The former Costa Cruises ship Costa Atlantica, acquired by Margaritaville at Sea towards the end of last year, arrived at Harland & Wolff in Belfast shipyard on January 10, 2024. After extensive renovation works the cruise ship will re-launch as the Margaritaville at Sea Islander, setting sail from its homeport in Tampa, Florida in mid-June 2024.

During its stay at the shipyard, public areas and stateromms will be transformed to reflect the cruise line's style. Additionally, essential technical work and routine maintenance will take place. With the guest operations scheduled to commence on June 14, 2024, there is ample time for the ship's stay at Harland & Wolff. Currently.

Harland & Wolff in Belfast holds a rich shipbuilding tradition, famously delivering the RMS Titanic in 1912. Since 2020, the shipyard has expanded its operations to include cruise ship repairs. Ships from Viking Ocean Cruises have undergone routine shipyard stays at this facility. The Margaritaville at Sea Islander marks the shipyard's first conversion of a used cruise ship for a new cruise line. Given that the cruise ship has been out of service for nearly four years, preparing it for guest operations poses a challenge for both the shipyard and the cruise line.

The plans for the Costa Atlantica underwent changes in 2023. Initially intended to follow its sister ship, the Costa Mediterranea, which now sails for Adora Cruises in Asia, the Costa Atlantica instead found a new owner in Margaritaville at Sea. With the addition of the Margaritaville at Sea Islander, the cruise line's fleet now consists of two cruise ships. The new fleet member will be deployed on four- and five-day Caribbean cruises from Tampa to Key West and Mexico, starting in June 2024.