Key Aspects:
- Margaritaville at Sea’s newest ship, Beachcomber, will homeport at PortMiami when she begins sailing for the brand in January 2027.
- Beachcomber will offer 6- to 8-night Eastern, Western, and Southern Caribbean voyages from the South Florida port, and sailings are now open for booking.
- The ship will join two vessels already operating for the brand: Islander, based at Tampa, and Paradise, homeported in Palm Beach.
The wait is over for Margaritaville at Sea fans eager to learn where the cruise brand’s newest ship will be based when she debuts in 2027: It’s PortMiami, the cruise capital of the world.
The 3,450-guest Beachcomber will begin sailing from the South Florida port in January 2027, joining the cruise line’s two existing ships, Islander and Paradise, operating in the Sunshine State and homeporting in Tampa and Palm Beach, respectively.
The Margaritaville brand, inspired by Jimmy Buffett’s Caribbean-vibe lifestyle, announced in May 2025 that it planned to expand its fleet to three vessels. It intends to buy Beachcomber from Costa Cruises, where the vessel currently sails as Costa Fortuna, in September 2026.
After a renovation to add various Margaritaville elements, the ship will begin sailing on January 9, 2027 — the date of Beachcomber’s first published cruise, a 7-night Eastern Caribbean voyage.
“In just a few short years, we’ve gone from one ship and one itinerary to three homeports, three distinct ships, and over 25 amazing Ports of Indecision throughout the Caribbean,“ said Christopher Ivy, Chief Executive Officer of Margaritaville at Sea Cruise Line.
“The arrival of Beachcomber in PortMiami is the next big chapter in our growth, giving our guests greater accessibility, more horizons to explore, and more time to unwind,” added Ivy.
Beachcomber’s cruises scheduled through September 2027 are open for booking. The ship will sail 6 to 8—night itineraries to the Eastern, Western, and Southern Caribbean.
Six-night Bahamas and Western Caribbean cruises call at Georgetown, Grand Cayman, Ocho Rios, Jamaica, and Freeport, Grand Bahama, while 8-night Southern Caribbean voyages will visit Oranjestad, Aruba, Kralendijk, Bonaire, and Willemstad, Curacao, for example.
Seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruises will call at Philipsburg, St. Maarten, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.
Another Ship Chooses Cruise Capital of the World
The cruise line chose PortMiami for its easy access from major airports and its reputation as a “traveler-friendly” destination. The port, which handles seven million-plus cruise arrivals each year and hosts ships from every major cruise line, welcomed the deployment of Beachcomber.
Read Also: Eastern vs. Western Caribbean Cruise: Which Will I Prefer?
“Beachcomber is a fantastic addition to our port, bringing longer itineraries and the brand’s signature spirit of fun and escapism to the Cruise Capital of the World,” said Hydi Webb, Director and CEO of PortMiami.
Following the ship’s refit, Beachcomber will feature 15 new venues along with Margaritaville at Sea favorites, such as the 5 o’Clock Somewhere bar, Hemisphere Dancer, Cheeseburger in Paradise, and License to Chill, all currently offered on Islander and Paradise.
Staterooms will be upgraded, and dining options reimagined, the cruise line’s announcement said, although no details were provided yet.
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From Tampa, Islander operates 4- and 7-night Mexico and Western Caribbean cruises while Paradise, in Palm Beach, offers 2- to 4-night getaway cruises to the Bahamas and Key West.
Both ships are currently operating “Sail the Haunted Seas” cruises in September and October 2025, with Halloween-themed activities and venues.
