Costa Fortuna

Costa Fortuna is a cruise ship built for the Italian cruise line Costa Crociere. Constructed by Fincantieri in Italy, the vessel entered service in November 2003 and was developed on the same general platform as Carnival Cruise Lines' Destiny-class ships. Its design combines the scale and layout of an early-2000s large resort ship with a decorative theme drawn from the history of Italian ocean liners and transatlantic travel. The ship takes its name from Fortuna, a daughter of the mythological sea god Poseidon, according to Costa's presentation of the vessel. A major feature of Costa Fortuna's interior is its historical tribute to Costa's fleet and to Italy's earlier passenger ships. Models of historic Costa vessels and Italian steamships are displayed throughout the public areas. In the central atrium, models representing Costa ships were arranged overhead, creating a visual centerpiece intended to connect the modern cruise product with the company's maritime heritage. The interior styling is broadly Art Deco-inspired, reflecting the glamour associated with the golden age of ocean liners rather than the minimalist design language of newer cruise ships. The ship measures approximately 272.19 metres in overall length and has a gross tonnage of 102,669. It uses diesel-electric propulsion connected to two azimuth thrusters, with total propulsion power of about 34,000 kilowatts. Costa Fortuna has 1,358 cabins, including 522 with balconies. At double occupancy it accommodates approximately 2,702 passengers, while its maximum passenger capacity is about 3,470; the crew complement is approximately 1,090. Onboard facilities include four restaurants and eleven bars or lounges, together with extensive public and recreational spaces typical of a large cruise vessel. Costa Fortuna operated in several regional markets during its career. Before a major refit, it was based in China and served the Asian cruise market. In December 2018, the ship underwent an approximately six-day refurbishment in Singapore reported at a cost of €8 million. After the work, Costa planned to reposition the vessel to Genoa, while Costa Venezia took its place in the Chinese market. For the 2020/2021 season, Costa Fortuna was scheduled for Mediterranean itineraries calling at destinations in Turkey, Greece and Spain. The ship also became associated with the operational disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2020, Thai authorities denied it permission to dock at Phuket because some passengers had departed Italy within the preceding two weeks. The following day it was also unable to dock at Penang, where a general cruise-ship restriction was in force. Costa Fortuna returned to Singapore on 10 March 2020, where passengers were reported to be well and were permitted to disembark. In May 2025, Costa Crociere announced that the ship had been sold to Margaritaville at Sea. The announced plan was for Costa Fortuna to leave the Costa fleet in September 2026 and be renamed Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber. Until that planned transfer, the vessel remains identified with Costa Crociere and its established Italian cruise heritage.

Costa Fortuna was built in Italy by Fincantieri for Costa Crociere, the Italian cruise operator. The vessel was developed using the same broad platform as Carnival Cruise Lines' Destiny-class ships, a design family associated with the expansion of large-scale cruise tourism in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Its recorded build date is 31 October 2003, and it entered commercial service on 17 November of that year. Rather than presenting itself solely as a contemporary floating resort, Costa Fortuna was designed around Costa's historical identity. Its name refers to Fortuna, described in Costa's materials as a daughter of Poseidon. Public areas contain models and visual references to earlier Italian steamships and to Costa's own fleet. Models of past and contemporary Costa ships were displayed in the atrium, historically including the vessels in the fleet up to Costa Fortuna. The decorative program, with Art Deco influences, uses ocean-liner nostalgia to distinguish the ship from more generically themed cruise products. The ship has a gross tonnage of 102,669 and is approximately 272.19 metres long, with a beam of 35.54 metres. Its diesel-electric power plant produces approximately 34,000 kilowatts and drives two azimuth thrusters. The vessel contains 1,358 cabins, of which 522 have balconies. It was designed for approximately 2,702 passengers at double occupancy and up to 3,470 passengers at maximum capacity, supported by a crew of about 1,090. Four restaurants and eleven bars or lounges form part of its hospitality offering. During its career, Costa Fortuna served different geographic markets as Costa adjusted its fleet deployment. It was based in China before a substantial 2018 refurbishment. In December of that year, the ship underwent a six-day refit in Singapore reported at approximately €8 million. Afterward, Costa planned to base it from Genoa, while Costa Venezia replaced it in the Chinese market. The ship's subsequent itineraries included Mediterranean routes, with the 2020/2021 season including calls in Turkey, Greece and Spain. The ship's 2020 operations were affected by public-health restrictions. On 6 March, Costa Fortuna attempted to dock at Phuket but Thai officials refused permission because passengers aboard had recently left Italy. On 7 March, the vessel attempted to call at Penang, Malaysia, but could not dock because of a broader ban on cruise ships. It returned to Singapore on 10 March. The available account states that passengers were well and were allowed to disembark. In May 2025, a future ownership change was announced. Costa Fortuna was sold to Margaritaville at Sea and was scheduled to depart the Costa fleet in September 2026. The announced successor identity is Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber. This plan marks a prospective end to the ship's Costa-branded career, although the vessel remains associated with Costa Crociere until the transfer takes place.

