There’s something about waking up to the sound of the ocean that just makes you want to… eat. So that’s exactly what I did.

It was our first full sea day aboard the Margaritaville at Sea Islander, and I started my morning with the all-important mission: breakfast scouting. The buffet was my first stop — scrambled eggs (a little loose and runny), French toast, sausage, oven-roasted potatoes, waffles, and toast. There was cereal, fruit, and yogurt, but the real star of the show? The omelet station. The crew there deserve medals — fluffy omelets customized to perfection.

If the buffet wasn’t your jam, there was Mexican Cutie up on Deck 9 serving breakfast burritos and bowls — because nothing says “good morning” quite like salsa before 9 a.m. The third option was the Fins Dining Room, where I went for the “Express Breakfast” — eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns, toast, and juice. Simple, solid, and exactly what I needed to fuel a full day at sea.

After breakfast, I wandered the ship a bit, soaking in the sunshine and salty air before heading to something I’d been really looking forward to — The big Meet and Greet, at the Tiki bar on Deck 9 aft of the ship. I’d asked everyone to wear beads so we could spot each other easily, and sure enough, the deck looked like Mardi Gras had come to Margaritaville. About 50 people showed up, and it was a blast. We swapped stories, laughed, and made some new friends —and a new family member, my newly Found cousin!

After about an hour and a half of good times, it was — you guessed it — time to eat again. The buffet was looking tempting, but my taste buds were screaming tacos! So back to Mexican Cutie I went for two chicken tacos loaded with toppings from their salsa bar. Add in a cold Corona from the LandShark Bar (named after Jimmy Buffett’s own beer brand, naturally), and I was officially living my best island life — even if we were still in the middle of the ocean.

The afternoon was all about relaxing and hanging out with my new-found cousin and his wife before getting ready for the evening’s theme — Boots and Bubbles Night! Yep, cowboy hats at sea. Only on Margaritaville. We went all in with our outfits, ready to lasso some fun (and maybe a cocktail or two).

Dinner didn’t disappoint — I had a perfectly cooked flat iron steak with mashed potatoes and diced veggies, followed by a scoop (or two) of ice cream. Then it was off to the theater for the Boots and Bubbles show, a fun mix of singing, dancing, and plenty of yeehaw energy.

By the end of the night, we were full, happy, and ready to hit the hay — because tomorrow brings one of my favorite stops: Cozumel and Paradise Beach!

Stay tuned — the next chapter is going to be muy delicioso.

Brian’s Tip:

Always pack extra beads — you never know when you’ll throw a party at sea. And if you can’t find the group, just follow the laughter (and maybe the smell of tacos).