Just got back from this cruise yesterday. My husband and I went for a quick getaway for our anniversary- we live in SW Florida so it was only a 2 1/2 hour drive to Palm Beach. We really enjoyed the entire experience. Our cabin was fairly spacious, the food good, and the drinks strong! We LOVED The Sunset Band in the Euphoria lounge - amazingly talented and performed a wide range of music. Took advantage of the Spa and had massages, loved the oversized, round padded loungers on the main deck. Overall, this cruise provided both fun and relaxation - a perfect option for a little getaway.
For someone who has never been on a cruise this is a great starting point. My husband and I loved our cruise and will go back to see the changes since we were on one of the first cruises and they were still making major changes.
Now that we have gone on the ship .....it was so much fun just laid back and EASY. This was a party vibe but just chilled out. We are locals so we will be on this ship during the next year for many events. Perfect way to celebrate .
My family and I just returned from this cruise yesterday. We decided to book this cruise because it seemed like a great deal, especially since I’m a veteran and my ticket was free. So our total before stepping foot on the ship for 2 adults and 2 kids was $926.76 and that included the Taino Beach Resort day pass ($216). My wife and I got the Boat Drinks package, and we sent the kids to the Jolly Mon kids club for a few hours and paid another hundred bucks or so for that. Those were the only “extra” things we bought and our bill at the end of the cruise was almost as much as the tickets themselves. Taino Beach resort was GREAT and the kids absolutely loved the slide there. We also felt it’s kind of false advertising for them to say 3 day 2 night cruise, when it’s really like a day and a half. Anyway, we enjoyed ourselves, but not so sure if it’s worth it for us, and probably won’t do it again on that ship. We watched this before we cruised too, so thanks for the heads up on some things!
Margaritaviile at Sea is having a Heroes at Sea sale. Military, first responders and educators sail free. I fall into one of those categories, so I booked passage for Spring Break. I added on days at an airbnb after we get back to make it a full fledged vacation. I'm stoked! Thank you for the great review. I now know what to expect.
You're a good storyteller. Not sure how many takes you do or how extensive your editing is but you weave a good, succinct, entertaining narrative. This ship is not for me, but I enjoyed watching the video.
I watch so many of these reviews and I couldn't agree more. The pace, cadence/inflection, and amount of information provided in this presentation is perfect! 🤩
I think this is great for a short getaway. Looked like fun, and if you go with friends it could be even better. Many thanks for checking out all forms of cruising for us.
I took my first cruise because me and a friend were on the west coast with 6 days between one event and another. The displayed cost of the hotels (without the taxes and fees) was more than the cost of that cruise, and the cruise even included all of the food and activities. That one was a no-brainer. We saved at least $200 each that way.
Fascinating review thanks Tony. Once again you demonstrated that your editorial independence and integrity is not for sale despite the generous hospitality provided by the cruise line.
Hi Tony and Jenny I am a 73 year old who loves your videos! My husband and I are Viking true blue sailors, but, love seeing all your adventures. Thank you for all your honestly, no matter the perks, kudos. Love your relaxed, informative, style. Hope to see you and Jenny on a future Viking adventure. Sincerely Joanie
I don't mind cruising on an older ship that has been kept in good repair. The design and decoration is almost irrelevant. Safety is the most important thing. I am glad to see the older ships being repurposed and used, as long as they are seaworthy and safe. Also, it sounds like a good alternative for those who cannot afford a longer cruise but still want to experience the cruise "vibe."
We’re booked on Margaritaville at Sea with our group of parrot head friends in December using the 2 for 1 pricing. Some of our friends can only take long weekend trips, so this works out great!
Tell your friends that they need more vacation, one never gets to the end of their lives wishing they worked more. Life is far too short. Plus working longer hours is not more productive, as one is too tired. Take care and enjoy life.
Tony, in my opinion the age of the ship does not matter, what does matter is that I am sailing. My first was in 1995 on the SS Norway. I enjoyed this video about Margariteville at Sea. Great job!
It's actually the ONLY way to get to the Bahamas without a passport. It's about the same price as flying but way more fun. We have a membership at Viva Wyndham resorts so we take the one-night cruise, stay at our resort for a week, and then take the one-night return cruise home. This cruise does not require a passport; instead you can use your birth certificate and ID.
Terrific breakdown. Not only did this give me info on the cruise, it helped me answer a question I’ve been seeking for a while. Back in 98 or so, I took a “cruise” from somewhere to the Bahamas with my father. We stayed in the Bahamas for a few days before returning. I couldn’t for the life of me remember what line we were on. It must have been the Bahamas Paradise. I just may have to do it again on the Margaritaville ship some time soon. Thanks.
Thanks Tony. A very honest and straightforward review. Sounds like a fun getaway for a couple of days, but not necessarily for someone who is used to 7 days on the popular lines. Well done!
I liked your rundown of the Margaritaville at Sea very much... your all-in costs, experience, and what you thought. Well done, this is why I watch. Thank you, Tony!
Tony I use to live in Florida and my parents would visit from Canada. This was about 30 years ago and we went on some short cruises. We had no money just newly married and my parents would pay for the cruise. One of them was with a small cruise line Dolphine cruises. I am sure they don't exist anymore. One was exactly the cruise you took from Florida to Freeport. I have nothing but fond memories of those short cruises. It is hard to explain but the cruises were different than they are today. The cruise ship was small, the staff was friendly, and we met the first officer and captain. It was just so different than cruising today. Even at that time the cruise ship was old but has nostalgia. I would go on an old small cruise ship anyday. Maybe it holds such fond memories because my parents are still alive but do not cruise or travel anymore.
I used to drive by there everyday on my way to work. I worked for a Pirate Kids cruise that use to be in that port. Let's face it Tony. Not many TH-camrs are going to sail and review their small ship. They aren't stupid and I'm sure they have someone who watches them all. You were tagged just checking in. You did them a solid also Did you find your lost shaker of salt?
We are local and loyal ♡♡ I've met the captain, love the staff. We always have a great time. Living in Jupiter the port is 15 minutes away, the value is amazing. You gave a perfect review!
