42 Nights Solar Eclipse Collectors' Voyage: Northern Europe Cruise

Awesome for quick getaways

I recently returned from a 5 night sailing on board Margaritaville at Sea’s newest ship, the Islander. I am a travel agent and longtime cruiser with Royal Caribbean, just so you know my perspective on the industry. I have to say, Margaritaville has a real chance to make some waves in the cruise industry. I very much enjoyed my time on this sailing. The crew was fabulous, very friendly, talented and knowledgeable. The food was good (aspects can certainly be improved) but most of it was very good! The pizza especially rivals some of the bigger cruise lines. Cheeseburger in Paradise was another great venue as were every single one of the bars and lounges. The entertainment on this cruise was top notch as well, comedians, variety acts and production shows were all FANTASTIC. The thing that really sets MAS apart from everyone else is the “vibe” so to speak. This was the most laid back cruise I have ever done, from the dress codes to the crew attitudes it was incredibly chill and relaxing. The ship was clean, our room was perfect for a 5 day trip (We had an interior). If anyone is considering this line I would HIGHLY recommend trying it. There are going to be negative experiences on any vacation and sometimes they can seem louder than the others who have a great time, but I wanted to give Margaritaville some serious props for this cruise. Once again, if you are considering this line, most definitely give it a try, especially if you are a Parrothead. P.S. The secret room “QMN” is not to be missed!

Great Cruise! (best for adults)

My husband and I (in our 30s, for reference) absolutely loved this cruise! The staff was attentive and friendly. Everything was very nice and also very clean. There were loads of activities to choose from and also lots of spots to play a game or read a book and relax. Our 2nd port day got switched to a sea day due to bad weather, and I was happy to sail into beautiful weather and just stay on the ship. They added activities, and we had another great sea day. DRINKS: Drinks were pretty reasonably priced, with lots of options in the $8-$12 range. We didn't get a drink package, and instead just bought drinks as we went because that was cheaper for us. Things to keep in mind: 1) you won't drink as much on port days, 2) everyone in the cabin has to get the drink package, 3) BUT drinks are very readily available - always someone nearby to take your order if you want something (not in an annoying way). KIDS: I only saw about 10-15 kids on this cruise. There WERE activities for kids, and I can't speak to those, because we left our kids at home with Grandma. I think I'd pick a different cruise if I was bringing my kids. This isn't a ship that's geared toward kids, and they probably won't have many other kids to play with. It's totally fine to bring kids on this cruise though. ENTERTAINMENT: 1) 12-person singing and dancing production with a theme of 70s music 2) A performance by a male singer who was super talented, but I didn't know all of the songs (maybe just me) 3) A comedian who some will find offensive and some will find funny 4) A cabaret with generally known music and 4 really talented singers ACTIVITIES: I love dance, so I did all the dance classes, dance-fitness classes, and dance parties (including 2 silent discos!). I also enjoyed several "game shows" which involved some audience participation at times and were pretty entertaining. They had loads of activities to choose from, but these were the ones I enjoyed most! The activities team was awesome, and they were even calling me by name after I attended a few events. Roberto, Alijandro, Hannah, Jason, Anna...you guys rock! FOOD: Great food a plenty! They had so many options, and they make some really delicious food. My only critique is that about 90% of the desserts are pretty light and airy. You might pick up something that looks like a cupcake with buttercream frosting, but it's definitely not buttercream. All the frostings were...not American. I missed the heavy and decedent desserts I'm used to in the States. None of it was bad, but it was the weakest point for me. (Exception: the cheesecakes - yum!) SHIP SIZE: I heard our ship was sold out, but it never felt overwhelming. You could always find a beach chair, table to eat lunch, seat at the theater, or cozy nook to read a book. The ship was big without being TOO overwhelming. The rooms were more spacious than I expected. (The beds were comfortable too.) Also of note - the bathrooms around the ship all felt very luxurious. Wasn't expecting that! My biggest critique is that you have to be out of your room by 7:30am, and that feels way too early. Everyone heads to the buffet to get breakfast and then leave at your designated time (latest time is 9am). I get that they need to get everyone out, but 7:30 just feels a bit too early!

HAD THE BEST TIME OF MY LIFE

We had an absolute blast on our 6-day family cruise! Costa Serena truly exceeded our expectations. The diverse dining options were amazing, with mouth-watering food available from morning till night. Engaging events and world-class shows kept us entertained throughout. We really loved Mr. Eugenio Trippi! He got us kicking our feet in the air! I personally love the energy of the animation team too, they were very energetic! What really made our experience stand out, though, was the incredible crew! They were friendly, funny, and always smiling - from the moment we boarded to our tearful goodbyes. Special thanks to Mr. Putu Krisna and Ms. Siska (Ceres Restaurant) and Mr. Muklis from the buffet area. We loved the convenience and VIP treatment, regardless of cabin type. We can't wait for Costa Serena's next Philippine voyage - we're definitely sailing again! Five stars isn't enough; we'd give it ten if we could!