Carnival Cruise Line's Newest Ship to Homeport in Galveston

Image: Carnival Tropicale is Carnival Cruise Line's fifth Excel-class ship. (Source: Carnival Cruise Line)
Image: Carnival Tropicale is Carnival Cruise Line's fifth Excel-class ship. (Source: Carnival Cruise Line)
Claudette Covey
by Claudette Covey
Last updated: 3:15 PM ET, Fri April 24, 2026

Carnival Cruise Line will homeport Carnival Tropicale in Galveston, Texas, following its delivery from the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, in 2028.

The ship, the line’s fifth Excel-class vessel, will join sister Excel ship, Carnival Jubilee, at the Texas port, “making Galveston home to two of the three newest ships in the Carnival fleet,” the line said.

“Carnival Tropicale joining our Galveston lineup is a celebration of both our history and our future in Texas,” said Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy. “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 currently has four vessels homeported in Galveston, reinforcing its presence in the region.

“Carnival Tropicale is named after the original MS Tropicale, which was Carnival’s first originally designed cruise ship,” the company said. “That vessel helped shape the Fun Ship era, making entertainment and shared joy as central as the destinations themselves.

“It also introduced the iconic winged funnel to the fleet, which is now one of the most recognizable symbols in cruising,” Carnival added.

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