Full Review for the Four Night Round Trip from Tampa with a Stop in Cozumel

This cruise was a great mix of easygoing fun, simple comfort, and that classic Margaritaville vibe. Here is my full review from start to finish.

Parking and Arrival

I chose not to park at the port. Instead I parked nearby at an open lot called 717 Parking L57 at 1063 Channelside Drive. I was nervous at first, but someone who had parked there before told me to place my reservation number on my dashboard. I found a shaded spot under an awning, left the car there at half the cost of port parking, and hoped for the best.

After parking I walked across the street where parking enforcement helped me find the walking path. It runs behind the building, just past the bus stop, and leads to an opening in the fence marked with white slotted lines. A porter saw me struggling with my bags and immediately came over to help. He grabbed my bag and set it for check in. (don't forget to add your luggage tags on the bags you intend to check) I tipped him and headed to check in.

Check In and Boarding

I arrived early because I was unsure about traffic and parking. My boarding pass said 12 - 12:30pm but it was only 10:15am. Guests have to wait outside at this port and thankfully it was not too hot. The line moved quickly and by 10:45am they were already calling my group.

Make sure you either print your boarding pass or have a clear photo of it on your phone. They check it multiple times. Security was smooth and they did not bother me about my small bottle of coffee syrup. Customs was quick. There is one line for passports and another for birth certificates and ID. With my passport I was through in about five minutes and they handed me my room key right there.

The gangway was not too steep and it was easy to go up. Once onboard they scanned my key and welcomed me. It was not overly enthusiastic like some cruise lines but it was friendly. Right away there were staff offering dining reservations, spa reservations, and lanyards. I bought a lanyard since this was my first time sailing with them. They punched a hole in my room card so I can add it to my lanyard. They were pleasant and not pushy at all, other than being very eager to sell me a massage hahahaha.

First Impressions of the Ship

The vibe of the Islander is calm and low key. The decor is pretty and relaxing. The embarkation area was a little loud but once I began to explore I found plenty of quiet corners with Margaritaville music playing softly in the background.

Guest services is large and never had long lines after the first day. The layout of the ship is very easy to navigate. You can walk from end to end on most decks without constantly going up and down stairs.

Deck 9 has three pools and several hot tubs. The cruise was not crowded and there were always open lounge chairs. The only odd thing was the amount of lounge beds marked as reserved that were never used. It seemed like too many of them and they took up a lot of space. I would have preferred more tables and chairs on at least one side. At night the pool deck was extremely quiet and the pools were empty which might actually be the best time to swim.

The adults area in the back was always busy and lively. The buffet had typical buffet food. I tried a hot dog without the bun and it tasted like a hot dog....hahaha. The lines were kind of long so I waited to try more food later.

My Stateroom

By 1:30pm the rooms were ready. I was excited to see my breezy balcony room number 6295 toward the aft. I usually stay mid ship so I was nervous but it turned out great. The room felt fresh with a clear Margaritaville theme that was fun but not over the top.

There were three closets with plenty of space. The bathroom had good shelving but very little room inside the shower for personal items. They provide shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. Which I only used the boy wash and it was very pleasant smelling. The towels were very nice and soft and the hook on the bathroom door was very useful.

The bed was comfortable although I am not a fan of down pillows because they flatten out. There were USB and USBC ports on both bedside lamps and one US plug and one Euro plug by the desk. I brought a non surge multi plug so I had plenty of outlets.

The desk had good space and the top drawer had a hair dryer. There was lots of storage overall. The refrigerator kept my water cool. The blackout curtain was great for sleeping. The adjoining door to the next room was the only downside since I could hear the guests sometimes and both neighbors let their doors slam.

The balcony was small but nice with two chairs and a little table. The balcony door is heavy and locks in two ways so make sure you hold it when closing it so it does not slam. The vent stayed on constantly and the temperature control did not work well. The room was very cold the first night so bring warm pajamas. Besides that I slept well and really liked the room.

Muster and Sail Away

Around 3:30pm it was time for muster. There are only a few stations so use the stairs or elevators closest to your room to find yours. It is the traditional style briefing but without wearing the life vest. They go through everything quickly but if people arrive late everyone is stuck waiting so please do not be that person.

