Room to spread out
At 102,587 tons she’s about a fifth bigger than Islander by tonnage and nearly twice Paradise.
01
Beachcomber in 30 seconds
A bigger ship, a new flagship, and nobody’s sailed her yet.
Beachcomber is the former Costa Fortuna, now in refit in Belfast — she’s christened at PortMiami on January 9, 2027, and her first sailing leaves after the ceremony.
She’s the largest ship in the fleet at 102,587 tons, with announced features the other two don’t have: High Tide Market from day one, Same Boat, two new restaurants and a four-level pool area aft.
In October 2027 she moves to Galveston.
We haven’t rated her dining, entertainment or service — there’s nothing to judge until guests are aboard.
Miami
to
Galveston
to
Galveston
Postcard from the advisor
- DebutJan 9, 2027
- FromPortMiami
- ThenGalveston, Oct 2027
- Size102,587 GT
- StatusNot yet rated
the countdown
02
From Costa Fortuna to Beachcomber
Dates that are official come from the line; the rest are labeled with their source.
92days
–hours
–minutes
Until the christening in Miami
January 9, 2027. Zac Brown, her godfather, performs onboard, and the inaugural sailing departs after the ceremony.
2003
Built as Costa Fortuna
Fincantieri delivered her to Costa Cruises, per trade reports.
May 14, 2025
Margaritaville at Sea announces the purchase
Its third ship in three years — Costa kept sailing her until late 2026.
July 15, 2025
Named Beachcomber
The line reveals the name she’ll carry.
Sept 4–11, 2026
Last Costa cruise
A 7-night Greek Islands and Turkey trip from Piraeus, per Cruise Industry News.
Mid-Sept 2026
Renamed and reflagged
A technical call in Brindisi; she now flies Portugal’s flag, per Cruise Industry News.
From Sept 2026
Refit at Harland & Wolff, Belfast
Trade reports call it the yard’s largest cruise-ship refurbishment since its Navantia acquisition, though the line hasn’t stated its length.
Jan 9, 2027
Christening and first sailing, PortMiami
Zac Brown is godfather.
Jan 28, 2027
Three-ship gathering in Nassau
Zac Brown Band concert for guests of all three ships.
Oct 2027
Moves to Galveston
4- to 7-night sailings from Texas.
Old reviews, new ship
Reviews written under the Costa Fortuna name describe a different crew, menus and entertainment — use them for the hull and cabin layouts, not for what Beachcomber will feel like.
03
Where the scores stand
One table for the whole fleet, with every Seabound guide a click away.
| Ship | Dining | Entertainment | Cabins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beachcomber | Not yet rated | Not yet rated | Not scored |
| Islander | 7.0 / 10 | 5.5 / 10 | Not scored |
| Paradise | 6.7 / 10 | 5.0 / 10 | Not scored |
The three Beachcomber previews are as detailed as the rated guides — they just carry feature comparisons instead of numbers.
04
Beachcomber by the numbers
- Former name
- Costa Fortuna
- Built
- 2003, Fincantieri (trade reports)
- Gross tonnage
- 102,587
- Length / beam
- 272.19 m (893 ft) / 35.54 m
- Guests
- 2,702 on the deck plan
- Crew
- 1,090
- Cruising speed
- 22 knots
- Passenger decks
- 12 (deck plan page)
- Stateroom types
- 10, sold as 12 listings
- Flag
- Portugal (trade report)
- Homeport
- PortMiami, then Galveston
- Fuel supplement
- Not published
Where the numbers disagree
The line’s 2025 acquisition release said about 3,450 guests, more than 1,340 staterooms and 13 passenger decks. Her current deck plan says 2,702 guests, and the deck-plan page says 12 decks (the plan numbers 1–12 and 14). We use the deck plan — the bigger guest figure looks like maximum occupancy rather than the normal load.
05
Reasons to pick her, and the trade-offs
Specific reasons, not adjectives. The trade-offs come with a number wherever one exists.
