I just visited Carnival’s brand-new Celebration Key. It completely blew me away, but there were still a few things that could be improved.
Carnival Cruise Line just opened Celebration Key, its latest private destination in the Bahamas. On my recent cruise aboard Carnival Glory, I spent 8 hours checking out every nook and cranny of the space.
I didn’t know what to expect before my visit. I’ve visited private destinations like Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay and MSC’s Ocean Cay Marine Reserve, but how would Carnival’s latest destination compare?
During my day ashore, I swam in the sprawling Calypso Lagoon, sipped cocktails on a giant swing, and even checked out the exclusive, adults-only Pearl Cove Beach Club.
The private destination was undeniably cool. I felt less like I was on a cruise vacation and more like I had stepped into an upscale land resort.
Even still, there were a few things I didn’t love about the experience. I wish Carnival’s drink packages worked at Celebration Key, and I was surprised by the stingy dining rules.
Nonetheless, my expectations were totally exceeded, and I already can’t wait to plan another visit. These are the 4 things I loved and 3 I didn’t like about visiting Carnival’s Celebration Key.
I loved Sunshine Swing Bar — it was incredibly fun
There are 12 bars at Celebration Key, but none are as fun as Sunshine Swing Bar.
Instead of traditional seats, this bar features nearly 50 swings. You can swing over the water on one side of the bar or over the sand on the other.
I chose a swing over the lagoon, and had (way too much) fun swinging back and forth while sipping a drink. Initially, I thought the swings would barely move, but I had to stop myself from going too high.
The swings are at the perfect level to dip your toes in the water, helping to keep you refreshed on a warm, humid day in the Bahamas.
Unsurprisingly, Sunshine Swing Bar is extremely popular, so don’t hesitate to snag a swing if you see one available.
I was disappointed by the lack of enforcement of adults-only spaces
The crown jewel of Celebration Key is the massive lagoon. It’s split into two sides, Starfish Lagoon and Calypso Lagoon, and each offers a distinct vibe and purpose.
While neither side is exclusively adults-only, Starfish Lagoon caters to families more than the latter. Here you’ll find the splash pad, Guppy Grotto, which features water sprayers and a 2-foot wading pool perfect for young cruisers.
The other side, Calypso Lagoon, is more adult-focused. Specifically, the area surrounding Mingo’s Tropical Bar & Restaurant is reserved for guests 18 and older.
Yet in my experience, this was definitely not enforced. Adults and kids were swimming in the area around Mingo’s.
I don’t fault the staff at Celebration Key for the lack of enforcement. Presumably, it’s challenging to enforce an imaginary boundary between where children are and aren’t allowed, especially in a pool.
So, for those in search of a true adults-only day, I’d recommend booking a day pass to the Pearl Cove Beach Club instead.
Speaking of Mingo’s, I loved the bar’s party vibe
Despite the questionable definition of an adults-only space, Mingo’s Tropical Bar & Restaurant is still worth a visit.
Summer party vibes were in full swing everywhere ashore, but no place had a party quite like Mingo’s.
The bar, restaurant, and pool exude a chic, modern vibe akin to a Las Vegas pool party. Mingo’s tropical decor, Caribbean-inspired menu, live DJ, and high-energy swim-up bar make the venue a must-see.
Carnival Cruise Line is all about fun, and there’s no doubt that this is the spot to party.
I didn’t like the stingy dining rules, even though there were diverse food options
Celebration Key offers complimentary food to cruise passengers, but there’s a catch — just one full meal is included at no extra cost, and only at select venues.
Passengers can dine for free at food trucks and snack shacks, which are dotted around Celebration Key, and also at Captain’s Galley Food Hall, serving quick-service meals like tacos, gyros, and pizza.
I appreciated the diversity of food options at Celebration Key. It's easy to offer basics like hamburgers and French fries, but Carnival stepped it up with a greater variety of cuisine options.
With only one free meal included, though, I felt limited. When I’ve visited other cruise line private destinations, such as MSC’s Ocean Cay, I could dine at the island’s buffet as often as I liked. Maybe this meant grabbing some fruit for an afternoon snack or enjoying an extra sandwich after a long day in the sun.
At Celebration Key, you’ll be forced to shell out extra money if the provided lunch isn’t enough.
At lunchtime, I grabbed a personal pizza from Captain’s Galley Food Hall. The meal, which also came with a chocolate chip cookie, was the perfect size for me, a 5’5” female. My 6’4” boyfriend, on the other hand, would almost certainly need something extra.
Read more: Carnival Celebration Key Menus
I loved the adults-only beach club, and I’d book it again
I spent $99 to access Celebration Key’s exclusive Pearl Cove Beach Club, and I’d book it again on future visits.
Carnival Cruise Line is popular with families, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find adults-only spaces to unwind, either. The fleet’s ships offer Serenity, an adults-only pool deck, and Carnival took this concept to Celebration Key, too, with the launch of Pearl Cove Beach Club.
The retreat features a private beach, infinity pool, swim-up bar, and full-service restaurant serving a variety of Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Japanese fare. It’s accessible to guests 18 years of age and older.
During my time at Pearl Cove Beach Club, I was impressed by the tranquility of the space. I loved cooling off in the infinity pool and appreciated small touches like plush pool chairs, which added to the club's high-end feel.
Most of all, though, I appreciated the flexibility to tailor the experience to my budget. Carnival offers an all-inclusive option to the beach club, which includes food and drinks, but I opted for the cheaper, non-inclusive option.
I still enjoyed the main amenities, like the pool and beach, and just grabbed my complimentary lunch outside the club instead.
Even though there are plenty of other places to relax at Celebration Key, Pearl Cove Beach Club certainly offers an elevated vibe for those in search of a kid-free experience.
I hate how Carnival’s drink packages don’t work at Celebration Key
In addition to being stingy with dining at Celebration Key, I thought Carnival made a poor decision by not honoring passengers’ drink packages while ashore.
If you purchase a drink package for your Carnival cruise, you won’t be able to use it at Celebration Key. This is typical with Carnival Cruise Line, as you can’t use drink packages at their other private destinations either, such as Half Moon Cay.
This differs from lines like Royal Caribbean and Norwegian, which honor drink packages both onboard and ashore at private destinations.
There are so many unique bars at Celebration Key, and it seems silly for someone with a drink package to purchase cocktails ashore when they could get the same drinks for free onboard.
Because Carnival offers a daily limit to its drink packages, I just don’t see the difference in ordering drinks at Celebration Key versus onboard the ship.
It seemed like a money grab for those who already spent hundreds of dollars on drink packages.
Read more: What's the cost of a drink package on Carnival?
Despite a few faults, I love how Celebration Key offers something for everyone
Whether you want to party in the lagoon, relax on the beach, reserve a luxury cabana, or escape to an adults-only retreat, Celebration Key really offers something for every type of cruiser.
In general, I found little to complain about during my visit. The nickel-and-diming was annoying, but ultimately didn’t affect me as I wasn't cruising with a drink package.
I love exploring foreign, off-the-beaten-path cruise ports around the world, but there’s something to be said about a stress-free day at a cruise line's private destination.
At Celebration Key, you can simply disembark and unwind without planning anything in advance or spending extra money on excursions.
If there’s just one regret I have from my time ashore, it’s simply that I didn’t have enough time to experience it all.
Jenna DeLaurentis
Jenna DeLaurentis enjoys exploring new ports of call around the world on a cruise ship, learning about new cultures, discovering beautiful landscapes, and trying diverse cuisine. She loves to get active while in port, whether cycling through mountains in the Caribbean or scuba diving under the sea.