They have similar cruises on the west coast out of LA. 3 night and 4 night cruises that go to Ensenada, Mexico. The 4 night cruise stops at Catalina Island. One of the 1st cruises I went on was a 3 day cruise where I only needed to take 1 day off from work. It was definitely a party cruise.
Even before this line extended cruise sailings for locals to Palm Beach from GB, there were two other lines that have done so for years. I live in Nassau, and I have flown to GB for such cruises many times, including on this line. This was a very informative video Tony and thanks for sharing 😊
I am a big JB fan, but it would be hard to justify taking this trip unless I lived locally, or used it as transportation to Grand Bahama. I hope this is successful and maybe they will start 3 and 4 night trips.
My first cruise ever, was on a Carnival two-night out of Long Beach to Ensenada, Mexico. It made me fall in love with cruising. The shortest cruise Carnival avails now out of Long Beach is a three night. I live local to the cruise port, so short cruises work for me! I would definitely do Margaritaville, if I were local to that port.
Just came back and I enjoyed it! I was very impressed with the refurbishment of the ship and the food was great!! I took this cruise back in January and February before they upgraded it; however, it is wayyy much better with the improvements.
Not sure I am down with a 1 night/2 day cruise. To me, anything less than 4 nights is just not worth the travel effort it would take me to get to and from the cruise port. Glad you enjoyed it though.
From what I understand you can also book 2 or 4 night stay in Bahamas One night there, stay at a all inclusive for 2 or 4 nights, then one night cruise back
There was a time when small cruises like these would run from South Florida to the Bahamas. That was how my family and I got to Freeport when we moved there for a short time: the Discovery Sun was the name of the ship, and she sailed out of Fort Lauderdale. A fast ferry still runs that route today for Americans and Bahamians alike who regularly travel between the two countries, and it is still not uncommon for these "commuter" cruises to have some added value to them compared to flying today, even if it is just from the meals available or a relaxed limit on cargo.
I was really surprised the first day to see Tony on my husband’s and my anniversary cruise! We stayed on the ship day 2 and visited the spa for massages and spent some time in the pool. Really enjoyed the show, the food and the staff. We had the License to Chill package and were invited to visit the bridge on the second day and met Vlad the second officer. We recommend this cruise for a weekend getaway and plan to book again.
I'm on the Margaritaville now. I also rode on this ship when it was the Classica. Freeport isn't much to see but the beaches are beautiful. I live in West Palm Beach so I didn't have to go far to get to the ship but I wouldn't travel from far away to get here. If you live locally its not a bad way to spend the weekend for the money.
We live in Palm Beach and love this cruise!!! We remember when it used to be a casino cruise night out to sea and back, years ago!! As locals this is a great option for a quick 2 day getaway!!! Your review from our standpoint was spot on!!!
Been wanting to try this ship out. Discovered that I can actually sail on it before my main cruise so I am going to give it a try. Have to kill some vacation time so this is going to work out perfectly.
Heck yeah. I've never cruised but I think this short cruise is perfect intro for me!! Thanks buddy for showing me this cruise ship!! I'm one step closer to cruising!!😉😉😉
Not sure if it would be an accurate viewpoint for a normal cruise…for that I recommend a 7 day cruise. Anything under 7 days will give you a skewed view. More partying and less relaxing vacation.
A short cruise is really not a good intro to cruising in general, and especially this line. A short cruise is often used by folk for a drinking party, Batchelor gigs and with lots of younger folk who might only be able to afford this length of cruising. Like Lori Barber says, take a 7 day to give you a better taste of cruising. We usually do longer than that as we fly a long way to go where we want to. Take care.
This cruise sounds fabulous and fun. I could see people doing b2b. Very enjoyable video. You made it sound so fluid and easy. But I can only imagine how hard you worked to put this flawless video together.
Perfect timing Tony, my best friends and I have booked a trip on Margaritaville in November. We got a buy one get one so our total (pre-cruise) cost is less than $400, our costs were the ocean view cabin and port fees. We live in West Palm Beach, so we are only about 20 minutes from the port in Rivera Beach. I was excited before I saw your review and now I am even more excited! Thanks again for the review, much appreciated! Even more excited about our weekend play date. :-)
I think I would totally use this type of cruise ship as a way to get to the Bahamas rather than flying to the Bahamas just because it sounds like a much more fun experience than getting on an airplane, lol. I could definitely see utilizing it if I lived locally, I would probably do that way more often than I needed to.😆
We enjoy Freeport. All there is to do is lie on a beach and rear or go snorkeling. No big nightlife. We are looking at this as an alternate means of transport since we live in South Florida.
Thank you for such a detailed review! My husband and I booked this for our first wedding anniversary in September and will be staying at one of the all inclusive resorts for two days. So excited know to know what to expect!
Thanks for the review, Tony. I’m going to look at tying a Margaritaville at Sea cruise into one of our longer ones. Maybe get off a Carnival cruise & drive straight to the Port of Palm Beach & board Margaritaville. It would be a nice extension to the vacation.
Thank you Tony I could see people who don't fly really liking this idea for getting to an all inclusive and than back to Florida. I have looked at this for a while and am so glad you did the video.
I think this sounds like a great vibe on this cruise. I'm glad you got the surprise upgrade to the suite. It looked really nice. The Jimmy Buffett theme is something I would enjoy..... laid back and relaxing. Really liked this video. 👍😀
@@andreag9428 surprisingly good! The food was good, the drinks were heavy poured! Rooms were perfectly fine for 2 nights. Entertainment was good - the piano guy is really good, definitely go to that! Overall we had a great time!
My first cruise was on this cruise line about 8 years ago. It was an excellent first cruise experience and one I would definitely recommend. I've recently looked into this cruise for a short weekend getaway but we're spoiled now with the other cruise lines and can get a comparably priced cruise on rcl or carnival to better ports.
