Inside Carnival Cruise Line's New Celebration Key Cruise Port in Grand Bahama

VIDEO HIGHLIGHT

Carnival Cruise Line officially opened its new Celebration Key Cruise Port in eastern Grand Bahama Island on July 19, 2025.

The grand opening was infused with Bahamian culture, music, and art, and featured a vibrant daytime fireworks display. The company's leaders, including Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy and NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal, dubbed the “Chief Fun Officer,” welcomed guests. "We are finally here at Celebration Key on Grand Bahama with nearly 5,000 guests from Carnival Vista, the first Carnival cruise ship to call on this beautiful new destination,” noted Duffy.

Guests will be able to enjoy a number of pools, slides, restaurants, bars, and a variety of Bahamian-owned brands and stores in the Key's five main areas: Paradise Plaza, Calypso Lagoon, Starfish Lagoon, Pearl Cove Beach Club, and Lokono Cove. Each area will have its own vibe and unique offerings.

Celebration Key is expected to welcome more than two million guests annually to Grand Bahama, via 20 Carnival ships sailing from 10 U.S. ports. In 2025 alone, the destination is expected to receive an estimated two million guests, with that number projected to grow to four million by 2028.

The Key has partnered with a number of Grand Bahamian companies for the project and includes a variety of locally owned and operated stores and brands. So far, 26 Bahamian companies have signed contracts to operate at Celebration Key, 18 of which are owned by Grand Bahamians. The Key will also create an estimated 1,200 jobs on the island. Excursions will be offered from the cruise port through Grand Bahamian tour operators.

The cruise line teased future additions and noted that this is just phase one of their $600 million project.

At this time, Celebration Key is only open to Carnival cruise ship passengers and not the general public.

For more information, visit https://celebrationkey.carnival.com.