*That said… you picked the cheapest of cheap cruise lines*
Yeah, Margaritaville isn't even the "Walmart of the seas", they more like the off brand Dollar Store Of The Seas...
And "no one mentioned beforehand"... it's on the website. The website very clearly states the fuel supplement & gratuities per person. For interior or ocean view cabins it's $132. I've only priced this out in research and I know this.
We didn’t look at their website. Being inexperienced, we booked through a travel agent whose office was in the condo building where we rented our airbnb. I guess we fell right into a tourist trap. I know we got what we paid for, I just posted the review to alert other noobs.
I think MAS hardly even counts as a cruise. More like you went on a ferry trip to an island and back again.
MAS exists purely for the market that wants a cheap opportunity to go on a quick vacation with their mates and drink.
In cruising, as with many things, you get what you pay for. A cheap class of room for the shortest of trips on the cheapest line is not going to compare to an actual cruise.
We booked through a travel agent. She claimed later to not know about the standby status. You’d think that would be part of her job but I guess not. Or she just flat out lied.
There are balconies on the ship, I stayed in one on a recent cruise.
I will agree with everyone else you get what you pay for. You just have to manage your expectations. The only real problem I had was with the servers. Every ten seconds someone was asking you if you wanted a drink and then handing you a receipt with a tip line on it. I get they work for tips, but it was hard to sit in any public areas and have a nice conversation without being interrupted all the time. Additionally, the extra tip was a little infuriating when I’ve already paid an 18% compulsory gratuity with my drink package. But they stand there while you sign it, mind you after you’ve already scanned your drink package bracelet, so you feel obligated to add a tip.
This was my first “cruise” as well, so I’m really curious if this serving/tipping thing is as common and aggressive on other cruise lines. Can anyone lend me their insights?
We went on Celebrity last year with the classic drink package and prepaid gratuities but only had to sign a slip if we ordered something above our package and then we were only charged gratuity on the difference
That’s funny cause I stayed in one on my Feb. 3rd-5th trip. I stayed in a Grand Terrace Suite, which has a balcony, you can even see it on the website.
Definitely give a bigger line a try. Honestly, judging cruising based on Margaritaville is a little bit like a judging Broadway shows based on the Cats movie. MaS is more like a glorified ferry than an actual cruise.
Go on an NCL cruise. You will have a much better experience. Also, I personally avoid the Bahamas. Go deep Carribean or something totally different like Alaska
Just got off it last week. Our fifth trip with them. The cruise before this was with Holland and cost around $10k. MAS is not that and we know that. Before we got off, we were given a certificate for a free cruise. We know that a free cruise for us is about $800. I feel bad for folks that fly to the port and think they’re getting something else. Works for us a couple times a year with other cruises mixed in.
I'm going next week... not high expectations at all, just a quick getaway w a couple of friends (about the same price as paying for a hotel/entertainment/food). I have a question that I can't find the answer to ANYWHERE (even the folks who work there couldn't answer when I called)... do they have non-dairy milk options in the buffet? I just want some soy/oat/almond milk for coffee, and they won't let you bring any on board. Can someone who's been please answer? Thank you!!
Try the Margaritaville at Sea boards on cruise critic. Yes, some of them are crazy, but they have more people that have actually been on the cruise. Also, they do have a coffee shop on board (probably a faux starbucks), that might be a better chance of nondairy options than the buffet, but it is an extra charge.
This is why I've always been hesitant to take a cruise. I know a lot of people who love them and go on one or two a year. Me personally I'd rather just go to one location for a week, that way I can really take in the destination, but also have the ability to do or not due something, like if the beach is packed we can find another beach or do another activity without being stressed that we have a limited time to find something we like and actually enjoy our vacation. But I still would like to try a cruise someday.
My main issue with the short 3/4 day cruises is they tend to be full of young people who are mostly interested in drinking. Sometimes ones fellow passengers can get obnoxious. Also, the ships used for these cruises are going to be the older, slightly shabby ships of a cruise lines fleet. Your 7 day cruises will have the newer ships with all the bells and whistles.
