Margaritaville at Sea has carved a niche in the cruise industry by offering a relaxed, island-inspired experience since its debut in 2022. The cruise line’s current fleet comprises two vessels: the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise and the Margaritaville at Sea Islander. The Paradise, launched in 1991, holds the distinction of being one of the oldest cruise ships, though it has been refurbished to keep it somewhat up to date. The Islander, built in 2000, joined the fleet in 2024, adding capacity and more modern amenities and has quickly become a fan fave. Now, Margaritaville at Sea is set to grow again with the acquisition of a third ship, the Costa Fortuna, marking yet another step in the line’s expansion strategy.
Margaritaville At Sea Paradise: The Grand Old Lady of Cruising
The acquisition of the Costa Fortuna aligns with Margaritaville at Sea’s history of purchasing vessels from Carnival Corporation. Both the Paradise and Islander previously sailed under Carnival’s subsidiary, Costa Cruises, as the Costa Classica and Costa Atlantica, respectively. This existing relationship with Carnival Corp makes the purchase of the Costa Fortuna a logical choice for their fleet-building approach. By acquiring ships with proven designs and operational histories, Margaritaville at Sea can leverage its expertise in refurbishing and rebranding Costa vessels to deliver its signature laid-back, tropical experience.
The Costa Fortuna, constructed in 2003, brings a larger and slightly newer vessel to the Margaritaville fleet. With a gross tonnage of 102,587, it surpasses the Islander’s 85,619 tons and the Paradise’s 70,367 tons, offering space for 3,450 passengers across 1,358 cabins. This capacity will make it the largest ship in the fleet, dwarfing the Paradise’s 1,308-passenger limit and exceeding the Islander’s 2,650.
The Fortuna is part of the Fortuna class, also known as the Destiny class within Carnival’s fleet. Her sister ships include the Carnival Sunshine (formerly Carnival Destiny) and Carnival Sunrise (formerly Carnival Triumph known for the infamous “poop cruise”), and Carnival Radiance (formerly Carnival Victory). Passengers familiar with these Carnival vessels will feel right at home on the Fortuna, as they all share the same layout including expansive atriums, large pool decks, and familiar entertainment venues. Of course, all will be reimagined with Margaritaville’s island-themed aesthetic.
Details regarding the Costa Fortuna’s entry into service with Margaritaville as Sea remain undisclosed, although the ship will be leaving the Costa fleet in 2026. Margaritaville at Sea has not confirmed the ship’s new name, homeport, itineraries, or whether it will complement or replace existing vessels. I foresee two different scenarios playing out. First, the cruise line could keep all three ships sailing, deploying the Fortuna from a new homeport such as Galveston, Texas. Galveston’s cruise terminal is experiencing rapid growth, with major lines like Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises, and Carnival expanding their presence, making it an attractive option for Margaritaville to capture the Gulf Coast market with itineraries to Mexico or the Western Caribbean.
The second scenario, and one I see as more likely, the Fortuna could replace the aging Paradise, which, at over three decades old, is about at the end of its operational life and is costing the line a lot of money to keep running. In this case, the Fortuna might move from the Port of Palm Beach to a more prominent Florida port—Fort Lauderdale, Port Canaveral, or Miami—allowing Margaritaville to offer enhanced and longer itineraries to attract a broader passenger base.
As the cruise line has not released official plans, these possibilities remain purely speculative.