Carnival's newest private destination, Celebration Key, will change how loyal cruisers vacation. Slated to open in July 2025, the brand-new port will offer a unique experience that combines Carnival's signature fun with the natural beauty of the Bahamas.
The private retreat on the island of Eleuthera will feature family-friendly areas as well as adult-only escapes. Plus, guests will have access to multiple dining options, including traditional beachside bites to local favorites and fresh seafood.
“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.'"
Whether you're planning on booking a cruise with Celebration Key on its itinerary or are just curious as to what this new port will have to offer, we have created a breakdown of everything we know about this highly-anticipated destination!
The five "portals," or areas, will span across 65 acres
Like how Excel Class ships are divided into "zones," Celebration Key will be divided into portals, each of which will have a distinct vibe.
The first is Paradise Plaza. Guests will pass through this portal en route to the other areas and will be greeted by "a much-larger-than-life sandcastle," which measures around 10 stories high. Here, visitors will find wayfinding and destination information to help them make an informed decision on how to spend their day. Plus, there will be a Bahamaian-themed fountain and ice cream shop.
While Carnival is known for supplying fun to the entire family, adults will appreciate the Calypso Lagoon, where adults traveling alone can go to escape rowdy children. Of course, true to Carnival's brand, this area will have an energetic vibe with a swim-up bar with swings, a DJ, cabana rentals, daybeds, a secluded beach, and even a full-service restaurant that'll dish up a variety of cuisines.
Read more: 17 Carnival Cruises Tips & Tricks (2024)
Those seeking a more elevated experience should check out the Pearl Cove Beach Club. While not included, admission will feature access to a private beach, infinity pool, elevated dining, and more. If you've ever been to, or heard of, Royal Caribbean's Coco Beach Club, this is Carnival's equivalent!
Prices start at $99.99 per person for standard admission. More inclusive fares cost around $179.99 for up to 10 drinks and lunch from the exclusive Pearl Cove restaurant.
"When guests see our Suncastle as they arrive at Celebration Key, they'll know immediately they're in for big FUN," said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.
"Paradise Plaza will be the perfect welcome spot and will set the tone for the entire visit to this truly unique destination. These new details show the creative design that's gone into the development of each portal, with Calypso Lagoon alone offering a wide variety of options to fill the day, while honoring the beauty of Grand Bahama and celebrating Bahamian culture."
Of course, Carnival does put families first, and they'll be able to have tons of fun together at the Starfish Lagoon. Here, you will find a lagoon and beach, a splash pad with a shallow pool, and a sports court. This is also the home of the giant sandcastle that will feature two exciting water slides.
In short, there's something for everyone to enjoy, from the youngest sailors onboard to the teens who think family vacations are lame. Even better? You can surprise the family with a beach villa or floating cabanas with personal water slides for the day! Private cabanas at Starfish Lagoon start at $599.99 per cabana for up to four guests.
Read more: Royal Caribbean’s CocoCay vs Carnival's Half Moon Cay: Which should you choose?
The fifth and final portal is the Lokono Cove, which will showcase Bahamian culture and, of course, have plenty of shopping! From Junkanoo performances to local art exhibitions, artisanal goods made by Bahamian vendors, jewelry, food options, and more, you won't want to bypass a visit to this area!
Celebration Key will be able to handle four Excel Class ships per day
Currently, three Excel Class ships are part of Carnival's fleet: Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee. However, Carnival announced placed an order for a fourth expected to be delivered in 2027.
If, for whatever reason, all four Excel Class ships find themselves at Celebration Key at the same time, there won't be a space issue, as Carnival plans to have four berths, all capable of handling Excel Class ships.
This means that the private destination can handle a maximum of over 20,000 passengers! It can do so thanks to all of the piers, something that's lacking from Carnival's Half Moon Cay.
While not as large as Royal Caribbean's Icon Class, Excel Class vessels are the largest in Carnival's fleet. They measure roughly 180,800 to 183,521 gross registered tons, with Jubilee being slightly larger than Mardi Gras.
At the time of writing, Carnival has released over 500 itineraries on 20 cruise ships from nine ports through April 2027 that have a scheduled stop at Celebration Key. The cheapest starts at $259 per person for a 3- or 4-night cruise onboard Carnival Conquest.
Ships across every class — including Fantasy Class' Carnival Paradise to the new Carnival Jubilee — will visit. Itineraries range from 3- to 14-nights. All but six ships currently have visits to Celebration Key planned. These include Carnival Adventure, Breeze, Firenze, Luminosa, Splendor, Panorama, Valor, Encounter, and Radiance.
Carnival drink packages won't work at Celebration Key
Drink packages don't work ashore at Half Moon Cay, either. This means that if you have a drink package, you have to purchase each drink you have while at Carnival's private destinations.
The price of a CHEERS! Package is determined by when you buy the package. Onboard, the package costs $88.44 per person, per day, including the mandatory service charge.
However, you can save 10% by purchasing the package in advance through Carnival's online planning portal, bringing the daily cost down to $82.54 per day.
Read more: Best Carnival Drink Package Tips (2025)
Construction of Celebration Key began back in 2022
Celebration Key is located roughly 10 miles east of Freeport and 120 miles from PortMiami on Grand Bahama Island. The project is estimated to cost about $500 million. In comparison, Royal Caribbean spent $250 million on the renovation of Perfect Day at CocoCay in 2019.
The Honorable Philip Davis, Prime Minister of The Bahamas said, “With the start of this Carnival project, Grand Bahama is now on the better side of reaching its true economic potential. This investment will provide much-needed jobs but will also signal new hope for the island’s recovery.”
Read more: Carnival Cruise Line begins construction on new cruise port destination in The Bahamas
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she traveled frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas during her freshman year of high school. Having sailed on nearly 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
