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Carnival Launches Celebration Key Private Island Resort on Grand Bahama

Carnival’s $600 million resort will employ more than 1,200 Bahamians under a multiyear plan to double visitor numbers by 2028.

Carnival Cruise Line’s Celebration Key opens to guests for the first time on July 19, 2025 on Grand Bahama Island. The 68-acre destination features large freshwater lagoons, a 10-story sandcastle with water slides, Bahamian vendors, swim-up bars and more. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)
Carnival Cruise Lines President Christine Duffy, Carnival Corporation CEO Josh Weinstein, former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal and Carnival Vista Captain Paolo Severini mark the opening of Carnival Cruise Line’s Celebration Key on July 19, 2025 on Grand Bahama Island. The 68-acre destination features large freshwater lagoons, a 10-story sandcastle with water slides, Bahamian vendors, swim-up bars and more. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)
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Overview

  • Celebration Key features five themed zones including a 10-story Suncastle slide complex, freshwater lagoons, swim-up bars and Bahamian vendor stalls.
  • Carnival has onboarded more than 1,200 local employees to operate the 68-acre resort, supporting post-Dorian recovery and boosting the Bahamian economy.
  • Four berths at the new port are now operational following the inaugural Carnival Vista call, with two more scheduled by 2026 to accommodate growing cruise volumes.
  • The island is set to receive visits from 20 vessels sailing from 10 U.S. homeports, aiming to welcome over 2 million guests annually and double that figure by 2028.
  • The resort preserves 110 acres of wetlands and leaves room to expand by over 150 acres as part of Carnival’s broader plan to rebrand and develop additional private destinations.