Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber: Titanic Shipyard to Transform New Flagship

Margaritaville at Sea is once again turning to Belfast as it expands its fleet. 

The former Costa cruise ship Costa Fortuna will undergo a major transformation at Harland & Wolff in autumn 2026 before entering service as Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber, the cruise line's new flagship.

For the Belfast shipyard, the project represents its largest cruise ship revitalisation contract since Harland & Wolff was acquired by Navantia UK. According to Navantia UK, the multi-million-pound project is expected to generate approximately £40 million in economic impact for the Belfast region.

From Costa Fortuna to Beachcomber

Built in 2003 for Costa Cruises, Costa Fortuna is one of the larger ships in the Margaritaville at Sea fleet. With a length of approximately 272 metres and more than 100,000 gross tons, the vessel will become the largest ship ever operated by the cruise line.

Margaritaville at Sea first presented Beachcomber in 2025 as its new flagship. The ship is intended to take the relaxed, island-inspired concept already established aboard Margaritaville at Sea Paradise and Margaritaville at Sea Islander and expand it onto a much larger platform.

The transformation is designed to go far beyond a simple technical refit. The former Costa ship will receive a completely new visual identity and an extensive range of Margaritaville-inspired public spaces and guest experiences.

Major transformation in Belfast

The ship is scheduled to arrive in Belfast in September 2026, when the major refurbishment programme will begin.

The work will include the central atrium, spa facilities, children's areas, speciality dining venues, nightclub and external VIP areas. The ship will also receive extensive rebranding and the distinctive Margaritaville at Sea design.

Several Northern Ireland-based companies will contribute to the project. MJM Marine, Mivan and Madden Marine will carry out significant elements of the transformation.

MJM Marine and Mivan already worked on the previous Margaritaville at Sea conversion in Belfast, transforming the former Costa Atlantica into Margaritaville at Sea Islander in 2024.

The Beachcomber project therefore represents a continuation of an established partnership rather than a one-off contract.

Belfast's growing role in cruise ship refurbishment

The project is also strategically important for Harland & Wolff and Navantia UK. Belfast is being positioned as a major European location for cruise ship repair, refurbishment and revitalisation.

The shipyard has two of Europe's largest dry docks, more than 1,300 metres of deep-water quayside and extensive heavy-lift infrastructure. The facility also benefits from unrestricted access without tidal limitations, allowing it to handle some of the world's largest cruise ships.

Navantia is using its international ship repair experience to strengthen the Belfast operation. Across its network, Navantia Repairs services more than 200 vessels annually, while the group's Cádiz facility has completed more than 100 major cruise ship projects.

The company is now transferring expertise from across the wider Navantia Group to Belfast, with specialists working alongside local teams in areas including production planning, project delivery and quality management.

The second Margaritaville conversion in Belfast

Margaritaville at Sea's decision to return to Belfast is particularly significant because the shipyard has already transformed another vessel for the cruise line.

The former Costa Atlantica became Margaritaville at Sea Islander following her 2024 refurbishment. She now operates from Port Tampa Bay, offering longer Caribbean itineraries.

The successful project demonstrated that Belfast could handle the scale and complexity of Margaritaville at Sea's brand transformation. The new Beachcomber project will take that cooperation to another level with a considerably larger ship.

A new flagship for the Caribbean

Once the Belfast work is completed, Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber is scheduled to enter service in January 2027 from PortMiami. The ship will operate year-round Caribbean cruises, with itineraries ranging from four to eight nights.

The ship will introduce a wide range of new venues and experiences. One of the most distinctive will be Same Boat, a live music venue created in partnership with country music star Zac Brown.

Margaritaville at Sea has also announced three original production shows for the new flagship, covering country, rock and Latin music.

The onboard bar and lounge offering will also be expanded considerably. Seven new venues are planned, while the ship will feature what the cruise line describes as the world's largest 5 o'Clock Somewhere Bar, spread across several decks.

A new chapter for both ship and shipyard

The transformation of Costa Fortuna into Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber is therefore significant on two levels.

For Margaritaville at Sea, the ship will become the largest and most ambitious vessel in its growing fleet and will provide additional capacity for Caribbean cruises from Miami.

For Belfast, the project is another major international reference in the increasingly competitive cruise ship refurbishment market. The estimated £40 million regional economic impact demonstrates the importance of large-scale cruise projects for the local maritime supply chain.

The former Costa Fortuna will arrive in Belfast as an established cruise ship and leave as a completely reimagined vessel. In 2027, the new Beachcomber will begin a new chapter in the Caribbean – while Belfast hopes the project will be another step towards establishing itself as one of Europe's leading cruise ship revitalisation hubs.

Source: Navantia UK, Margaritaville at Sea