recording a series for Youtube on the Margaritaville at Sea cruise. 

 

Edited October 12, 2023 by AllgoodOnTheRoad

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

I've not experienced boarding or check-in by class and floor. Once you're in the terminal, you get in the queue for the next Rep. Once boarding begins, you get in line and in you go. I do believe disembarkation is by floor but I've always stayed on the deck where the gangway is located so I just go to the door and leave.

 

The ship is old and has few bells and whistles that the other lines have, even on their older ships. But I've thought the ship was very clean and maintained.

 

It's only two nights. You have a fun evening the first night on the ship, whether it's their Ship Show, the casino, lounge show or disco. You're in Grand Bahama one full day and then you're headed home. It goes quick. I don't stay out late the second night since I will want to be up early to disembark the ship.

 

I've never eaten in the restaurant; buffet only on all cruises. It's small but decent enough. Even a picky eater like me has not gone hungry. And the buffet reopens from 11:30p-12:30a for Late Night Snacks.

 

For what they charge, you can't go wrong and it's actually cheaper than a beach weekend at a Quality Inn.

[AllgoodOnTheRoad]

Not Boarding, Check in to the terminal by class and floor. I took that from this email from Margaritaville. Is this not accurate? I have certainly seen some lines that send out an email like this and then it is really just a free for all and you should have shown up as soon as they opened like MSC. Carnival though, means their check in time and will make you stand outside and wait if you are early. 

 

Please arrive during the following scheduled times according to your cabin/stateroom number. You will find your cabin/stateroom number on your original booking confirmation, sent to the primary email address on your reservation.

11:00am

Guests with priority boarding packages, including:

License to Chill, Ultimate License to Chill, Faster Chill, Express Pass

Guests with Grand Terrace or Junior Suite Reservations

Cruise and Stay Vacation Guests

12:00pm

Guests with Staterooms on Deck 6 and Deck 7

(Staterooms numbered: 6001 thru 6176 and 7001 thru 7184)

Group Booking Guests

1:00pm

Guests with Staterooms on Deck 4 and Deck 5

(Staterooms numbered: 4001 thru 4156 and 5001 thru 5134)

Paradise Passholder Guests

Guest sailing in GTY (Guaranteed) Cabins

Arriving prior to the times listed above will result in longer check-in and wait times prior to boarding the ship.

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Well that's new to me. They didn't have that for the two times I've sailed with them.

[Tapi]

If you’ve sailed aboard older, Fantasy class ships on Carnival, Margaritaville won’t be much of a shock. I found it to be very similar in terms of overall casual vibe, clientele, and ship condition. 
 

- You used to select your fixed dinner time (early or late) at the port prior to embarkation, but it’s my understanding that they don’t bother anymore. Nobody even checks anyway and they seat you at whatever table is available.

 

- They will have a separate check in line for people who paid extra for one of the priority packages. Word of advice: If you have a passport, don’t bother paying extra for express/priority check in/check out. They’ll have a passport only line on debarkation which moves much faster than all others. There’s an overwhelming amount of birth certificate holders traveling on this cruise line and their line is a nightmare. 

- The main thing to watch out for on this cruise line are the extras. Their base fares are cheap, but they offer several packages to “enhance” your experience, some which cost considerably more than the actual cruise fare. Take for example “License to Chill” which includes specialty dining, massages, access to a VIP lounge, reserved seating at the theatre, priority embarkation, drink package, etc. 

 

A LOT of first time cruisers are suckered into buying these packages and end up paying considerably more for this 2 night budget cruise than if they went on a longe cruise aboard one of the more established cruise lines.  We just paid the $49 cruise fare (plus taxes, gratuities, etc) bypassed all the extras, and still had a great time (obviously we adjusted our expectations accordingly). 
 

Go with an open mind. It’s a fun, super casual, budget minded cruise, and it goes by super fast. 

 

 

 

Edited October 15, 2023 by Tapi

[rikitikitavii]

On 10/12/2023 at 8:08 AM, AllgoodOnTheRoad said:

Good morning everyone, I have sailed 34 cruises across all the lines, but the bulk being Carnival. I have been considering Margaritaville for a while now even after all the bad reviews I have seen, but I am going to try not to let that color my experience. Last week they sent a deal I could not pass up, basically the price of a Quality inn for the weekend to cruise. I think I will try to keep that in mind and compare it to a quality inn weekend at the beach. 

