Margaritaville at Sea has completed the acquisition of the former Costa Fortuna from Costa Cruises, marking the next phase of the company’s fleet expansion strategy.
The vessel will be transformed into Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber/MAS Beachcomber, with an extensive refurbishment and rebranding programme scheduled to begin during a 12-week drydocking in late September.
The majority of the conversion work will be carried out by Rathbane Group companies MJM Marine and Mivan, both of which have extensive experience in cruise ship outfitting and refurbishment projects.
Following the completion of the upgrade programme, the ship is expected to restart cruises in January 2027.
Margaritaville at Sea indicated that the addition of MAS Beachcomber represents a significant step in the company’s continued fleet growth and its broader investment in enhancing the onboard guest experience. The company also noted that the scale of the project requires substantial technical expertise, infrastructure and specialist resources, adding that Rathbane Group’s established reputation within the cruise refurbishment sector made it a suitable partner for the conversion.
The project will see the former Costa vessel adapted to reflect the Margaritaville at Sea brand as the operator continues to strengthen its position in the North American cruise market.