After months of speculation – and with many convinced Galveston, Texas, was next in line – Margaritaville at Sea has finally revealed where its third ship will call home. Surprise: it’s Miami. Starting in 2027, the brand-new-to-them Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber will sail out of PortMiami, offering longer Eastern and Southern Caribbean itineraries in contrast to the shorter cruises it’s known for today.
From Palm Beach Weekenders to a Three-Ship Fleet
It wasn’t that long ago that Margaritaville at Sea was a one-ship line offering quick escapes from Palm Beach to the Bahamas aboard Paradise one of the oldest cruise ships sill in service. Then came ship number two. In 2024, the company purchased Costa Atlantica, rebranded her as Margaritaville at Sea Islander, and began sailing longer Western Caribbean cruises from Tampa.
Now with Miami officially joining the lineup, the cruise line that once marketed itself as a two-night “cruise to nowhere but the Bahamas” has grown into a three-ship, three-homeport fleet with itineraries across more than 25 ports in the Caribbean.
- Paradise, still home in Palm Beach and continues sailing with short 2- to 4-night cruises.
- Islander, sailing from Tampa with cruises that range from 4 to 10 nights to Mexico and the Western Caribbean.
- And now Beachcomber, the largest of them all, is set to bring 4- to 8-night adventures from Miami to the Eastern and Southern Caribbean.
Meet the Beachcomber
Like her sisters, Beachcomber isn’t rolling fresh from the shipyard. Built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy and delivered in 2003, the ship first sailed as Costa Fortuna, part of Costa Cruises’ early 2000s expansion. At more than 100,000 gross tons and nearly 900 feet long, she was modeled on the Carnival Destiny-class design, but with Italian flair.
For over two decades, Fortuna cruised the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Caribbean, and even Asia. By the mid-2020s, Costa began scaling back its fleet, selling off older vessels. Just as Costa Atlantica became Islander, Fortuna is set to take on another life as Beachcomber.
“I’ll Take Miami for Beachcomber, Alex.”
The choice of PortMiami as Beachcomber’s home is a big deal, and one that blindsighted many who were anticipating the new ship would anywhere home BUT Miami. Choosing to base Beachcomber at the world’s busiest port is a bold move and puts the brand in direct competition with the industry’s giants – Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, and Norwegian – who all have a year round presence in Miami.
From Miami, Beachcomber will sail 4 to 8-night itineraries that include stops in San Juan, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic, Bimini in the Bahamas, and even Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao (the BEST cruise itinerary, by the way).
Pricing will be something to watch. Margaritaville at Sea has always been positioned as a more affordable, casual option. If that continues with Beachcomber, cruisers could see weeklong itineraries at lower entry-level fares compared to the bigger ships in Miami. Of course, that means you won’t get roller coasters at sea or neighborhoods the size of small towns – but you will get a more laid-back, island-themed experience that appeals to those who cruise to relax.
Cruises on Beachcomber are now available for booking in 2027 at the cruise line’s website at https://reservations.margaritavilleatsea.com/