Carnival Cruise Line will homeport its new Excel-class cruise ship, Carnival Tropicale, in Galveston, Texas starting April 15, 2028. The vessel will accommodate over 6,000 guests and nearly 2,000 crew, marking one of the cruise line’s largest ships.
Carnival Jubilee Launches Short Cruises from Galveston
Alongside Carnival Tropicale, Carnival Jubilee will operate short Western Caribbean cruises from Galveston beginning in April 2028 through April 2029. These cruises range from four to eight days with scheduled departures on specific days, including four-day cruises departing select Thursdays from April 27, 2028, to April 26, 2029, and five-day cruises departing select Saturdays and Mondays from April 17, 2028, to April
30, 2029.
Itineraries Cover Caribbean, Bahamas, and Paradise Collection Destinations
Itineraries aboard both ships include stops in key Western Caribbean destinations such as Cozumel, Progreso in Yucatán, Isla Tropicale in Roatán, and Montego Bay, Jamaica. The eight-day Bahamas cruise aboard Carnival Jubilee leaves April 1, 2028, calling on Celebration Key, RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, and Nassau. Additional ports include Puerta Maya and various stops in Carnival’s exclusive Paradise Collection.
New amenities on Carnival Tropicale emphasize family activities with a six-slide waterpark, a treehouse adventure trail, family raft rides, and diverse dining options including Hawaiian- and Asian-inspired dishes at Uku Lei Lei, Italian- and Greek-influenced cuisine at Fetaccine, and
Emeril’s Coastal Seafood restaurant.
Booking Availability and Pricing Details
Guests can book cruises on Carnival Tropicale now, with 4-day Western Caribbean sailings priced from $519 and 6-day options from $589, based on availability and restrictions. The ship’s maiden voyage from Galveston is scheduled for April 15, 2028. Carnival Jubilee’s short cruises will operate across various dates spanning 2028 into 2029.
This deployment expands Carnival Cruise Line’s footprint in the Gulf Coast cruise market, offering Texas travelers new options for vacations aboard two vessels based at the Galveston port, a recognized major cruise hub.
