The excursion itself was amazing and well worth the cost.
The beach at Margaritaville is beautiful with pristine white sand, clear water and a bar close by. We were also given plenty of time to enjoy it all. The catamaran is roomy and the crew is helpful, friendly and entertaining, again with plenty of time for snorkeling or enjoying the scenery and the open bar. And there's enough time to enjoy dinner while watching the cliff divers and spectacular sunset at Rick's -- which is an experience in itself.
There's just a few things you should be aware of before you book, however.
First, be forewarned that the drive from Runaway Bay to Negril is 3 hours long. This is an all day excursion and you won't return to the resort until 9-10 p.m.
Second, ask a lot of questions.
Specifically, ask your driver for his phone number so that you can contact him in case of unforeseen circumstances. We didn't do that and had some stressful moments when our catamaran couldn't dock at Rick's because of choppy waters and returned to Margaritaville. Thankfully, our cruise director Diedre helped get us on a bus to Rick's and we weren't left stranded.
Also, find the person from Island Tours at Margaritaville where to check in and get an arm band. Again, we weren't made aware of this and nearly got left behind if not for a helpful lifeguard who realized that we needed assistance.
Finally, be careful who you engage on the beach. There are a lot of peddlers who will try to hit you up for money or worse, try to sell you ganja. Steer clear from anyone who isn't affiliated with Island Tours, Margaritaville or Rick's.
If you go in with your eyes open and have the patience to handle the long bus ride, you'll have a great, memorable experience.
We certainly did!