Reasons to pick her
Venues no fleetmate has
Same Boat, Floridays, F&L Trattoria, Cowboy in the Jungle, the Daiquiri Shack and three shows written for her.
Published cabin sizes
Every regular category has an official size, from 161 sq ft interiors to 400 sq ft Signature Grand Suites.
Suite dinner menu
Every suite listing includes a complimentary suite-exclusive dinner menu in the main dining rooms.
A week-long rhythm
Mostly 7-night sailings from Miami — more port variety than the fleet’s shorter trips.
Food hall from day one
High Tide Market opens with her, with two counters Paradise doesn’t have.
The trade-offs, priced
No track record
Booking ahead of her January 2027 first sailing means trusting announcements over reviews.
Fuel supplement unknown
Paradise charges $15 per person, per night and Islander $0 — Beachcomber’s isn’t published. On a week for two, the Paradise rate would add $210. Ask before you pay.
No teen club
Teens get programming across the ship but no room of their own.
Gaps in the details
Specialty-restaurant prices, Bridge Wing sizes and venue decks aren’t published yet.
Her hull is from 2003
That’s a fact, not a verdict. What the refit changed will show after launch.
The home port moves
Miami until September 2027 and Galveston after that — book the port you can actually reach.
06
Where and when she sails
Pick a period. Dates and ports come from the line’s dated releases and ship page.
Her first season runs from PortMiami, January to September 2027, mostly out of Cruise Terminal C with some sailings from Terminal E. Terminals open at 9:30 a.m. and boarding closes at 2:30 p.m.
The line’s releases describe 4- to 8-night trips, mostly seven, while its ship page says 4 to 9, and one June 2026 release said 7 to 10. We go with the most recent dated release until a 9- or 10-night sailing appears for sale.
| Itinerary (from PortMiami) | Ports named by the line | From price |
|---|---|---|
| 7-Night Grand Cayman, Jamaica & Bahamas — 3-Ship Meet-Up ft. Zac Brown Band | George Town, Ocho Rios, Nassau (Jan 28, 2027 concert) | Not shown |
| 4-Night Dominican Republic Express | Puerto Plata | Not shown |
| 7-Night Eastern Caribbean | San Juan, Puerto Plata “and more” | $499 per person, double |
| 7-Night Dominican Republic & Western Caribbean | Puerto Plata, Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman | Not shown |
| 8-Night ABC Islands Southern Caribbean | Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao — sails April 2027 | Not shown |
| 7-Night Key West, Bahamas & Western Caribbean | Nassau, Key West, Grand Cayman, Jamaica | $579 per person, double |
Getting to the pier: our PortMiami guide covers terminals, parking and hotels.
From October 2027 she sails 4 to 7 nights from Galveston, per the line’s September 9, 2026 release.
Ports named across that program: Aruba, Key West, Curaçao, Grand Cayman, Montego Bay, Belize, Progreso, Roatán, Cozumel, Grand Bahama, Bimini and Veracruz — the last new to the Galveston market. No single sailing visits them all.
The line gives no end date, though Seatrade Cruise News reports a 13-month Galveston commitment through October 31, 2028, tied to berth work at PortMiami. Treat that as a trade report, not a schedule.
Port logistics: our Galveston guide.
The line’s October 1, 2026 release puts Beachcomber in Galveston for 2028, adding a Mexico trio: Cozumel, Progreso and Veracruz.
2028 sailings are on sale now. Expect the same 4- to 7-night lengths until the line says otherwise.
A September 2025 release promised year-round Miami from 2027 — the Galveston move replaced it.
If a listing or a travel site still says year-round Miami, it’s out of date, so ask us to check the actual sailing.
one night only
07
January 28, 2027: all three ships in Nassau
For one day, the whole fleet meets in Nassau, with a Zac Brown Band concert at the Nassau Cruise Port Amphitheatre for guests of the three sailings.