Think of how carnival started with only one ship! It’s very smart of them to not only do those short cruises but also include transportation if you wanna get down to a resort and back! It’s very budget friendly and it would be great as a starter cruise if you wanna take friends and family on a cruise. I’m thinking about taking my wife, sister and her two kid’s! There is definitely endless options when it comes to cruising that’s for sure.
Man I appreciate all you do, I cant tell you how much I have learned from you and I am a frequent cruiser. Hopefully I will meet you one day and buy you a drink. Your videos are just the best and are exactly what I am interested in knowing.
Another group of people that would be interested in this cruise, is Jimmy Buffet fans. We've stayed at the Margaritaville rental homes in Kissimmee FL, and at the hotel in Nashville. Loved both places. They were relaxing and you felt like you were at Jimmy's house for a vacation. Gonna try this cruise just for craps and giggles. The part where you can stay on the Bahamas, then jump back on the ship is intriguing. Great review, thank you!
This video has been helpful. I won a discounted trip with this cruise and an all inclusive stay at a resort of my choosing (of 3 resorts). This video was informative in helping me plan a proper budget.
For a short time, back when they had 2 ships, one ship would sail to Grand Bahama and the other would sail to Nassau. You had the choice of which island you wanted. We did the Grand Bahama twice before they started the Nassau option. Now that they're down to only one ship, we wish they would alternate from Grand Bahama to Nassau as an option.
Took this cruise this week. Loved it. Drove 11 hours for it. Paid for valet. Paid for the drink package. Swam with turtles. Drank my liver away. Rooms were perfectly fine. Proof of vaccine is gone. Just go cruise. It’s great. As an unvax, I will forever cruse here.
I think using the cruise ship as a transport between Florida and the Bahamas is a great idea. I could see other cruise lines doing this for other destinations, such as Cozumel.
Thanks for the review, we rode the cruise 5 years ago when it was Bahamas Paradise cruise and it was awesome! I don't fly you were right and you get there pretty quick. Now we stayed five days last time a d now we're planning to stay 8 days in spring of 2023 woohoooo
We cruised on the Bahamas Paradise , & extended our stay in Freeport Bahamas years -(decades) ago. The ship was OK, & we really enjoyed the food & service. The hotel was "Our Lucaya", but I am not sure is it is still under that name. IT was fantastic. But back then, it was a rough sea.
This sounds like a lot of fun to me. I didn’t realize you could stay on the island a few days and then catch the ship a few days later. Sounds like you have a lot more flexibility and can tailor your itinerary to how much time you can spend there.
My daughter & I did this many yrs ago. Same port but the ship was The Bahamas Celebration. We cruised over to Freeport at the time stayed a few days at the hotel being offered (can't remember the name) and came back. We had a good time. I was considering this cruise the same way, but reading other youtubers reviews it would not make any sense. Flights to FL from RDU are ridiculous & I keep hearing about the mold in the bathroom & in the refrigerator. Someone said it best, if you live in FL great cruise for them but not a plane ride for this older ship.
@@sswan9689 , I found out that there’s an Amtrak station about 2 blocks from the ship. The station is called West Palm Beach. That could be a fun option also.
I had wondered what happened to the Carnival Celebration. That was my very 1st cruise back in 1987. Would have been fun to go back on her for a couple of days. Based on your review I'd definitely consider going on the margaritaville cruise cause I love the music 🎶. It always put me in a good mood 😊
This was so interesting! Sounds like some hits and misses, but overall a good time. 👍 As always, Tony, I appreciate your transparency about how you were treated and what things cost. Thanks for that!
This cruise line is considered a ferry by the authorities so there are so different regulations. We sailed with this line in 2016, while on a trip to Orlando, Florida for around $500 for two adults and a child for everything (tickets, parking, gratuities, and a couple of drinks.) We enjoyed it.
Thanks - this was a great review. I would definitely look into that cruise if I had a couple free days in South Florida. Many people don’t realize that cruising can be a cost effective vacation since so much is included in the fare. I looked at going to Myrtle Beach this fall, and the rate for an oceanfront hotel room for four nights was about the same as a seven night oceanview balcony on Oasis. Oasis won! 😀 (We live in VA, so about equidistant from Myrtle Beach and Bayonne, NJ).
Hi Tony - this was such a great video as all of yours are - however this one was extra great ! You are a fair reviewer/TA and your tastes are right up our alley 🙂 The clincher for me to take this cruise is that they do one-way cruises letting you off in the Bahamas for a land stay, then returning days later. I'll go into their website to research these packages as those are very rare to find ! Speaking of which, can you please enlighten me as to other cruise ships that do this same thing and in other geographical areas such as the Caribbean, Mexico, etc.? Thanks again Tony and hope to see your wife in more upcoming videos too as you are an adorable couple ! Cheers and many happy cruises to you both !!! m.
Excellent review I live in Florida and have taken over 40 cruises, actually I’ve lost count I knew about the Bahamas paradise and heard that it was maybe sold but definitely rebranded. I cruise all times compliments of the casino on both Carnival and Royal, I purposely listed carnival first because they offer so much more in the way of complimentary items However your review has me intrigued to at least consider Margaritaville at sea as a potential option. Thanks for your hard work and great insight into cruising I only subscribe to you now for cruising updates , I used to subscribe to a bunch others even your friend Don but find your reviews seem to fit my needs best
Sweet Suite! I am glad you received an upgraded room. You deserve the best and you work hard doing what you do! It is not easy giving cruise news everyday and maybe twice a day. This company will be bless because you gave a fair review and you gave some good options that people didn't even think about. Nice review and I hope they listened to you when it came down to the food at the buffet. Now, I was quite surprised that you have to pay for the pizza. However, if you said it was delicious then maybe it was worth the money. I would only go on that cruise if I lived in Florida. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the info. It answered many questions I had since we are going on the cruise on Monday. There is currently a BOGO sale on the rooms right now through the end of the year. And some dates during the week come with 5 free drinks. We booked before the sale but it is still reasonable. It's the taxes and port charges, fuel charge, parking fee that can add up... and the alcohol!
