Carnival Cruise Line has opened bookings for its new vessel, Carnival Tropicale, scheduled to begin operations from Galveston, Texas, on April 15, 2028. The ship represents the fifth and final unit in Carnival’s Excel class series and will sail year-round from this homeport.
Itineraries Cover Caribbean, Bahamas, and Mexico
Carnival Tropicale will offer four-, five-, six-, and eight-day voyages visiting Caribbean, Bahamian, and Mexican destinations. Port stops include Carnival’s private Celebration Key, Half Moon Cay’s RelaxAway area, Isla Tropicale, Puerta Maya, Progreso, and Nassau.
Construction at Meyer Werft Continues for Final Excel-Class Ship
The ship is under construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. Carnival Tropicale concludes the Excel-class series, a partnership between
Carnival and Meyer Werft marked by successful previous deliveries. The booking opening was commemorated with a Texas-themed event at the German shipyard.
New Onboard Features Include Waterpark and Family Recreation
Carnival Tropicale will introduce Sunsation Point, a multi-level family recreation zone featuring the Carnival WaterWorks Ultra waterpark. This includes six slides such as SunSoaker, Turning Tides, and Racing Currents, plus splash zones for younger guests. Additional amenities comprise a redesigned Fairway 66 Mini Golf inspired by Route 66 and the Treehouse Adventure Trail with netted pathways and obstacles. The Vault Retrocade arcade will mix classic and contemporary games, while Sunsation Point will remain open later on select evenings.
Dining Concepts Feature Hawaiian, Greek-Italian, and Celebrity Chef Menus
The dining lineup includes Uku Lei Lei, offering Hawaiian-Asian fusion dishes, and Fetaccine, featuring Greek-Italian cuisine. Emeril’s Coastal Seafood was developed in collaboration with Carnival’s Chief Culinary Officer Emeril Lagasse and serves seafood inspired by U.S. coastal flavors.
Executive Statements Highlight Cruise Innovations and Partnership
Ben Clement, Carnival’s EVP of Maritime and New Builds, said, “Today marks an exciting day for Carnival Tropicale as guests can now begin planning their vacations aboard this incredible new ship.” He added the ship delivers “innovative attractions and dining to unforgettable destinations throughout the Caribbean, The Bahamas and Mexico,” providing a new vacation choice from Texas in 2028. André Walter, CEO
of Meyer Werft, remarked, “I am delighted to experience my first construction celebration as the new CEO of MEYER WERFT. Carnival Tropicale is already the fifth Excel-class ship for Carnival Cruise Line, a successful and highly popular series that reflects our long-standing partnership with Carnival.”
Entertainment Draws on Golden Era of Show Business
Carnival Tropicale will feature entertainment venues and productions inspired by the golden era of show business. The ship will incorporate revised family, dining, and entertainment concepts building on the Excel-class legacy. Construction continues ahead of delivery and its April 2028 inaugural Galveston sailing.