• 2025

  Future transfer to Margaritaville at Sea announced

  [1]Costa Fortunaen.wikipedia.org

  The ship was announced as sold to Margaritaville at Sea, with a planned Costa fleet departure in September 2026 and a proposed renaming to Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber.

• 2020

  Pandemic-era port denials

  [1]Costa Fortunaen.wikipedia.org

  The ship was refused entry at Phuket and Penang during the initial wave of COVID-19-related cruise and travel restrictions, before returning to Singapore.

• 2018

  Singapore refurbishment

  [1]Costa Fortunaen.wikipedia.org

  Costa Fortuna underwent a six-day refurbishment in Singapore reported at approximately €8 million.

• 2003

  Construction completed and service begins

  [1]Costa Fortunaen.wikipedia.org

  Fincantieri completed Costa Fortuna in Italy, with a recorded build date of 31 October. The ship entered service on 17 November 2003 for Costa Crociere.

A large, heritage-themed Costa Crociere cruise ship positioned around Italian maritime identity, classic ocean-liner imagery and full-service resort cruising.

• Cruise travel · 2003

  Costa Fortuna cruise vacations

  Costa Fortuna's core offering is packaged cruise travel combining accommodation, dining, entertainment and port visits aboard a large Italian-operated passenger ship. Its itineraries have included Mediterranean routes and earlier Asian deployments, with the ship serving as both transport and destination through its restaurants, lounges and public spaces.

• Shipboard hospitality · 2003

  Costa Fortuna onboard hospitality

  The ship provides passenger cabins, including balcony accommodation, together with four restaurants and eleven bars or lounges. These facilities support Costa's full-service resort-cruise proposition and are complemented by public areas decorated with Art Deco influences and displays referencing Italian maritime history.

• 2025

  Sale to Margaritaville at SeaM&A

  Background

  Costa announced a future ownership transition for the aging cruise ship.

  Action taken

  The ship was announced as sold to Margaritaville at Sea and scheduled to leave Costa's fleet in September 2026, subject to the announced transfer plan.

  Aftermath

  Margaritaville at Sea plans to rename the vessel Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber.

  Source

• 2018

  Repositioning from China to the MediterraneanStrategy

  Background

  Costa adjusted the deployment of its fleet after Costa Fortuna had been based in China.

  Action taken

  Following its Singapore refurbishment, Costa planned to operate Costa Fortuna from Genoa, with Costa Venezia replacing it in the Chinese market.

  Aftermath

  The ship subsequently operated Mediterranean itineraries, including routes calling at Turkey, Greece and Spain.

  Source

1. 1Costa Fortunaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Costa Fortuna: The legendary Italian transatlantic linerscostacruises.com
3. 3Costa Fortuna vessel recordequasis.org