As a Parrothead since the 90’s, I was so stoked to hear of a Margaritaville cruise line being formed. I eagerly read reviews and looked at videos of some of the initial cruisers. Then looked at schedules and prices, etc. Talked it over with Fiancée. We concluded “Meh.” Can’t justify a two-day cruise, especially as we’d have to get to Palm Beach from the Midwest. Also, it takes me a day or two or three to get out of Real Life Mode into Cruise Mode. The cost was reasonable, until you see all the add-ons. Some reviews were quite negative about the cabins, especially the bathrooms. I will continue to live vicariously through those who jump on this cruise. Sail on, sail on, Sailors! 🌴
Thanks - my first cruise was in 1962 from the Port of Palm Beach (grew up nearby) - overnight to Nassau then we stayed on land for a few day. These were ancient old rust buckets with not much available but we kids thought it was so cool.
Thank you for the comprehensive review. I am not a fan of Mr Buffett, but at all his places there is a good standard of everything. It looks like this cruise fits in the mold. The interesting thing for me is, as you point out, it's a great alternative to a pre cruise hotel. When sailing out of south Florida we normally stay at The Pillars, great little hotel, right now it's $350-$400 a night, for the same price as one night there we could do 2 nights on the ship, it's an interesting alternative for sure.
Wow! Thanks for this review! We looked up the cruise and stay options and they look wonderful. Love Buffet so will likely try this out. Love your reviews!
For the curious, this might be a good test of whether you might like cruising. I really don’t care about the age of a ship, unless it shows it’s age in lack of upkeep. If carpet is replaced, electrical and plumbing are working well, if the air conditioning works, and if there is adequate sound proofing, age doesn’t matter. In fact, it might have its own charm.
I really enjoy your videos. They are fun to watch and your energy level is just awesome. I look forward to your videos each day. I myself recently started cruising again with a total of 5 cruises this year and two booked for next year already. Keep up the great work!!
Great Review Tony. I might want to try this cruise. It is more expensive than my usual Winter 4day cruise on a smaller Carnival Ship from Miami to Cozumel but I usually book the cheapest inside cabin that's only a bit larger than a closet. I usually get a single rate on that, no supplement. This one looks like fun. You have answered almost every question I would have, that's really helpful.
Wonderful information and presentation. It gave me interest in wanting to check it out by what you revealed. A lot of options of “why” to go, but enjoyed learning about it. Was always curious. Thanks for the review.
Very cool, big JB fan here and in Alaska now land tour then next week cruuuuuise time! The way they treated you was great, going to do the cruise soon!
Thanks Tony! Quite interesting. i have some clients that just did this cruise, and I know it is WAAAAY too short and WAAAAAYYY too old for me, but they as JB fans loved it! Appreciate all of the honesty. The pizza robot looked cool!
I am a huge JB fan, so I am thinking this might be a cool add-on for a car trip down to Key West or another cruise like you are doing. Plus, I have a number of old Air Force buddies who live in Florida who are also Buffet fans. We get together for reunions every few years and this would be a great opportunity. I will need to look into the transfers though and see how that works. Tony thanks for the content ... as always.
so i am literally going on this cruise next weekend. i chose it because I have never been on a cruise before and I figure if I hate it then it was just two days no biggy. but if I like it I may be up for a bigger one down the line. i didn't watch your whole video because I don't want to spoil any thing. but I did listen to the end on your thoughts. it is good to know that the value is there if you are just looking for a cruise experience with out being out at sea for a week
Thanks Tony for an awesome review! I am definitely curious about this ship and I will definitely book this cruise with a few friends in the future! Hi Jenny!!
Great review Tony! The feedback I have gotten from fellow Buffett fans who have cruised on that ship is that it is a "work in progress". I think in a year or two they will get things dialed in to be a really awesome Jimmy Buffett Margaritaville at Sea Experience. I've been to 10 Different Margaritaville/Landshark locations so far. Some are better than others. I do hope to make the drive down 1-95 from St Augustine to WPB to take a cruise on that cruise line in the next year or two.
![SAFEPLANET - ดาวเคราะห์ [ THE PLANET ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/4X1XL3I_k3c/mqdefault.jpg)
PLEASE READ - My cost includes the single supplement. So basically I payed double the price except for taxes and gratuities.
Good clarification. Thanks Tony.
Is there an address that I can reach you. I have a question I really don’t want to put on here. Nothing personal.
@@pamlaminsky9898 you can email me at tony@lalidoloca.com
Is that with FL resident discount?
I wondered about that rate, thanks for thr info. I generally sail out of southern Florida except my next. One is out of Galveston.
Just got back from this cruise yesterday. My husband and I went for a quick getaway for our anniversary- we live in SW Florida so it was only a 2 1/2 hour drive to Palm Beach. We really enjoyed the entire experience. Our cabin was fairly spacious, the food good, and the drinks strong! We LOVED The Sunset Band in the Euphoria lounge - amazingly talented and performed a wide range of music. Took advantage of the Spa and had massages, loved the oversized, round padded loungers on the main deck. Overall, this cruise provided both fun and relaxation - a perfect option for a little getaway.
How much did u pay
Did you have to show your covid card and get tested?
The food is included in?
Couldn't you just book back to back to back to back days? Just chain em together for as many days as you want lol
Just booked this cruise for free can't wait to go... TY margaritaville and govx for the free cruise offer
For someone who has never been on a cruise this is a great starting point. My husband and I loved our cruise and will go back to see the changes since we were on one of the first cruises and they were still making major changes.
Now that we have gone on the ship .....it was so much fun just laid back and EASY. This was a party vibe but just chilled out. We are locals so we will be on this ship during the next year for many events. Perfect way to celebrate .
