When a friend heard I was going on a Margaritaville at Sea Islander cruise, she asked, “Why?”

Sure, I had cruised on the same ship last year but I figured there would be so much more to learn and enjoy.

And there might be even more wonderful new experiences since I last cruised. I discovered there certainly are. Always something new to see and do on a cruise.

For one thing, I now have an impressive certificate to show that I successfully completed the Changes in Latitude Wine Tasting. I also learned how to make some tasty cocktails at a fun cocktail class.

And the ship’s first stop was in Key West, Florida, where I visited some of Jimmy Buffett’s old stomping grounds. Seemed a most appropriate way to start the cruise. After all, it was Key West where Margaritaville singer Jimmy Buffett was said to have found his voice.

                                     Visiting Jimmy Buffett Sites in Key West

Moving to Key West in 1971, Jimmy Buffett played for free on the streets and in the bars. At Captain Tony’s Saloon, Jimmy was frequently paid in tequila for performing.

Jimmy later immortalized the bar and Captain Tony in his song,” Last Mango in Paris.” The building for Captain Tony’s Saloon has a long history.

Constructed in 1851, the building was once an ice house and Key West morgue. The building went through several different lives – cigar factory, speakeasy, gambling joint, one-time favorite haunt of writer Ernest Hemingway and more.

In 1958, charter boat Captain Tony Tarracino bought the building and now it remains the oldest bar in Florida.

I also stopped at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Café at 500 Duval Street in Key West. Was told that Jimmy often would drop by and surprise people with some music. Never too rich and famous to forget his fans.

The beloved singer, songwriter, musician, author and businessman died Sept. 1, 2023, at age 76 after a long fight with a rare skin cancer. But his Margaritaville at Sea Islander is filled with many touches of his songs, writings and businesses.

Christened in June 2024, the 2,650-passenger Islander spans 12 decks with 1,100 staterooms plus 12 eateries and 13 bars and lounges, each with its own cocktail menu.

                                                Birth of Margaritaville

One of Jimmy’s most popular songs was “Margaritaville” and the Islander’s exterior is brightly painted with island touches and the words “It’s 5 o’Clock Somewhere.” Anyone who sees Islander docked someplace is not going to doubt whose ship it is.

The tale goes that Jimmy was in Austin when the inspiration struck for “Margaritaville.” He and a friend had stopped for lunch at a Mexican restaurant before she dropped him at the airport for a flight home to Key West. They got to drinking margaritas.

Jimmy also got to thinking how it would be nice to have a real place named Margaritaville where, as the song says, “there’s booze in the blender and soon it will render that frozen concoction that helps me hang on.”

On the plane, Jimmy wrote part of his 1977 hit song. He mostly finished it while driving down to the Keys where a wreck on Seven Mile Bridge stopped traffic for about an hour. Jimmy finalized “Margaritaville” and performed it the next night in a Key West bar.

Margaritaville at Sea started with the Paradise ship in April 2022. Then came Islander. Next will be the 3,450-passenger Beachcomber to be launched in 2027. Beachcomber will have 13 passenger decks and 1,340 staterooms.

                                                 My Islander Cruise

My weeklong cruise on Islander left Tampa, Florida, with stops in Key West, Costa Maya, Belize and Cozumel. Each stop had a nice variety of shore excursions.

Cruise ships often have a beautiful décor but not a significant theme like Margaritaville at Sea does. Throughout the ship are loving reminders of the man who portrayed a lifestyle described as “island escapism.”

Palm trees, parrots, surfboards, bold bright colors, upside-down margarita glass chandeliers and painted beach scenes make the ship seem like an island getaway.

The main lobby is also home to a towering 14-foot flip-flop sculpture with a pop-top under it. The sculpture is a reference to Margaritaville lyrics, “Stepped on a pop-top, blew out my flip-flop.”

                                                    My Stateroom

My stateroom 7195 was a beauty with a long sofa, coffee table, desk, flat screen TV, mini-fridge and plentiful storage space. The roomy bathroom had two sinks, a jetted bathtub, a shower and dispensers with shampoo, conditioner, soap and lotion.

A large island scene with a palm tree and ocean covered the wall over the tub, making it feel as though I were floating on some private island when I took a bath.

Floor-to-ceiling windows offered expansive views with sliding glass doors to one of the largest ship balconies I’ve ever seen with two chairs, a table and a recliner.

