Carnival Cruise Line will station four ships in Galveston in 2027–28, adding Carnival Horizon in May and Carnival Spirit in October, while Carnival Dream shifts to New Orleans.
Carnival Cruise Line is set to enhance its offerings in Galveston for the 2027–28 season, with the addition of the Carnival Horizon and Carnival Spirit joining the established favorites, Carnival Breeze and Carnival Jubilee, as revealed in the company’s latest deployment announcement.
The Horizon, a massive vessel accommodating nearly 4,000 passengers, is set to launch its sailings from Galveston in May 2027. It will initially offer eight-day cruises to the Western Caribbean before transitioning to shorter four- and five-day voyages to popular destinations, such as Cozumel and Progreso. Spirit will sail in the Caribbean. “Galveston stands out as a premier homeport,” stated Carnival President Christine Duffy, noting that this combination “brings an unprecedented variety” for cruisers from Texas.
In October 2027, Spirit is set to make its grand arrival following an extensive Alaska season and a lengthy repositioning journey that features a complete transit of the Panama Canal. Once it reaches its destination, the ship will provide a range of Caribbean itineraries lasting from four to six days, along with longer Journey sailings. The Houston Chronicle reveals that Spirit's itinerary will feature destinations such as Belize and Costa Rica, included in 10-day trips centered around Panama.
Breeze is set to launch a new seven-day itinerary in May 2027, featuring a rotation of Eastern and Western Caribbean destinations. Travelers can look forward to stops at Celebration Key, Key West, Nassau, and Montego Bay. Reports indicate significant departures, including a Christmas cruise set for December 18, 2027, alongside two 14-day Journeys voyages.
In a related development, Jubilee made its debut in late 2023 as the port's inaugural LNG-powered cruise ship. The vessel will maintain its six- and eight-day itineraries, offering exciting Bahamas sailings that highlight Celebration Key. Port officials and LNG suppliers have recorded the operations of Jubilee’s LNG bunkering in Galveston, highlighting the vessel's contribution to introducing advanced technology to the Texas Gulf Coast.
The timing of the shuffle aligns with Carnival Dream's departure from Texas, scheduled for May of next year.
Relatedly, the Port of New Orleans is set to welcome the Dream back in May 2027, joining the Carnival Liberty and enhancing the port's capacity. “The introduction of a larger ship will enhance capacity, leading to increased tourism activity for Port NOLA and the surrounding region,” Duffy stated regarding the decision.
Carnival emphasizes that maintaining four ships in Galveston ensures a varied, four-class fleet for Texas cruisers while also bolstering the port's reputation as a significant U.S. cruise gateway. “The four ships set to embark from Galveston in 2027–28 each belong to a distinct class,” Duffy stated. “This indicates that travelers will enjoy an expanded array of options as they tailor their upcoming cruise experiences.”
In the coming weeks, the cruise line is anticipated to unveil more details for the 2027–28 season, with select sailings already available on both the line's website and third-party listings.
