My Chill Adventure: Margaritaville at Sea

Islander Cruise January 2025

Hey friends! I just got back from an incredible (and budget-friendly!) 4-day cruise to Cozumel aboard Margaritaville at Sea Islander with some of my travel agent pals. We were a group of six meeting from all over the country—four travel agents and two friends—making it a perfect mix of work and play.

The trip came together for me thanks to some clever cost-cutting strategies, so I thought I’d share the highlights and tips for anyone considering this cruise—or just looking for ways to stretch a travel budget.

Getting There Without Breaking the Bank

First things first: Flights! My roundtrip Frontier ticket from Denver to Orlando was only $78. Timing, flexibility and a good friend with a spare room were key—midnight flight out, late afternoon flight back, both direct. I skipped baggage fees by packing smart in a large personal item bag (pro tip: laundry at friends available mid-week helps).

Once in Orlando, I used the local bus and train system to get to my friend’s house in DeBary for just $4 roundtrip. She picked me up 10 minutes from her place, saving us both time, gas, and tolls.

Cruise Day: Smooth Sailing From the Start

Three of us carpooled from my friends house in DeBary to Tampa, about a 2–3 hour drive with traffic. Parking was a bit of an adventure since the main garage was closed, but we found a great alternative with 241 Shuttle Service for $60. They shuttled us right to the port, where check-in was a breeze—about 30 minutes from start to finish.

Port Day in Cozumel

Our port day in Cozumel started early with breakfast at the buffet. It was a little crowded, but we found a table and enjoyed our meal before heading off the ship around 9 AM for us. Getting off the boat was quick and easy, and soon we were at the end of the port.

We took a cab downtown for $20 group rate and spent the morning walking around, soaking in the vibrant local culture. While some places were closed (it was Sunday), we found plenty to enjoy, including a fun tequila tasting shop.

We ended up at the downtown Señor Frog's, where we had drinks, appetizers, and even a little “shot” entertainment at our table—it was a blast!

On our way back to the ship, we stopped at the end of the port where there’s an entry point into the warm Caribbean waters. Steps lead down to a flattish rock slab, perfect for a quick dip or a longer soak in the sunshine. This was my favorite part of the trip. After our swim, we breezed through the face scanner with our cruise card, headed up to the pool, and enjoyed the 80-degree, rest of the day sunny weather, we sailed away at 4 pm.

Onboard Vibes and Dining

As soon as we boarded, the buffet was open, along with a Cheeseburger in Paradise grill, a Mexican Cutie taco bar, and a pizza spot. The cheeseburgers and fries were a always a hit, and I loved the Caesar salad in the main dining room, I had it every night along with some amazing soups and breads. There are limited choices on this ship compared to other larger and more established cruise lines. Food was plentiful and I often found something I liked, though things were not always warm and not always cooked properly but staff were eager to please and make everything right.

I loved my room! I scored a $40 upgrade from a mid-ship Breezy Balcony to an aft balcony, which included an Islander main dining upgrade. Having my own room made the trip even more relaxing. Our rooms were scattered, and we enjoyed both group time and personal time. With limited means of communication you need to make advance plans, there are in ship phones in each room for calling cabins if needed.

Casino Fun

The non-smoking casino onboard had a good variety of slots and table games. If you’re planning to play, make sure to get a player’s card to track your activity, you could earn a free cruise offer—your room key won’t work. You’ll also need cash to play, and there’s usually only one cashout line, so it can get long. Save your ticket for daytime unless it’s the last day, don’t forget to cash it in!

Cruise Highlights

Dining: Dinner in the Islander dining room was our groups nightly tradition. Dress is casual, lot’s of groups were on board, many with matching t-shirts and themes. Though there were a few hiccups with food temperature and selection, I always found something I enjoyed. The Caesar salad (dressing on the side for more control!) and Tiramisu were my go-tos. I liked the last nights Flat Iron Steak, med rare. I also heard great reviews for the chicken fingers on the kids menu. The wait staff will make sure you are pleased. Juices in the morning and Lemonade, Tea and water available at all meals

Entertainment: The Conky Tonk show was my favorite! It had everything—live music, audience singalongs, amazing acrobatics, the fiddle player was great with the live band. The tropical-themed show on the last night was fun too, though I was pretty worn out by then and ready to go to bed for our early departure and I missed the band. Both shows were musicals with dancing. I skipped the comedian and magic show. I preferred the balcony.

Relaxation: It was easy to drop off our bags then be pampered and waited on after crossing the gang plank. Once we hit warmer weather, I spent hours on my balcony, soaking up the Gulf breeze and starry skies. No Wi-Fi meant a detox from YouTube and the internet, but it was nice to unplug. I had a few books downloaded to my Kindle and watched some B & W old movies on the TV, so very relaxing.

The Journey Back

The last night, our captain got us back quickly dodging the predicted morning fog. We sailed back under the Tampa Bay Sunshine Skyview Bridge around 10:20 PM, we were at the Carribean Variety show and it was raining out so no big deck party coming home like we had going out at sunset the other night. Plus we were tired. Disembarkation was organized by floor, the 3 of us heading northwest home had a leisurely buffet and were off the ship by 9 AM. After a quick shuttle ride with 241 Shuttle to our waiting car, we were back on the road and home by late morning.

Final Thoughts

Would I sail on Margaritaville at Sea Islander again? Absolutely—but I’d opt for a 6–7 day itinerary with a Key West port next time and would love to do it as a group. For the price, it’s a great option, but I always remind clients: budget cruises come with budget expectations and to be prepared for what is included in your fare.

The friendly staff, fun entertainment, and my incredible aft balcony made this trip great for me. I managed to gain a few pounds despite all the extra walking, I always found something I liked and this ship truly gives you the license to chill!

If you’re curious about this cruise or need help planning your next adventure, I’d love to chat!

Until next time,
Vicki