My family and I just returned from this cruise yesterday. We decided to book this cruise because it seemed like a great deal, especially since I’m a veteran and my ticket was free. So our total before stepping foot on the ship for 2 adults and 2 kids was $926.76 and that included the Taino Beach Resort day pass ($216). My wife and I got the Boat Drinks package, and we sent the kids to the Jolly Mon kids club for a few hours and paid another hundred bucks or so for that. Those were the only “extra” things we bought and our bill at the end of the cruise was almost as much as the tickets themselves. Taino Beach resort was GREAT and the kids absolutely loved the slide there. We also felt it’s kind of false advertising for them to say 3 day 2 night cruise, when it’s really like a day and a half. Anyway, we enjoyed ourselves, but not so sure if it’s worth it for us, and probably won’t do it again on that ship. We watched this before we cruised too, so thanks for the heads up on some things!
So awesome that you got upgraded to a suite and that you got to spend time with the captain!
Margaritaviile at Sea is having a Heroes at Sea sale. Military, first responders and educators sail free. I fall into one of those categories, so I booked passage for Spring Break. I added on days at an airbnb after we get back to make it a full fledged vacation. I'm stoked! Thank you for the great review. I now know what to expect.
Me too! Cousin & I are both nurses, we booked 5/5-5/7 then off to St. Augustine. $88 for fees, but awesome deal. Let me know if find a cool excursion.
Does nurses or respiratory therapists qualify for the heros program?
You're a good storyteller. Not sure how many takes you do or how extensive your editing is but you weave a good, succinct, entertaining narrative. This ship is not for me, but I enjoyed watching the video.
I watch so many of these reviews and I couldn't agree more. The pace, cadence/inflection, and amount of information provided in this presentation is perfect! 🤩
I think this is great for a short getaway. Looked like fun, and if you go with friends it could be even better. Many thanks for checking out all forms of cruising for us.
I have to say this ship sounds much better than we thought it would be! Thank you for the review! Go AVS!!!
I took my first cruise because me and a friend were on the west coast with 6 days between one event and another. The displayed cost of the hotels (without the taxes and fees) was more than the cost of that cruise, and the cruise even included all of the food and activities. That one was a no-brainer. We saved at least $200 each that way.
200 isn't much to save on vacation
Fascinating review thanks Tony. Once again you demonstrated that your editorial independence and integrity is not for sale despite the generous hospitality provided by the cruise line.
I think it's also for people who have never cruised before. It's perfect for those who just want a quick getaway.
Hi Tony and Jenny
I am a 73 year old who loves your videos!
My husband and I are Viking true blue sailors, but, love seeing all your adventures.
Thank you for all your honestly, no matter the perks, kudos.
Love your relaxed, informative, style.
Hope to see you and Jenny on a future Viking adventure.
Sincerely
Joanie
I don't mind cruising on an older ship that has been kept in good repair. The design and decoration is almost irrelevant. Safety is the most important thing. I am glad to see the older ships being repurposed and used, as long as they are seaworthy and safe. Also, it sounds like a good alternative for those who cannot afford a longer cruise but still want to experience the cruise "vibe."
We’re booked on Margaritaville at Sea with our group of parrot head friends in December using the 2 for 1 pricing. Some of our friends can only take long weekend trips, so this works out great!
A must do is go to the show!!! Good performers doing an awesome job with story telling and a great mix of Buffet songs!!!
Tell your friends that they need more vacation, one never gets to the end of their lives wishing they worked more. Life is far too short. Plus working longer hours is not more productive, as one is too tired. Take care and enjoy life.
A very interesting mini cruise. Sounds fascinating. Very nicely done.
Tony, in my opinion the age of the ship does not matter, what does matter is that I am sailing. My first was in 1995 on the SS Norway.
I enjoyed this video about Margariteville at Sea. Great job!
It's actually the ONLY way to get to the Bahamas without a passport. It's about the same price as flying but way more fun. We have a membership at Viva Wyndham resorts so we take the one-night cruise, stay at our resort for a week, and then take the one-night return cruise home. This cruise does not require a passport; instead you can use your birth certificate and ID.
Terrific breakdown. Not only did this give me info on the cruise, it helped me answer a question I’ve been seeking for a while. Back in 98 or so, I took a “cruise” from somewhere to the Bahamas with my father. We stayed in the Bahamas for a few days before returning. I couldn’t for the life of me remember what line we were on. It must have been the Bahamas Paradise. I just may have to do it again on the Margaritaville ship some time soon. Thanks.
Thanks Tony. A very honest and straightforward review. Sounds like a fun getaway for a couple of days, but not necessarily for someone who is used to 7 days on the popular lines. Well done!
I liked your rundown of the Margaritaville at Sea very much... your all-in costs, experience, and what you thought. Well done, this is why I watch. Thank you, Tony!
Tony I use to live in Florida and my parents would visit from Canada. This was about 30 years ago and we went on some short cruises. We had no money just newly married and my parents would pay for the cruise. One of them was with a small cruise line Dolphine cruises. I am sure they don't exist anymore. One was exactly the cruise you took from Florida to Freeport. I have nothing but fond memories of those short cruises. It is hard to explain but the cruises were different than they are today. The cruise ship was small, the staff was friendly, and we met the first officer and captain. It was just so different than cruising today. Even at that time the cruise ship was old but has nostalgia. I would go on an old small cruise ship anyday. Maybe it holds such fond memories because my parents are still alive but do not cruise or travel anymore.
I used to drive by there everyday on my way to work. I worked for a Pirate Kids cruise that use to be in that port.
Let's face it Tony. Not many TH-camrs are going to sail and review their small ship. They aren't stupid and I'm sure they have someone who watches them all. You were tagged just checking in. You did them a solid also
Did you find your lost shaker of salt?
We are local and loyal ♡♡ I've met the captain, love the staff. We always have a great time. Living in Jupiter the port is 15 minutes away, the value is amazing. You gave a perfect review!
They have similar cruises on the west coast out of LA. 3 night and 4 night cruises that go to Ensenada, Mexico. The 4 night cruise stops at Catalina Island. One of the 1st cruises I went on was a 3 day cruise where I only needed to take 1 day off from work. It was definitely a party cruise.
