Margaritaville at Sea to expand fleet with 2026 acquisition of Costa Fortuna 

Margaritaville at Sea has announced the next phase of its fleet expansion with the acquisition of Costa Fortuna from Costa Cruises. 

The ship will continue sailing under the Costa flag until late 2026 and will then be refurbished and launched under the Margaritaville brand the same year. Costa Cruises confirmed earlier this month that the ship was being sold, but the buyer at the time was unknown.

Originally delivered in 2003, the 102,500 gross ton Costa Fortuna will become the largest vessel in the Margaritaville at Sea fleet, accommodating approximately 3,450 guests across 13 passenger decks and more than 1,340 staterooms.

The ship features expansive outdoor areas, a soaring eight-storey central atrium and and a range of leisure and dining facilities including three main restaurants, 11 bars, three pools, four whirlpools, water slides, a spa, sports court, jogging track and diverse entertainment lounges.

“Over the last three years we have been incredibly focused on building Margaritaville at Sea by delivering more of what our guests love – a uniquely laid-back island attitude with award-winning hospitality,” said Christopher Ivy, CEO of Margaritaville at Sea. 

“The launch of Margaritaville at Sea Islander was a significant moment for our company, and the acquisition of Costa Fortuna, our largest ship to date, gives us another exciting opportunity to bring even more fun and escapism to guests from a new homeport in 2026,” he added.

Costa Fortuna will join a fleet built entirely from former Costa Cruises vessels. Margaritaville at Sea Paradise, originally Costa Classica, launched in 2022 following a full refit. In 2024, the cruise line introduced Margaritaville at Sea Islander, formerly Costa Atlantica, following a four-month refurbishment in Belfast.

While the name and homeport of the new ship have yet to be confirmed, Margaritaville at Sea has confirmed that more details will be announced ahead of the 2026 launch. The company recently filed a trademark for the name Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber, prompting speculation this could be the vessel’s new identity.

The current fleet operates short Caribbean and Gulf sailings from Palm Beach and Tampa, with itineraries to the Bahamas, Mexico, and Key West. The addition of a larger ship may support broader deployment options or the opening of a new homeport, with likely candidates including Miami, Port Canaveral, or Galveston.