Margaritaville poured millions of dollars into updating its older cruise ship. I'm not convinced it did enough.

A couple's TikTok posted in April showing the ship's lackluster condition has been viewed almost 10 million views — and commentors were quick to give it the nickname of "Spirit Airlines of the sea." Soon after in late May, a travel lifestyle blogger said her experience on the ship was not "worth the price."

A spokesperson could not disclose just how much the cruise line poured into the Paradise but did say "millions of dollars" were spent in both guest spaces and "'behind the scenes' routine maintenance and opportunistic upgrades."

When I sailed on it in 2022 (shown above), it was clear many of the spaces hadn't been converted from Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line to Margaritaville's branding. And if they had, it barely resembled any of the many Margaritaville properties I've been to.

It's important to note I haven't been aboard since then.

Throughout this summer, the cruise line's two-night sailings from Palm Beach, Florida, to Freeport, Grand Bahama Island will generally range from $200 to over $300.

The new pickleball court on the forward deck has additional seating while the new Keys on the Water Dueling Piano Bar features just that, two pianos and pianists.

This new bar replaced a previous nightclub and event space while the pickleball court now sits on a once unused section of the ship.

On the previous ship, the "Tales from Margaritaville: Jimmy's Ship Show" musical show was a simple back-to-back cover of Buffett's hit songs with just a splash of dialogue.

Now, the ship features two new shows for both nights. "Caribbean Heat" is a dance and acrobatic musical while "Radio Margaritaville: LIVE! At Sea" has a live band with "musical storytelling," according to the release.

The cruise line added a new build-your-own burger bar at the existing alfresco 5 o'Clock Somewhere Bar and Grill, one of the most Margaritaville-themed spaces aboard the ship.

The primary dining venue now has more food, beverage, and dessert options but no aesthetic changes.

But the "Jolly Mon" and "Parakeet" kid's clubs have since been upgraded and now include activities like games, crafts, and shows. 

While it's not part of the youth clubs, the family-friendly arcade (shown above on the right) now has new games.

The gym now has amenities like a Touch fitness mirror for yoga and exercise bikes. The former is also available in guest suites.

But for those more focused on nightlife, the nightclub now has new drinks and a better light and sound system.

Guests can go on a snorkeling and boat party or a bicycle trip when they dock at Grand Bahama Island. For those who want to stay on vacation just a bit longer, Margaritaville at Sea also partnered with the island's Pelican Bay Resort for an extended "cruise and stay" trip.

According to the release, the purpose was to create a "cool, comfortable, and chic" environment in its hotel rooms at sea.

The photo above shows my stateroom before the update. But photos in the review show a stateroom decorated similarly to what I saw in 2022. Their refreshed stateroom also had appliances that were either missing or weren't functioning properly, a lack of Margaritaville branding, and furniture that didn't align with what was shown on the company's website. 

These were similar to the gripes I had last year.

All of the newer Margaritaville properties I've visited have had strong campy themes of Buffett and tropical seaside properties. Hues of blue and green decor lined the properties while references to Buffett's lyrics were splashed throughout the walls.

In 2022, the ship had antiquated amenities and decor, low-effort furniture that didn't match the general Margaritaville theme, and lights shaped like limes (at least that was on brand).

Sure, the ship now has a new pickleball court, bar, and burger joint. But if the goal is to be a Margaritaville cruise ship, I believe the whole ship should have undergone a refresh to feel more like an immersive Buffett music video. 

But if your biggest priority is to go on a less expensive vacation, this could still be a good option with sailings as cheap as $100 a night.