Beachcomber’s sailing is the 7-night 3-Ship Meet-Up from PortMiami: George Town, Grand Cayman; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; and Nassau. Paradise sails a 4-night trip from Palm Beach and Islander a 5-night trip from Tampa, both via Freeport.
The line sells VIP packages separately and hasn’t published their price. It’s a one-off — regular sailings don’t include a Zac Brown concert.
Concert first? Hold the cabin first
If the concert is the reason you’re going, hold the cabin now and get the VIP-package question answered in writing before final payment.
08
What she’ll cost beyond the fare
Line-wide charges first, then what’s specific to Beachcomber.
| Charge | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gratuities, staterooms | $22.00 per person, per night | All ships; auto-added, children included |
| Gratuities, suites | $25.00 per person, per night | All ships |
| Fuel supplement | Paradise $15 · Islander $0 · Beachcomber not published | Per person, per night; Paradise and Islander as of June 1, 2024 |
| Service charge on extras | 20% | Room service, spa, specialty dining and drinks, since Feb 1, 2025 |
| Ultimate Beverage Chill | From $49.99 per person, per night + 20% | Every guest 21+ in the cabin must buy; 15 drinks a day, $20 cap per drink |
| Unlimited Soda | $12.00 per person, per night | Souvenir cup and fountain refills |
| Wi-Fi (per device, per night) | $19.99 / $26.99 / $30.99 / $39.99 | Connect, Basic, Premium, Business |
| Drinking age | 21 | Casino 18 |
| Final payment | 76 days (2-5 nights) · 91 days (6-7) · 121 days (8+) | Before sailing |
Fuel supplement
Not published for Beachcomber, and the Paradise and Islander rates don’t transfer to her.
Drink package
Beachcomber’s page lists the Ultimate Beverage Chill from $49.99 per person, per night; Paradise’s page still shows $69.99, so confirm it on your quote.
Packages
License to Chill from $599 and Ultimate from $799, each plus 20%. Prime Dining is $89 and Wi-Fi runs from $19.99 per device, per night.
Not published yet
Smoking areas and the minimum infant age for Beachcomber.
09
Beachcomber next to Islander and Paradise
Same brand, three different ships.
| Beachcomber | Islander | Paradise | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built | 2003 | 2000 | 1991 |
| Gross tonnage | 102,587 | 85,861 | 52,926 |
| Guests | 2,702 (deck plan) | 2,650 | 1,680 |
| Homeport | Miami, then Galveston | Tampa | Palm Beach |
| Sailing lengths | 4–8 nights (Miami) | 4–10 nights | 2–5 nights |
| Casual dining hub | High Tide Market, from debut | Buffet; High Tide due 2027 | High Tide Market |
| Suite dinner menu | Every suite category, incl. Bridge Wings | Suites + 2 balcony types | None published |
| Balcony choice | Breezy, Wake View, 3 suite types + Bridge Wings | Five balcony types + suites | Grand Terrace Suite only |
| Teen club | No | Yes | Yes |
| Fuel supplement | Not published | $0 | $15 per person, per night |
| Seabound scores | Not yet rated | Dining 7.0 · Ent. 5.5 | Dining 6.7 · Ent. 5.0 |
All three were built for Costa Cruises under other names — they’re fleetmates, not sister ships.
10
If you’d rather sail a known quantity
Ships we’ve already scored, for travelers who want a record before they book.
Carnival Conquest
A ship with years of guest reports behind it, if a debut feels like too much of a bet — our entertainment score is 5.9.
Norwegian Sky
Entertainment score 5.5, level with Islander — a useful yardstick for the Margaritaville style.
MSC Seashore
Well ahead on our entertainment scale — score 7.1.
Carnival Celebration
The top entertainment score in this set, 7.2, if shows and nightlife decide your trip.
Entertainment scores are from each ship’s Seabound guide; click through for dining and cabins.
11
Is Beachcomber your ship?
Answer four questions and you’ll get a ship, or a reason to wait.
Beachcomber, a fleetmate, or wait?
Four quick questions. This is a preference tool for choosing a ship, not a rating.
