Cruise Packing List

 

Margaritaville At Sea

 

5 Reasons I Love This Affordable Cruise Line You Might Not Have Heard Of

Written By Ashley Kosciolek On March 01, 2025

Article Found On https://thepointsguy.com/news/reasons-to-love-this-affordable-cruise-line

 

Margaritaville At Sea Stands Out As One Of The Most Affordable Cruise Options, With Fares And Onboard Extras Often Costing Less Than Those On Other Major Lines. Despite Its Budget-Friendly Pricing, The Cruise Experience Features Updated Cabins, Quality Dining And Entertainment, And A Relaxed, Welcoming Atmosphere. The Company Operates A Small Fleet Of Midsize Ships, Allowing For Personalized Service And Swift Responses To Passenger Feedback. Margaritaville At Sea Also Supports Community Initiatives, Including Free Cruises For Military Members And First Responders Through Its Heroes Program. Cruise Fares Are The Highest They've Ever Been, And Cruise Lines Are Making Conscious Efforts To Add More For-Fee Onboard Options For Passengers. Yet One Line, Margaritaville At Sea, Remains A Fierce Holdout. Its Fares Are Some Of The Most Reasonable In The Industry, And Even Extras Like Wi-Fi And Drink Packages Cost Less Than They Would With Most Other Lines. But What Does That Mean For You As A Passenger?

Here Are Five Reasons Why Margaritaville At Sea Is Worth Considering For Your Next Cruise.

1. The Sailings Are Affordable - The Colorful Atrium On Margaritaville At Sea's Islander Cruise Ship. This Oceangoing Arm Of The Popular Jimmy Buffett Resort Brand Offers A Vacation That Includes A Room, Three Meals A Day (Plus Plenty Of Between-Meal Options), Basic Beverages (Water, Soda, Juice), Entertainment And Port-To-Port Transportation For That Amount. Even Margaritaville At Sea's Most Expensive Accommodations Are Reasonably Priced. It Isn't Just Cabins That Are A Bargain, Either. Margaritaville At Sea's Drink Packages Cost About 32% Less Per Day Than Royal Caribbean's And About $10 Less Per Day Than Carnival's. Plus, Its Wi-Fi Is Some Of The Most Affordable (And Reliable, Thanks To Starlink) At Sea.

2. The Quality Is High - You Can Expect Cabins That Have Been Updated With Bright, Modern Fixtures, Margaritaville Resort Soft Furnishings And A Beachy Vibe; Food That Includes Excellent Main Dining Room Fare, Burgers And Pizza For Free, As Well As Upcharge Sushi, Steak And Cafe Items; And Entertainment That's Fun And Engaging Without Being Cheesy Or "Too Much." Plus, You'll Find A Dose Of Vintage Appeal, With Both Ships Having Retained Many Of The Original Touches Added When They Were First Built. But Perhaps The Best Thing About A Cruise With Margaritaville At Sea Is That It Offers Its Own Special Brand Of Escapism — A Term Made Popular By Jimmy Buffett's Songs, Which Are Filled With Lyrics About Leaving The Day-To-Day Grind Behind In Favor Of Relaxation And Time Spent With Good Friends. Its Casual Ambience Is Replete With Parties, Live Music And A Vibe That's "Come As You Are" (But Not Trashy). It's Not A Luxury Line, To Be Sure, And The Ships Aren't New. But If You're Looking For A Cheap And Cheerful Vacation, A Quick Weekend Getaway, A Sailing To Celebrate A Special Occasion Or A Way To Bring Your Family Or Friend Group Together In A Way That Fits Everyone's Schedule And Budget, This Is It.