Even before this line extended cruise sailings for locals to Palm Beach from GB, there were two other lines that have done so for years. I live in Nassau, and I have flown to GB for such cruises many times, including on this line. This was a very informative video Tony and thanks for sharing 😊
I am a big JB fan, but it would be hard to justify taking this trip unless I lived locally, or used it as transportation to Grand Bahama. I hope this is successful and maybe they will start 3 and 4 night trips.
My first cruise ever, was on a Carnival two-night out of Long Beach to Ensenada, Mexico. It made me fall in love with cruising. The shortest cruise Carnival avails now out of Long Beach is a three night. I live local to the cruise port, so short cruises work for me! I would definitely do Margaritaville, if I were local to that port.
Carnival Radiance does have one 2-nt cruise Long Beach-Ensanada-Long Beach on 10/14/22.
Just came back and I enjoyed it! I was very impressed with the refurbishment of the ship and the food was great!! I took this cruise back in January and February before they upgraded it; however, it is wayyy much better with the improvements.
Thanks Tony! We booked it at a 2-for-1 price, total of $360! Looking forward to it!
Not sure I am down with a 1 night/2 day cruise. To me, anything less than 4 nights is just not worth the travel effort it would take me to get to and from the cruise port. Glad you enjoyed it though.
The cruise is 2 nights.
The cruise is 3day 2night
From what I understand you can also book 2 or 4 night stay in Bahamas
One night there, stay at a all inclusive for 2 or 4 nights, then one night cruise back
There was a time when small cruises like these would run from South Florida to the Bahamas. That was how my family and I got to Freeport when we moved there for a short time: the Discovery Sun was the name of the ship, and she sailed out of Fort Lauderdale. A fast ferry still runs that route today for Americans and Bahamians alike who regularly travel between the two countries, and it is still not uncommon for these "commuter" cruises to have some added value to them compared to flying today, even if it is just from the meals available or a relaxed limit on cargo.
I was really surprised the first day to see Tony on my husband’s and my anniversary cruise! We stayed on the ship day 2 and visited the spa for massages and spent some time in the pool. Really enjoyed the show, the food and the staff. We had the License to Chill package and were invited to visit the bridge on the second day and met Vlad the second officer. We recommend this cruise for a weekend getaway and plan to book again.
I'm on the Margaritaville now. I also rode on this ship when it was the Classica. Freeport isn't much to see but the beaches are beautiful. I live in West Palm Beach so I didn't have to go far to get to the ship but I wouldn't travel from far away to get here. If you live locally its not a bad way to spend the weekend for the money.
We live in Palm Beach and love this cruise!!! We remember when it used to be a casino cruise night out to sea and back, years ago!! As locals this is a great option for a quick 2 day getaway!!! Your review from our standpoint was spot on!!!
Yup, do you remember the Palm Beach Princess?
@@maryloulong6789 Yes ma’am that brings back some great memories!
Been wanting to try this ship out. Discovered that I can actually sail on it before my main cruise so I am going to give it a try. Have to kill some vacation time so this is going to work out perfectly.
Heck yeah. I've never cruised but I think this short cruise is perfect intro for me!! Thanks buddy for showing me this cruise ship!! I'm one step closer to cruising!!😉😉😉
Not sure if it would be an accurate viewpoint for a normal cruise…for that I recommend a 7 day cruise. Anything under 7 days will give you a skewed view. More partying and less relaxing vacation.
A short cruise is really not a good intro to cruising in general, and especially this line. A short cruise is often used by folk for a drinking party, Batchelor gigs and with lots of younger folk who might only be able to afford this length of cruising. Like Lori Barber says, take a 7 day to give you a better taste of cruising. We usually do longer than that as we fly a long way to go where we want to. Take care.
Same!
This cruise sounds fabulous and fun. I could see people doing b2b.
Very enjoyable video. You made it sound so fluid and easy. But I can only imagine how hard you worked to put this flawless video together.
Perfect timing Tony, my best friends and I have booked a trip on Margaritaville in November. We got a buy one get one so our total (pre-cruise) cost is less than $400, our costs were the ocean view cabin and port fees. We live in West Palm Beach, so we are only about 20 minutes from the port in Rivera Beach. I was excited before I saw your review and now I am even more excited! Thanks again for the review, much appreciated! Even more excited about our weekend play date. :-)
I think I would totally use this type of cruise ship as a way to get to the Bahamas rather than flying to the Bahamas just because it sounds like a much more fun experience than getting on an airplane, lol. I could definitely see utilizing it if I lived locally, I would probably do that way more often than I needed to.😆
I would take this bs. Flying.
There is not much at Freeport Bahamas
@@littleone363 We've been once. The port is very industrial and had to take a van to the other side of the island for anything to do.
We enjoy Freeport. All there is to do is lie on a beach and rear or go snorkeling. No big nightlife. We are looking at this as an alternate means of transport since we live in South Florida.
Me and my daughter flew space available to the Bahamas and got bumped off our flight, soooo this was a great back up plan. We took the ship back.
Thank you for such a detailed review! My husband and I booked this for our first wedding anniversary in September and will be staying at one of the all inclusive resorts for two days. So excited know to know what to expect!
YIKES!!!! That buffet reminded me of something at comfort suites
Thanks for the review, Tony. I’m going to look at tying a Margaritaville at Sea cruise into one of our longer ones. Maybe get off a Carnival cruise & drive straight to the Port of Palm Beach & board Margaritaville. It would be a nice extension to the vacation.
Thank you Tony I could see people who don't fly really liking this idea for getting to an all inclusive and than back to Florida. I have looked at this for a while and am so glad you did the video.
Oh WoW! The cabin was nicer than I thought for an older cruise
I think this sounds like a great vibe on this cruise. I'm glad you got the surprise upgrade to the suite. It looked really nice. The Jimmy Buffett theme is something I would enjoy..... laid back and relaxing. Really liked this video. 👍😀
This ship is absolutely for us! We love the older smaller ships! Thank you, so much, for going on her and this review! Think we will give it a try!
I am going on this cruise in 2 weeks! So glad I found your video! I’m way more excited than I was before!