I did the swimming with pigs last year! It was super fun and adorable. I did not see any poop just a bunch of cute piggies laying around. I got to pick one up and cuddle, and fed them apple chunks as they were swimming around. They were so gosh darn cute!
It was a charter cruise for a music festival so there were only a few people at pig island. I only made it because I was still up from the night before lol
I expected them too. My issue was not being told at the time of purchase. Or not being told that we’d be put on standby. Sneaky business techniques piss me off.
[удалено]
*That said… you picked the cheapest of cheap cruise lines* Yeah, Margaritaville isn't even the "Walmart of the seas", they more like the off brand Dollar Store Of The Seas...
Dollar Store. 😂😂😂😂
And "no one mentioned beforehand"... it's on the website. The website very clearly states the fuel supplement & gratuities per person. For interior or ocean view cabins it's $132. I've only priced this out in research and I know this.
We didn’t look at their website. Being inexperienced, we booked through a travel agent whose office was in the condo building where we rented our airbnb. I guess we fell right into a tourist trap. I know we got what we paid for, I just posted the review to alert other noobs.
> I guess we fell right into a tourist trap. I know we got what we paid for, Yea, mon.
Yep. Fuel is expensive. Probably one of the biggest expenses of running any ship. And it can vary a LOT.
Holdup basic economy charges extra for carryon? I thought that was the only thing you got lmao.
United charges. Delta and American do not.
Southwest gives you a carry on, personal item, and two checked bags free. I fly with them whenever possible.
My two month cruise used about $2.5M in fuel. Ofc i think it was 12-14,000 miles (nm or sm, not sure.)
I think MAS hardly even counts as a cruise. More like you went on a ferry trip to an island and back again. MAS exists purely for the market that wants a cheap opportunity to go on a quick vacation with their mates and drink.
I always imagined most of the guests were there as part of a "Come to our timeshare presentation and we'll give you a free cruise" crowd.
Thing is, we saw at least 3 different wedding parties. But yeah there was lots of drinking, just not from us.
Jimmy Buffett is not running that show. Google is your friend.
Haha no he is not.
In cruising, as with many things, you get what you pay for. A cheap class of room for the shortest of trips on the cheapest line is not going to compare to an actual cruise.
The room itself was nice. Size was sufficient. No balconies on the ship but we got a porthole.
But had you paid the extra to not be on standby, it sounds like you would have had hours more enjoyment, which on such a short cruise matters.
We booked through a travel agent. She claimed later to not know about the standby status. You’d think that would be part of her job but I guess not. Or she just flat out lied.
She should know I mean that’s literally her job.
Exactly. Especially since she said she’s been in business since 2009.
hope you fired her.
Well I don’t live in Miami Beach where she is but no, we wouldn’t use her again.
There are balconies on the ship, I stayed in one on a recent cruise. I will agree with everyone else you get what you pay for. You just have to manage your expectations. The only real problem I had was with the servers. Every ten seconds someone was asking you if you wanted a drink and then handing you a receipt with a tip line on it. I get they work for tips, but it was hard to sit in any public areas and have a nice conversation without being interrupted all the time. Additionally, the extra tip was a little infuriating when I’ve already paid an 18% compulsory gratuity with my drink package. But they stand there while you sign it, mind you after you’ve already scanned your drink package bracelet, so you feel obligated to add a tip. This was my first “cruise” as well, so I’m really curious if this serving/tipping thing is as common and aggressive on other cruise lines. Can anyone lend me their insights?
We went on Celebrity last year with the classic drink package and prepaid gratuities but only had to sign a slip if we ordered something above our package and then we were only charged gratuity on the difference
No Balconies on Paradise. Maybe their other shop does.
