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Margaritaville at Sea is accelerating work on its next flagship, Beachcomber, securing a shipyard and interior specialists for a major conversion of the former Costa Fortuna as the brand prepares to introduce its largest Caribbean vessel alongside the recently launched Islander.
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Shipyard Secured as Beachcomber Project Enters Next Phase
Plans for Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber have moved into a more concrete stage with the selection of a shipyard to carry out the vessel’s extensive conversion program. Industry coverage indicates the company has now finalized where the former Costa Fortuna will undergo its drydock and refurbishment ahead of entering service as Beachcomber from PortMiami in early 2027.
According to cruise trade reports, the refit is scheduled to take place in late 2026, aligning with Margaritaville at Sea’s broader three-year expansion plan that has already added the Islander and followed earlier upgrades to the Paradise. Publicly available information describes the Beachcomber conversion as one of the line’s most ambitious projects to date in terms of scale and scope.
Once the work is complete, Beachcomber is expected to become the largest and newest ship in the Margaritaville at Sea fleet, nearly doubling the size of the original Paradise and surpassing Islander in passenger capacity and gross tonnage. The project is positioned to push the brand more firmly into the mainstream Caribbean cruise market from its new South Florida base.
From Costa Fortuna to Beachcomber: Inside the Planned Transformation
The ship that will become Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber began life as Costa Fortuna, a 2003-built vessel of roughly 102,000 gross tons with space for about 3,400 guests. Company statements and registry data show that Margaritaville at Sea acquired the ship in 2025 as its third vessel, with the express goal of redesigning it around the brand’s casual, resort-style concept for longer Caribbean itineraries.
Design and outfitting firms MJM Marine and Mivan have been named in trade coverage as key partners for the conversion, with responsibility for turning the ship’s existing public spaces and cabins into Margaritaville-themed venues. Reports indicate the scope of work includes new bars and lounges, refreshed pool decks, updated staterooms and suites, and a reimagined casino and entertainment offering tailored to the line’s “license to chill” identity.
A preliminary overview on the cruise line’s website highlights Beachcomber’s planned amenities, including new dining concepts, additional live music venues, expanded pool areas, and upgraded suite accommodations designed for families and groups. Early marketing materials emphasize a strong connection to Miami and the wider Caribbean, signaling itineraries that will likely focus on multi-night sailings to marquee warm-weather ports.
Islander Sets the Stage as Current Caribbean Flagship
While work ramps up on Beachcomber, Margaritaville at Sea is still in the early stages of operating its current flagship, the Margaritaville at Sea Islander, which began revenue sailings from Tampa in June 2024. The Islander emerged from its own large-scale transformation of the former Costa Atlantica, adding Margaritaville-branded dining, bars, family areas, and themed entertainment to a mid-size ship platform.
Public materials describe the Islander as offering four and five night itineraries from Port Tampa Bay to Key West and Mexican ports such as Cozumel and Progreso. The ship introduced several brand firsts, including a three deck LandShark Bar at Sea, new family water play zones, and multiple specialty restaurants, helping the line expand beyond its original short Bahamas sailings from Palm Beach.
Industry analyses note that the introduction of Islander significantly increased Margaritaville at Sea’s overall capacity and gave the brand a presence on Florida’s Gulf Coast. The ship effectively serves as a test bed for the resort style experience that will be further scaled up and refined on Beachcomber once the larger vessel enters service from Miami.
Beachcomber Poised to Become Largest Ship in the Fleet
Available fleet data indicate that once the conversion is completed, Beachcomber will rank as the largest ship ever operated by Margaritaville at Sea, both in gross tonnage and guest capacity. Current public figures list the future Beachcomber at around 102,669 gross tons with room for approximately 3,470 passengers, compared with the smaller Paradise and mid-sized Islander.
The added size is expected to allow for more diverse dining and entertainment options, additional suites, and larger outdoor decks oriented around music, poolside activities, and bar concepts. Early promotional material for Beachcomber references new Caribbean-focused experiences, including fresh takes on the line’s signature “5 o’Clock Somewhere” theme, expanded live music programming, and spaces designed to transition from relaxed daytime venues to livelier evening settings.
Miami’s role as Beachcomber’s homeport also positions the ship to access a broader range of Caribbean routes than the brand’s existing deployments. From PortMiami, the vessel will be well placed for itineraries that include both short getaways and longer voyages, potentially reaching deeper into the Western and Eastern Caribbean than the line’s earlier offerings.
Strategic Expansion as Margaritaville at Sea Builds Caribbean Presence
The Beachcomber project marks the next step in what has been a rapid expansion for Margaritaville at Sea since its launch in 2022. The company began with the Paradise on short cruises from Palm Beach, then added the Islander from Tampa, and now is preparing to introduce Beachcomber from Miami, giving the brand three distinct Florida gateways into the Caribbean by 2027.
According to trade publications that track fleet deployment, this growth strategy is intended to broaden the line’s appeal beyond core Jimmy Buffett fans to include value oriented cruisers and newcomers drawn by a relaxed, resort atmosphere. The move into larger tonnage with Beachcomber signals an effort to compete more directly with established contemporary cruise brands on short and medium length Caribbean sailings.
With the shipyard appointment now confirmed and design partners already engaged, the Beachcomber conversion is set to become one of the more closely watched refurbishment projects in the cruise sector over the next two years. As timelines firm up for drydock work and inaugural sailings, the vessel is expected to play a central role in defining Margaritaville at Sea’s next chapter in the Caribbean market.
Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber overview
Margaritaville at Sea acquisition of Costa Fortuna
Cruise Industry News coverage of Beachcomber yard selection
Cruise Industry News report on MJM Marine and Mivan contracts