Carnival Jubilee Adds 4- and 5-Day Cruises from Galveston for 2028–2029: What To Know Before You Book

If you have followed my YouTube channel for any length of time, you know Galveston comes up a lot. It is the closest year-round cruise port for a huge chunk of the country, and Carnival Jubilee has been its flagship since she arrived in December 2023. Until now, the catch with Jubilee was simple: if you wanted to sail her, you were signing up for a full 7-day Western Caribbean loop. That changes in 2028. Carnival has opened bookings for Jubilee's 2028–2029 Galveston season, and for the first time the ship will run regular 4- and 5-day cruises alongside a few longer 6- and 8-day sailings. If you have been waiting for a shorter way to try Carnival's biggest Texas ship, this is it. As a travel advisor who books Carnival every week, I want to walk through exactly what was announced, what each itinerary looks like, and who each one is for.

Carnival Jubilee 2028–2029 Galveston Schedule: Key Facts

Ship	Carnival Jubilee (Excel class, debuted December 2023)
Homeport	Galveston, Texas (Terminal 25)
Season covered	April 2028 through April 2029
Cruise lengths	4, 5, 6, and 8 days
What is new	First regular 4- and 5-day Jubilee sailings from Galveston
Ports	Cozumel, Progreso, Isla Tropicale (Roatán), Celebration Key, RelaxAway Half Moon Cay, Nassau, Montego Bay
Booking status	Open now

Why the Carnival Jubilee Short Cruises Are a Big Deal

Galveston has never been short on 4- and 5-day options. Carnival Breeze and Carnival Dream have handled that job for years. What Galveston has lacked is a short sailing on a ship of Jubilee's scale. She carries around 5,400 guests at double occupancy and well over 6,000 when the third and fourth berths fill, and she is the only Excel-class ship on the Gulf Coast. That means BOLT, the roller coaster on the top deck, Emeril's Bistro 717, Rudi's Seagrill, the Currents and The Shores zones, and Family Harbor and Havana cabins, all on a long weekend instead of a full week of vacation time.

For Texans, that is a very different calculation. A 4-day Thursday departure means one or two days off work. For fly-in cruisers from Arizona, Colorado, or the Midwest, a 5-day sailing pairs nicely with a night in Galveston on either end without eating an entire week. If you have never done a short cruise before, my guide to the best 3- and 4-night cruise getaways explains why they work so well as a first sailing or a quick reset.

Carnival Jubilee 4-Day Western Caribbean Cruises

The 4-day sailings depart on select Thursdays from April 27, 2028 through April 26, 2029. Every one of them calls at Cozumel, with the rest of the time at sea.

Cozumel is the right port for this length. The pier is close to town, the water is clear, and you can do a beach club, a snorkel trip, or a taxi to San Miguel and still be back on board with time to spare. My Cozumel cruise port guide covers the three piers, beach club prices, and how far you can realistically go on a single port day.

Pro Tip: On a 4-day Jubilee sailing, the sea days are the point. Book your BOLT ride time, your specialty dinner, and any spa appointment on embarkation day. On a ship this size with only two sea days, the best slots go fast.

Carnival Jubilee 5-Day Western Caribbean Cruises

The 5-day itineraries run on select Saturdays and Mondays from April 17, 2028 through April 30, 2029, and they visit both Cozumel and Progreso.

Progreso is the one port on this list that surprises people. It sits on the north coast of the Yucatán, and the pier is famously long, one of the longest in the world, so you will take a shuttle to the town end. The reason to book this stop is what lies inland: the Mayan ruins at Uxmal and Dzibilchaltún, the colonial city of Mérida, and the cenotes scattered across the peninsula. It is a culture day more than a beach day, which makes it a nice contrast with Cozumel on the same sailing.

If you are trying to decide between the 4- and 5-day versions, the extra day buys you a second port and, on the Saturday departures, a weekend at sea. For most clients I send on Jubilee, the 5-day is the sweet spot.

