'I sailed on cruise rated world's worst for £36 and have just one thing to say'

For countless travellers, cruises promise the voyage of a lifetime.

Gliding beneath glorious sunshine across endless waters, docking at exotic ports of call whilst indulging in unlimited food and beverages to your heart's content.

However, certain passengers who stepped aboard one particular vessel encountered an experience that was anything but idyllic, featuring artificial plastic palm trees, diluted drinks and a dining area that resembled a motorway services rather than an opulent ocean liner.

Yet at merely £36, what could one realistically expect?

One intrepid explorer willing to test the Margaritaville at Sea voyage was YouTuber Tonio Guajardo, reports <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/travel/cruises/i-went-worlds-worst-rated-35905302" rel="Follow" target="_self">the Mirror</a>.

Following his research into the vessel's 139 one-star TripAdvisor critiques, he ventured aboard.

A previous passenger wrote: "Cruise from hell. STAY AWAY! Don't waste your money! Been on several cruises, and this by far has been the worst! Fights, noise level ridiculous! The toilet and AC are not working correctly! Ran out of some food! Ceilings are leaking on the ship! Several crew members were not helpful."

Boasting a mere 3.3 rating on TripAdvisor, the voyage has earned the notorious title of the globe's most poorly-reviewed cruise.

The sensation-causing footage chronicling his journey has amassed millions of online views, with audiences astounded by his surprisingly positive experience.

The vessel in question? Margaritaville at Sea Paradise, belonging to crooner Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville empire encompassing eateries, holiday resorts and maritime adventures.

The cruise company operates two primary vessels, Paradise and Islander, originally launched in 1991 and 2000 by different operators. Both vessels underwent extensive refurbishments and rebranding to match the fresh Margaritaville aesthetic in 2021 and 2024 - though the vessels' advancing years may now be becoming apparent.

Operating from Palm Beach, Florida, the firm tempts budget-conscious holidaymakers with rock-bottom prices for two-night Bahamas getaways, with fares starting from just $49 (£36).

Setting sail from Florida, Tonio explained: "I've heard some people say going on a cruise was an amazing experience, but I've also heard others say it was absolutely terrible.

"It's absolutely freezing cold where I live right now, so I figured there's no better time to hit the open ocean and head straight to the Bahamas, and we're travelling there on America's worst-rated cruise."

He proceeded with his investigation by examining each of the vessel's 14 decks, including the onboard nightclub, swimming pool, spa and dining venues.

As the liner continued its departure from Florida, festivities commenced on the upper deck, with numerous passengers gathering for beverages, dancing and the obligatory Macarena.

Sampling the complimentary buffet whilst en route to one of his reserved restaurants, Tonio remained unimpressed and opted to proceed elsewhere.

Following his two-day Caribbean voyage, Tonio concluded: "This cruise was a lot better than I thought it would be in most of the areas. In fact, I would actually say it's pretty good."

And it's not just Tonio who's a devotee of the relaxed approach. Cruise Critic member Midgey Marge said: "Everyone was there to have a good time, relax, and enjoy all of the Jimmy Buffett music.

"You could do as much or as little as you like ... We have cruised on several cruise lines in the past, and Margaritaville at sea Islander is right up there with the best."

However, despite the negative feedback, there appears to be a substantial base of devoted passengers who aren't put off by its remarkably low fares, consistently drawing faithful clientele with their "where it's always 5 o'clock" philosophy.