Carnival Reveals Tropicale’s Galveston Sailings
Carnival’s sixth Excel Class ship, the Carnival Tropicale, had its ceremonial steel-cutting event at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. The ship will be coming to Galveston in April 2028. In honor of the celebration, Carnival opened the ship’s itineraries for sale, but oddly did not provide more information about the ship.
Carnival Tropicale Does 6- and 8-Day Sailings from Galveston
When the Tropicale launches, it will homeport in Galveston, Texas. It’s the second time Carnival has homeported a brand-new ship in Galveston, showing its desire to go after this growing market. The ship will sail mostly 6- and 8-day itineraries from the port.
Those looking for a little variety might be a bit disappointed. The Tropicale will basically have two different itineraries that alternate back and forth.
The 6-Day Western Caribbean itinerary visits Cozumel and Isla Tropicale, Roatan, and includes 3 sea days. Both ports are part of Carnival’s “Paradise Collection” as “Gateway Destinations.” That means they offer increased amenities at the port but don’t include food or ship Wi-Fi like a private island would.
The 8-day itinerary will visit Nassau, RelaxAway Half Moon Cay, and Celebration Key, and have 4 sea days. Half Moon Cay and Celebration Key are also in the Paradise Collection, but they’re “Paradise Destinations,” which means they’re more of an extension of the ship, with your ship Wi-Fi working at the destination, complimentary food, and the ability to use your Sail & Sign account to charge drinks or other items you purchase on shore. It should be noted that, unlike its competitors, Carnival doesn’t allow guests to use their Cheers or Bottomless Bubbles drink packages on land.
Tropicale also has two separate 5-day sailings scheduled that visit Cozumel and Progreso, and one 4-day sailing that visits Cozumel only.
What Will Tropicale’s Theme Be?
When Carnival announced the sister ship, Festivale, they said the theme would be music. But for Tropicale, it seems like they’re going with “tropical” as the theme. The home page states that the ship will “bring a new twist on the tropics” and “set sail with a tropical flair.” You can see glimpses of this theme in the renders of the 3-story atrium, Grand Central, which has tropical decor.
But then, in its press release, Carnival also says the ship “will also introduce new entertainment experiences and exclusive spaces inspired by the golden era of show business.”
Like all of Carnival’s Excel Class ships, Tropicale will have two unique themed zones with bars and eateries to match, but Carnival hasn’t released those details yet.
Very Similar to Festivale With New Excel Features
Besides those two themed zones, the Tropicale will be nearly identical to its sister ship, the Festivale. That means it will bring a lot of new features that weren’t on the first 3 Excel Class ships, Mardi Gras, Celebration, and Jubilee.
The biggest changes are the top-deck attractions. Gone is the BOLT roller coaster, and in its place is “Sunstation Point,” a multi-deck family fun zone that’s open day and night. Here you’ll find Carnival’s largest water park at sea, a Route 66-inspired mini-golf course, an Adventure Trail, and a retro arcade with stunning views.
The Tropicale will also have the new eateries found on Festivale. That includes Uku Lei Lei, which replaces ChiBang! and offers Hawaiian-inspired cuisine with Asian influences, and Fetaccine, which replaces Cucina del Capitano and blends Greek and Italian flavors.
Want to Stay Up-to-date on Carnival and Other Cruise News?
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, or subscribe to our monthly newsletter.
CruiseSpotlight is an Amazon Associate. We may earn a commission when you click links to retailers and purchase goods.
