A cruise vacation allows you to see multiple destinations (while only unpacking once!) for one set fare. Within that set price, most onboard amenities are included. However, the specific inclusions for each cruise line’s standard price does vary. If you’re considering taking a Margaritaville cruise, we’re put together this guide on what’s included on Margaritaville at Sea.
What’s Included on a Margaritaville Cruise? (2025)
Like most cruise lines, there are several things that are always included in your cruise fare. These include accommodations, food and drinks, entertainment, onboard activities, and kids’ clubs. Of course, not everything in each category is free, as some things do have an upcharge attached. Here’s what’s included with a Margaritaville cruise.
Accommodations
Your cruise fare covers the cost of your stateroom for the duration of the sailing, as well as the services of a cabin attendant who will make up your room each day. Both Margaritaville at Sea vessels feature multiple stateroom categories to choose from, ranging from interior staterooms up to suites. Your cabin type will be the main driver of your total cruise cost.
On Margaritaville at Sea Paradise, you can choose from interior and oceanview cabins, as well as various suite types. Margaritaville at Sea Islander has interior, oceanview, and different suite accommodations as well, plus a range of more traditional balcony cabins.
Food and drinks
Regardless of which Margaritaville at Sea ship you choose, you can enjoy three meals a day (with some snacks in between) at the casual Port of Indecision Buffet. This venue is part of the cruise fare and offers a variety of dishes throughout the day.
Two other casual options are available aboard both of the Margaritaville cruise ships: Cheeseburger in Paradise Burger Bar and Frank & Lola’s Pizzeria. The pizzeria serves up hand-tossed classics like pepperoni, cheese, and sausage, as well as more unique offerings like veggie pizza, Lola’s Pie, and Frank’s Pie. The burger bar, located in the ship’s main pool area, offers customizable burgers and fries. Islander has another casual restaurant, also located adjacent to the pool: Mexican Cutie Cantina. There, you can build your own breakfast burritos and street tacos.
The main dining room on both ships is called Fins Dining. There, you can enjoy dinnertime favorites like Avocado Lime Mahi Mahi, Shrimp and Grits, or Jimmy’s Jambalaya.
What drinks are included on a Margaritaville cruise?
Some beverages such as specialty coffees, sodas, and alcoholic drinks are not included in the Margaritaville at Sea cruise fare. However, there are some drinks that you can enjoy complimentary including drip coffee, tea, juice, and filtered water.
Onboard activities
Throughout the cruise, you can enjoy a variety of amenities and take part in different activities and events. There are multiple swimming pools to enjoy, with Islander featuring a third pool that’s for adults only. Hot tubs are also available, and Islander features a splash area and water slide for kids. You can also find a sports court (with pickleball!), mini golf, poolside games such as cornhole, trivia, dance lessons, and an arcade on Margaritaville at Sea.
Margaritaville at Sea ships also include a fitness center with cardio machines such as treadmills and stationary bikes, as well as various weight machines and free weights.
Daily entertainment
Throughout the day and into the night, a variety of entertainment is available for you to enjoy on a Margaritaville cruise. Live music is played throughout the sailing on the pool deck, offering everything from Caribbean bands and steel drums to DJ sets. When the ship starts to pull away from the dock to kick off the cruise, head up to the pool deck for the sail away party.
Other entertainment includes adults-only scavenger hunts, the classic cruise Love and Marriage show, karaoke, comedians, a piano singalong, and the nightclub-esque Margaritaville After Dark deck party. There’s also a White Hot Neon Lights party, where you can put on your best white or neon outfit, add some glowing face paint, and dance the night away.
Of course, you’ll also find stage shows in the main theater, with — of course — a big emphasis on music! Aboard Paradise, you’ll find Caribbean Heat which is set to the beat of tropical music from around the region. This show takes audience members on a tour through the islands complete with dancers and acrobats. Radio Margaritaville: Live at Sea is a musical celebration of all things Margaritaville, spanning both genres and decades for a wide range of music fans.
Margaritaville at Sea Islander features Caribbean Heat Remix — an amplified version of Caribbean Heat that features colorful dance and acrobats set to the beats of Key West and Mexico. Conky Tonkin’ at Sea is a boot-stomping country-themed spectacular at sea, featuring a mash-up of both contemporary and classic country favorites.
Youth programs
Another part of what’s included on Margaritaville at Sea are youth programs for kids and teens ages 3-17 years old. Kids are divided into three kids’ clubs based on their age: Jolly Mon (ages 3-5), Parakeets (ages 6-9), and The Hangout (tweens ages 10-12). Teenagers have their own space too, aptly named The Teen’s Club.
At the youngest Jolly Mon club, little cruisers can enjoy interactive games, mascot visits, storytime, ocean-themed arts and crafts, and more. Parakeets can embark on a Mayan adventure in the Escape from Chichén Itzá game, learn tricks and illusions at a magic workshop, or mix their own beats at a mini DJ academy.
The Hangout is the perfect space for tweens to, well, hang out! Activities at the tween’s club include DJ Academy, jam sessions, and a fun and light-filled glow party. The Teen’s Club is a space where teens can hang out and make new friends. Many teens’ activities take place around the ship, including scavenger hunts, social content battles, nightclub and poolside movie takeovers, and dance competitions.
What’s NOT included on Margaritaville at Sea?
When considering what’s included on Margaritaville at Sea, it’s also important to be aware of what’s not included in the cruise fare. These add-ons listed below are not part of what’s included on a Margaritaville cruise, and will cost extra money.
