September 11, 2026 Team Contributor
Bookings are now live for the Carnival Tropicale Galveston 2028, which is Carnival Cruise Line’s newest ship as well as the final and fifth addition to its flagship Excel class.
This announcement coincides with the construction milestone celebration at MEYER WERFT’s shipyard in Germany’s Papenburg.
Starting 15th April, 2028, the Carnival Tropicale will homeport in Texas’s Galveston. In honor of its Lone Star State home, the ship will feature Star of Texas on its bow and will offer 4-day, 5-day, 6-day and 8-day itineraries across the Bahamas, Caribbean and Mexico.
“Today marks an exciting day for Carnival Tropicale as guests can now begin planning their vacations aboard this incredible new ship… From innovative attractions and dining to unforgettable destinations throughout the Caribbean, The Bahamas and Mexico, Carnival Tropicale will bring an exciting new vacation option to Texas when she debuts in 2028.” – Ben Clement, Executive Vice President of Maritime and New Builds at Carnival Cruise Line.
Carnival Tropicale Galveston 2028 – key ship features and highlights
- Ship Series/Class – Final and 5th Excel Ship (LNG-Powered)
- New Dining Concepts – Emeril’s Coastal, Fetaccine (Italian/Greek), Uku Lei Lei (Asian/Hawaiian)
- Primary Water Park – Carnival WaterWorks Ultra (6 waterslides, including SunSoaker & Turning Tides)
- Signature Family Zone – Sunsation Point (Multi-deck evening and daytime fun zone)
- Key Destinations – RelaxAway, Celebration Key, Isla Tropicale, Half Moon Cay, Nassau, Progreso, and Puerto Maya
- Length of itineraries – 4-day, 5-day, 6-day and 8-day cruises
- Homeport – Galveston, Texas, debuting on 15th April 2028
Onboard amenities and experience
Gaming and recreation – Includes Fairway 66 Mini Golf course that is inspired by Route 66. Also experience Treehouse Adventure Trail with sports courts, netted obstacle pathways, and The Vault Retrocade blending classic arcade titles with modern gaming.
Sunsation Point – A multi-deck family entertainment zone operating from day into night, including extended evening hours, anchored by Carnival WaterWorks Ultra, featuring six waterslides including Racing Currents, Turning Tides and SunSoaker.
The next course dining – Uku Lei Lei which is a Hawaiian-inspired cuisine with Asian influences. Fetaccine, which is a fusion of Italian, Mediterranean, and Greek flavors. Emeril’s Coastal Seafood, which serves coastal seafood concepts created in partnership with Carnival Chief Culinary Officer Chef Emeril Lagasse.
Entertainment – Dedicated spaces and show programming themed around the Golden Era of Show Business.
A Texas-themed celebration in Germany
For celebrating the opening of reservations, MEYER WERFT and Carnival Cruise Line hosted a Western-themed celebration at the Papenburg shipyard. Leaders wore Western attire and custom cowboy hard hats alongside Texas-style décor and barbecue.
As bookings open and construction progresses in Germany, Carnival Tropicale represents a major new milestone for Carnival Cruise Line and its Texas homeport. By combining flagship Excel-class innovations with local Lone Star pride, the Carnival Tropicale Galveston 2028ship is set to redefine family cruising across the Caribbean.
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