Carnival Cruise Line reveals home port for new Tropicale ship
Carnival cruisers will soon have another brand-new ship to choose for Caribbean vacations in Fun Ship style from a popular cruise port. Carnival Cruise Line just revealed the home port for its fifth Excel-class ship, Carnival Tropicale, launching in 2028 - and it's a port that already boasts more Carnival cruise options than most.
During the 2027-2028 season, Carnival is already set to deliver its largest-ever passenger capacity and a broader range of itineraries from the port. And now, a brand-new ship will further expand Carnival cruise options in spring 2028.
After picking Port Canaveral as the home port for new ship Carnival Festivale setting sail in April 2027, Carnival is choosin' Texas again as the home for another new Excel-class ship.
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Carnival Tropicale to launch from Galveston, Texas in 2028
In spring 2028, Carnival will launch Carnival Tropicale from Galveston, Texas, building on more than 25 years as a leading cruise line in Texas. Carnival was the first cruise line to homeport a cruise ship in Galveston in 2000, and has since sailed more than 10 million passengers from the port.
Carnival Tropicale will be the second Excel-class ship to launch from Galveston, joining Carnival Jubilee, which debuted from the port in 2024. Like Carnival Jubilee, Carnival Tropicale will feature the Star of Texas on her bow, and sail year-round from the Port of Galveston.
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The two Excel-class, 6,000-plus-passenger ships will anchor a robust lineup of Carnival ships and itineraries sailing from Galveston, where Carnival currently homeports four ships offering cruises ranging from short weekend getaways to week-long vacations, visiting top destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico, and The Bahamas.
"Carnival Tropicale joining our Galveston lineup is a celebration of both our history and our future in Texas," Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy said in a press release. "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 Tropicale will honor Carnival's legacy of fun and innovation
Carnival Tropicale is named after the original MS Tropicale, Carnival's first originally designed cruise ship, which helped shape the line's signature Fun Ship style of cruising and introduced the iconic winged funnel to the fleet. The new Carnival Tropicale will honor that legacy with an innovative Fun Ship reimagined for a new generation.
Like sister ship Carnival Festivale, Carnival Tropicale will be designed for multigenerational families and offer new dining and entertainment experiences. Both ships will feature a brand-new zone spanning the top decks called Sunsation Point, which will include a multi-level Carnival WaterWorks Ultra and other family-friendly activities and attractions.
Details on Carnival Tropicale's cruise itineraries will be released later this year.
Related: New Carnival Cruise Line ship will sail to an energetic beat
In addition to expanding the Excel Class with Carnival Festivale and Tropicale, Carnival has a new next-generation ship platform in development. Three new Project Ace ships are set to be delivered in 2029, 2031, and 2033, respectively. At 230,000 gross tons and carrying nearly 8,000 passengers at full capacity, the new ships will be the largest in the global Carnival Corporation fleet.
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This story was originally published April 24, 2026 at 7:32 AM.