- Alcoholic and some non-alcoholic beverages
- Specialty dining
- WiFi access
- Gratuities
- Shore excursions
- Spa and salon services
- Room service
- Some activities and entertainment (bingo, wine tastings)
- After-hours kids’ care
- Casino
- Shopping
- Laundry service
- Photo packages
Alcoholic (and some non-alcoholic) beverages
As mentioned previously, alcoholic beverages are not part of the cruise fare. Beer, wine, spirits, and cocktails will cost extra. Mocktails, soda, specialty coffee and tea, and bottled/canned beverages — including bottled water — also costs extra.
Depending on your drinking habits, you may find it beneficial to purchase a drink package. Learn about the Margaritaville at Sea drink packages here.
Specialty dining
While most restaurants are included in the cruise fare on Margaritaville at Sea, some are not. For example, both ships have a steakhouse called JWB Prime Steakhouse — named after James (Jimmy) William Buffett. There, you can get classic steakhouse fare like steak tartare, wedge salad, French onion soup, classic cuts of steak, and a selection of desserts. Another upcharge option is Far Side Sushi, an Asian-Fusion sushi bar and lounge offering fun dishes like Sea-Cuterie Boards, Crunchy Volcano Rolls, and rice and ramen bowls.
Margaritaville at Sea Islander adds two additional upcharge dining options: Island Eats and Tiki Grill. These casual adults-only venues serve up things like crispy smothered chicken wings, tuna nachos, filet skewers, crab salad, and piña colada creme brulee.
A special Sparkling Brunch event is also offered on board for a flat per-person fee. It features a menu of chef-crafted, island-inspired brunch favorites plus one mimosa, bellini, or glass of sparkling wine.
Finally, you have to pay for room service on Margaritaville cruises. Menu items are priced a la carte, ranging from $5 to $12 each.
Gratuities
Cruise gratuities are service charges that aren’t included in the standard cruise fare. These additional fees are a per-person, per-day dollar amount that are charged to all guests automatically. Daily gratuities serve as a means to reward the hardworking crew for the excellent service they provide during your vacation.
At the time of writing, Margaritaville at Sea currently charges $20 per person, per night for standard staterooms. It’s $24 per person, per night for those staying in suites. You can pre-pay gratuities before your cruise or at the end of the sailing when they’re automatically charged to your folio. Of course, you can always tip crew members above and beyond the required amount if you wish.
Additionally, a 20% service charge will be added to some onboard services, like Room Service, Spa, Specialty Dining, Beverage Purchases, etc. Unlike other cruise lines, Margaritaville also assesses a fuel surcharge. As of June 1, 2024, the Fuel Supplement is $15 per person, per night for guests sailing aboard the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise. There’s no charge on Islander though.
WiFi
Access to the internet is not part of what’s included on a Margaritaville cruise. Instead, you must pay on either an hour-by-hour or day-by-day basis, or purchase one of the line’s two full-cruise internet packages. The Coconut Telegraph Basic Surf package costs $20.99 per device, per night and includes internet surfing, messaging, social media, and email. The Coconut Telegraph Premium Stream package adds in the ability to stream music and video and send/receive large files for $24.99 per device, per night.
Spa services
Spa and salon services are available on Margaritaville at Sea, and cost an additional fee. Treatments and services include things like massages, wraps, scrubs, facials, waxing, haircuts, manicures, pedicures, and more.
Shore excursions
Any shore excursions you may want to take during, before, or after your Margaritaville at Sea cruise are at your own expense. You can book tours, activities, and experiences through the cruise line or through third-party excursion operators, like Shore Excursions Group.
Shore excursions can range from inexpensive walking or bus tours to several hundreds of dollars for unique experiences.
After-hours kids’ care
While the kids’ clubs are free for young cruisers to enjoy throughout the day, there is a fee to enjoy the facilities late at night. “After Hours Chill Time,” which runs from 10 pm to midnight, is an extra-fee service that allows parents to drop off their kids at the kids’ club and enjoy the ship. After Hours Chill Time is available for kids ages three to 12.
Teens, since they don’t need as much supervision, can enjoy the Far Out club until midnight for free.
Other add-ons
Of course, gaming in the casino comes at your own expense, as does purchasing things from the onboard shops. And while most activities and entertainment on the ship are free and included in the cruise fare, some things aren’t such as wine tastings and bingo. Photo packages, celebration packages, and laundry service — including wash/dry/fold and dry cleaning — are also an added cost.
Further, add-on packages like Faster Chill, Islander Signature Chill, and Ultimate Islander Escape are additional fees too (differ by ship).
Keep in mind that pre/post-cruise travel expenses are also not part of what’s included on Margaritaville at Sea. Expenses such as transportation to/from the cruise terminal and any hotels, meals, and activities you may want to enjoy before or after your sailing should be considered when creating your overall vacation budget.
Margaritaville at Sea Frequently Asked Questions
Is Margaritaville at Sea all-inclusive?
No, Margaritaville at Sea is not an all-inclusive cruise line. Unlike more inclusive cruise lines, Margaritaville at Sea charges extra for things like alcoholic beverages and specialty dining. Shore excursions, gratuities, and room service are also extra.
How does the Heroes Sail Free program work?
Margaritaville at Sea’s Heroes Sail Free program allows U.S. military service members (active duty and veterans), police, firefighters, EMS personnel, nurses, and educators to take a cruise for just the cost of taxes, fees, and port expenses. All Caribbean, Mexico, and Bahamas cruises (the only itineraries the line currently offers) are included in the program.
Only interior cabins are eligible, and you must sail with at least one paying passenger in the same room. It’s also important to note that there may be blackout dates, and cruises must be booked online to qualify.
Where do the Margaritaville cruises sail from?
Margaritaville at Sea Paradise sails from the Port of Palm Beach on Florida’s eastern coast to the Bahamas. Margaritaville at Sea Islander operates voyages from Tampa, Florida to Key West and Mexico.
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