Building on the success of its two current ships, Margaritaville at Sea has announced plans to expand its fleet with a third vessel set to launch in 2026.
The relatively new cruise line launched its first ship, Margaritaville at Sea Paradise, in 2022. Paradise initially set sail in 1991 for Costa Cruises as Costa Classica, before being renamed Costa neoClassica in 2014 and finally leaving the Costa fleet in 2018 when sold to Bahamas Paradise as Grand Classica.
Measuring less than 53,000 gross registered tons (GRT), Paradise is a relatively small ship by today’s cruise industry standards. However, Margaritaville embraced its more modest size to create a laid-back, intimate atmosphere.
In 2024, Margaritaville at Sea acquired its second ship, the Islander. Originally launched in 2000 as Costa Atlantica, Islander underwent an extensive transformation to join the Margaritaville fleet.
At over 85,000 GRT, the vessel is larger than Paradise and offers enhanced amenities, including multiple dining venues, upgraded staterooms, and more.
Islander's launch marked a major step forward for the brand, as it could serve a broader audience and offer more diverse itineraries from Tampa. For example, Islander will embark on 8- and 10-night sailings in 2027. One will even include an overnight stay in New Orleans during Mardi Gras.
However, Margaritaville is taking it up another notch with their newest ship set to debut in 2026. While the line hasn't released every detail about the ship and its home port, the third vessel will be the largest in the fleet, coming in at over 102,500 GRT.
“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. With the acquisition of our third ship in three years, we are proud to once again invite guests to step into the Margaritaville state of mind on the open ocean,” said Christopher Ivy, C.E.O. of Margaritaville at Sea.
“The launch of the Margaritaville at Sea Islander was a significant moment for our company, and the acquisition of the 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.”
John Cohlan, C.E.O. of Margaritaville, added, “Margaritaville at Sea has been on an exceptional trajectory since its launch only a few short years ago. We’re thrilled to once again expand the experience of our brand on the water and share the cruise line’s signature experiences and amenities with even more guests.”
Earlier this week, speculation grew around Margaritaville at Sea’s fleet expansion following the announcement that Costa Fortuna would depart Costa's fleet
"Today it was announced that COSTA FORTUNA (built 2003) will leave the Costa fleet in September 2026. Rumors are she has been sold to a US based operator and Margaritaville certainly fits the bill," wrote eroller on a Cruise Critic forum.
Well, the rumors are true — Costa Fortuna will leave Costa's fleet and become Margaritaville's largest vessel, with more than 1,340 cabins, 13 passenger decks, an 8-story atrium, and a passenger capacity of 3,450.
Like the line's other two ships, Costa Fortuna will be reimagined to embody the signature island-inspired design before entering service for Margaritaville. It's unclear where the vessel will sail from once the renovation is completed; however, Ivy mentioned it'll be a new port, so it won't sail from Palm Beach or Tampa.
Costa Fortuna's design is similar to Carnival's former Destiny Class (Carnival Destiny, Triumph, and Victory). For instance, the aft decks are tiered and have limited open space.
Costa Magica, the other Fortuna Class ship built for Costa, was sold to the Greek/Cypriot ferry company Seajets in 2023 and renamed Mykonos Magic.
The departure of Costa Fortuna means Costa's fleet will have just 8 operational ships, with the oldest being Costa Serena.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she traveled frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas during her freshman year of high school. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
