Carnival Cruise Line officially opened Celebration Key – the cruise line’s new exclusive destination on Grand Bahama over the weekend. Carnival Vista made the first official visit to the world’s newest premier cruise port on Saturday, and nearly 5,000 guests experienced the fun of Celebration Key: the world’s tallest Sandcastle, the world’s largest swing and swim-up bar, and the Caribbean’s largest freshwater lagoons.
Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy, Carnival Corporation CEO Josh Weinstein, Chief Fun Officer Shaquille O’Neal and Carnival Vista Captain Paolo Severini turned the key that “unlocked” the gates to the iconic 10-story Suncastle, home to two thrilling racing waterslides. They also cut the ribbon to open Lokono Cove, the shopping village; and O’Neal made the first shot at the basketball court; followed by a champagne toast at Pearl Cove Beach Club, an adults-only retreat.
“Opening this new exclusive destination marks an extraordinary milestone for Carnival as we open the first phase of our initial $600M investment, with more to come. 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,” said Duffy. “We’ve built the ultimate beach day for our guests whether they crave fun in the sun or relaxation under a palm tree.”
Celebration Key will initially bring more than two million guests a year to Grand Bahama. By 2028, this number is expected to grow to four million. The economic impact for Grand Bahama is substantial, with hundreds of long-term jobs created by daily operations. The destination features an adjacent cruise pier capable of accommodating two of Carnival’s largest ships simultaneously. Already, construction on an extension to the pier is underway to accommodate two additional ships.
PHOTO CAPTION: Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy, Chief Fun Officer and basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal, and Carnival Corporation CEO Josh Weinstein at Celebration Key over the weekend
