Carnival Cruise Line announced that its fifth Excel-class ship, Carnival Tropicale, will be homeported at the Port of Galveston, Texas, following its delivery in 2028. The vessel will accommodate more than 6,000 guests and nearly 2,000 crew members, marking a significant expansion of Carnival’s presence in the Texas cruise market.
Carnival Tropicale Amenities and Itineraries
Carnival Tropicale will feature family-focused amenities including an all-ages waterpark with six water slides, a treehouse adventure trail obstacle course, and family raft rides. Dining options onboard include Uku Lei Lei, offering Hawaiian- and Asian-inspired cuisine; Fetaccine, which serves Italian- and Greek-influenced dishes; and Emeril’s Coastal Seafood, along with an
extensive buffet selection. The ship’s cruise itineraries from Galveston will range from four to eight days, visiting Carnival’s exclusive Paradise Collection destinations such as Celebration Key, RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, Isla Tropicale, Puerta Maya, in addition to Caribbean ports like Progreso, Mexico, and Nassau, Bahamas.
Booking Availability and Starting Dates for Carnival Tropicale
Bookings for Carnival Tropicale cruises are now open with the first sailing from Galveston scheduled for April 15, 2028. Example fares include a four-day Western Caribbean cruise priced at $519 and a six-day sailing at $589, both with restrictions. Travelers can secure reservations directly through Carnival Cruise Line or authorized agents.
Carnival Jubilee Short Cruise Itineraries from Galveston
Cruises aboard Carnival Jubilee
from Galveston beginning in 2028 will include new short cruise itineraries. Four-day Western Caribbean cruises will depart select Thursdays from April 27, 2028, through April 26, 2029, calling at Cozumel, Mexico. Five-day sailings leaving select Saturdays and Mondays between April 17, 2028, and April 30, 2029, will visit Cozumel and Progreso, Yucatán. Six-day cruises departing October 29, 2028, will include stops in Cozumel and Isla Tropicale, Roatán.
Longer Itineraries on Carnival Jubilee and Strategic Galveston Expansion
Additional sailings aboard Carnival Jubilee include eight-day cruises to the Bahamas departing April 1, 2028, with ports of call including Celebration Key, RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, and Nassau. An eight-day Western Caribbean cruise
departs April 9, 2028, visiting Cozumel, Isla Tropicale, and Montego Bay, Jamaica. These expanded options affirm Galveston’s status as a premier cruise port and provide travelers with more flexible short cruise options in the growing Texas market.
