Margaritaville at Sea Acquires Costa Fortuna, Unveiling Major Cruise Expansion Plans for 2026
Three years after launching its first cruise under the laid-back Margaritaville brand, Margaritaville at Sea is making waves again—this time by acquiring the Costa Fortuna, a 102,500 GT ship that will become its largest vessel to date. The expansion signals a bold new chapter, complete with longer Caribbean itineraries and an island-style redesign inspired by the brand’s iconic Jimmy Buffett roots.
Biggest Vessel Yet Marks New Era for the Island-Themed Cruise Line
The acquisition comes just a year after Margaritaville at Sea launched its second ship, Islander, formerly Costa Atlantica. Now, the addition of the much larger Costa Fortuna underscores the company’s rapid evolution into a competitive lifestyle cruise operator with broader itineraries and national reach.
Costa Fortuna to Become Margaritaville’s Flagship by Late 2026
Ship Specs and Lifestyle Overhaul in Progress
- Gross Tonnage: 102,500 GT
- Passenger Capacity: ~3,450
- Decks: 13 (with 8-story atrium)
- Staterooms: 1,340+
- Delivered: 2003 by Fincantieri
- New Branding: Complete Margaritaville redesign
- Homeport: To be announced
New Itineraries to Aruba, Curacao, and Beyond
Starting January 2026, Margaritaville at Sea will begin offering eight- and ten-night cruises that venture well beyond its current routes to the Bahamas. The expanded network will include ports of call such as Aruba, Curacao, Montego Bay, and even New Orleans.
A Growing Brand Beyond Port Palm Beach and Tampa
Originally partnered with Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, Margaritaville at Sea began service in May 2022 from Port of Palm Beach. With the 2024 debut of the Islander from Port Tampa Bay, the brand started exploring deeper cruise markets. The Costa Fortuna acquisition pushes this even further, necessitating a third and larger homeport yet to be disclosed.
Margaritaville at Sea Finds Its Ocean Groove
From coastal cruises to a full-fledged floating island escape, Margaritaville at Sea is cementing its position as a lifestyle leader in the cruising space. The addition of the Costa Fortuna marks not just growth in tonnage, but in ambition—bringing more space, more destinations, and more Margaritaville magic to the high seas.