Carnival’s Celebration Key: All you need to know
Carnival Cruise Line has released details about Celebration Key, a new private beach development slated to open in July of 2025 on the south side of Grand Bahama Island in the Bahamas.
Celebration Key will open with a main pier that will be able to accommodate two of Carnival‘s largest ships at the same time. In 2026, the destination will expand the pier’s capacity to include two more ships for a total of four vessels.
The line has revealed that the destination will be divided into five areas, known as portals, which will feature music, food and beachy fun. These spaces are designed with kids, adults and shopping in mind.
There will also be plenty of shore excursions — think kayaking, snorkeling, island Jeep rides and glass-bottom boat tours — and water sports equipment rentals from which to choose. Additionally, the port will eventually include a water park and zip lines, following a second wave of development.
“We are designing Celebration Key, and its five portals, with endless ways for our guests to unlock their own kind of fun in this incredible paradise that also celebrates the beauty of Grand Bahama,” Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, said in a statement.
Here’s a rundown of everything we know so far about what you can expect from each portal, as well as food and beverages, during a visit to this new Bahamas port option.
Note: It is not yet known whether passengers will be able to make purchases at Celebration Key using their Sail & Sign cards. Carnival has also not yet released information about whether passengers with the Carnival Cheers beverage package will be able to use it for drinks at Celebration Key.
Celebration Key portals
Paradise Plaza (welcome portal)
In this area of Celebration Key, visitors will be greeted with a brightly colored walkway, a sun-shaped arch, music, a giant sandcastle structure (which serves as the destination’s focal point) and all the information they’ll need about their day ashore.
Other offerings in Paradise Plaza include live music, a Bahamian-themed fountain and an ice cream shop.
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Starfish Lagoon (family-friendly portal)
In addition to a family-friendly beach, this area of Celebration Key will feature a freshwater lagoon-style swimming pool and a Guppy Grotto splash area with a shallow pool, water features and dump buckets for younger kids, as well as shaded seating. An ice cream shop is also nearby.
Adventure-seekers can try the dual 350-foot-long, 10-story racing waterslides, dubbed Flash Flamingo and Mach III Marlin. (They’re part of the same Suncastle structure that welcomes visitors to the destination.) Guests can also rent kayaks and paddleboards.
Visitors with a competitive streak will enjoy Starfish Lagoon’s volleyball, basketball and pickleball courts. Additionally, the gaming pavilion offers foosball, table tennis and cornhole, along with comfortable seating areas for socializing.
Families wanting their own exclusive space can pay to take advantage of the area’s extra-fee cabana rentals, which feature alcoves on the beach, cabanas with their own slides into the lagoon and even floating cabanas.
In this portal, adults will find a swim-up bar and hammocks for lounging. Plus, Starfish Lagoon has its own dedicated dining venues — including Bahamian food trucks — so you’ll never be far away from a bite to eat.
Calypso Lagoon (adult-friendly portal)
Like the family-friendly Starfish Lagoon, Calypso Lagoon will also offer access to the same three types of added-fee cabanas. It will also feature several bars, including a swim-up bar, ideal for cruisers who are spending their day at the beach or in the lagoon, complete with DJ-spun music that’s sure to evoke a party vibe.
In addition to drinks, guests can enjoy food from several eateries, including two full-service sit-down restaurants and snack shacks that serve Bahamian cuisine. This portal also provides access to the same sports court and freshwater lagoon used by Starfish Lagoon visitors.
Despite its name, this area is not an adults-only space. However, a portion of Calypso Lagoon and the adjacent beach will be set aside for the adults-only Pearl Cove Beach Club.
Pearl Cove Beach Club (private club portal)
If you seek relaxation and exclusivity — or if you’d like to leave the kids behind — the adults-only Pearl Cove Beach Club, found at the westernmost point of Celebration Key, is your spot. It offers a more serene ambience for visitors 18 and older. It features loungers, villas and cabanas, and a more upscale dining experience.
There’s also plenty of shade and a distinct lack of loud music. Instead, a DJ will spin tropical lounge music.
Oh, and did we mention it has an 11,000-square-foot private infinity pool with sun loungers, shade umbrellas and a sun shelf for perfecting your tan? If you’d rather laze on the sand, seek out the portal’s dedicated beach, which Carnival tells us will feature premier and private sections with sun loungers and food and drink service.
