The Costa Fortuna cruise ship completed more than twenty years of service in the Costa Cruises fleet. After its final voyage, the vessel was handed over to the new operator, renamed Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber, and began preparations for the 2027 Caribbean program.
The final Costa Fortuna cruise under the Costa Cruises flag departed on 4 September 2026 from Piraeus. The seven-day itinerary included Istanbul, Mykonos, Heraklion, Rhodes and Santorini, and ended on 11 September in Piraeus.
After the voyage, Costa Fortuna was permanently removed from the fleet of the Italian cruise company.
Costa Fortuna has become Beachcomber
In mid-September, during a technical stop in Brindisi, the ship received a new name - Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber. According to the AIS system data, the liner was simultaneously transferred under the Portuguese flag.
After the renaming, the ship sailed via Gibraltar to Belfast, where a major refurbishment is planned. The work is expected to last about three months.
After the reconstruction, Beachcomber will become the largest liner in the Margaritaville at Sea fleet.
Costa Cruises
Costa Fortuna
Impressive in every detail, Costa Fortuna is the successor to the luxurious Italian cruise ships of the past. Exceptionally comfortable and elegant, the ship amazes, captivates and entertains.
Costa Fortuna is a wonderful cruise ship that can provide fantastic cruise impressions. On board this cruise ship, literally everything is dazzling, wonderful and fun. In tribute to the company’s history, the main atrium is adorned with 26 models of the most beautiful Costa cruise ships. If you love entertainment, then on board you can enjoy a casino, a disco, numerous bars and lounges, a wonderful theatre, and the exclusive Club Conte Grande with a transparent roof that lets you enjoy the stars. There are 4 restaurants at your disposal, 3 of which are included in the price and one alternative restaurant, Club Conte Grande, which requires prior table reservation, 11 bars, including the Cognac & Cigar Bar. And also 4 swimming pools, one of which has a sliding roof, 6 whirlpools, a children’s pool and a water slide.
For sports lovers, there is a sports court, a jogging track and a fitness centre on board. For SPA lovers, the ship features a wellness centre with a sauna, a Turkish bath and treatment rooms. For children, there is a children’s club and a video games room.
- Year built
- 2004
- Passengers
- 3 470
- Decks
- 13
- Class
- 4
- Gross tonnage (GT)
- 102 587 GT
- Speed
- 22 knots
- Length
- 272 m
What changes during the renovation
Costa Fortuna was built by the Italian shipyard Fincantieri and put into service in 2003. The liner has a displacement of about 103 thousand tons and is designed for approximately 2,700 passengers with double occupancy.
During the refit, the ship’s decor, public spaces, restaurants, bars, and entertainment program will be updated. The new operator plans to add more than 15 new venues and spaces.
Among the announced new features:
the largest bar in the fleet, 5 o’Clock Somewhere;
the JWB steakhouse;
Cheeseburger in Paradise Burger Bar;
the Same Boat music venue, created with the participation of American musician Zac Brown;
new theatrical productions;
refreshed restaurants, bars, and lounge areas.
Official Beachcomber deck plans already differ from the configuration of Costa Fortuna. Therefore, old reviews of the ship’s cabins, restaurants, and public areas should not be used when choosing a cruise after the refurbishment.
The first cruise is scheduled for January 2027.
Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber will begin operations from Miami in January 2027. The christening ceremony and the first voyage are scheduled for January 9. The ship’s godfather will be musician Zac Brown.
From PortMiami, the ship will offer cruises lasting mostly from 4 to 8 nights to the Bahamas, Mexico, the Eastern and Southern Caribbean.
Among the planned destinations:
Nassau;
Freeport;
Key West;
Cozumel;
Grand Cayman;
Jamaica;
Puerto Plata;
Aruba;
Bonaire;
Curacao.
The new operator positions Beachcomber as a ship for longer Caribbean trips, while its first vessels were mainly focused on short cruises.
Later, the liner will move to Galveston.
In October 2027, Beachcomber plans to move from Miami to Galveston in the state of Texas.
From its new home port, the liner will offer routes to Mexico, Belize and the islands of the Caribbean Sea. Among the listed destinations are Cozumel, Veracruz, Aruba and Curaçao.
What does this mean for Costa Cruises passengers?
Costa Fortuna is no longer part of the current Costa Cruises fleet. The ship’s upcoming cruises will be operated under the Margaritaville at Sea brand, in accordance with the new operator’s rules, rates, and service standards.
Passengers should take into account:
the old Costa Fortuna programs have ended;
the Costa Club loyalty program will not be available on Beachcomber;
meal, drinks, gratuities, and additional service conditions will change;
English will be the official language on most Caribbean itineraries;
for cruises departing from Miami, Ukrainian citizens must separately check the entry requirements for the USA and each country on the itinerary;
reviews of Costa Fortuna will not fully reflect the product after the refurbishment.
Historical pages about Costa Fortuna may remain accessible in search engines and on cruise agency websites. However, it is no longer possible to book a new cruise with Costa Cruises on this ship.
Other former Costa liners in the Margaritaville fleet
Beachcomber will no longer be the first former Costa liner in the fleet of Margaritaville at Sea. The company also operates Margaritaville at Sea Islander - the former Costa Atlantica.
Thus, the new operator expands its fleet with tried-and-tested cruise ships that, after refurbishment, get an entirely different concept, design, and onboard product.
Current Costa Cruises itineraries and offers from other cruise companies can be found on Cruise‑Life.PRO.