Sea Paradise had a one-night inaugural cruise.
I was expecting the ship to be like a movie.
I was disappointed by the lack of cohesive branding, the ship's age, and reported quality issues.
The first cruise ship in Magaritaville was the Margaritaville at Sea.
I was expecting a floating resort with all things Margaritaville, but the vessel did not live up to my expectations.
I was prepared to be thrown into the world of Jimmy Buffet when I first boarded the ship.
I was confronted with an aging vessel that only had a few splashes of the company's branding.
Oneil Khosa, the CEO of Margaritaville at Sea, said during the ceremony that there may be some flaws. We are trying to be the best.
I wondered why the CEO of a cruise line would mention the ship's flaws during a ceremony.
I now understand after spending a night on the ship.
I don't think the place was ready for guests.
The company is one of the newest brands to enter the recovering cruise industry.
The flagship vessel of the budget cruise company, the Paradise, was previously known as the Grand Classica.
The cruise ship adopted the name of the company when they joined forces.
The old ship underwent a multi-million dollar investment to become a floating resort.
Insider.
It is difficult to hide your age without some help.
It seemed like my Oceanview stateroom, which starts at almost $200, received almost none of it.
My bathroom looked old.
It didn't feel modern or new.
The wood-colored accents aged the rest of the room. There were four pieces of tropical wall art here.
There is a wallpaper
A nightstand has a palm tree graphic.
There is a branded ice bucket, notepad, and pencil.
I had a power strip blow up when I tried to use my hairdryer, but my complaints are all cosmetic.
I tried to use the public restroom on the pool deck, but the flush fell off its mount.
Suddenly, the flaws that were mentioned were making more sense.
The aging appearance of the ship didn't impress me the most.
It was the lack of exposure to the world of Margaritaville.
The ship didn't feel like a strong representation of Margaritaville because of the signs and wall art that referenced the lyrics.
The pre-Margaritaville life of the vessel was still visible as I walked around.
The furniture, lights, and carpets were all the same as before, according to pictures on the website of the Grand Classica.
The Paradise Cruise Line is from the Bahamas.
I have seen the look at its restaurants and New York City hotel, but the decor didn't match it.
If you are a Parrothead, you will still be happy by the names of the amenities on the ship.
Like the License to Chill bar.
The Port of Indecision has a buffet.
Stars on the Water Theater and Bar is located in the city.
Don't expect too many additional references or themes to come after these signs and some lyrics on the wall.
The alfresco 5 o'Clock Somewhere Bar and Grill has a statue of a giant blender, which is one of the only exceptions to this.
The lyrics of "It's Five o'Clock Somewhere" were printed on the wall.
This was one of the only places on the ship where you could get a drink.
I have to give credit to the nighttime entertainment, which was all about Buffett.
At night, the theater hosts a musical production filled with back-to-back Buffett hits and just enough dialogue to move the show along.
Fans singing along with the show was a wholesome sight to see.
I spent most of the show trying not to feel sick as the ship roared loudly.
The mega cruise liners are larger than the small ones at Sea Paradise.
There were times in the night when I could not walk without losing my balance. I apologize to everyone, but I did not have that many.
The lunch buffet was small, like the ship.
At least there was a pasta bar and carved meat section.
I can not say the same for my dinner at JWB Prime Steakhouse, which you might recognize from some on-land resorts. The highlight of my time on the ship was this meal.
JWB might be one of the best steak dinners I have ever had, and that is coming from someone who doesn't like eating steak.
You will have to pay a premium to dine in.
If you want an upscale steak dinner, it is the best option of all the other dining venues on the ship.
There are bars, a nighttime show, and food at the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise.
A spa.
There is a mini fitness center at sea.
It is not like you will have days at sea to burn.
The vessel only sails from Florida to the Grand Bahama island for two nights, so you won't find yourself with days off.
I think two nights is enough time to spend at the beach.
Kevin Sheehan Jr., president of Margaritaville at Sea, said during the ceremony that the big guys don't need to worry about us because we are their biggest competitors. We are coming for you.
Maybe my points of comparison are unfair, but I agree with him.
I've been on a few big guys like the Celebrity Cruises' Apex.
Insider.
This is the only cruise ship I have been on that has felt cohesive.
I have visited enough of the properties to have a reasonable understanding of their tropical theme and strong branding.
This branding is what makes Margaritaville stand out from other companies and it could have been the cruise ship's biggest sell.
It seems like a match made in heaven for a cruise line if the lifestyle of Buffett is any indication.
I was not expecting live parrots or a scavenger hunt.
I was hoping for more decorations that conveyed Marriottitaville.
It felt like the company focused on a few areas.
There are some references to Jimmy Buffet in the other spaces.
There is wallpaper of palm trees, bright green paint, a mosaic of a beach view by one of the bars, and lyrics painted on the wall.
Many of the common spaces felt different.
The Margaritaville at Sea Paradise felt like it was from the original song.
I don't think I'm qualified to give a final review because I'm not an ardent Parrothead, but I think I'll probably not take a cruise again.
The original article is on Business Insider.
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