Margaritaville at Sea Welcomes Its One Millionth Guest

Updated July 14, 2026

Margaritaville at Sea said it welcomed its one millionth guest on June 25, surprising the passenger during a presentation aboard Margaritaville at Sea Islander. The cruise line is preparing to add Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber in January 2027, taking the branded fleet to three ships.

The figure spans operations that began in May 2022 with Margaritaville at Sea Paradise sailing from the Port of Palm Beach and expanded in June 2024 when Islander debuted from Port Tampa Bay.

Beachcomber is the next fleet addition

Beachcomber currently sails as Costa Fortuna for Costa Cruises. The 102,500-gross-ton, Fincantieri-built ship entered service in 2003 and has capacity for 3,450 passengers.

After rebranding, the ship is scheduled to sail four- to eight-night cruises from Miami during its inaugural Margaritaville at Sea season, mostly weeklong eastern and western Caribbean sailings. The deployment also includes four-night getaways to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, and a special eight-night Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao southern Caribbean voyage.

The onboard product announced for the vessel includes three original production shows performed multiple times per sailing, an expanded lineup of bars and lounges, St. Somewhere Spa & Salon, Fins Up! Fitness Center and an expanded Permanent Reminder Tattoo Studio.

Rathbane Group companies MJM Marine and Mivan have been appointed to deliver a large share of the multi-million-pound refurbishment. Their work will cover public and guest areas including the central atrium, spa, children's facilities, specialty dining venues, nightclub, external VIP areas and Flip Flop Bar.

"Beachcomber represents an important next step for Margaritaville at Sea as we continue expanding the fleet and investing in the guest experience across our ships," said Christopher Ivy, CEO of Margaritaville at Sea.

PortMiami advances a berthing deal for Beachcomber

At PortMiami, a Miami-Dade County committee has advanced a preferential berthing agreement for Beachcomber, and county commissioners are scheduled to consider the deal. It would be PortMiami's first preferential berthing agreement with a new cruise line since its 2019 agreement with Virgin Voyages.

The agreement would run from Jan. 9, 2027, through April 30, 2031, with two optional five-year renewal terms. It would give the ship preference at Cruise Terminal C on specified dates, covering approximately 170 calls over the term, and would guarantee approximately 1 million passenger movements and at least $23.15 million in revenues over five years. The line would pay a per-passenger fee that increases 3% annually.

The agreement provides limited incentives related to parking, marketing, non-peak day calls and evening calls. It also gives PortMiami the right to temporarily reassign Margaritaville at Sea calls to another terminal for construction activities tied to the North Bulkhead Rehabilitation Project and the Berth 10 project.

Under the berthing schedule, Cruise Terminal C would be assigned on Saturdays from May 1 through Sept. 30, 2027, and on Sundays after Berth 10 is completed, estimated for October 2028, until April 30, 2031.

Kyle Anderson, chief commercial officer of Margaritaville at Sea, told commissioners that the line had grown from one ship, one homeport and one destination to multiple ships serving more than 20 destinations across the Caribbean and Mexico. "I can think of no better place to homeport our new flagship vessel the Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber," Anderson said.

Costa Fortuna is expected to remain in Costa Cruises service through the summer before entering a 12-week drydock in late September 2026. The shipyard for the conversion has not been disclosed.