Construction Starts on New Carnival Cruise Ship, Carnival Tropicale

Construction started this week on the final Excel-class ship from Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Tropicale, when the first piece of steel was cut for this new vessel.

Carnival Tropicale is being built at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. The ship will be 180,000 gross tons in size, 1,128 feet long, and accommodate more than 6,000 guests. It will also be powered by LNG.

Yesterday, Carnival Cruise Line opened reservations for bookings on this new ship that will debut in April 2028. Carnival Tropicale will offer cruises to the Caribbean from Galveston, Texas.

Since the ship will homeport in Galveston, the vessel’s bow will feature the “Star of Texas”.

Carnival Tropicale will feature innovative dining and entertainment concepts, as well as a new themed area called Sunsation Point, designed as a vibrant family adventure zone.

At the heart of this area will be Carnival WaterWorks Ultra, a multi-story water park, complemented by a wide range of additional family-friendly leisure and entertainment attractions.

What’s next for Carnival Tropicale now that the first piece of steel has been cut? The shipyard will begin to weld blocks together ahead of the keel laying.

Once the keel has been laid, blocks will begin to be welded together, forming the structure of the ship. Once all the blocks are together, the ship will touch water for the first time during a float-out ceremony.

Once the ship is floated out, it will move to the final stage of construction, the outfitting pier. Here, the inside and outer decks of the ship will be completed ahead of its debut in the spring of 2028.

Ben Clement, EVP of maritime and new builds at Carnival Cruise Line, gave the following statement about construction starting on Carnival Tropicale:

“Today marks an exciting day for Carnival Tropicale as guests can now begin planning their vacations aboard this incredible new ship. 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.”

André Walter, CEO of MEYER WERFT GmbH, added:

“I am delighted to experience my first construction celebration as the new CEO of MEYER WERFT. 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.”