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For 3-, 4-, and 5-night cruises, the price is $74.95 per person, per day, while the price for a package on sailings that are 6+ nights is $64.95. “As is fitting for our plans for Grand Bahama island, our vision for Celebration Key is quite grand, and we’re already thinking about the next phase of expansion and development,” says Carnival president Duffy. Carnival revealed that the first cruises will arrive at Celebration Key in July 2025. The cruise line opened sales for approximately 400 itineraries that will call in the new Bahamian port. In fact, the destination will be particularly beneficial to the community by involving locals as tour operators, construction workers, executives and entrepreneurs to fill several job and business opportunities. The first phase of the development is expected to generate more than 700 permanent positions, encompassing around 300 Bahamians under direct hire from parent company Carnival Corporation.
Adult-Friendly Portal Calypso Lagoon
The big news for Carnival Cruise Line for 2025 will be the July opening of Celebration Key. Eighteen ships sailing from 10 different homeports will be calling at Carnival’s new destination in the Bahamas, Fred Stein, vice president of planning and deployment, told Cruise Industry News. In today’s release, Carnival shares that “admission” will be for 18+, but only 21+ will be able to drink alcohol. If relaxation and exclusivity are what you're seeking — or if you'd like to leave the kids behind — the adults-only Private Club Portal is your spot.
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The Family-Friendly Portal will feature a sprawling freshwater lagoon, splash pad, and shallow pool, with waterslides embedded in a grand sandcastle for the adventurous. The area will also feature sports courts, dedicated areas for kids and teens, a beach adorned with various loungers and exclusive cabana rentals, and a diverse selection of dining options. Carnival describes this portal as the perfect spot for families – including kids and teens.
Before it even opens, Carnival announces capacity increase for Celebration Key - Travel Weekly
Before it even opens, Carnival announces capacity increase for Celebration Key.
Posted: Thu, 22 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Is Food Included at Celebration Key?
The exclusive adult-only area of the Private Club Portal remains a haven for those seeking premium amenities like an infinity pool, access to pristine white sand beaches, and upscale dining options, catering to guests desiring a more secluded and luxurious experience. While 18 ships will call on this new private destination (across 500+ itineraries!), the first ship to visit will be Carnival Vista based on currently available bookings. Carnival may decide to offer a special inaugural sailing to Celebration Key where they have a naming ceremony and grand opening celebration – but we won’t know those details for some time yet. And this one, nestled on the south side of Grand Bahama island, is designed exclusively for Carnival guests. It’s perfect for adults, families with kids… everybody who appreciates fun and natural beauty. Like the Family-Friendly Portal, the Adult-Friendly Portal offers access to the same three types of added-fee cabanas.
Carnival Celebration Stats
Carnival tells us the beach area will feature premier and private sections, but descriptions of those are not yet available, nor is information about whether there will be a cost to enter. Instead, it'll be on the south side of Grand Bahama Island, the same island where Freeport is located. Regardless, it will be still a private destination exclusively for Carnival passengers. The cruise line also announced that six additional ships will visit Celebration Key, offering an additional 100 itineraries. As the name suggest, this portal will be the first one that passengers encounter upon arrival at Celebration Key. The Welcome Portal will feature information outlining what’s on offer at the port, as well as live music and a giant sandcastle.
It’s a good thing that Celebration Key will be so large because Carnival plans to have lots of visitors to the destination… as in millions of people. The cruise line also says it is “conserving a significant portion of the acreage as wetlands.” This includes a 100-acre “wetland conservation area” and a 55-acre nature path. Still, while there is a lot that we don’t know yet, there are some things that have been released regarding the new destination… and it looks like it will set the bar for what a vacation could be. For planning itineraries, Stein said the cruise line has a very high prioritization on reducing its carbon footprint, which can be achieved by sailing shorter distances or at lower speeds. While Carnival theoretically could create itineraries calling only at its own ports, Stein said there are good reasons to go elsewhere.
Enjoy the latest and greatest from Carnival Cruise Line with a trip aboard Carnival Celebration. With so much to do and see and experience on this ship, you’ll find that our recommendations above just scratch the surface. You do, of course, have your standard kids’ venues aboard Carnival Celebration, which you’ve probably already been familiar with if your family has cruised on a Carnival ship in the past. The WaterWorks part of the Ultimate Playground could be a day of fun all on its own.
Family activities include enjoying time at the lagoon, walking the white-sand beach, a splash pad and shallow pool, and the sports court. For those families looking for a place of their own to gather, the Family-Friendly Portal will feature beach villas. As more details emerge about Celebration Key, the anticipation among travelers and industry observers alike grows. The unique positioning of this exclusive Carnival Cruise Line destination, emphasizing both the natural beauty of Grand Bahama Island and tailored guest experiences, marks a significant development in the cruise industry.
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There’s also the new-ish Street Eats restaurant that allows you to try a bunch of different international cuisines in one spot, every day. Chibang is likewise really new, premiering with Mardi Gras, and offering Chinese and Mexican fusion cuisine. There are also the Cloud 9 Spa suites and staterooms, which are designed with relaxation in mind, with extra-special toiletries, comfy robes and slippers, and unlimited access to spa spaces such as the thermal suites. Another brand-new, Excellence-class feature, Loft 19 is like a VIP area of the ship, where you can enjoy extras and amenities that aren’t open or available to just anyone. Carnival Celebration, while impressive in its own right, is not the first of its kind.
The Excel-class currently consists of sister ships Carnival Celebration, Carnival Mardi Gras, and Carnival Jubilee, plus another, as-yet-unnamed ship just announced by Carnival. One of Celebration Key’s five portals, Lokono Cove will be an exclusive retail portal offering a variety of stores and kiosks featuring everything from souvenirs to fine jewelry, designed to immerse guests in the richness of Bahamian heritage and creativity. If you aren’t familiar with Carnival’s Celebration Key, that’s going to change quickly. The popular cruise line first announced the new private destination back in 2022. And while it will still be some time until the spot welcomes its first guests, expect the excitement to only grow as more is shared about Celebration Key. “They need to make sure that their destination is driving awareness,” Stein answered, “so that people want to go there.
Celebration Key is scheduled to open in July 2025, welcoming guests to explore its varied attractions and amenities. As packages don't work at Half Moon Cay, it's unlikely that they will change their policy for Celebration Key. Even if you have a drink package, you have to purchase each drink you have while on the private island. "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. Cue the Junkanoo band, drumroll please… Carnival Cruise Line has announced that the name of its new destination in the Bahamas is… Celebration Key™. Carnival Cruise Line has announced that the name of its new destination in the Bahamas will be called Celebration Key.
Just as a phase two pier expansion is already being scheduled, so too is Carnival looking towards a further phase two expansion of the destination itself, but those details are scarce. With dozens of monthly calls in the Bahamas, and several of their ships registered in the island country, Carnival Cruise Line maintains a sizable presence in the idyllic archipelago. Gateway also offers its own entertainment, via a multimedia wall and 100-foot LED ceiling that, combined, offer scenery, sounds and shows that will have your jaw dropping. BOLT was a big deal when it debuted on Mardi Gras, and it’s still a big deal now. The second-ever roller coaster at sea, this roller coaster is situated in the Ultimate Playground portion of the ship. However, past that date the schedule opens up with lots of sailings available in the back half of 2025 that you can already book today.
