Margaritaville at Sea is Sending a Ship to Galveston: What We Know

Galveston, Texas is already home to cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, and Norwegian Cruise Line. And soon, another cruise line will be added to that list: Margaritaville at Sea.

It’s been full steam ahead for Galveston lately. The cruise port recently announced a fifth cruise terminal and has been attracting the latest and largest cruise ships. With yet another cruise line for local residents to choose from, the Texas port is going head-to-head with some of the Florida powerhouses.

In a recent news report from the Port of Galveston, the board of trustees voted unanimously to approve a brand-new operating agreement with Margaritaville at Sea.

Starting in October 2027, the cruise line will begin operating year-round, weekly Friday departures out of Cruise Terminal 28.

This makes Margaritaville at Sea the seventh major cruise line to homeport in Galveston.

Galveston Is on the Move

It’s no secret that Galveston has been growing at an incredible pace. I saw this firsthand at the last terminal grand opening and for the debut of MSC Seascape back in November 2025. This marked MSC Cruises first time calling Galveston home to one of their ships.

Here are a few accolades the port has racked up lately:

• #4 Busiest US Cruise Port: Galveston ranks as the fourth-largest cruise homeport in the entire United States.
• 3.9 Million Passenger Movements: The port expects a record 3.9 million passenger movements and 446 sailings this year alone.
• 7 Major Cruise Brands: Margaritaville joins Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian, Disney, Princess, and MSC.

Which Ship is Coming?

Of course, the big question is “Which ship is coming”? Right now, those details are still under wraps.

While Margaritaville at Sea and Port Galveston officials are holding back the exact ship name until a joint announcement event in September, we can take a look at the existing ships in the fleet.

If you’ve followed the line’s history, you know that Margaritaville at Sea hasn’t built brand-new ships from scratch. Instead, their fleet is comprised of classic, beautifully updated former Costa Cruises cruise ships that undergo multi-million-dollar transformations.

Here is how the fleet breaks down by size and scale:

• Margaritaville at Sea Paradise (formerly Costa Classica, 1991):
  • Size & Capacity: 52,926 gross tons | 1,680 passengers
• Margaritaville at Sea Islander (formerly Costa Atlantica, 2000):
  • Size & Capacity: 85,619 gross tons | 2,650 passengers
• Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber (formerly Costa Fortuna, 2003):
  • Size & Capacity: 102,669 gross tons | 3,470 passengers

What Should Galveston Cruisers Expect?

Whichever ship is sent to Galveston in October 2027, Texas cruisers are in for a unique experience compared to the other cruise lines.

Margaritaville at Sea brings a totally different vibe to the other ships that call Galveston home.

Rodger Rees, Port Director and CEO of Port Galveston, put it this way when speaking about the news:

“This agreement represents a fantastic win for the Port of Galveston and our community. Margaritaville at Sea offers a distinct, fun-filled, laid-back brand of cruising that will resonate hugely with vacationers across Texas and the surrounding region.”

Cruise Fever has sailed with the cruise line several times, and we’ve always been impressed at the incredible value Margaritaville offers. We also grabbed one of the best steaks we’ve had at sea on one of their ships.

The 7-day Friday-to-Friday schedules out of Galveston will offer Western Caribbean and Central America itineraries, and again, it’s another option for local residents to choose from.