How was it? I’m booked for January
@@andreag9428 surprisingly good! The food was good, the drinks were heavy poured! Rooms were perfectly fine for 2 nights. Entertainment was good - the piano guy is really good, definitely go to that! Overall we had a great time!
My first cruise was on this cruise line about 8 years ago. It was an excellent first cruise experience and one I would definitely recommend. I've recently looked into this cruise for a short weekend getaway but we're spoiled now with the other cruise lines and can get a comparably priced cruise on rcl or carnival to better ports.
Thank you for all the insight to your cruise. Looks like you had a wonderful time with friends. Great show, Mr. Tony, as always.
Think of how carnival started with only one ship! It’s very smart of them to not only do those short cruises but also include transportation if you wanna get down to a resort and back! It’s very budget friendly and it would be great as a starter cruise if you wanna take friends and family on a cruise. I’m thinking about taking my wife, sister and her two kid’s! There is definitely endless options when it comes to cruising that’s for sure.
Man I appreciate all you do, I cant tell you how much I have learned from you and I am a frequent cruiser. Hopefully I will meet you one day and buy you a drink. Your videos are just the best and are exactly what I am interested in knowing.
Another group of people that would be interested in this cruise, is Jimmy Buffet fans. We've stayed at the Margaritaville rental homes in Kissimmee FL, and at the hotel in Nashville. Loved both places. They were relaxing and you felt like you were at Jimmy's house for a vacation. Gonna try this cruise just for craps and giggles. The part where you can stay on the Bahamas, then jump back on the ship is intriguing. Great review, thank you!
This video has been helpful. I won a discounted trip with this cruise and an all inclusive stay at a resort of my choosing (of 3 resorts). This video was informative in helping me plan a proper budget.
Excellent and comprehensive review of the Margaritaville at Sea cruise!
For a short time, back when they had 2 ships, one ship would sail to Grand Bahama and the other would sail to Nassau. You had the choice of which island you wanted. We did the Grand Bahama twice before they started the Nassau option. Now that they're down to only one ship, we wish they would alternate from Grand Bahama to Nassau as an option.
Took this cruise this week. Loved it. Drove 11 hours for it. Paid for valet. Paid for the drink package. Swam with turtles. Drank my liver away. Rooms were perfectly fine. Proof of vaccine is gone. Just go cruise. It’s great. As an unvax, I will forever cruse here.
I think using the cruise ship as a transport between Florida and the Bahamas is a great idea. I could see other cruise lines doing this for other destinations, such as Cozumel.
Just spent 5 days in Vegas. I’ll never complain about the cost of cruising again - you get so much more value for your money on a cruise.
I have been keeping an eye out for a review from someone whose videos I know will be good and informative. Great video, Tony! Thanks!
Thanks for the review, we rode the cruise 5 years ago when it was Bahamas Paradise cruise and it was awesome! I don't fly you were right and you get there pretty quick. Now we stayed five days last time a d now we're planning to stay 8 days in spring of 2023 woohoooo
We are cruising on her in 2023 for our all inclusive trip. Really looking forward to it. Thanks for the review Tony!!
We cruised on the Bahamas Paradise , & extended our stay in Freeport Bahamas years -(decades) ago. The ship was OK, & we really enjoyed the food & service. The hotel was "Our Lucaya", but I am not sure is it is still under that name. IT was fantastic. But back then, it was a rough sea.
Excellent review. You were accurate without bias. I’m sure the comps were nice but you were very fair. Great insight Tony. See you on the Lido! Bye…
This sounds like a lot of fun to me. I didn’t realize you could stay on the island a few days and then catch the ship a few days later. Sounds like you have a lot more flexibility and can tailor your itinerary to how much time you can spend there.
My daughter & I did this many yrs ago. Same port but the ship was The Bahamas Celebration. We cruised over to Freeport at the time stayed a few days at the hotel being offered (can't remember the name) and came back. We had a good time. I was considering this cruise the same way, but reading other youtubers reviews it would not make any sense. Flights to FL from RDU are ridiculous & I keep hearing about the mold in the bathroom & in the refrigerator. Someone said it best, if you live in FL great cruise for them but not a plane ride for this older ship.
@@sswan9689 , I found out that there’s an Amtrak station about 2 blocks from the ship. The station is called West Palm Beach. That could be a fun option also.
I had wondered what happened to the Carnival Celebration. That was my very 1st cruise back in 1987. Would have been fun to go back on her for a couple of days. Based on your review I'd definitely consider going on the margaritaville cruise cause I love the music 🎶. It always put me in a good mood 😊
Been waiting for this! Let's go!
This was so interesting! Sounds like some hits and misses, but overall a good time. 👍 As always, Tony, I appreciate your transparency about how you were treated and what things cost. Thanks for that!
This cruise line is considered a ferry by the authorities so there are so different regulations. We sailed with this line in 2016, while on a trip to Orlando, Florida for around $500 for two adults and a child for everything (tickets, parking, gratuities, and a couple of drinks.) We enjoyed it.
Thanks - this was a great review. I would definitely look into that cruise if I had a couple free days in South Florida.
Many people don’t realize that cruising can be a cost effective vacation since so much is included in the fare. I looked at going to Myrtle Beach this fall, and the rate for an oceanfront hotel room for four nights was about the same as a seven night oceanview balcony on Oasis. Oasis won! 😀 (We live in VA, so about equidistant from Myrtle Beach and Bayonne, NJ).
Hi Tony - this was such a great video as all of yours are - however this one was extra great ! You are a fair reviewer/TA and your tastes are right up our alley 🙂 The clincher for me to take this cruise is that they do one-way cruises letting you off in the Bahamas for a land stay, then returning days later. I'll go into their website to research these packages as those are very rare to find ! Speaking of which, can you please enlighten me as to other cruise ships that do this same thing and in other geographical areas such as the Caribbean, Mexico, etc.? Thanks again Tony and hope to see your wife in more upcoming videos too as you are an adorable couple ! Cheers and many happy cruises to you both !!! m.
