Celebration Key, Carnival Cruise Line‘s new exclusive destination, opened on July 19, 2025 to rave reviews! The opening coincided with the first visits from Carnival ships like the Carnival Vista, with Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, presiding over the grand opening. The destination is located on Grand Bahama Island. Carnival Cruise Line officially unlocked paradise as it opened Celebration Key – the cruise line’s beautiful new exclusive destination on Grand Bahama. Carnival Vista made the first official visit to the world’s newest premier cruise port, and nearly 5,000 guests experienced all the fun of Celebration Key: from the unique Suncastle, the world’s tallest sandcastle, the world’s largest swing and swim-up bar and the Caribbean’s largest freshwater lagoons.
What you’ll find there is just like Carnival’s onboard vibe that folks love. When your ship pulls up, the vacation possibilities are expanded with unique island style fun, relaxation and adventure spread across 65 acres and five “portals” for you to explore. Each portal is distinctly different, made for another side of Carnival fun, plus get ready for unforgettable experiences like a mile-long white sand beach, largest freshwater lagoons in the Caribbean local Bahamian flavors and shopping, plus excursions and more.
1. PARADISE PLAZA
Paradise Plaza greets you and gets you on your way to discovering what’s great on Celebration Key, because who can wait to dive right in? There’s a lot to see, but before you do, you might want to grab something cool from the ice cream shop or stop for a splashy photo-op by the Bahamian inspired fountain. Keep an ear open for live music, too, as you decide what to do first, guest services and the excursion desk are nearby to help with that! And off in the distance, it’s a Suncastle featuring waterslides and an observation deck.
2. CALYPSO LAGOON
3. FAMILY-FRIENDLY PORTAL
The Family-Friendly Portal is perfect for kids and families, and that means teens too! All-together is a great way to experience activities like the lagoon and beach, splash pad with shallow pool, and sports courts, but spaces for kids and teens also let fun with new friends happen while the adults do their own thing. Beach villas and floating cabanas are just a couple of options that let families make this their home base, and of course there’s family dining with plenty of cuisine choices.
4. ADULTS-ONLY PRIVATE CLUB PORTAL
Upgrade your day with access to the Adults-Only Private Club Portal, the exclusive area that takes relaxation and luxury to the next level. Membership features private access to the beach, a stunning infinity pool overlooking the best views of Bahamian waters, elevated dining to savor and more. Imagine the kind of spot where the lounge chairs are perfectly placed below the palm trees. It’s also a beautiful place to say “I do,” with an event pavilion for hosting weddings, vow renewals and other special celebrations.
5. RETAIL PORTAL
The Retail Portal is a showcase of Bahamian culture and shopping. Some of the highlights include Junkanoo performances, local artist exhibitions including a mural wall plus artisanal goods made by Bahamian vendors, so you can bring home a piece of paradise for yourself, or a gift with a great story behind it. And if you’re seeking some sparkle, get ready for duty-free jewelry.
Carnival expects that 2.2 million guests will visit Celebration Key in 2025, with the number growing to 4 million by 2028.
You can book a cruise now from Miami or Port Canaveral to Paradise, who’s ready!!!!