Carnival Jubilee 6-Day Western Caribbean Cruise

There is a single 6-day sailing on October 29, 2028, visiting Cozumel and Isla Tropicale, which is Carnival's branded beach destination on Roatán, Honduras. Roatán is my favorite Western Caribbean port for snorkeling, and Isla Tropicale is part of Carnival's Paradise Collection, the umbrella for its private and semi-private destinations. My Roatán cruise port guide covers West Bay Beach, the reef, and the sloth and monkey encounters that families ask about most.

This one falls over Halloween week, which Carnival tends to lean into with costume contests and themed deck parties. If you are sailing with kids, it is one to watch.

Carnival Jubilee 8-Day Bahamas Cruise from Galveston

This is the itinerary that made me look twice. On April 1, 2028, Jubilee sails an 8-day Bahamas loop from Galveston with stops at Celebration Key, RelaxAway Half Moon Cay, and Nassau.

A Bahamas cruise from Texas is unusual because of the distance. Expect several sea days on each end, which is either the best part or the worst part depending on how you cruise. If you love ship time, this is a rare chance to spend more of it on Jubilee than any regular sailing allows. If you want ports every day, the Western Caribbean options will suit you better.

The ports themselves are three of the best Carnival has to offer. Celebration Key opened in July 2025 on Grand Bahama and is built around a giant freshwater lagoon, a long beach, and an adults-only area. I have a full Celebration Key guide with what is free and what costs extra. Half Moon Cay, now branded RelaxAway, is the quieter classic, and Nassau gives you a real city day. My Nassau cruise port guide covers walking distances and taxi fares from the pier.

Carnival Jubilee 8-Day Western Caribbean Cruise

The second 8-day sailing departs April 9, 2028, and visits Cozumel, Roatán, and Montego Bay, Jamaica. Montego Bay is a newer call for Carnival's Galveston ships and gets you to Jamaica's north coast, with Doctor's Cave Beach a short ride from the pier and day trips available to Negril or the Luminous Lagoon. My Jamaica cruise port guide focuses on Falmouth and Ocho Rios, but the excursion advice carries over.

Of the two 8-day sailings, this one is the easier sell for first-timers. Three ports, two of which are Carnival staples, and a ship you will not want to leave.

What Happens to the Carnival Jubilee 7-Day Cruises

The announcement covers the new short and long sailings, and Carnival has not said the 7-day Cozumel, Costa Maya, and Roatán loop is going away. Read this as Carnival adding variety to Jubilee's calendar rather than replacing it. I will update this post as the full 2028–2029 calendar fills in. If you already hold a 2028 Jubilee booking and want to know whether your sailing is affected, reach out and I will check it against the new deployment for you.

Carnival Jubilee Booking Tips for 2028–2029

• Book early on the 4- and 5-day sailings. Short cruises on a new-build ship price up quickly once families lock in school breaks. The April and Thanksgiving weeks will go first.
• Enroll in Carnival Rewards before you book. The program launched in 2026 and changes how status and perks work. My Carnival Rewards breakdown covers what earns points and what does not.
• Budget for gratuities separately. Daily service charges add up even on a 4-day cruise. My Carnival gratuities guide explains the current rates and how prepaying works.
• Plan your Galveston logistics. Terminal 25 is Jubilee's home, and parking and pre-cruise hotels are their own decision. I keep updated guides to Galveston cruise parking and hotels near the Galveston cruise port.
• First cruise? Start with the basics. My first-time cruise tips and the Western Caribbean cruise guide will save you from most rookie mistakes.

Book Carnival Jubilee Through Jackson Jetsetting

Every Carnival booking I place comes with the same fare you would get from Carnival directly, plus my help with cabin selection, dining reservations, excursions, and the occasional onboard credit when a promotion allows it. If a 4- or 5-day Jubilee sailing sounds like the right way to spend a long weekend in 2028, send me your dates and I will price it out for you.