 

3. It Doesn't Want The Biggest Ships Or Largest Fleet. Because Margaritaville At Sea Is Small, Executives Personally Read Every Suggestion And Piece Of Feedback Submitted By Passengers — Something I Discovered During An Exclusive Dinner Interview With Margaritaville At Sea's CEO, Christopher Ivy, On The Line's Newest Ship, Islander. Upper Management Is Involved In The Line's Day-To-Day Operations At All Levels, And It Shows In How Quickly Adjustments Are Made Following Cruiser Feedback And How Happy The Crew Seems To Be. Everyone — From Room Stewards To The CEO — Can (And Does) Respond Quickly To Cruiser Feedback. The Line Is Also Uninterested In Keeping Up With The Joneses When It Comes To Newer And Bigger Ships. It Proudly Operates Two Midsize Vessels — Islander And Paradise — That Were Purchased, Heavily Used, From Carnival Corp. Both Former Costa Cruises Ships Were Extensively Refurbished And Continue To Operate Well Into Their Second And Third Decades, Respectively. "Never Say Never, But We're Not Planning To Launch A 250,000-Ton Ship Any Time Soon," Ivy Said. He Also Noted That The Line Isn't Interested In Ballooning Its Fleet To Dozens Of Vessels. As For Whether Or Not Margaritaville At Sea Is Looking To Add A Third Ship, Ivy Said That, Although There's Nothing Currently In The Works, It's Not Off The Table."There's Nothing Out There Officially, But We Are Looking To Grow The Business." In Terms Of What's Possible When A Cruise Line And Its Ships Stay Small, Ivy Noted That There's A Special Bond That Often Forms Between Members Of The Crew And The Passengers They Serve — One That Isn't Always Possible On Larger Vessels, Particularly If You're Only Cruising For Three Or Four Days. "You Might Not Even See The Same Crew Member Twice," He Said. "That's The Stuff That Makes The Bigger Difference.” And A Small Company Size Is Just As Important As A Small Fleet. Teams Lose Something When They Grow So Large That Leaders Can No Longer Regularly Spend One-On-One Time With Employees And Customers — Something Ivy, Who Likes To Get His Hands Dirty, Indicated He Doesn't Want To Happen. "Things In Surveys Take A Long Time To Come Through," Ivy Said, Adding That He And His Team — Including The Chief Financial Officer, The Chief Marketing Officer And Hotel Operations Manager — All Spend A Significant Amount Of Time On Board. "If I Spend Two Hours In The Dining Room, Walking Around, Talking To People ... The Feedback Loop Just Tightens."

4. Problems Are Addressed Quickly. Unfortunately, When Margaritaville At Sea Debuted Its First Ship, It Wasn't Ready For Prime Time, And It Caused Some Hiccups For The Brand. The Unveiling Of The Line's Second Ship, Islander, Went Significantly More Smoothly Following A Multimillion-Dollar Refurbishment. But It Wasn't Without Its Own Set Of Hurdles, Including Clogged Toilets, Leaks During Inclement Weather And Malfunctioning Air Conditioning. However, Reports From Passengers In The Ship's Facebook Group Indicated That The Issues Were Largely Resolved By The Third And Fourth Voyages. (And TPG Can Confirm Things On Islander Are Currently Ship-Shape.) Now, Thanks To Nimble Responses From Upper Management, The Crew Seems To Have Found Its Stride, Shows Have Been Fine-Tuned And Food In Many Of The Onboard Restaurants Rivals The Best You'll Find On Any Mainstream Ship, Especially In Terms Of Value. Following First-Sailing Complaints, The Plumbing Now Works As It Should, Leaks Have Been Patched, Cabin Numbers No Longer Appear On Keycards (Something That Was A Security Concern) And Dishes Are Cleared And Tables Wiped Promptly In Public Areas. (This Was A Problem Initially, Particularly In The Buffet.) As Another Testament To How Closely The Line's Executives Monitor What's Working And What's Not, Just Six Months After The Debut Of Islander, Margaritaville At Sea Announced It Would Be Adding Several Of Islander's Standout Bars And Dining Options — Including The Hemisphere Dancer Bar And Far Side Sushi — To Older Sister Paradise. It Will Also Be Updating The Menu At JWB Prime Steakhouse. Speaking Of Paradise, Following The Success Of Its Two-Night Sailings Between Palm Beach, Florida, And Freeport, Bahamas, The Line Has Expanded The Ship's Itineraries To Include Three- And Four-Night Cruises That Have Added The Bahamian City Of Nassau To The Mix. "At The Start Of 2024, We Were Running One Ship From One Port To One Port ..." Ivy Said. "That Was It. With The Launch Of Islander, We've Moved To A New Home Port. We Launched With Just Four- And Five-Night Sailings To Cozumel, Progreso And Key West. What We Heard Very Early On Was 'Hey, Those [Ports] Are Great, But What Else You Got? Where Else Can We Go?'" In Response To Those Questions, Islander Now Visits Ports Across The Bahamas And The Caribbean, Too, With Itineraries Ranging From Four To Seven Nights.

