Margaritaville at Sea debuted in May 2022 with the launch of its flagship Margaritaville at Sea Paradise. The cruise line then debuted Margaritaville at Sea Islander in 2024. This year the cruise line used the third anniversary of its beginnings, May 14, 2025, to announce it would be expanding its fleet to three in 2026.
“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, Chief Executive Officer of Margaritaville at Sea
Margaritaville at Sea has acquired Costa Fortuna, which was built in 2003 and is currently operated by Costa Cruises. Once she is reimagined into the cruise line’s signature island design, she will debut as the largest ship in the Margaritaville at Sea fleet. Weighing in at over 102,500 gross tons, the ship accommodates about 3,450 guests in its 1,340 staterooms. The ship features an 8-story center atrium and 13 passenger decks.
Ivy continued, “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.”
Since its inception, Margaritaville at Sea has received various accolades including #1Cruisers’ Choice by Cruise Critic in 2024, the #1 Best Cruise Line for Solo Travelers, #2 Best Ocean Cruise Line, and #3 Best Cruise Line for Families by USA Today 10Best in 2025. Additionally, Margaritaville at Sea Islander was voted #1 Best Cruise Ship for Families by the 2025 Newsweek Readers’ Choice Award.
CEO of Margaritaville, John Cohlan, stated, “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.”
Costa Fortuna will continue to sail for Costa Cruises until late 2025.