Excellent review
I live in Florida and have taken over 40 cruises, actually I’ve lost count I knew about the Bahamas paradise and heard that it was maybe sold but definitely rebranded. I cruise all times compliments of the casino on both Carnival and Royal, I purposely listed carnival first because they offer so much more in the way of complimentary items
However your review has me intrigued to at least consider Margaritaville at sea as a potential option.
Thanks for your hard work and great insight into cruising
I only subscribe to you now for cruising updates , I used to subscribe to a bunch others even your friend Don but find your reviews seem to fit my needs best
Sweet Suite! I am glad you received an upgraded room. You deserve the best and you work hard doing what you do! It is not easy giving cruise news everyday and maybe twice a day. This company will be bless because you gave a fair review and you gave some good options that people didn't even think about. Nice review and I hope they listened to you when it came down to the food at the buffet. Now, I was quite surprised that you have to pay for the pizza. However, if you said it was delicious then maybe it was worth the money. I would only go on that cruise if I lived in Florida. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the info. It answered many questions I had since we are going on the cruise on Monday. There is currently a BOGO sale on the rooms right now through the end of the year. And some dates during the week come with 5 free drinks. We booked before the sale but it is still reasonable. It's the taxes and port charges, fuel charge, parking fee that can add up... and the alcohol!
Looks like a pretty cool experience. Love the idea of a two day warmup cruise before heading out to a 7 day to st Thomas.
As a Parrothead since the 90’s, I was so stoked to hear of a Margaritaville cruise line being formed.
I eagerly read reviews and looked at videos of some of the initial cruisers. Then looked at schedules and prices, etc. Talked it over with Fiancée.
We concluded “Meh.” Can’t justify a two-day cruise, especially as we’d have to get to Palm Beach from the Midwest. Also, it takes me a day or two or three to get out of Real Life Mode into Cruise Mode. The cost was reasonable, until you see all the add-ons. Some reviews were quite negative about the cabins, especially the bathrooms.
I will continue to live vicariously through those who jump on this cruise. Sail on, sail on, Sailors! 🌴
Thanks again Tony for doing this review of this ship 🚢. It would be nice for a weekend getaway.
Very interesting Tony, thanks.
@@michael8596 over where?
Thanks - my first cruise was in 1962 from the Port of Palm Beach (grew up nearby) - overnight to Nassau then we stayed on land for a few day. These were ancient old rust buckets with not much available but we kids thought it was so cool.
Thank you for the comprehensive review. I am not a fan of Mr Buffett, but at all his places there is a good standard of everything. It looks like this cruise fits in the mold. The interesting thing for me is, as you point out, it's a great alternative to a pre cruise hotel. When sailing out of south Florida we normally stay at The Pillars, great little hotel, right now it's $350-$400 a night, for the same price as one night there we could do 2 nights on the ship, it's an interesting alternative for sure.
Wow! Thanks for this review! We looked up the cruise and stay options and they look wonderful. Love Buffet so will likely try this out. Love your reviews!
For the curious, this might be a good test of whether you might like cruising. I really don’t care about the age of a ship, unless it shows it’s age in lack of upkeep. If carpet is replaced, electrical and plumbing are working well, if the air conditioning works, and if there is adequate sound proofing, age doesn’t matter. In fact, it might have its own charm.
So glad that I was able to make it down for that short trip... A great little gem of a ship with some great friends...
If I was in the area, I for sure would give it a try. I love Jimmy Buffet! Sounds like a fun little get away.
I really enjoy your videos. They are fun to watch and your energy level is just awesome. I look forward to your videos each day. I myself recently started cruising again with a total of 5 cruises this year and two booked for next year already. Keep up the great work!!
I enjoy your insight into the cruise world.
Great Review Tony. I might want to try this cruise. It is more expensive than my usual Winter 4day cruise on a smaller Carnival Ship from Miami to Cozumel but I usually book the cheapest inside cabin that's only a bit larger than a closet. I usually get a single rate on that, no supplement. This one looks like fun. You have answered almost every question I would have, that's really helpful.
Wonderful information and presentation. It gave me interest in wanting to check it out by what you revealed. A lot of options of “why” to go, but enjoyed learning about it. Was always curious. Thanks for the review.
Thanks for the great overview! Will definitely check this cruise option for a mini break away when we are next in Florida.
Cheers,
James HS
Very cool, big JB fan here and in Alaska now land tour then next week cruuuuuise time! The way they treated you was great, going to do the cruise soon!
Thanks Tony! Quite interesting. i have some clients that just did this cruise, and I know it is WAAAAY too short and WAAAAAYYY too old for me, but they as JB fans loved it! Appreciate all of the honesty. The pizza robot looked cool!
You sir, deserve a medal!
I am a huge JB fan, so I am thinking this might be a cool add-on for a car trip down to Key West or another cruise like you are doing. Plus, I have a number of old Air Force buddies who live in Florida who are also Buffet fans. We get together for reunions every few years and this would be a great opportunity. I will need to look into the transfers though and see how that works. Tony thanks for the content ... as always.
Gettting ready to "sail away" on The Margaritaville @ Sea in two months; thank you for a succinct visual preview of what to expect; looking forward.
so i am literally going on this cruise next weekend. i chose it because I have never been on a cruise before and I figure if I hate it then it was just two days no biggy. but if I like it I may be up for a bigger one down the line. i didn't watch your whole video because I don't want to spoil any thing. but I did listen to the end on your thoughts. it is good to know that the value is there if you are just looking for a cruise experience with out being out at sea for a week
Thanks Tony for an awesome review! I am definitely curious about this ship and I will definitely book this cruise with a few friends in the future! Hi Jenny!!
Super excited when I saw you reviewed this! Great job and looked like a fun two day
Great review Tony! The feedback I have gotten from fellow Buffett fans who have cruised on that ship is that it is a "work in progress". I think in a year or two they will get things dialed in to be a really awesome Jimmy Buffett Margaritaville at Sea Experience. I've been to 10 Different Margaritaville/Landshark locations so far. Some are better than others. I do hope to make the drive down 1-95 from St Augustine to WPB to take a cruise on that cruise line in the next year or two.