Just five months before its debut, Carnival Cruise Line’s new private beach area in the Bahamas, Celebration Key, is nearing completion. The destination will open on July 19 when Carnival Vista becomes the first vessel to call there.
Carnival has shared the first photos of this exclusive new location. An aerial view shows progress at Celebration Key over the Calypso Lagoon Portal, an adults-only area. The Suncastle waterslide tower, a central feature of the destination’s five portals, is visible amidst scaffolding.
Inside one of Celebration Key’s Calypso Lagoon Supervillas, there is a closer look at ongoing construction in the adults-only section. During a recent site visit, Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy participated in filling one of two large freshwater lagoons on-site. Together these lagoons hold about 7 million gallons of freshwater that will be desalinated by an on-property system.
Christine Duffy and Carnival Corp. CEO Josh Weinstein observed several native palm trees that were rescued and relocated during construction to preserve them. Thousands of other native plants have also been replanted throughout the property.
“This destination will serve as a tribute to the rich Bahamian culture and Grand Bahama’s natural environment,” said Josh Weinstein in a statement from Carnival Cruise Line. “It’s clear Celebration Key will be a game-changer for our flagship brand and its loyal guests.”
Duffy and Weinstein also laid a key in the foundation of the Suncastle at Celebration Key as part of traditional ship construction milestone ceremonies.
“Celebration Key represents a new chapter for Carnival,” said Duffy in another statement. “We broke ground on this site less than three years ago, and now in five short months we’ll see our first guests enjoy this gorgeous place on Grand Bahama.”
Celebration Key will feature food, music, shopping, a giant swim-up bar, and eventually accommodate up to four of Carnival’s largest ships. It is one of two major private beach areas opening in 2025; Royal Caribbean’s Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is set to welcome guests starting December.
