Carnival Corp. takes the finishing touches, not a new ship, but a new destination for cruise passengers.
Starting in July, the Doral-based Carnival will send a ship between Port Miami, a private development in the Bahamas and Celebration Key.
Described by the cruise ship company as “a new destination from scratch”, Celebration Key is located on the south side of Grand Bahama Island and approximately 17 miles northeast of Freeport.
Upon completion, the resort has its own pier with two berths where the largest carnival ship can dock. In 2026, the pier at Celebration Key will add two more berths, allowing a total of four carnival ships to dock at the same time.
The resort features water slides for kids, scuba diving, other sports and excursions. And there are restaurants and bars that passengers can reach by walking or swimming.
The $600 million destination is the latest in major cruise carriers betting big time on private islands and resorts built from scratch. The new stops allow cruisers to increase beach time, expand group activities and bring in more money.
Also, the Miami-based Royal Caribbean is developing Mexico’s third private space, which is expected to be ready for 2027. The company’s other two private resorts are located in Lavadie, Haiti and Cococay in the Bahamas. Norwegian cruise line also has a great stirrups in the Bahamas.
Carnival is so enthusiastic about the keys of celebration that 20 of the 27 ships will sail there, including all five ships known as the House of Portomiami. Ships departing from New Orleans, Galveston and Baltimore will also head there this year.
Carnival Conquest, which will take a three-day and four-day trip to the Bahamas, will be the first Port Miami-based ship to visit Celebration Key, departing South Florida on July 18th.
At the construction site
“The Celebration Key represents a new chapter in the Carnival, and its construction is based on a close partnership with the Bahamas,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, in a statement. “It’s incredible to see it change from vision to reality.”
Duffy visited the celebratory keys under construction in February along with Carnival Corp.’s chief executive Josh Weinstein and Chief Maritime Officer Lars Ljoen. Cruz executives joined the organization’s Plant A leader and repotted roughly 1,000 Sabal palms.
Duffy also participated in “the ritual filling of one of the two largest freshwater lagoons in the Caribbean.” These are maintained by Celebration Key’s desalination system, which converts seawater into freshwater. The lagoon spans seven acres and holds about 7 million gallons of water.
Carnival broke the ground on a project three years ago. Approximately 500 Bahamian workers will be on 65 acres of property around Clock to prepare the resort by July.
The cruise from Miami is a cruise from Miami, from a three-day weekend cruise of the Carnival Conquest to a 13-day trip that begins in Barcelona on the Carnival Journey. The Carnival celebration offers a variety of seven-day cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean Seas, stopping at the new resort.
We expect the resort to have over 30 restaurants and bars, ranging from full-service sit-ins to self-ordered food trucks.
Development falls into a variety of areas.
Paradise Plaza is a welcoming area. Starfish lagoons offer recreation and relaxation. Calypso Lagoon has an adult-only area with a DJ island and a large swim-up bar. Pearl Cove Beach Club is a luxury adults-only space with an infinity pool and beachfront cabanas. Pearl Cove Beach Club offers beachfront daybeds, private cabanas and a super villa. Each includes access to the club’s open bar service, an infinity pool, a full-service restaurant and beachfront access.
This is the devastation of food and drink:
Carnival Celebration Key Food
Calypso Lagoon
▪Mingo’s Tropical Bar & Kitchen, named after the Bahamian national bird, features a full-service carnival-run restaurant that serves Bahamian favourites, including fried fish and conch fritters, as well as burgers, seafood, tacos, steaks, sandwiches and more. Mingo’s bar serves tropical frozen drinks and cocktails.
▪Mingo Express Food Truck, just outside the restaurant, features self-ordered kiosks and shaded seating, togo burgers, salads and fish sandwiches.
▪Surfn’Sauce BBQ & Brews is a full-service dining spot offering slow, smoked meat prepared by outdoor smokers. The full-service bar pours craft beer from a Bahamas brewery.
Starde Lagoon
▪ Gill’s Grill, a full-service restaurant and full bar, cooks Caribbean seafood, including seafood baskets, local fish, lobster, steamed crab and shrimp, chicken, burgers and children’s meals.
▪ Captain’s Galley Food Hall has five outlets offering burgers, hot dogs, fried chicken, pizza, Mediterranean bowls, tacos and burritos.
▪Food trucks with self-ordered kiosks offer chicken sandwiches, burgers and conch fritters.
Pearl Cove Beach Club
▪Pearl Cove Beach Club Restaurant in the area for guests over the age of 18.
Celebration Key Drink
Calypso Lagoon
▪The long neck bar is where you can grab one of the 100 seats and order frozen drinks, beers or Bahamian cocktails.
▪The Sunshine Swing Bar offers 40 swings, providing a “cold atmosphere.”
▪ Parrotfish swim-up bar offers underwater and out-of-water seating, serving frozen cocktails and tropical fruit juices.
Pearl Cove Beach Club
▪Infinity pool overlooks the beach and swim-up bar
Paradise Plaza
▪Welcome area where coffee and ice cream can correct caffeine or increase energy.
Book a Carnival Cruise
You can book sailing events in 2027. Visit the Carnival website at Carnival.com to learn more about their sailing and book their appointments.
