Costa Fortuna is already sailing as Margaritaville Beachcomber
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Margaritaville at Sea’s next ship is no longer a Costa name on AIS. Cruise Industry News reported on 20 Sep 2026 that the former Costa Fortuna is already sailing as Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber after a Brindisi technical call.
Rename, flag, and next port
CIN says the hull picked up the Beachcomber name in Brindisi in mid-September and switched to the Portuguese flag. VesselFinder’s live AIS page for IMO 9239783 lists MVAS BEACHCOMBER under Portugal (Madeira), outbound from Brindisi on 16 Sep 2026, with Gibraltar due around 10:00 on 21 Sep 2026.
That tracking matches CIN’s Gibraltar call. After Gibraltar, CIN expects a Northern Ireland run for the big refit.
Belfast work, then Miami
Cruise Industry News reported on 31 Aug 2026 that Harland and Wolff in Belfast won the conversion. Public areas and Margaritaville venues are part of that package, including 5 o’Clock Somewhere, JWB Steakhouse, and Cheeseburger in Paradise Burger Bar in the 20 Sep CIN update.
Revenue service is aimed at early 2027 from PortMiami. CIN’s 20 Sep piece puts the inaugural window in January, with three- to eight-night Florida, Caribbean, and Bahamas trips that can include Cozumel, Freeport, and George Town.
Galveston is the second homeport
Margaritaville’s own 9 Sep 2026 PR Newswire release is Tier 1 for Texas. Beachcomber is set to leave Galveston from October 2027 on four- to seven-night Western Caribbean and Latin America itineraries, including Veracruz. Those sailings are listed as open to book now on the line’s site.
If you want the first Miami season, January 2027 is the window to watch. If you want Texas, October 2027 is the Galveston start, not the Miami debut.
What you should do
Bookers comparing Miami January 2027 dates should treat the hull move and Belfast layover as confirmed logistics, not a change to published cruise nights. Galveston shoppers should open Margaritaville’s Beachcomber calendar and confirm Veracruz or ABC-island days still sit on the sailing you want. Rename and Gibraltar timing follow Cruise Industry News and VesselFinder as of 20 Sep 2026. Galveston deployment follows Margaritaville’s 9 Sep 2026 release.
More Margaritaville at Sea news
Cruise news for September 20, 2026
Sources
Tier 1 = the cruise line’s own published material · Tier 2 = an established cruise-news outlet- TIER 2Former Costa Fortuna sailing as Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber per AIS; renamed mid-Sep in Brindisi, reflagged to Portugal, Gibraltar arrival 21 Sep 2026, then Northern Ireland refit; ~2,720 passengers; Miami early 2027 debut with 3- to 8-night Florida/Caribbean/Bahamas; Galveston late 2027
Cruise Industry News, checked 20 Sep 2026 - TIER 2AIS lists MVAS BEACHCOMBER IMO 9239783 Portuguese Madeira flag, en route Gibraltar ETA 21 Sep 2026 10:00, departed Brindisi 16 Sep 2026
VesselFinder, checked 20 Sep 2026 - TIER 2Harland and Wolff Belfast selected for Beachcomber conversion; early 2027 PortMiami entry planned
Cruise Industry News, checked 31 Aug 2026 - TIER 1Beachcomber Galveston debut October 2027 with 4- to 7-night Western Caribbean and Latin America itineraries including Veracruz; bookable now per Margaritaville release
Margaritaville at Sea, checked 9 Sep 2026
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