Everything we Know About Celebration Key, Carnival's Grand Bahama Cruise Port
With dozens of monthly calls in the Bahamas, and several of their ships registered in the island country, Carnival Cruise Line maintains a sizable presence in the idyllic archipelago.
And now, the cruise line will have its very own port to call home. The cruise port, called "Celebration Key," will be Carnival's first private destination. The name reveal comes 15 months after the cruise line began construction on the island of Grand Bahama.
"We are working very closely with the Government of The Bahamas and the Grand Bahama Port Authority to ensure that we are highlighting the best of Grand Bahama and its culture, combined with fun like only Carnival can provide," said Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy. “Invoking the natural beauty of Grand Bahama, every day at Celebration Key will be a celebration of our guests’ own making with a variety of experiences and something for everyone.”
What is Celebration Key?
Celebration Key is the first port destination that's been exclusively designed for Carnival Cruise Line. The port will be located on the south coast of the island of Grand Bahama, some 20 miles east of Freeport.
Carnival revealed that Celebration Key will be able to welcome two million guests each year. When it opens in 2025, the port's cruise pier will be able to simultaneously accommodate up to two of the cruise line's Excel-class ships -- which are currently the largest and newest ships in the fleet. The Excel-class currently consists of sister ships Carnival Celebration, Carnival Mardi Gras, and Carnival Jubilee, plus another, as-yet-unnamed ship just announced by Carnival.
Already, Carnival has doubled up on its plans for Celebration Key, adding another $100 million in newly-announced investments. By 2026, an expanded pier will be able to berth four of Carnival's Excel-class vessels. Projections have been revised accordingly to anticipate almost 4 million guests annually at Celebration Key by 2028.
What Amenities Will Be Available in Celebration Key?
Celebration Key will consist of five distinct areas that the cruise line is calling "portals." Each portal will offer a range of activities and amenities.
The first area is the Welcome Portal. As the name suggest, this portal will be the first one that passengers encounter upon arrival at Celebration Key. The Welcome Portal will feature information outlining what’s on offer at the port, as well as live music and a giant sandcastle.
Celebration Key's Family Friendly Portal is designed for children of all ages. The area will feature of a large freshwater lagoon as well as a splash pad with a shallow pool, two racing waterslides in the sandcastle, sports courts, and a beach with beach cabanas, floating cabanas and villas with personal slides into the lagoon.
Altogether, the destination will highlight a mile of pristine white sand beach and the largest freshwater lagoons in the Caribbean, according to the line.
Cruisers traveling without children are also set to have their slice of Celebration Key - the Adult-Friendly Portal. This area will boast a swim-up bar and variety of cabana rentals including beachside options, as well as villas with personal slides into the lagoon. The portal will also feature several dining venues, including a full-service restaurant.
The Private Club Portal will be Celebration Key's premium, adult-only retreat. The area will include an infinity pool with loungers as well as elevated dining experiences.
Rounding up the sections of Celebration Key is the Retail Portal, an area that will contain local Bahamian artisan goods and retailers, plus duty-free outlets.
In fact, the destination will be particularly beneficial to the community by involving locals as tour operators, construction workers, executives and entrepreneurs to fill several job and business opportunities. The first phase of the development is expected to generate more than 700 permanent positions, encompassing around 300 Bahamians under direct hire from parent company Carnival Corporation.
In a period of two decades, a “study estimates that the development, construction and ongoing operation of Celebration Key will create over 2,500 direct Bahamian jobs, generate $3.2 billion in incremental revenue to the Government and contribute $9.7 billion in incremental economic impact to the Bahamas [gross domestic product],” according to Oxford Economics company Tourism Economics.
Which Carnival Ships Will Sail to Celebration Key?
At least 18 Carnival cruise ships will sail regularly from their homeports to Celebration Key in 2025 and 2026, with a total of 500 itineraries.
Carnival Celebration, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Magic, Carnival Conquest and Carnival Sunrise will visit the Bahamian port from PortMiami, while Mardi Gras, Carnival Vista, Carnival Freedom and Carnival Glory will offer itineraries to Celebration Key from their homeport in Port Canaveral. Carnival Elation will have sailings to the destination port from Jacksonville, while Carnival Paradise will also visit Celebration Key from Tampa.
Outside of Florida, Carnival Dream and Carnival Legend will sail to Celebration Key from Galveston; while Carnival Liberty will sail from New Orleans. Carnival Pride, Carnival Sunshine and Carnival Spirit complete the list of ships offering itineraries to Celebration Key, sailing from Baltimore, Norfolk and Mobile, respectively.
The cruise line also announced that six additional ships will visit Celebration Key, offering an additional 100 itineraries.
When Will Celebration Key Open?
Carnival revealed that the first cruises will arrive at Celebration Key in July 2025. The cruise line opened sales for approximately 400 itineraries that will call in the new Bahamian port.
What Future Expansion Plans Are In the Works for Celebration Key?
Just as a phase two pier expansion is already being scheduled, so too is Carnival looking towards a further phase two expansion of the destination itself, but those details are scarce.
“As is fitting for our plans for Grand Bahama island, our vision for Celebration Key is quite grand, and we’re already thinking about the next phase of expansion and development,” says Carnival president Duffy.
"Building the second pier now allows us to implement growth plans and build itineraries with certainty, and signals to the local community just how important this development is to Carnival Cruise Line and the future of the island.”
Much like competitor Royal Caribbean's own Perfect Day at CocoCay, passengers can expect Celebration Key to be a continuous development for Carnival Corporation for some years to come.