The Parrothead Perspective: A Review of Margaritaville at Sea Paradise

Margaritaville at Sea has gone through two extensive dry-dock updates since 2022 and since my first sailing on the ship. I have now sailed three times on Paradise, and each time I have recognized the improvements throughout. The staff is one of the friendliest I have experienced on a ship—it is fun to watch them interact with the guests. A lot of guests are repeat sailors, so they become like family!

Celebrating America 250 aboard Paradise

Despite recently sailing on a sold-out cruise, we were always able to get a lounge chair near the pools, or a seat in the theater. The theater shows created specifically for Margaritaville at Sea are fun and lively, with some of the best dancers and aerialists that I have seen at sea! With only one show per night, I do suggest getting there a little before showtime to get seats together, especially for larger groups.

After the shows, most cruise lines have one or two things going on for adults. On any given night on Paradise, there were at least three late-night activities happeningHemisphere Nightclub for those who want to dance the night away, live band music in Euphoria Lounge for a more laid-back energy, or a game-show style activity for laughs and fun. Something for everyone!

During their most recent dry-dock, Paradise has adopted food-hall-style dining for their buffet. The High Tide Market has rid the slow-moving single buffet line and now showcases different food stations, such as a popular Frank and Lola’s Pizzeria, a sandwich shop, a taco bar, and my favorite Cheeseburger in Paradise station. You can also find the soft-serve ice cream outside near Cheeseburger in Paradise.

Fins is the free dining option with a rotating menu. I suggest planning Fins for when they open at 5:45 to get the best service. A must-try: the key lime sponge cake!

The best bar staff, especially Edy!

The rooms are super spacious, some of the largest rooms I have had on cruises. They are in the process of updating the rooms with new flooring, specifically in the bathrooms. A thing to note: Being an older ship, I found the A/C is not as strong as newer ships throughout the ship and in the cabin. I recommend bringing a fan if that is a concern for sleeping.

Margaritaville at Sea Paradise offers shorter cruises, perfect for a weekend getaway or budget travelers. I highly recommend trying it and adopting the laid-back tropical lifestyle of Jimmy Buffett.

Towel animals from our room steward, Essau

Always get the Express Pass! I will not cruise on MAS without it. On my last sailing, once the ship was cleared to disembark, we were off and through customs in 15 minutes with an express pass (and carrying off our luggage).

Dining at Fins, I suggest getting in line around 5:30 or 5:45 to be one of the first groups seated. The dining room is large, but, with no assigned times, I found that going later incurs more of a wait both for a table and during the dining service itself.

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