That’s funny cause I stayed in one on my Feb. 3rd-5th trip. I stayed in a Grand Terrace Suite, which has a balcony, you can even see it on the website.
Definitely give a bigger line a try. Honestly, judging cruising based on Margaritaville is a little bit like a judging Broadway shows based on the Cats movie. MaS is more like a glorified ferry than an actual cruise.
It’s not even giving Cats movie. It’s giving small town church performance of Cats.
I see this boat docked at one of the ports we stopped at a few weeks ago and wondered about it. Now I know. Thanks!
MAS has a "New" ship coming out soon. I would give that ship a try, but not the ship they have now. Very dated.
I won’t give MAS another opportunity out me on standby with no warning.
Go on an NCL cruise. You will have a much better experience. Also, I personally avoid the Bahamas. Go deep Carribean or something totally different like Alaska
I want to do Alaska. Is NCL Norwegian?
Just got off it last week. Our fifth trip with them. The cruise before this was with Holland and cost around $10k. MAS is not that and we know that. Before we got off, we were given a certificate for a free cruise. We know that a free cruise for us is about $800. I feel bad for folks that fly to the port and think they’re getting something else. Works for us a couple times a year with other cruises mixed in.
How’d you get the free cruise certificate?
It was attached to our disembarkation instructions.
No f’ing way I’d go with them again, much less five times. LOL To each their own I guess.
I'm going next week... not high expectations at all, just a quick getaway w a couple of friends (about the same price as paying for a hotel/entertainment/food). I have a question that I can't find the answer to ANYWHERE (even the folks who work there couldn't answer when I called)... do they have non-dairy milk options in the buffet? I just want some soy/oat/almond milk for coffee, and they won't let you bring any on board. Can someone who's been please answer? Thank you!!
Try the Margaritaville at Sea boards on cruise critic. Yes, some of them are crazy, but they have more people that have actually been on the cruise. Also, they do have a coffee shop on board (probably a faux starbucks), that might be a better chance of nondairy options than the buffet, but it is an extra charge.
Awesome, thank you for the help!
Yikes.
This is why I've always been hesitant to take a cruise. I know a lot of people who love them and go on one or two a year. Me personally I'd rather just go to one location for a week, that way I can really take in the destination, but also have the ability to do or not due something, like if the beach is packed we can find another beach or do another activity without being stressed that we have a limited time to find something we like and actually enjoy our vacation. But I still would like to try a cruise someday.
Those are my wife’s arguments against cruises. We tried this because it was (relatively) cheap and just 2 nights.
Please don’t compare that cruise to ones on bigger and better ships and don’t do Carnival! Try Royal Caribbean or Princess.
Carnival is fine, but I wouldn't do 3 day cruise to the Bahamas. Not on Carnival, not on any others.
Yeah I’ve heard a lot of bad things about the Bahamas lately.
My main issue with the short 3/4 day cruises is they tend to be full of young people who are mostly interested in drinking. Sometimes ones fellow passengers can get obnoxious. Also, the ships used for these cruises are going to be the older, slightly shabby ships of a cruise lines fleet. Your 7 day cruises will have the newer ships with all the bells and whistles.
I never understood the swimming with pigs excursion for that very same reason. Disgusting. Would never sail on this line...heard too many bad reviews.
I did the swimming with pigs last year! It was super fun and adorable. I did not see any poop just a bunch of cute piggies laying around. I got to pick one up and cuddle, and fed them apple chunks as they were swimming around. They were so gosh darn cute! It was a charter cruise for a music festival so there were only a few people at pig island. I only made it because I was still up from the night before lol
I can swim with the pigs in mud any day of the week.
You’ve learned nothing in life is free. Nothing is
Nothing was free. We paid for it. Not sure how your comment applies.
Real cruise with proper amenities is $1000’s. I was only suggesting the price offered was bound to include loads of surcharges
I expected them too. My issue was not being told at the time of purchase. Or not being told that we’d be put on standby. Sneaky business techniques piss me off.