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Margaritaville at Sea just doubled in size by welcoming a new ship

June 12, 2024
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4 min read
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Margaritaville at Sea just doubled in size by welcoming a new ship
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Margaritaville at Sea's new ship, Islander, officially set sail on its first voyage from Tampa on Tuesday. So far, it's doing a great job of catering to Parrotheads with plenty of tropical decor, including a giant flip-flop photo backdrop in the atrium, two dining rooms with giant palm trees in the middle and renovated cabins that feel more like you're renting someone's beach house than taking up residence on a ship.

Cruise ship atrium
The atrium on Margaritaville at Sea's Islander cruise ship. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY

Until now, the line, a partnership between Jimmy Buffettā€™s Margaritaville brand and the former Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, has only sailed from the Port of Palm Beach, Florida. Since 2022, it has exclusively offered two-night voyages on its first ship, the 1,680-passenger Paradise, to Freeport in the Bahamas.

An A1A-themed corridor on a cruise ship
The A1A corridor on Margaritaville at Sea Islander. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY

With the addition of Islander, Margaritaville at Sea has increased its capacity by 160% and will now also serve Floridaā€™s west coast cruise market with regular four- and five-night departures to Key West and the Mexican Riviera from the Port of Tampa Bay.

Islander originally debuted in 2000 and sailed for Costa Cruises for more than two decades under the name Costa Atlantica. The vessel shared a ship design with Carnival Cruise Line's Spirit Class. For that reason, Islander is likely to feel familiar to some cruisers.

A pool bar on a cruise ship
The 5 o'Clock Somewhere Bar on the Margaritaville at Sea Islander cruise ship. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY

I walked on board and immediately fell in love with the delightful mix of tropical Margaritaville vibes and remnants of designs by Joe Farcus, the architect and interior designer responsible for more than three decades of quirky decor on ships under the Carnival Corp. umbrella.

A suite on a cruise ship
A Grand Suite on Margaritaville at Sea Islander. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY

Under its new moniker, the 24-year-old, 2,650-passenger vessel was refurbished to include the first three-deck poolside LandShark bar, a tropical-themed atrium and cabins, and an adults-only pool and tiki bar. These updates make for colorful, lively fun thatā€™s synonymous with the Margaritaville name. Passengers can also look forward to 12 eateries and more than a dozen bars that serve a variety of cocktails.

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The lineā€™s first ship debut had some hiccups. Stay tuned for more TPG coverage to see how Islanderā€™s first sailing compares and what you can expect from the new vessel.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

Featured image by ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the authorā€™s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Apply for American ExpressĀ® Gold Card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for dining at restaurants

American ExpressĀ® Gold Card

TPG Editorā€˜s Rating
4 / 5
Go to review

Rewards Rate

4XEarn 4X Membership RewardsĀ® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
4XEarn 4X Membership RewardsĀ® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
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  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

    Excellent to Good

Why We Chose It

Thereā€™s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. Itā€™s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If youā€™re hitting the skies soon, youā€™ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkinā€™ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, thereā€™s no reason that foodies shouldnā€™t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership RewardsĀ® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if youā€™re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount ā€“ all with no credit score impact. If youā€™re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership RewardsĀ® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership RewardsĀ® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership RewardsĀ® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership RewardsĀ® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership RewardsĀ® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. Thatā€™s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership RewardsĀ® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American ExpressĀ® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American ExpressĀ® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American ExpressĀ® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.