The sail away party at the main pool was really cute and relaxed. The staff danced and the music was fun without being over the top. Around six you will pass under the bridge which is a great moment. Make sure you go up to deck ten or higher to watch.

Dining

Dinner on the first night was slow. I love that you can dress up or wear flip flops because it is very come as you are. I was seated quickly but waited a long time before anyone helped me. Once someone noticed they were very kind and made sure I was taken care of even though they were not my assigned server.

The gluten free options were limited. I ordered chicken, potatoes, and a salad. The gluten free roll was delicious. The chicken was dry which continued to be a theme but the potatoes were amazing.

Later in the cruise I ate upstairs in the dining room for special events and suite guests. Service was much faster there but the food was the same quality. They gave me a pamphlet each night so I could circle gluten free items which helped a lot. The mushroom risotto had slightly firm rice but still tasted good and the mushroom polenta was incredible. The gluten free desserts were also sugar free which I did not like, but on the last night they had a gluten free tres leches with coconut cream that was fantastic.

Overall the flavors were very good but meats tended to be overcooked except for one steak that came out rare when I ordered medium well. I did not send it back because I did not want to wait.

FOOD ALLERGIES

This is still something they need to work on. I did get to speak to the manager of F&B onboard and they said they are actively working on that to be better in the future. That being said they do try their best but need to do better with cross contamination for sure.

Onboard Activities and Entertainment

I played bingo which was fun and watched one of the evening shows. It was not over the top like bigger cruise lines but it was still enjoyable. I do wish there were more daytime activities such as trivia or pool games because sometimes there were long stretches with nothing happening. That is just the Margaritaville style which is more relaxed, but I personally like more options.

The salute to veterans and active military was emotional and beautifully done. It was a great time to thank those not only onboard but out in the world and still active. It is something that you shouldn't miss. I was actually surprised not to see more people there. It is a must see.

I hid ducks around the ship and found plenty of good places especially near the walkway to the gym where it is always quiet. I found a good amount of ducks as well. Fun times!

There is a real tattoo shop on board which is unique. I did not get anything but people looked happy with theirs. The bubbles bar makes drinks with a smoke bubble on top which is fun but can have a line. The club is small but great for guests who want nightlife.

I heard kids saying how much they loved the kids club and I hardly saw kids anywhere else so it must have been a hit. There were not a lot of kids onboard but all that were there were very well behaved and seemed to be enjoying themselves thoroughly. 

Pizza with gluten free crust was excellent. The burger place with gluten free buns was great and the fries were delicious. The coffee shop was one of my favorite spots and Java Joe made an amazing latte. Havana Daydream Sports Bar had excellent coffee and great options for spiked coffees. The bar is divided into three rooms so different groups can enjoy separate games or shows at once.

There are conference spaces on board which are perfect for meetings, group events, or church gatherings.

Cozumel Port Day

Cozumel is one of my favorite ports. I had booked an Islander excursion but had to cancel due to a competition happening in port that day. Since I could not review their tour experience I made my own fun and had a wonderful day. I explored Centro, then went to SkyReef Beach. I hired a taxi driver to stay with me and guide me and it was a fantastic experience.

Boarding the ship afterward was simple. They had cold water available which was very appreciated.

Final Sea Day

The last sea day was relaxing. The adults only aft area was very crowded but still enjoyable. The slides were open but I did not try them. There is a mini golf area and cornhole which is always fun. The white glow party was great and not overly wild. I actually prefer it over the silent headphone parties that some cruise lines do. People dressed up in white and had a great time.

Overall Thoughts

I really enjoyed this cruise. The ship is beautiful, the employees are wonderful, and the entire experience fits the Margaritaville style perfectly. My room steward was amazing and the cruise director did a great job even though it was only his second week. I would recommend this cruise to anyone who loves a relaxed atmosphere with fun touches throughout. It is perfect for people who want to chill but still enjoy good entertainment and good food.

I am excited to sail with Margaritaville at Sea again and I cannot wait to try their new ship soon!