When do you want to sail?
Do you want guest reviews first?
How long a trip?
What pulls you in?
12
The verdict, for now
Book her if
- You want the newest ship in the fleet and you’re fine booking on announcements.
- A 7-night Caribbean week from Miami suits you better than a short Bahamas hop.
- You’d use the new venues — Same Boat, Floridays, F&L Trattoria, the big aft pool deck.
- You want the January 28, 2027 Nassau concert.
Wait or look elsewhere if
- You need reviews from real guests before you commit.
- You’re travelling with teens who want their own club.
- You need the fuel supplement or specialty prices nailed down today.
- You’re booking a 2027 Texas trip before October — she’s in Miami until then.
13
Keep going
Thinking about Beachcomber?
Ask about a sailing date, the Nassau meet-up or a cabin. A Seabound Journeys advisor will check it against the line’s latest releases.
When is Beachcomber's first cruise?Is Beachcomber going to Galveston?Which Beachcomber sailing goes to the Nassau concert?Does Beachcomber have a fuel supplement?
A Seabound Journeys advisor checks your question against the line’s current prices for your date.
CabinsBeachcomber cabinsOfficial sizes, occupancy and the suite benefit table.Read it →DiningBeachcomber diningSixteen concepts, the food hall and package math.Read it →EntertainmentBeachcomber entertainmentThree new shows, Same Boat and the four-level pool area.Read it →Line guideMargaritaville at SeaAll three ships, fees and policies.Read it →FleetmateIslanderTampa, 4 to 10 nights, scored.Read it →FleetmateParadisePalm Beach, 2 to 5 nights, scored.Read it →
Hold a Beachcomber cabin for 2027
We’ll compare her first-season sailings, check the cabin you want by number and flag anything the line still hasn’t published.
14
Beachcomber questions
When does Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber start sailing?
Beachcomber is christened in Miami on January 9, 2027, and her inaugural sailing departs from PortMiami after the ceremony. The line's Same Boat page lists performer sailing dates starting January 9, 2027.
What ship was Beachcomber before?
She was Costa Fortuna, built in 2003 for Costa Cruises. Margaritaville at Sea announced the purchase on May 14, 2025, and named her Beachcomber in July 2025.
Where does Beachcomber sail from?
PortMiami from January to September 2027, then Galveston from October 2027. In Miami she mostly uses Cruise Terminal C, with some sailings from Terminal E.
Is Beachcomber moving to Galveston?
Yes. The line announced on September 9, 2026 that Beachcomber will sail 4- to 7-night cruises from Galveston starting in October 2027, and its 2028 schedule keeps her there with calls at Cozumel, Progreso and Veracruz.
How big is Beachcomber?
102,587 gross tons, 272.19 meters long, with 2,702 guests and 1,090 crew on the line's deck plan. She is the largest ship in the Margaritaville at Sea fleet.
Which Beachcomber sailing goes to the Nassau three-ship gathering?
The 7-night 3-Ship Meet-Up from PortMiami, calling at George Town, Ocho Rios and Nassau. The fleet meets in Nassau on January 28, 2027, with a Zac Brown Band concert at the Nassau Cruise Port Amphitheatre for guests of the three sailings.
Does Beachcomber have a fuel supplement?
The line has not published one. It lists Paradise at $15 per person per night and Islander at $0, so ask for Beachcomber's figure on your quote.
What are the gratuities on Beachcomber?
Line-wide, $22 per person per night in staterooms and $25 in suites, added automatically and charged for children too. A 20% service charge applies to room service, spa, specialty dining and drinks.
Has Seabound rated Beachcomber?
Not yet. Dining and entertainment are rated after a ship has carried guests, and the site does not score cabins. The Beachcomber guides compare announced features with Islander and Paradise instead.
Is Beachcomber bigger than Islander?
Yes. Beachcomber is 102,587 gross tons against Islander's 85,861 and Paradise's 52,926, per each ship's deck plan.