As a top-tier suite, I also received extras that included priority boarding, priority debarkation, access to the concierge lounge, ship tours, specialty dining, reserved theater seats and a complimentary pool-side cabana for a day.

My balcony

                                                 Shipboard Activities

Islander has a casino, theater, three swimming pool areas, spa, kids’ club, arcades, hot tubs, fitness center, shops and plenty of quiet spaces to soak up the Caribbean sun.

Games and activities include corn hole, mini-golf, pickleball, scavenger hunts, craft classes, karaoke, line dance and salsa dance classes and much more.

Each night, when my room steward turned down the bed, he left a four-page newsletter filled with activities galore.

                                                        Dining

Dining is an important part of any cruise and Islander offers many tasty options. The ship has five complimentary dining spots – Mexican Cutie Cantina, Cheeseburger in Paradise, Fins Dining Room, Port of Indecision buffet (for breakfast, lunch and dinner) and Frank and Lola’s Pizzeria.

Named for lines from Jimmy’s song in the album, Frank and Lola’s has the best pizza I’ve ever enjoyed on any cruise ship. Crisp tasty crust, not too thin and not too thick, yummy sauce, generous cheese and pepperoni. Baked just right for my tastes.

Specialty dining for an extra charge are Far Side Sushi, Island Eats, Tiki Bar, Margaritaville Coffee Shop, Islander Dining Room and JWB (for James William Buffett) Prime Steakhouse.

Complimentary dining in Islander Dining Room was a perk because of my stateroom.

Cheeseburger in paradise

Islander Dining Room is one deck above Fins Dining Room and has the same menu as Fins plus a specialty menu only for Islander diners.

 

                                            Shipboard Entertainment

From early morning until late at night, Islander was alive with music. Guitarist Emman seemed to have boundless energy, performing during the day and also at nightly shows. More entertainment included pianist Ellie, guitarist Sebastian, Blaze Band, Big Vibes Band, violinist Diana, Latin Duo and more.

Then there are the theater evening performances – live musical productions in the Stars on the Water Theater named for Jimmy’s 1983 country rock hit. Comfy seats with cocktail tables and wide aisles between the rows provide a nice touch in the theater.

A ballerina in evening show

My favorite stage show was Caribbean Heat Remix that took us on a trip to several Caribbean destinations with electrifying dances and the hypnotic beats of Mexico and Key West.

 

One night the show was comedy and magic with Rich Purpura and his family-friendly show. Another night was Chris Simpson with his adult comedy show for age 18 and older. Another night was a murder mystery game show where Cruise Director Zee-Jay led a wild whodunit with a wicked twist.

Drawing some of the biggest applause were two acrobats – Valena and Omar – who performed intricate and seemingly impossible routines high above the stage in the Islander Theater. One night, the two were featured in an electrifying glow show with glowing LED costumes.

                            Wine Tasting and Cocktail Class

The Changes in Latitude Wine Tasting was great fun with wine sommelier Alexsander sharing five wines along with fruit, marmalade and cheese to accompany each. Alexsander also gave us tips on choosing, wine, storing wine and serving wine.

 

 

At the cocktail class, bartenders Marisa and Emmanuel showed us how to make four cocktails with creative names like the Watermelon Express, Paper Plane and Mile High. My favorite was the Mile High:

2 ounces Woodford Reserve Bourbon

½ ounce Filthy Black Cherry Syrup

1 ounce sweet vermouth

3 dashes orange bitters

Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Stir until well chilled and strain into a decanter. Add smoke, cover with a lid and swirl to infuse. Pour into a rocks glass over ice. Garnish with a Filthy Black Cherry.

                                               Top Notch Crew

No matter how beautiful a ship is or how terrific is its itinerary, if the crew is unprofessional or lazy, a cruise is not enjoyable.

Margaritaville at Sea Islander is fortunate to have an excellent crew. My ship concierge Pearl was delightful and easily available to answer a question or hand me a cold Coke. Hotel director Amith was always checking with me to see that all was well.

Stateroom attendant Simon knew my name from the first time he saw me and made sure my stateroom was tidy and the ice bucket was always full. Dining room junior hostess Luna remembered that I liked to dine at a small table by the window and seated me there every meal.

Dining room lead server Sandy proudly wore pins on his label to designate the honors he had won from happy passengers. I’m sure he was honored even more after my cruise.

All in all, Jimmy Buffett has left a considerable legacy and Margaritaville at Sea Islander is definitely one of his memorable gems.

Photos by Jackie Sheckler Finch

Editor’s Notes:

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