Margaritaville at Sea Islander
Margaritaville at Sea Islander is a Spirit-class cruise ship operated by Margaritaville at Sea on short cruises from Tampa to Mexico and Key West.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Margaritaville at Sea Islander is a Spirit-class cruise ship operated by Margaritaville at Sea. The vessel was built in Helsinki by Kvaerner Masa-Yards and entered service in 2000 under the name Costa Atlantica, becoming one of Costa Cruises' major ships for itineraries in the Caribbean, Europe, and the eastern United States and Canada. It was designed on a platform shared with Carnival Cruise Line's Spirit-class ships and incorporated a covered pool area, extensive public spaces, Italian decorative elements, Carrara marble, Murano glass, mosaic work, and a recreation of Venice's Caffè Florian. The ship measures approximately 85,619 gross tons, is 292.5 metres long, and has a maximum breadth of 38.8 metres. Its published passenger capacity is approximately 2,114. During its Costa Cruises career, the ship operated seasonally across several regions. In winter it commonly served the Caribbean, while summer operations focused on European cruises; spring and autumn deployments included the eastern United States and Canada. In 2016 it completed a 46-day voyage from Tianjin to the South Pacific, visiting 12 islands in nine countries and being described as the first cruise from China to the South Pacific islands. Costa Atlantica was selected for transfer to CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping, a Chinese joint venture associated with Carnival Corporation and China State Shipbuilding Corporation. The transfer took place in January 2020, but the ship never entered commercial service for that company. It was subsequently sold to Margaritaville at Sea, with the transaction publicly confirmed in October 2023. The new operator announced a large-scale transformation in December 2023, including refurbishment of all 1,100 staterooms and renovations to the atrium, lido deck, restaurants, and other guest areas. The ship underwent a four-month refit at Harland & Wolff in Belfast beginning in January 2024. Renamed Margaritaville at Sea Islander, the vessel departed Belfast for Tampa in May 2024 and began passenger service on 14 June 2024. Its initial programme consisted of alternating four- and five-night cruises from Tampa to Key West, Cozumel, and Progreso in Yucatán, Mexico. The ship's godmother is Savannah Buffett, daughter of Margaritaville founder Jimmy Buffett. Within Margaritaville at Sea's fleet, Islander represents the company's expansion beyond its original ship and applies the group's music- and leisure-oriented resort branding to a substantially larger vessel.
History
Margaritaville at Sea Islander began its life as Costa Atlantica, a cruise ship constructed in Helsinki by Kvaerner Masa-Yards and delivered in 2000 to Costa Cruises. The vessel belongs to the Spirit-class design family and uses a platform also associated with Carnival Cruise Line's Spirit-class ships. Its design combined the practical requirements of a large international cruise ship with a strongly Italian decorative concept. Passenger decks were named after films by Federico Fellini, while the interiors used Carrara marble, Murano glass, mosaics, and a reproduction of Venice's Caffè Florian. A covered pool area, or magrodome, helped the ship operate across different climates and destinations. During its Costa Cruises career, Costa Atlantica was deployed across several seasonal markets. It sailed Caribbean itineraries during the northern winter, European routes in summer, and cruises in the eastern United States and Canada during spring and autumn. Its deployment history also included long-distance voyages from China. On 30 November 2016, the ship departed Tianjin on a 46-day voyage to the South Pacific, visiting 12 islands in nine countries and carrying more than 2,000 passengers. In November 2018, Costa's planned sale of the vessel to CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping was announced. The transfer occurred on 12 January 2020 as part of an effort to establish a cruise business for Chinese travelers through a joint venture involving Carnival Corporation and Chinese shipbuilding interests. Costa Atlantica never entered service with the intended operator. The ship remained out of commercial operation and was later resold, while its sister ship Costa Mediterranea did enter service for the Chinese venture under the name Mediterranea. The vessel was also involved in events during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was docked at the Koyagi Factory of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' Nagasaki Shipyard for repair work when a crew member tested positive in April 2020. The ship had no passengers, but infections spread among the multinational crew. Japanese authorities reported progressively higher case counts, eventually recording more than 140 positive cases. The ship departed Nagasaki on 31 May 2020. Carnival Corporation confirmed the sale of Costa Atlantica to Margaritaville at Sea in October 2023. Margaritaville at Sea announced in December that the ship would receive a major conversion before entering its new service. The work included refurbishment of all 1,100 staterooms and changes to the atrium, lido deck, restaurants, and other public areas. The refit began in January 2024 at Harland & Wolff in Belfast and lasted approximately four months. The ship was renamed Margaritaville at Sea Islander and departed Belfast for Tampa on 19 May 2024. It began its first Margaritaville at Sea cruise on 14 June, operating alternating four- and five-night voyages from Tampa to Key West, Cozumel, and Progreso in Yucatán. Savannah Buffett was named the ship's godmother. The vessel remains a major component of Margaritaville at Sea's short-cruise offering and extends the brand's hospitality and entertainment concept to a larger former Costa ship.
- 2024
Renamed and relaunched as Margaritaville at Sea Islander
[1]Following a major Belfast refit, the ship sailed to Tampa and began Margaritaville at Sea service on 14 June.
- 2023
Sale to Margaritaville at Sea confirmed
[1]Carnival Corporation confirmed the sale of the vessel to Margaritaville at Sea.
- 2020
Transfer to CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping
[1]The ship was transferred to CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping but never entered service with the intended Chinese cruise venture.
- 2020
COVID-19 outbreak in Nagasaki
[1]An outbreak occurred among the crew while the vessel was docked for repairs in Japan.
- 2016
Long-distance Tianjin–South Pacific voyage
[1]Costa Atlantica completed a 46-day voyage from Tianjin to the South Pacific, visiting 12 islands in nine countries.
- 2000
Costa Atlantica enters service
[1]The ship was built at Kvaerner Masa-Yards' Helsinki shipyard and entered service with Costa Cruises.
Products and positioning
A resort-style cruise ship combining Margaritaville's tropical, music-oriented leisure identity with short Gulf of Mexico and western Caribbean voyages from Tampa.
Cruise ship · 2024
Margaritaville at Sea Islander
A Spirit-class cruise ship measuring approximately 85,619 gross tons and 292.5 metres in length, with published capacity for about 2,114 passengers. After conversion for Margaritaville at Sea, the vessel received refurbished staterooms and redesigned guest areas, including the atrium, lido deck, and restaurants. Its initial programme consists of four- and five-night departures from Tampa to Key West, Cozumel, and Progreso in Mexico.
Brand decisions
2024
Conversion and relaunch under Margaritaville brandingGeneration changeBackground
Margaritaville at Sea sought to adapt the former Costa ship to its resort-oriented cruise concept.
Action taken
The operator undertook a four-month Belfast refit covering all 1,100 staterooms, the atrium, lido deck, restaurants, and other guest areas.
Aftermath
The renamed ship began four- and five-night cruises from Tampa in June 2024.
2023
Sale to Margaritaville at SeaM&ABackground
After not entering service with CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping, the ship was made available for a new operator.
Action taken
Carnival Corporation confirmed the sale of Costa Atlantica to Margaritaville at Sea in October 2023.
Aftermath
The vessel was renamed Margaritaville at Sea Islander and prepared for a new service from Tampa.
2019
Transfer to CSSC Carnival Cruise ShippingM&ABackground
Costa Atlantica was selected for a planned Chinese cruise venture intended to serve Chinese travelers.
Action taken
The ship was transferred to CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping in January 2020, although it never entered service for the company.
Aftermath
The vessel was later resold, while sister ship Costa Mediterranea entered service for the Chinese venture.
Sources1 sources
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