Carnival is bringing Carnival Sunshine to Galveston in 2027, adding more Caribbean itineraries as demand for cruises from Texas continues to grow.
GALVESTON, Texas — A brand-new cruise option is headed to the Texas coast. Carnival Cruise Line has announced that the Carnival Sunshine will homeport in Galveston beginning in November 2027, marking the ship’s first time sailing regularly from the island.
According to Carnival, the move is part of an updated deployment plan for 2027–2028 and brings more capacity to Galveston at a time when demand for cruising from Texas continues to grow. Carnival Sunshine carries about 3,000 guests, adding space for thousands more travelers every week heading to the Caribbean from Galveston.
“We’re excited to introduce Carnival Sunshine to Galveston for the first time,” Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy said. “This move allows us to serve more guests in Galveston where we continue to see strong demand.”
What Carnival Sunshine will sail from Galveston
The Sunshine joins Carnival’s existing four-ship plan in Galveston, offering a wide range of sailings from four to 10 days to the Caribbean.
- Shorter itineraries will stop in Mexico, including Cozumel and Progreso.
- Longer Caribbean voyages will visit ports such as Belize, Celebration Key, RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, Grand Turk, Amber Cove (Dominican Republic), Limón (Costa Rica), Colón (Panama), Isla Tropicale (Roatán), Grand Cayman, and Montego Bay (Jamaica).
Carnival also confirmed eight new sailings for Sunshine, including a standout 10-day cruise to Cozumel, Isla Tropicale, Montego Bay and Grand Cayman.
What’s changing for Tampa
The deployment shift places Carnival Spirit in Tampa instead of Galveston, where it will sail six-, seven- and eight-day Caribbean itineraries. Port stops include Belize, Isla Tropicale, Grand Cayman, Ocho Rios and Cozumel and Progreso.
Carnival Spirit will also feature six eight-day sailings to the Panama Canal, and on January 30, 2028, the ship will offer a 13-day Carnival Journeys cruise visiting Grand Cayman, Limón, Colón, Aruba, Curaçao and Ocho Rios.
Why the shift matters for Galveston
Galveston has become one of the busiest cruise homeports in the country, and the addition of Carnival Sunshine signals continued investment in the Texas market — especially for travelers looking for more Caribbean options without flying out of state.
Carnival framed the move as a win-win for both ports: Additional capacity for Texas, and new, longer Caribbean itineraries opening up from Tampa.
What’s next
Carnival Sunshine’s Galveston sailings will begin in November 2027, and itineraries are now visible to browse online.
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