Fifth Carnival Tropicale Opens for Booking, Sets Sail April 15, 2028

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Carnival Cruise Line has opened bookings for its newest ship, Carnival Tropicale. The fifth and final vessel in the Carnival Excel-class family, it is currently under construction at the MEYER WERFT shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, and is scheduled to set sail from Galveston, Texas, starting April 15, 2028.

As the newest ship sailing from Texas, Carnival Tropicale will display a "Lone Star" emblem on its bow, echoing its Texas ties. The ship will offer four-, five-, six- and eight-day voyages to destinations including Celebration Key, RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, Isla Tropicale and Puerta Maya under Carnival's Paradise Collection, as well as popular Caribbean ports such as Progreso and Nassau.

Ben Clement, Executive Vice President of Marine Operations and Newbuilds at Carnival Cruise Line, said that with bookings now open, guests can begin planning vacations aboard the new ship; from innovative rides and dining experiences to destinations across the Caribbean, the Bahamas and Mexico, Carnival Tropicale will bring new vacation options to Texas when it debuts in 2028.

To mark the opening of bookings, Carnival Cruise Line and MEYER WERFT held a Wild West-themed celebration at the shipyard, honoring the ship's future homeport and the long-standing relationship between Carnival and Texas. Executives from both sides attended wearing custom cowboy hats and Western attire, while the shipyard team enjoyed Texas-style barbecue.

Andre Walter, Managing Director of MEYER WERFT GmbH, said this was the first construction celebration he had attended since taking office on July 1, 2026. He noted that Carnival Tropicale is already the fifth ship in the Carnival Excel class, a popular series that reflects the long-term partnership between the two sides.

In terms of onboard facilities, the family entertainment zone Sunsation Point spans multiple decks and is open from morning to night, featuring the Carnival WaterWorks Ultra water park with six slides, including SunSoaker, Turning Tides and Racing Currents, plus a separate splash area for children. Outdoor and indoor activities also include the Route 66-inspired redesigned Fairway 66 mini golf course, sports courts, the Treehouse Adventure Trail with netted walkways and obstacle features, and The Vault Retrocade gaming and entertainment area, which combines classic favorites with modern gaming experiences. After sunset, there will be nighttime activities, with extended hours at the water park.

On the dining side, Carnival Tropicale will introduce The Next Course series of culinary concepts, including Uku Lei Lei, featuring Hawaiian-inspired cuisine with Asian influences; Fetaccine, blending Greek and Italian flavors; and Emeril's Coastal Seafood, created in partnership with Carnival's Chief Culinary Officer, Chef Emeril Lagasse, showcasing seafood dishes inspired by the American coast. The ship will also debut new entertainment experiences and exclusive spaces inspired by the golden age of show business, with more details on onboard entertainment and other experiences to be announced in the coming months.

Carnival Cruise Line is part of Carnival Corporation (NYSE: CCL), operating in more than 800 ports and destinations worldwide. The company carries more than 6 million guests annually and in 2023 became the first cruise line to carry more than 100 million guests cumulatively; it operates from 13 homeports in the United States and 2 in Australia, with seasonal operations in Europe, welcoming more than 95,000 guests onboard each day with a workforce of more than 50,000 employees from 120 nationalities. Founded in 1972, the company currently has a fleet of 29 ships, with a growth phase continuing through 2033 with five additional cruise ships: the fourth and fifth Excel-class ships are scheduled to enter service in 2027 and 2028 respectively, and three all-new class ships are in development. Its exclusive destination Celebration Key on Grand Bahama Island opened in 2025 and joined the company's Paradise Collection.