5. The Line Gives Back. In Addition To Being One Of The Most Affordable Cruise Options Afloat, Margaritaville At Sea Has Found Ways To Give Back To The Community. If You're A Fan Of Jimmy Buffett Or Simply Love Exclusive Experiences, Ask At The Shore Excursions Desk About The Hush-Hush Speakeasy Known As QMN. It Stands For Quietly Making Noise, And Part Of The Proceeds Benefit Singing For Change, One Of Jimmy Buffett's Charities.Further, The Cruise Line Has Developed The Heroes Program, Which Provides Free Cruises For Two People (Not Including Taxes And Fees) To Members Of The Military And First Responders As A Way To Thank Them For Their Service And Help Them Unwind. Although Many Other Cruise Lines Offer Military Discounts, Only Margaritaville Offers Cruise Fares For Free.

Bottom Line - Margaritaville At Sea Certainly Lives Up To The Margaritaville Brand's Reputation. It Offers Unpretentious Fun At A Great Price And In A Casual Atmosphere With Terrific Accommodations, Food And Entertainment. Plus, It Reacts Quickly On What Passengers Say They Want. But The Line's Offerings Go Beyond Affordable Fun. They Foster Community By Giving Back And Allowing Passengers To Escape To A Place That's All About Good Vibes — Something Modeled Daily By The People Who Run The Company. As Ivy Parted Ways With TPG Following The Interview, He Lingered Behind, Making His Rounds Through The Dining Room To Greet Passengers And Chat With Crew — Many Of Whom He Knew By Name. With A CEO That Engaged — A Rarity In The Cruise Industry — The Company Is Bound To Provide Something Special.

 

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Ten Reasons To Take A Cruise

 

Ten Reasons To Take A Cruise

By: Author Suzanne Jones 

Posted On 04/01/2025

https://thetravelbunny.com/reasons-to-take-a-cruise/

 

I Thought I’d Be Well Into My Seventies Before I Went On A Cruise But, As Is Often The Case, Life Proved Me Wrong. I Took My First Cruise In My Forties, To The Mediterranean, And Surprised Myself By Loving It. I’ve Been On More Cruises Since And Enjoyed Them Just As Much.

Both Were On Huge Ships So Next Time I’d Like To Try Cruising On Smaller Vessels. A River Cruise Through Europe Is On The Wish List, A Nile Cruise, And A Wildlife Cruise To The Galapagos Islands Is Another Dream. If You’re On The Fence About Setting Sail Here Are My Ten Reasons To Take A Cruise

 

One Trip But Many Destinations

You’ll See Multiple Destinations On One Trip Without Having To Pack And Unpack Every Couple Of Days. Heaven, I Can’t Bear Packing. I Loved Waking Up Each Morning And Pulling Back The Curtains To Discover A Brand New View.

Waking Up In A Brand New Destination Every Morning And Watching The Sun Rise Over The Ocean Is Pretty Much The Perfect Way To Start The Day. Seeing Multiple Destinations On One Trip Is At The Top Of My List For Reasons To Take A Cruise.

 

No Planning

My Day Job Involves Organising Corporate Group Travel So When It Comes To A Personal Trip Not Having To Worry About Travel Planning Is A Major Win. You’ve Just Got To Get Yourself To Port And Board The Ship.

 

No Logistics, Airport Transfers, Finding The Right Hotel Or Booking A Decent Restaurant. Super Stressful – By The Time You’ve Done All That You Need A Holiday. With A Cruise Everything’s Taken Care Of For The Duration Of Your Trip.

