Harland & Wolff, part of Navantia UK, has begun an extensive refurbishment of the former Costa Fortuna at its Belfast shipyard, transforming the vessel into MAS Beachcomber, the new flagship of Margaritaville at Sea.
The vessel is scheduled to enter service in January 2027 as the cruise line’s third and largest vessel.
The ~12-week drydocking project will include refurbished staterooms, redesigned public spaces and new onboard venues. The conversion is intended to introduce a new onboard experience ahead of the vessel’s planned debut from PortMiami.
The refurbishment is expected to generate ~GBP 40 million for the regional economy through shipyard activity, supplier contracts and associated business. This figure represents the estimated wider economic impact of the project rather than the disclosed value of the shipyard contract.
According to Harland & Wolff, the work represents its largest cruise ship refurbishment project in Belfast since the acquisition by Navantia UK. The transformation will be undertaken by the shipyard’s workforce in cooperation with specialist local suppliers, as Margaritaville at Sea continues to expand its fleet.
The cruise line has returned to Belfast following the 2024 refurbishment of Margaritaville at Sea Islander, which was converted from the former Costa Atlantica. Margaritaville at Sea Chief Maritime Officer Minas Miliaras said the quality of the previous project and the shipyard’s technical expertise had influenced the decision to select Belfast for the latest conversion.
Following completion of the refurbishment, Beachcomber is scheduled to cross the Atlantic and begin welcoming passengers from PortMiami in January 2027. Its inaugural season is expected to include itineraries to the Caribbean, the Bahamas and destinations in Florida.