By
Laura Hyde |
Carnival Cruise Line has officially opened its new $600 million private destination on Grand Bahama, Celebration Key. The cruise line’s ship, Carnival Vista, brought nearly 5,000 guests to the island on 19 July, becoming the first ship to call at the world’s newest cruise port.
Carnival Cruise Line president Christine Duffy was joined by Josh Weinstein, CEO of Carnival Corporation, Paolo Severini, captain of Carnival Vista, and Carnival’s ‘chief fun officer’ and former basketball player, Shaquille O’Neal. Together, they turned a key to unlock the gate to the island’s 10-storey Suncastle – the world’s tallest sandcastle – to officially open Celebration Key.
Celebration Key’s opening ceremony included the ceremonial ‘unlocking’ of the Suncastle
“Today marks an extraordinary milestone for Carnival as we open the first phase of our initial $600 million investment, with more to come,” said Duffy. “Celebration Key is more than just a beautiful place; it's a celebration of the Bahamian paradise our guests love, complemented by an impressive variety of incredible new experiences and offerings. We’ve built the ultimate beach day for our guests whether they crave fun in the sun or relaxation under a palm tree.”
Read more: The key to paradise, according to Christine Duffy
Duffy, Weinstein, Severini and O’Neal also cut the ribbon to open Lokono Cove, the island’s shopping village; celebrated with a champagne toast at the adults-only retreat Pearl Cove Beach Club; and O’Neal made the first shot at the basketball court.
Celebration Key’s 10-storey Suncastle is the world’s tallest sandcastle and is home to two racing waterslides
Celebration Key has five areas for guests to explore. Paradise Plaza welcomes visitors to the island with live music, while Starfish Lagoon has been designed for families and features one of the two largest freshwater lagoons in the Caribbean, as well as a splash pad with a shallow pool, sports courts and numerous food outlets. Lokono Cove is the site of the retail village, which includes shopping venues and showcases elements of Bahamian culture, while the adults-only Calypso Lagoon offers the world’s largest swim up bar, an island DJ and Pearl Cove Beach Club ,the largest adults-only retreat at any cruise destination.
Carnival Cruise Line predicts Celebration Key will initially bring more than two million guests a year to Grand Bahama, and by 2028 this will grow to four million.
The island is home to the world’s largest swing and swim-up bar and the Caribbean’s largest freshwater lagoons
Celebration Key is part of Carnival Cruise Line’s Paradise Collection, which also includes RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay and Isla Tropicale, both of which will undergo a series of developments in 2026.
Watch video highlights from the opening on the Carnival Cruise Line website.