Carnival Cruise Line

Papenburg, Germany – September 15, 2026 -- Carnival Cruise Line has opened bookings for Carnival Tropicale, the fifth and final ship in its Excel class, which will begin sailing from Galveston, Texas, on April 15, 2028.

The ship will carry the Star of Texas on its bow

Carnival Tropicale will offer four-, five-, six- and eight-day cruises from Galveston, connecting guests to destinations in Carnival's Paradise Collection, including Celebration Key, RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, Isla Tropicale and Puerta Maya, along with Caribbean ports like Progreso and Nassau.

Ben Clement, EVP of maritime and new builds at Carnival Cruise Line, said the ship will bring a new vacation option to Texas when it debuts in 2028, citing its dining, attractions and Caribbean, Bahamas and Mexico itineraries.

Miami – September 07, 2026 -- Carnival Cruise Line has launched Carnival Rewards, a new loyalty program the company calls a first for the cruise industry, giving guests more flexible ways to earn points, climb tier levels, and unlock rewards regardless of how often they sail.

Guests earn points on nearly every dollar spent onboard

Under the program, guests earn three Carnival Rewards points for every $1 spent on eligible Carnival Cruise Line purchases, including gratuities. Guests also earn one point for every Casino Point retained in their account at the end of a voyage. Points can be redeemed for future Carnival cruises and eligible onboard experiences such as shore excursions, specialty dining, and spa treatments. Points post roughly 14 days after a voyage ends and are redeemable as soon as they arrive.

Miami – September 07, 2026 -- Carnival Cruise Line has launched Carnival Rewards, a new loyalty program that lets passengers earn points on purchases, qualify for status tiers, and unlock a co-branded Mastercard offering bonus points on everyday spending.

Points now reward everyday cruise spending, not just trip frequency

Guests earn 3 points for every dollar spent on qualifying Carnival purchases, including gratuities, and 1 point for each casino point remaining at the end of a cruise. Points post roughly 14 days after a voyage ends and can be redeemed immediately for future Carnival cruises, shore excursions, specialty dining, and spa treatments.