Carnival Cruise Line guests are just five months away from experiencing Celebration Key’s five portals to paradise. To kick off the countdown to the official opening on July 19, Carnival Corporation & plc’s Chief Executive Officer Josh Weinstein and Chief Maritime Officer Lars Ljoen joined Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy for a behind-the-scenes look at this new exclusive destination on Grand Bahama as construction enters its final phases.
They marked milestones in construction progress across the expansive beachfront destination and highlighted Celebration Key’s sustainability commitment. In a nod to the maritime tradition of a keel laying for a new ship, they placed commemorative keys into Celebration Key’s signature Suncastle, the centerpiece of the destination’s five portals.
First Look: Five Months Away from Unlocking Five Portals to Paradise
To kick off the countdown to the destination’s opening, Carnival Corporation & plc’s Chief Executive Officer Josh Weinstein and Chief Maritime Officer Lars Ljoen joined Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy for a behind-the-scenes look at its construction on Grand Bahama.
The Suncastle stands 10-stories tall near Paradise Plaza, the first portal guests will encounter that serves as a gateway to the destination’s other areas. The Suncastle is also home to racing waterslides that are part of the portal geared toward families, Starfish Lagoon, and endless other recreation and relaxation options. The destination’s adult-focused portal, Calypso Lagoon, features an adult-only area with a DJ island and a large swim-up bar. Pearl Cove Beach Club is a private portal offering a premium adult-only experience with an infinity pool and beachfront cabanas. The fifth portal, Lokono Cove, is an artisan retail village celebrating Bahamian culture through local art and handmade goods.
“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
During their tour, the Carnival leaders also joined team members planting palm trees from the “Plant a Tree” community engagement program launched last year as part of a broad preservation initiative that has involved replanting thousands of native trees across the property. About 1,000 sabal palms were saved and replanted across the property. Duffy also participated in the ceremonial filling of one of two expansive freshwater lagoons, the largest in the Caribbean*, sustained by Celebration Key’s desalination system that converts seawater into freshwater. The lagoons span over seven acres and hold about seven million gallons of water.
“Celebration Key represents a new chapter for Carnival, and its construction builds on our close partnership with The Bahamas. 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.”
Construction Continues
About 500 workers are on site daily as construction continues round-the-clock to prepare the destination for its summer opening, when Carnival Vista will make the inaugural call on July 19. Celebration Key will deliver Carnival’s signature brand of fun while honoring local heritage and supporting Grand Bahama through job creation and economic development. To date, 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.”
Carnival continues to offer new options and features for guests as they plan their Celebration Key experience. New at Pearl Cove Beach Club are beachfront daybeds, private cabanas, and exclusive Super Villas, which will soon be available for booking. Each accommodation option includes access to the club’s open bar service, infinity pool, full-service restaurant, and premium beachfront access.
“This destination will serve as a tribute to the rich Bahamian culture and Grand Bahama’s natural environment.” – Josh Weinstein, chief executive officer of Carnival Corporation & plc
Celebration Key Features on Hundreds of Itineraries
With sailings open into 2027, Celebration Key is featured on hundreds of Carnival itineraries across 20 ships sailing from 10 U.S. homeports. To learn more about Celebration Key and available sailings, click here.
For additional information on Carnival Cruise Line and to book a cruise vacation on Carnival, call 1-800-CARNIVAL or visit http://carnival.com.
*Based on publicly available data of surface area measurements as of 01/22/24.