 

The Amazing Food

The Food. Is. Amazing. There’s Something To Suit Every Taste On A Cruise And The Food Is All Freshly Prepared Each Day. Most Types Of Cuisine Is Available So They’ll Be No Disputes If One Wants To Eat Italian And Someone Else Fancies Mexican. Dietary Requirements Are Catered For And There Are Healthy Options If You’re On A Health Kick.

There’s A Choice Of Restaurants If You Want A More Intimate Setting From The Main Dining Hall.  You’ll Find An All-Inclusive Cruise Works Best For You If You’re Looking To Feast Your Way Around The Oceans.

 

 

 

Sail In And Sail Away Parties

The First Sail Away Party Is Such A Buzz. The Band’s Playing, The Drinks Are Flowing And The Ship’s Horn Blasts To Announce Your Departure. Just Make Sure You’re Not Standing Next To The Klaxon. People Wave From The Dockside And Your Adventure Begins.

Arrival Parties Are Fun Too And I’ll Always Remember Standing On The Helipad As We Sailed Into Istanbul Past The Hagia Sofia Mosque While The Song ‘Istanbul Not Constantinople’ Blasted Over The PA System. That Was A Lot Of Fun!

 

See The World Without Flying

If You’re Travelling From Your Own Country You Can Completely Avoid Airports And Flights. Airports Are My Least Favourite Places So Any Chance To Avoid The Stresses That An Airport Brings Is A Win In My Book.

If You’re Starting Your Cruise In A Different Country Then You Could Take The Train Over A Day Or Two. Worst Case Scenario Is Just A Short Return Flight For A European Cruise.

 

Views From A Cruise

You’ll See Some Stunning Views From A Cruise And The World From A Different Perspective. One Moment That Stands Out In My Mind Was Sailing Into Valletta, Malta Early One Golden Morning As The Sun Rose Over The City.

 

I’ve Spent My Whole Life Living By The Ocean So Spending Time On My Cabin Balcony Watching The Pull And Push Of The Ocean And The Endless Ocean Views Was Also Very Special To Me.

 

A Cruise Makes A Great Family Holiday

Cruises Make Perfect Family Holidays And Are Especially Good For Extended Family Celebrations And Group Trips. There’s Something To Occupy Every Age Group On A Cruise From Kid’s Clubs For The Little Ones To Cabaret Entertainment, Casinos And Cocktails For Adults. And That’s Before You Even Explore The Destinations You Sail To.

 

Get Off-Grid

This Is A Bit Pot-Kettle-Black. I’m A Travel Blogger So Part Of My Job Is Being Online And Sharing On Social Media About The Places I’m Visiting. However, That’s Part Of Why A Cruise Is Such A Good Way Of Powering Down And Unplugging While On Holiday.

 

I Spend A Huge Amount Of Time On My Mobile Phone Or Online And Being In A Situation Where’s There’s Limited Or No Access To Wi-Fi Means I Will Actually Get Some R&R And Indulge In A Good Book. Having Said That The Wi-Fi On Cruise Ships Is Improving All The Time. On My Recent Viking Ocean Cruise The Wi-Fi Was Included And We Had Great Coverage. Bang Goes That Downtime…

 

 

Get In Shape

A Cruise Doesn’t Have To Be One Giant Pig-Out! It Probably Sounds Strange To Go On A Full On Food-Fest, Chill-By-The-Pool Holiday Only To Try And Get In Shape. The Last Cruise I Went On I Took Early Morning Yoga Classes, Did Some Treadmill Work And Checked Into The Spa. It Was A Treat To Spend Some Time Taking Care Of Myself.

 

Gyms With State-Of-The-Art Equipment, Cross-Trainers, Treadmills And Cycles Along With Various Fitness Classes Are Found On Most Cruise Ships Nowadays.

The Thought Of Taking Daily Yoga And Pilates Classes, Using State-Of-The-Art Gym Equipment And Indulgent Spa Sessions Ticks All The Boxes For Me. Combine That With Food From The Healthy Eating Range On Board And You’ll Go Home Feeling And Looking Fabulous.

