Carnival Cruise Line’s newest private island destination, Celebration Key on the island of Grand Bahama, will open to guests on July 19.
Carnival Corporation CEO Josh Weinstein and Chief Maritime Officer Lars Ljoen joined Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy for a behind-the-scenes look at the new exclusive destination as construction nears completion.
Underlining Celebration Key’s dedication to sustainability, the company marked development milestones around the sprawling beachfront destination. To honor the maritime custom of laying the keel for a new ship, commemorative keys were set in Celebration Key’s Suncastle, which will serve as the centerpiece of the resort’s five unique “portals.”
Unlocking Celebration Key’s ‘Five Portals to Paradise’
The ten-story Suncastle near Paradise Plaza will be the first portal guests will encounter, and serving as a gateway to the destination. The Suncastle’s racing waterslides are also part of the family-focused portal Starfish Lagoon, along with many other recreation and relaxation options.
Calypso Lagoon, Celebration Key’s adult-focused portal, will feature a kid-free zone with a swim up bar and DJ island. Adding to the adult-only options at the resort, the private portal Pearl Cove Beach Club will offer a premium experience with beachfront cabanas and an infinity pool.
The fifth portal, Lokono Cove, will be a retail village celebrating Bahamian culture through local art and handcrafts.
“Celebration Key represents a new chapter for Carnival and its construction builds on our close partnership with The Bahamas, so seeing it transform from vision to reality is incredible,” Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, said in a press release.
During their visit, the Carnival execs joined team members planting palm trees for the company’s “Plant a Tree” community engagement program that launched last year. The preservation initiative has included the replanting of thousands of native trees, including about 1000 sabal palms, across the property.
In addition, Duffy took part in the ceremonial filling of one of two massive freshwater lagoons—the largest in the Caribbean—that the resort’s desalination plant will sustain. The lagoons contain over seven million gallons of water and cover an area of more than seven acres.
“Celebration Key represents a new chapter for Carnival and its construction builds on our close partnership with The Bahamas, so seeing it transform from vision to reality is incredible,” said Duffy.
“We broke ground on this site less than three years ago, and now in five short months we’ll see our first guests enjoy the many experiences we created just for them to celebrate and enjoy this gorgeous place on Grand Bahama.”
Read more: Carnival’s New Celebration Key Will Feature Five Unique “Portals”
Celebration Key will highlight Bahamian culture
As construction continues round-the-clock to prepare Celebration Key for Carnival Vista‘s inaugural call on July 19, about 500 workers are on site each day.
The cruise line promises Carnival’s signature brand of fun at the new resort, while it aims to honor local heritage and support Grand Bahama with economic development opportunities. So far, 28 Bahamian companies have contributed to the project.
“This destination will serve as a tribute to the rich Bahamian culture and Grand Bahama’s natural environment,” said Weinstein. “It’s clear Celebration Key will be a game-changer for our flagship brand and its loyal guests, with endless options for relaxation and recreation, but it’s also truly great to see firsthand how we’re implementing our company’s robust sustainability initiatives on land.”
Read more: Carnival’s Celebration Key Construction Empowering Grand Bahamian Workforce
Visiting Celebration Key
Leading up to the grand opening of the destination, Carnival continues to make new options and features available for cruisers as they plan their Celebration Key visit. New at Pearl Cove Beach Club are beachfront daybeds, private cabanas and exclusive Super Villas, which will be available for booking soon. Each for-a-fee premium option will include access to the club’s open bar service, infinity pool, full-service restaurant, and exclusive beachfront access.
Celebration Key is a featured destination on hundreds of Carnival itineraries, with 20 ships sailing from ten homeports in the United States. Sailings are available to book through 2027.
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Do you have a cruise booked that calls at Celebration Key? Which portal are you most looking forward to experiencing? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
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