Margaritaville at Sea to Add Another Carnival Corporation Ship

May 14, 2025 Randy Young

Just in time to celebrate its third anniversary, Margaritaville at Sea announced it will expand its fleet in 2026. The company has agreed to purchase the Costa Fortuna, bringing its fleet to three ships. Lets dive in.

About Costa Fortuna

Costa Fortuna debuted in 2003 for Costa Cruise Lines (owned by Carnival Corporation). At 102,500 gross tons, it will be Margaritaville at Sea’s biggest ship yet. It’s about 20 percent larger than the Islander, which debuted last year, and can hold up to 3,450 guests.

Small ship fans don’t need to worry, though. While large for Margaritaville, Costa Fortuna is no mega ship. It’s roughly 60 percent smaller than the largest ship currently sailing, Icon of the Seas.

The ship features many classic cruise ship elements that you won’t find on most new builds, like a massive 8-story central atrium with glass elevators and a skylight at the top. It has 1,340 staterooms, with a mix of balcony, ocean view, and interior cabins. The ship also features four pools, including one with a retractable glass roof for inclement weather.

Naturally, the entire ship will be rethemed to reflect Margaritaville at Sea’s tropical vibe. That likely includes their popular Landshark Bar, Far Side Sushi, and the infamous Cheeseburger in Paradise Burger Bar.

While the cruise line hasn’t officially announced the name of the ship, the company did file a trademark application for Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber just last month.

Another Carnival Corporation Ship for Margaritaville at Sea

Costa Fortuna is based on Carnival’s Destiny Class, later renamed the Sunshine Class. That means the ship will feel familiar if you’ve ever sailed on Carnival Sunrise or Carnival Radiance.

Unfortunately, that also means some of the design criticisms of that class will likely carry over. The main complaint is that the enclosed design at the aft of the ship limits sea views. Additionally, the internal layout creates choke points that can make the ship feel more crowded than it actually is.

Margaritaville at Sea’s Islander, which debuted in 2024, was also a former Costa ship. It was originally a Spirit Class vessel with a layout similar to Carnival Spirit, Pride, Legend, and Miracle. After a full makeover, it received positive reviews for updating the ship without losing its classic charm.

Is Margaritaville at Sea Becoming the Line for Small Ships?

The brand’s strategy of buying older, smaller ships and renovating them might hit the sweet spot for cruisers who enjoyed sailing in the 1990s and early 2000s. With Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, and Celebrity going bigger with every new ship, fans of smaller vessels are running out of options.

Margaritaville at Sea’s fleet is easier to navigate and built around design formulas that worked in the past. These ships are a throwback to the earlier days of cruising.

New Ship Will Debut in Late 2026

Margaritaville at Sea has said the new ship will debut “late next year.” In Costa Cruises’ announcement, they noted the ship will transfer to its new owner in mid-September. That likely means a launch in November or December.

The line hasn’t announced where the ship will sail from, but has indicated it will be a new homeport. Currently, Margaritaville at Sea sails from Palm Beach and Tampa Bay.