 

And Finally

Because Everyone Should Try Everything Once…

Labor Day Sale

Concierge Cruises Travel Agency

(239) 772 1840

www.conciergecruises.biz

conciergecruises@yahoo.com

#ConciergeCruisesTravelAgency

Jewels of the Rhine River Cruise - Zoom Meeting

 You are invited to register for a Zoom webinar!

 

When: Aug 12, 2025 05:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Topic:  See our Jewels of the Rhine River Cruise 2026, with Kent of Mayflower Cruises and Bruce with Concierge Cruises. 

 

Register in advance for this webinar:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_i7DzeF-MSJmftk0Bn-1A-A

 

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Questions? As always contact me at :

okletsgobruce@gmail.com or 3195600133 

See you at the Zoom! 

Bruce Eichacker 

Concierge Cruises 

 

Margaritaville At Sea

 

 

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Margaritaville At Sea  

The Paradise Cruise Activities & Entertainment

Dive Into Adventure Onboard A Floating Island Vacation Where You Call All Of The Shots (Or Margaritas). We’ll Set Sail So You Can Truly Leave Your Worries Behind, Find Your Fun, And Get Into The Margaritaville State-Of-Mind. With So Many Ways To Play, Party, Relax, And Dine, At Sea And On Land, You Can Choose Your Chill. 

SET SAIL WITH US

Find Your Fun And Get Into The Margaritaville State Of Mind, At Sea.

Plan Your Escape

Radio Margaritaville: Live at Sea

 

Tune Into Radio Margaritaville: Live At Sea! This Musical Celebration Of All Things Margaritaville Spans Genres And Decades For Every Kind Of Music Lover!

Tune In

Caribbean Heat

 

Welcome To The Colorful, Sensual, And Electrifying World Of Caribbean Heat! Set To The Hypnotic Beat Of Tropical Music From Around The Region, We’ll Take A Tour Through The Islands As Dancers And Acrobats Light Up The Stage And Leave You Wanting More. 

Feel The Heat

 

Wine Tasting

Explore The History, Flavor, And Styles Of Wines From Europe And Beyond. Learn From Our Experts To Gain A Basic Understanding Of Wine And Pairings.

Sun Deck Activities

Enjoy A Variety Of Live Music Playing Throughout Your Cruise, From Caribbean Bands And Steel Drums To DJ Sets.

 

 

 

 

Sail Away Party

A Party Not To Be Missed! Join Us As We Pull Up The Anchors And Sail Into The Gorgeous Blue Surrounded By Music, Dancing, And A Parrot Friend Or Two.

Mixology & Flair

Learn The Secrets To A Great Drink While You’re Awed By Our Talented Flair Bartenders On The Open Deck.

Game Shows

From Family-Friendly Trivia To Adult-Only Scavenger Hunts And Our Big-Stage Love And Marriage Show, This Is Your Chance To Join In The Fun And Make It An Evening You’ll Always Remember!

Parrot Photos

Take A Picture With Our Famous Margaritaville At Sea Parrot—An All-Ages Photo Moment You Don’t Want To Miss!

Bingo

Let Our Fins Up Crew Guide You To The Buried Treasure With Fan-Favorite Bingo Games, Featured Throughout Both Days Of Sailing.

Karaoke

Join The Party On Stage And Belt Out Your Favorite Hits While The Spotlight Shines. May We Suggest A Few Favorites By A Certain Legend?

White Hot Neon Nights

 

This All-New Theme Night Cranks Up The Current With Pulsing Lights, Electrifying Drinks, Glowing Face Paint, And A Live DJ Spinning Nonstop Beats Deep Into The Night. With This Party Glowing From Top To Bottom, White Hot Neon Nights Is Your Chance To Dance, Shine, And Let Loose. Sailing 3- And 4-Night Weekends!

Wear White. Light Up The Night.

Feeling Lucky?

Our New Margaritaville Casino Features Ultra-Modern Sports Betting, New Slot Machines, And Classic Table Games In A Variety Of Denominations And High-Bet Maximums.