By
Alex Smith |
Carnival Cruise Line’s new private cruise destination in the Caribbean, Celebration Key, is to feature five distinct areas called ‘portals’ when it opens for visits in July 2025.
The Welcome Portal is where guests will first step onshore, with information to help guide them around the destination and live music playing. A large sandcastle will stand at the edge of the area at the centre of the island, adjacent to the Family-Friendly Portal.
The Family-Friendly Portal, meanwhile, will include a large freshwater lagoon for swimming alongside a splash pad with a shallow pool and two racing waterslides in the large sandcastle. The area will also feature sports courts and a beach with a variety of beach loungers, villas with personal slides into the lagoon, and floating cabanas. There will also be a selection of dining venues on offer.
The Adult-Friendly Portal will offer a large swim-up bar, soundtracked by a high-energy playlist curated by a DJ. Cabanas will also be available on the beach, as well as a full-service restaurant offering a variety of cuisines, including local Bahamian flavours.
The Private Club Portal is intended as a premium experience, with an adults-only retreat that includes an infinity pool overlooking the Bahamian waters. Guests to the area will have private use of a dedicated section of the beach, along with exclusive access to several dining experiences.
Finally, the Retail Portal will include outlets operated by local Bahamian retailers offering artisanal goods, as well as several duty-free shops. Guests will also find a range of food and beverage options serving Bahamian flavours.
“No one does fun like Carnival and 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,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “Celebration Key is uniquely positioned to bring an island experience to our diverse range of guests, in a way that lets them choose their slice of ‘paradise.’”
Carnival ships will dock at an adjacent cruise pier that can accommodate up to two of the cruise line’s largest ships simultaneously and provide direct access to the destination. Celebration Key will also include an events pavilion dedicated to hosting weddings, vow renewals and other celebrations.
More details for each of the portals will be revealed as the development progresses. Carnival also has plans for future expansions of the destination once it is completed, including a waterpark and zipline course.