Carnival Tropicale to homeport in Galveston in 2028

Carnival Cruise Line is expanding in Texas again, announcing its fifth Excel-class ship, Carnival Tropicale, will homeport in Galveston when it is delivered in 2028.

The new vessel will join Carnival Jubilee, which was delivered to Galveston in 2024, giving Galveston two of Carnival's three newest ships and strengthening the line's presence in one of its biggest U.S. cruise markets.

"Carnival Tropicale joining our Galveston lineup is a celebration of both our history and our future in Texas," said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. 

"For more than 25 years, Texas has been at the heart of Carnival's growth, and this new Excel-class ship ensures we continue to deliver unforgettable experiences for our guests in and around the state."

Carnival said the ship's name nods to the original MS Tropicale, the line's first originally designed cruise ship, which helped define the Fun Ship era and introduced Carnival's winged funnel design.

The 6,000-plus guest ship will sail year-round from the Port of Galveston and carry the Star of Texas on its bow, like Carnival Jubilee.

Carnival currently homeports four ships in Galveston. 

In 2024, the company became the first cruise line to welcome more than 10 million guests through the port — the same year Carnival Jubilee became the first new ship to be inaugurated there and the first homeported Galveston vessel powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). 

Jubilee also made history as the first North American ship to offer guests 5G connectivity.

"Carnival's continued investment in the Port of Galveston is a big reason why we're the cruise port of choice for a growing number of Americans and why we're setting new growth records year over year," said Rodger Rees, Galveston Wharves port director and CEO. 

"Carnival has been a valued partner for this port and this community for 26 years. We look forward to many more years of growth together."

Like its sister ships, Carnival Tropicale will be powered by LNG and will draw inspiration from Carnival Festivale, set to debut in April 2027, including new dining and entertainment concepts.

Among the features planned is Sunsation Point, a new family-focused zone anchored by Carnival WaterWorks Ultra, a multi-level waterpark, along with additional family-friendly recreation and entertainment offerings.

Carnival said itinerary and booking details for Carnival Tropicale will be released later this year.

Don't miss a single travel story: subscribe to PAX today!  Click here to follow PAX on Facebook.