Carnival has not yet revealed exactly how much it will cost to enter the Pearl Cove Beach Club. However, we do know three types of reservations are available: club access with a welcome drink, club access with an open bar (up to 10 drinks) and all-inclusive club access with an open bar (10-drink maximum) and food from the elevated menu at Pearl Cove’s full-service restaurant.
Lokono Cove (retail portal)
As you might expect, the retail portal is home to Celebration Key’s shopping opportunities, featuring locally made handicrafts, fine jewelry and duty-free items sold at a variety of stores, kiosks and a Bahamian artisan market.
While you browse, enjoy colorful murals painted by local artists, or grab food or drinks from one of the portal’s several dining and beverage options.
Food and drinks at Celebration Key
A considerable number of dining and drinking options will be offered at Celebration Key. Carnival has shared that the destination will house more than 30 venues, including four full-service restaurants, a food hall, nine food trucks, five snack shacks, two counter-service kiosks and a dozen bars.
In addition to Bahamian specialties, bars and restaurants are set to offer seafood, barbecue and other cuisines.
Some restaurants will come with added fees, while others will be included in the new “Island Eats” program. It allows passengers to dine for free at Celebration Key’s food trucks and snack shacks or enjoy a 25% discount on entrees from the destination’s full-service restaurants.
Here’s a breakdown and brief description of the options you’ll find at each of the portals:
Paradise Plaza food and drinks
Yumshine Scoops: Snag a welcome scoop from a selection of delectable ice cream flavors at this stand in Paradise Plaza.
Sandcastle Grounds Coffee: Serving as Celebration Key’s place to get your caffeine fix, Sandcastle Grounds Coffee whips up hot, iced and frozen cups of joe, as well as snacks.
Starfish Lagoon food and drinks
Gill’s Grill: This full-service restaurant with a full bar specializes in Caribbean seafood, including seafood baskets, local fish, lobster, and steamed crab and shrimp, along with land-based favorites, such as chicken, burgers and kids meals.
Captain’s Galley Food Hall: Set up like a food hall, Captain’s Galley features five outlets serving burgers, hot dogs, fried chicken, pizza, Mediterranean bowls, tacos and burritos.
Food trucks: Place your order via a kiosk at these casual grab-and-go venues. Expect to find menu items like burgers, chicken sandwiches and conch fritters.
Parrotfish Swim-Up Bar: This swim-up bar features both in-water and out-of-water seats and serves frozen cocktails and mocktails made with tropical fruit juices.
Calypso Lagoon food and drinks
Mingo’s Tropical Bar & Kitchen: This full-service restaurant with waterfront dining features fried fish and conch fritters, burgers, seafood, tacos, steak and sandwiches. Mingo’s Bar will offer tropical frozen drinks and cocktails, and an affiliated food truck will provide burgers, fish sandwiches and salad.
Surf N’ Sauce BBQ & Brews: Meats will be prepared in an outdoor smoker and served with an array of sauces and sides. At its full-service bar, guests can enjoy craft beer from local Bahamian breweries.
Food trucks: These casual grab-and-go venues serve chicken sandwiches, conch fritters and burgers, which you order yourself from a kiosk.
Long Necks Bar: This swim-up bar has more than 100 seats for cruisers to enjoy frozen drinks, beer or Bahamian cocktails. DJ music provides a lively atmosphere.
Sunshine Swings Bar: For a more chill vibe, Sunshine Swings entices visitors with 40 over-water swings that create an air of beachy fun while passengers enjoy their drinks.
Pearl Cove Beach Club food and drinks
Pearl Cove Beach Club Restaurant, Bar and Swim-Up Bar: This trio of restaurants, bars and swim-up bars caters to the 18-and-older crowd at the Pearl Cove Beach Club. It offers elevated dining, drinks and a swim-up experience overlooking the infinity pool.
Bottom line
More than 500 upcoming Carnival Cruise Line itineraries across 18 vessels have Celebration Key as a port of call. So, if you plan to book a Bahamas sailing for 2025 and beyond, you’ll likely be able to experience a visit to this new beach destination.
With Celebration Key, Carnival joins a growing list of cruise lines working on developing new private port options throughout 2024 and 2025. Watch this space for more specifics on Celebration Key as they’re released.
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