 

My question is what do I not know about the differences between Margaritaville and the other cruise lines? I have been doing research on the differences and this is what I have found so far. 

 

Appears that the only free venue before dinner is the Buffet which they really should have called the Jimmay Buffet, but whatever. 

Looks like dinner times are selected once you check in, but they have a traditional early and late seating.

Check in is by class and floor. 

The ship is old of course, but I was on the Paradise last week for the fourth time, I have no problem with older ships. 

Valet Parking only at the port, but I will leave my car at home. 

No room service in the morning. 

Appears they board much later than Carnival, but I can plan for that. 

 

 

 

Are there any other big differences between Margaritaville and the Economy cruise lines? Anything I have wrong above? I will be recording a series for Youtube on the Margaritaville at Sea cruise. 

 

Valet parking only, close to $25/day. They charge a fuel surcharge of $12/ day/ per person.

[AllgoodOnTheRoad]

On 10/14/2023 at 10:18 PM, Tapi said:

If you’ve sailed aboard older, Fantasy class ships on Carnival, Margaritaville won’t be much of a shock. I found it to be very similar in terms of overall casual vibe, clientele, and ship condition. 
 

- You used to select your fixed dinner time (early or late) at the port prior to embarkation, but it’s my understanding that they don’t bother anymore. Nobody even checks anyway and they seat you at whatever table is available.

 

- They will have a separate check in line for people who paid extra for one of the priority packages. Word of advice: If you have a passport, don’t bother paying extra for express/priority check in/check out. They’ll have a passport only line on debarkation which moves much faster than all others. There’s an overwhelming amount of birth certificate holders traveling on this cruise line and their line is a nightmare. 

- The main thing to watch out for on this cruise line are the extras. Their base fares are cheap, but they offer several packages to “enhance” your experience, some which cost considerably more than the actual cruise fare. Take for example “License to Chill” which includes specialty dining, massages, access to a VIP lounge, reserved seating at the theatre, priority embarkation, drink package, etc. 

 

A LOT of first time cruisers are suckered into buying these packages and end up paying considerably more for this 2 night budget cruise than if they went on a longe cruise aboard one of the more established cruise lines.  We just paid the $49 cruise fare (plus taxes, gratuities, etc) bypassed all the extras, and still had a great time (obviously we adjusted our expectations accordingly). 
 

Go with an open mind. It’s a fun, super casual, budget minded cruise, and it goes by super fast. 

 

 

 

Thank you. I had my fourth time on the Carnival Paradise September 28th, so my last cruise was a Fantasy class ship. I still love them and think they have a lot more to offer than most realize. 

Edited October 25, 2023 by AllgoodOnTheRoad

[AllgoodOnTheRoad]

On 10/18/2023 at 4:40 PM, rikitikitavii said:

Valet parking only, close to $25/day. They charge a fuel surcharge of $12/ day/ per person.

I saw this and that was part of my reason to choose Brightline and Uber this trip. I have become quite spoiled by getting dropped off at the port lately and am going to be annoyed the next time I have to drive. In many ports I find you can get dropped off much earlier than they allow anyone to park. 

[AllgoodOnTheRoad]

Well, I am back, and this cruise was amazing. I struggle to understand why so many people disliked this cruise other than length of cruise. Things I noticed. The Cabin: Robes still in the cabin without asking, Ice Bucket, glass tumblers, soft close doors. The rest of the ship, tablecloths, bacon every day, smoked salmon still on the buffet, a chapel, a library, so much seating, live bands playing in multiple venues on the ship, only a 1600-person capacity and a personal service that I have not seen on Carnival in ten years. No less than five employees during my 40 hours on the ship stopped to just ask me if there was anything I needed. My waiter at dinner heard me trying to decide between Baked Florida and a brownie and just brought me both. Those are the things that make a good cruise, not rock-climbing walls and waterparks on the ship. I should have my first video of the cruise up next weekend, but I love this brand so far. 

[detroitlions]

What were the prices for the drinks if you did not buy a package. Beer wine, mixed drink, boat drink?

[pr8hd]

Drink menus from May 2023 are pinned at the top of the thread.