Cruise ship Margaritaville at Sea Islander drydocks in Belfast

After remaining alongside at Belfast’s Harland & Wolff Shipyard since arriving in January from her extended lay-up period in Europe, to undergo a major conversion for her new US-based owners, the cruise ship Margaritaville at Sea Islander entered the shipyard’s Belfast Drydock on March 15th.

The former Costa Atlantica will spend one month in drydock being transformed “into the ultimate tropical oasis at sea”, said new owners Margaritaville at Sea. More than 1,500 shipyard workers, subcontractors and ships’ crew will work on the project. When work is completed, the vessel will feature a three-storey poolside bar, mini golf course and twelve dining venues. Meanwhile, the ship’s 1,100 passenger cabins will be completely refurbished.

Margaritaville at Sea Islander is expected to enter service for her new owners in June this year, sailing on four- and five-night itineraries from Tampa, Florida, to Key West and the two Mexican ports of Costa Maya and Cozumel. The cruise vessel was bought by her new US owners at the end of 2023.