Carnival Cruise Line has officially opened bookings for its new ship, Carnival Tropicale, which will begin sailing from Galveston, Texas, on April 15, 2028.
Cruise Itineraries from Galveston
Carnival Tropicale will offer four-, five-, six-, and eight-day cruises departing from Galveston. The itineraries will include destinations across the Caribbean, The Bahamas, and Mexico with planned port calls at Celebration Key, RelaxAway at Half Moon Cay, Isla Tropicale, Puerta Maya, Progreso, and Nassau.
Ship Details and Construction
The vessel is the fifth and final ship in Carnival’s Excel-class series and is under construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. The ship will display a Star of Texas
on its bow, symbolizing its year-round deployment from the state of Texas.
Onboard Features and Amenities
Carnival Tropicale will introduce Sunsation Point, a multi-level family recreation area featuring the Carnival WaterWorks Ultra waterpark with six water slides including SunSoaker, Turning Tides, and Racing Currents. Additional amenities include a redesigned Fairway 66 Mini Golf course inspired by Route 66 and the Treehouse Adventure Trail which contains netted pathways and obstacles for children.
The ship will also debut The Vault Retrocade arcade, combining classic and new games. Sunsation Point will have extended evening operating hours on select days, including the waterpark.
Dining and Entertainment
Dining options onboard include Uku
Lei Lei, offering Hawaiian and Asian cuisine; Fetaccine, presenting a fusion of Greek and Italian dishes; and Emeril’s Coastal Seafood, developed with Chef Emeril Lagasse, focusing on seafood inspired by U.S. coastal regions.
Entertainment programs will be themed around the golden era of show business, with venues and productions planned, though further details are pending.
Industry Event and Executive Statements
Carnival Cruise Line and Meyer Werft marked the start of bookings with a Texas-themed event at the Papenburg shipyard. Ben Clement, Executive Vice President of Maritime and New Builds at Carnival Cruise Line, said booking openings for Carnival Tropicale mark an exciting day, providing a
new vacation option from Texas with innovative onboard attractions and destinations.
Meyer Werft CEO André Walter expressed enthusiasm at his first construction celebration since taking the role, noting Carnival Tropicale as the fifth Excel-class ship built by the company in partnership with Carnival Cruise Line.
Delivery and Deployment
Construction on Carnival Tropicale will continue at Meyer Werft ahead of its scheduled delivery in early 2028. The ship’s inaugural sailing from Galveston is set for April 15, 2028, adding a fresh option to Carnival’s offerings from the Texas Gulf Coast.
