A 2003 Costa Ship Is Being Rebuilt in Belfast as a Margaritaville

Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber, a ship built in 2003 for Costa Cruises, has arrived at the Harland & Wolff yard in Belfast for a major refurbishment. Margaritaville at Sea acquired the 2,720-passenger vessel earlier this year, and the work is meant to turn it into the company’s newest ship.

The refit includes new venues, updated staterooms and refreshed public areas. The shipyard, which Spanish shipbuilder Navantia acquired in late 2024, says the program is expected to bring about £40 million into the regional economy. The refit’s total cost has not been stated.

After the work is done, the ship is scheduled to cross the Atlantic and welcome its first guests at PortMiami in January 2027. Its maiden season covers Caribbean, Bahamas and Florida cruises from Miami, so travelers who like the brand’s laid-back island theme will not have long to wait.

There is a second chapter already planned. In mid-2027 the Beachcomber moves to the Port of Galveston in Texas, which will mark Margaritaville at Sea’s debut in the state. The timing suggests a seasonal rotation between Florida and the Gulf Coast, though the company has not published its full schedule yet.

Sources: Cruise Industry News