Costa Fortuna has embarked on its final voyage for Costa Cruises, closing a 23-year chapter with the Italian cruise line before beginning a major transformation for Margaritaville at Sea.
The seven-night farewell cruise departed Piraeus on 4 September 2026 and is scheduled to return to the Greek port on 11 September. The Eastern Mediterranean itinerary includes Istanbul, Mykonos, Heraklion, Rhodes and Santorini, with passengers also able to join the voyage in Istanbul.
After disembarking its final Costa guests, the 2003-built ship is expected to be handed over in Europe and prepared for conversion into Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber.
A 23-year Costa career comes to an end
Costa Fortuna entered service in 2003 and has spent its entire operating career with Costa Cruises. Built by Fincantieri in Italy, the ship was designed as a tribute to the classic Italian ocean liners of the past, with public spaces named after historic vessels.
Its final sailing concludes a summer programme in the Eastern Mediterranean. The farewell itinerary began with an overnight departure from Piraeus, followed by cruising in the Dardanelles and calls in Turkey and the Greek islands.
The ship is due to arrive back in Piraeus on the morning of 11 September, marking the end of its Costa operation.
Largest ship in the Margaritaville at Sea fleet
Margaritaville at Sea announced its purchase of Costa Fortuna in May 2025 as the next stage of its fleet expansion. At more than 102,500 gross tonnes and with accommodation for approximately 3,450 passengers, the vessel will become the operator's largest ship.
The ship has more than 1,340 staterooms, 13 passenger decks, extensive outdoor areas and an eight-storey atrium. It is also newer and substantially larger than Margaritaville at Sea Paradise and Margaritaville at Sea Islander.
The acquisition gives the young cruise brand its third vessel in three years. Paradise launched the operation in 2022, while Islander entered service for the company in 2024.
Major refurbishment planned
Following the handover, Costa Fortuna will undergo a large-scale refurbishment and emerge as Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber. Cruise Industry News reports that the conversion will take place in Northern Ireland, with most interior spaces and onboard venues redesigned around Margaritaville's island-inspired style.
Plans released by the new operator include the Same Boat live-music venue curated with Zac Brown, the Dis 'N Dat Activity Zone, Tropical Twist waterslide and a larger 5 o'Clock Somewhere bar and pool area. New restaurants, lounges and redesigned accommodation will also form part of the transformation.
The refit will replace the ship's Costa identity while retaining the scale and layout that make it a significant step up in capacity for Margaritaville at Sea.
Beachcomber to debut from Miami in January 2027
Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber is scheduled to begin sailing from PortMiami in January 2027. The initial programme includes four- to eight-night cruises to the Bahamas and the Caribbean.
Destinations featured across the published itineraries include Puerto Plata, San Juan, St Thomas, Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Key West, Nassau and the ABC islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao.
The ship's arrival will broaden Margaritaville at Sea beyond the short-break market with longer itineraries and a wider choice of Caribbean destinations.