PAPENBURG, Germany, Sept. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Guests can now book Carnival Tropicale, Carnival Cruise Line’s newest ship and the final addition to its Excel class. As bookings open, the cruise line is also celebrating the ship’s progression from concept to reality at MEYER WERFT’S shipyard in Papenburg, Germany.
Setting Sail from Galveston
Everything is bigger in Texas, and beginning April 15, 2028, Carnival Tropicale will bring a whole new level of fun to Galveston. As the newest ship sailing from Texas, Carnival Tropicale will proudly display the Star of Texas on her bow, honoring her connection to the Lone Star State. The ship will offer four-, five-, six- and eight-day cruises to connect guests to Carnival’s exclusive Paradise Collection destinations, including Celebration Key, RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, Isla Tropicale and Puerta Maya, as well as popular Caribbean ports like Progreso and Nassau.
“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.”
Bringing Texas to Papenburg
As reservations opened for Carnival Tropicale, Carnival Cruise Line and MEYER WERFT hosted a western-themed celebration honoring the ship’s future home and Carnival’s longstanding connection to Texas. Carnival and MEYER WERFT leaders donned custom cowboy hard hats and western attire amid Texas-inspired décor while the shipyard team enjoyed Texas-style barbecue.
“I am delighted to experience my first construction celebration as the new CEO of MEYER WERFT,” said André Walter, who has served as CEO of MEYER WERFT GmbH since July 1, 2026. “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.”
A New Take on Family Fun
Carnival Tropicale is the fifth and final ship in the Excel class, offering guests the class’s newest features for experiencing Carnival’s signature fun at sea. One of the ship’s highlights will be Sunsation Point, a vibrant, multi-deck family fun zone designed to keep guests entertained from day to night. This area is anchored by Carnival WaterWorks Ultra, the most family-friendly water park at sea, featuring six waterslides, including SunSoaker, Turning Tides, Racing Currents and splash areas designed for younger cruisers.
Guests can also enjoy a variety of outdoor and indoor activities, including a redesigned Fairway 66 Mini Golf course inspired by Route 66, sports courts, the Treehouse Adventure Trail, featuring netted pathways and obstacles, and new arcade spaces, such as The Vault Retrocade, which blends classic favorites with modern gaming experiences. As the sun sets, the excitement continues with special evening activities and extended waterpark hours.
The fun continues at the table, where Carnival Tropicale will feature The Next Course of dining concepts, bringing flavors from around the world. Guests will be able to enjoy Uku Lei Lei, offering Hawaiian-inspired cuisine with Asian influences; Fetaccine, blending Greek and Italian flavors; and Emeril’s Coastal Seafood, showcasing seafood dishes inspired by America’s coastlines and created in partnership with Carnival’s Chief Culinary Officer Chef Emeril Lagasse.
Inspired by the Golden Era of Show Businesses
Carnival Tropicale will also introduce new entertainment experiences and exclusive spaces inspired by the golden era of show business. Additional details about the ship’s entertainment and other experiences will be revealed in the months ahead, giving guests more to look forward to.
Carnival Tropicale’s newly available sailings can be found here. For additional information on Carnival Cruise Line and to book a cruise vacation, call 1-800-CARNIVAL, visit www.carnival.com, or contact your favorite travel advisor or online travel site.
ABOUT CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE
Carnival Cruise Line, part of Carnival Corporation (NYSE: CCL), the world’s largest cruise company with a portfolio of cruise lines operating in over 800 ports & destinations worldwide – and is proud to be known as America’s Cruise Line and for carrying more Americans and serving more U.S. homeports than any other. Carnival sails more than six million guests annually and in 2023 was the first cruise line to sail more than 100 million guests in total. Operating from 13 U.S. and two Australian homeports, as well as seasonally from Europe, Carnival hosts more than 95,000 guests on its ships every day of the year and employs more than 50,000 team members, representing 120 nationalities.
Since its founding in 1972, Carnival has continually revolutionized the cruise industry and popularized the cruise vacation as an affordable and fun travel option. Carnival’s fleet of 29 ships reflects an exciting period of growth that continues with the addition of five ships through 2033: a fourth and fifth Excel class ship scheduled for 2027 and 2028 respectively; followed by three additional new ships from an innovative new class currently under development. Carnival’s newest guest offering is its all-new exclusive destination, Celebration Key on Grand Bahama, which debuted in 2025 to join the company’s Paradise Collection of Caribbean gems.
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SOURCE Carnival Cruise Line
