Carnival Cruise Line has officially opened reservations for Carnival Tropicale, its newest cruise ship, which will begin sailing from Galveston, Texas, in April 2028.
The new ship will be the fifth and final vessel in Carnival’s Excel class, joining some of the cruise line’s largest and most popular ships.
Carnival Tropicale is currently under construction at the MEYER WERFT shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, and will debut in Galveston on April 15, 2028.
Along with new family attractions, dining concepts and entertainment, the ship will sail a variety of Caribbean, Bahamas and Mexico itineraries from Texas.
Carnival Tropicale Will Sail From Galveston
Carnival Tropicale will become Carnival’s newest ship based in Texas when it begins sailing from Galveston in spring 2028.
In a nod to its new homeport, the cruise ship will feature the Star of Texas on its bow.
Carnival Tropicale will offer four-, five-, six- and eight-day cruises from Galveston, visiting a mix of traditional Caribbean ports and Carnival’s growing collection of private destinations.
Itineraries will include visits to:
- Celebration Key
- RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay
- Isla Tropicale
- Puerta Maya
- Progreso
- Nassau
Several of these destinations are part of what Carnival calls its Paradise Collection, a growing group of Carnival-exclusive destinations and experiences in the Caribbean and Bahamas.
“Today marks an exciting day for Carnival Tropicale as guests can now begin planning their vacations aboard this incredible new ship,” said Ben Clement, EVP of maritime and new builds at Carnival Cruise Line.
“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.”
Carnival Celebrates Tropicale’s Construction With a Texas Theme
To celebrate reservations opening, Carnival Cruise Line and MEYER WERFT brought a little bit of Texas to Germany.
The shipyard hosted a western-themed construction celebration featuring Texas-inspired décor, barbecue and even customized cowboy hard hats worn by Carnival and MEYER WERFT executives.
Carnival Tropicale marks another milestone in the long partnership between Carnival and the German shipbuilder.
“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,” said MEYER WERFT CEO André Walter.
A Huge New Family Area Is Coming to Carnival Tropicale
One of the biggest new attractions aboard Carnival Tropicale will be Sunsation Point, a multi-deck outdoor family entertainment area designed to stay active from daytime into the evening.
At the center of Sunsation Point will be Carnival WaterWorks Ultra, which Carnival says will be its most family-friendly water park at sea.
The water park will feature six waterslides, including SunSoaker, Turning Tides and Racing Currents, along with splash areas for younger children.
Carnival is also planning to keep portions of the water park open later in the evening, with special nighttime activities adding another option for families after the sun goes down.
Mini Golf, Adventure Trails and a Retro Arcade
The family attractions won’t stop at the water park.
Carnival Tropicale will feature a redesigned Fairway 66 Mini Golf course inspired by America’s famous Route 66.
There will also be sports courts and the Treehouse Adventure Trail, which will feature elevated netted pathways and obstacles.
Indoors, cruisers will find The Vault Retrocade, a new arcade space combining classic arcade favorites with newer gaming experiences.
Together, these attractions appear to make Carnival Tropicale one of the most family-focused ships in the Excel class.
Carnival Tropicale Will Have Several New Restaurants
Carnival Tropicale will also introduce Carnival’s recently announced “Next Course” dining concepts, with several new restaurants featuring flavors from around the world.
One of the most interesting new venues is Uku Lei Lei, which will serve Hawaiian-inspired dishes with Asian influences.
There will also be Fetaccine, an unusual Greek and Italian fusion concept.
Seafood lovers will have another option with Emeril’s Coastal Seafood, developed in partnership with Carnival Chief Culinary Officer Chef Emeril Lagasse.
The restaurant will feature seafood dishes inspired by different coastal regions throughout the United States.
New Entertainment Is Coming Too
Carnival Tropicale will also introduce new entertainment venues and experiences inspired by the golden era of show business.
Carnival hasn’t shared many details about these areas yet, but says more information about the ship’s entertainment and onboard experiences will be revealed in the coming months.
With its new water park, family activity areas, restaurants and entertainment concepts, Carnival Tropicale will bring several experiences that differentiate it from the earlier Excel-class ships.
Carnival Tropicale Arrives in 2028
Carnival Tropicale’s arrival will be particularly noteworthy for cruisers sailing from Texas.
Galveston has grown into one of the most important cruise homeports in North America, and adding Carnival’s newest ship gives Texas cruisers another major ship option without needing to fly to Florida.
Carnival Tropicale will officially begin sailing from Galveston on April 15, 2028, and reservations are now open.
With more details about the ship still to come, it will be interesting to see what else Carnival has planned for the final ship in its Excel class.