Compared to established lines like Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian, Margaritaville at Sea is a relatively new player in the cruise industry.
However, the brand has quickly gained attention for its Jimmy Buffett-inspired vibe and affordable sailings, setting itself apart from mainstream cruise offerings.
Margaritaville at Sea shows no signs of slowing down, either. Recently, they announced they're expanding their fleet with their third ship since their debut in 2022.
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Currently, Margaritaville operates just two ships: Paradise and Islander. Although the vessels are smaller and older compared to fleets with brand-new builds, they offer a more intimate, relaxing cruise experience that appeals to fans of the laid-back Buffett lifestyle.
Paradise sails on shorter voyages from West Palm Beach, Florida, to the Bahamas and Florida Keys, while Islander offers longer itineraries to the Western Caribbean from Tampa.
Both ships are relatively small by today's cruise ship standards, with Paradise measuring less than 53,000 gross registered tons (GRT) and Islander around 85,000 GRT.
Margaritaville's third cruise ship — the former Costa Fortuna — will be the line's largest, coming in at over 102,000 GRT. Costa Fortuna will leave Costa Cruises' fleet in September 2026, giving Margaritaville time to reimagine the ship with their signature island-inspired design before entering service.
Cruise.Blog sat down for an exclusive interview with Christopher Ivy, Margaritaville at Sea's C.E.O., to talk about the cruise line’s rapid growth, what guests can expect from the newly acquired ship, and how the brand plans to keep the Margaritaville spirit alive at sea.
The acquisition of Costa Fortuna is a continuation of the strategy deployed with Margaritaville at Sea's Islander
The goal with Margaritaville's new ship is to take everything successful from the Islander and elevate it.
"One of the things we are really focused on...is taking a mix of things that people have really loved about Islander, but also delivering a number of new experiences that you have not seen for us," Ivy explained.
That means guests sailing on Margaritaville's new ship can expect familiar favorites, including the delicious Cheeseburger in Paradise Burger Bar, along with new venues, dining options, and more.
Additionally, because the ship is larger, they have more real estate to enhance entertainment and expand onboard activities, including adding great family spaces.
"We've got more...physical space because it's a larger ship over 100,000 tons, so there's more that we can do for families onboard," Ivy said.
For example, Islander has become a popular getaway for families, so there are things they can incorporate from their second ship's success that guests have responded well to.
He added that it's likely the Cheeseburger in Paradise Burger Bar will be larger, and I'm willing to bet that the life-sized flip-flop in the atrium will be the line's most stunning yet.
Acquiring Costa Fortuna meant Margaritaville could take advantage of a familiar ship design
Margaritaville at Sea's Islander has become a fan favorite and recipient of accolades like “Best Cruise Ship for Families” in the 2025 Newsweek Readers' Choice Awards.
However, the ship didn't begin its career with Margaritaville. Instead, she launched as Costa Atlantica in 2000.
Margaritaville's newest addition also began as a Costa ship, setting sail as Costa Fortuna in 2003. Although not part of the same ship class as the now-Islander, she shares a similar Italian design heritage.
"The design and layout of Fortuna allow us to bring those [fan favorites] back again in a bigger and better way, so that works really well from a design standpoint," explained Ivy.
The revamped staterooms aboard Islander have also received praise, so Margaritaville is taking what worked there and elevating it even further on the new ship.
"We spent an incredible amount of time getting [the] stateroom — down to the finishes, the flooring, [and] the curtains — right, so we'll be able to replicate a lot of the things that we've gotten consistently fantastic feedback on," he continued.
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It's been easy to learn from guest reviews with a small fleet
"We focus a lot on listening to guest feedback, whether that's small things [or] large things. Our team reads...every survey we get from a guest," admitted Ivy. Consequently, Islander has undergone numerous changes throughout its first year in service.
"We've made tweaks since we've launched the ship, whether that be entertainment timing [or] food and beverage options," he added.
This hands-on, feedback-driven approach is something Margaritaville at Sea plans to carry over to its newest ship as well.
By actively listening to guests, the cruise line aims to fine-tune its offerings aboard its third vessel and deliver a great experience that makes people want to sail with Margaritaville time and time again.
However, there's also value in consistency. "The only way to maintain momentum is by continuing to deliver the onboard experience...There are probably more ways to cruise now than there have ever been, but I think our experience onboard...really makes you feel like you're home when you step on the vessel," Ivy said.
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To Ivy, growing Margaritaville at Sea doesn't mean compromising the well-known hospitality brand
Although the Margaritaville at Sea brand is new, Margaritaville has decades of hospitality experience behind it. The foundation has helped fuel their rapid expansion and set bold goals for the future.
"We would not grow the business if we thought it was going to compromise the guest experience on board," Ivy declared, "I think one of the nice things now operating those shifts is we've got a really great team and a set of crew members who have had the ability to learn the Margaritaville lifestyle, the Margaritaville experience, and, more importantly, [the] Margaritaville approach to hospitality."
When asked how big he anticipates the fleet getting, he said they want to be thoughtful about their expansion, adding that the primary focus right now is making sure they get everything right with their newest addition.
And if you're wondering where the new ship will call home, you'll have to wait a little longer to find out. However, Ivy mentioned that Margaritaville isn't targeting one specific state. Instead, they're considering ports around the country.
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!
