VIDEO: “The ultimate beach day”: One-on-one with Carnival President Christine Duffy at Celebration Key

Shaq! Junkanoo parades! Daytime fireworks!

Carnival Cruise Line pulled all the stops on Saturday (July 19) to mark the grand opening of its brand-new, $600 million-dollar destination Celebration Key, a palm tree-peppered cruise port, with a mile-long white sand beach, on Grand Bahama Island – built executively for Carnival guests.

The vibrant celebration — covered on location by PAX — launched in true Carnival style as President Christine Duffy, Carnival Corporation CEO Josh Weinstein, Chief Fun Officer and basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal, and Carnival Vista Captain Paolo Severini took the stage before a sea of excited travel partners and guests, and together, “turned the key” to officially open the gates to a towering “Suncastle,” a ten-storey centerpiece, adorned with five massive conch shells and home to two racing waterslides.

As the crowd cheered, bursts of smoke and sparks shot from the top of the striking structure—Carnival’s own version of a “Cinderella Castle,” its answer to the iconic monument in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom theme park, you could say – and climaxed with an explosion of “daytime fireworks,” rainbow-hued dyes that jetted into the clear blue sky.

“This is a game-changer for Carnival and the guests who choose to sail with us,” said Duffy, speaking to PAX about Celebration Key later on, just a few hours after the 379-acre compound welcomed its first round of guests – nearly 5,000 passengers from Carnival Vista, which arrived earlier that morning.

In a separate statement, Duffy noted how Celebration Key, which is in Phase I of its development (covering 68 acres), 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,” she said. “We’ve built the ultimate beach day for our guests whether they crave fun in the sun or relaxation under a palm tree.”

A local Bahamian marching band set the tone (and rhythm) as Duffy—disembarking from Carnival Vista, which was wrapping up a cruise that began in Port Canaveral earlier that week—joined excited guests on a lively walk down the main pier toward Celebration Key’s “Sun Portal,” a sun-shaped archway designed as a photo-taking spot for all who arrive.

Five fun-filled “portals”

Inside Celebration Key, guests will discover five “portals,” each offering a unique experience.

Brightly-coloured Paradise Plaza is the welcome area – a central location where guests can find maps, guest services and an ice cream shop.

From there, it’s a choose your own vacation format. You can walk under the Suncastle, into Lokono Cove, the island’s retail village, which showcases Bahamian culture through vibrant murals and local art, as well as handmade goods.

This is where visitors will also find live entertainment, including pop-up Junkanoo parades, which celebrate Bahamian culture.

Here, Duffy, Shaq and other partners, participated in a ceremonial ribbon cutting – using a massive pair of scissors – to mark the village’s grand opening.

Sprawling freshwater lagoons

The majority of Celebration Key’s real estate, however, is dedicated to two sprawling freshwater lagoons—touted as the largest in the Caribbean—covering more than 275,000 square feet and containing approximately 350 million gallons of water.

These expansive, winding pools stretch so far into the distance, it’s hard to tell where they begin or end—they seem to flow endlessly across the landscape. Which, quite frankly, is a definite advantage—there’s no shortage of pool space to enjoy.

The lagoons cover two portals. There’s “Starfish Lagoon,” for families, which includes a splash pad with a shallow pool, sports courts and the Suncastle’s waterslides that wind through 350 feet of turns and drops.

The beach area, here, is lined with loungers and cabanas and guests can also enjoy casual dining at Captain’s Galley Food Hall, Gill’s Grill Seafood, Snack Shacks, and drinks at the Parrotfish Swim-Up Bar.

Alternatively, there’s “Calypso Lagoon,” an adult-friendly pool with a “DJ Island,” “the world’s largest” swim-up bar with 166 in-water seats, and the “Sunshine Swings Bar” with nearly 50 swings.

The dining and drink options at Calypso include Surf N’ Sauce BBQ & Brew, Calypso Food Trucks, Snack Shacks and Mingo’s Tropical Bar and Kitchen, a pool-facing venue, named for The Bahamas' national bird, with flamingo-inspired décor and island bites, like coconut shrimp.

An adults-only retreat

The fifth portal is Pearl Cove Beach Club, an adults-only retreat with a gorgeous 11,000-square-foot infinity pool overlooking a white sand beach, alongside loungers, cabanas and “supervillas.”

Here, guests enjoy private beach access and elevated dining, as well as a separate swim-up bar.

It’s a premium add-on experience that’s akin to purchasing a day pass at a luxury resort.

Pearl Cove prices start at $99.99 per person for basic access, which includes a welcome drink. For an open bar option, it’s $139.99 per person. The all-inclusive package, which includes lunch, is priced at $179.99 per person. (All prices in USD).

Shortly after Shaq threw a “first shot” on Celebration Key’s basketball court, the former NBA player was spotted at Pearl Cove’s infinity pool, with Duffy and the Carnival team, to participate in a champagne toast.

“It’s just like a Carnival cruise”

Amid the crowd, an enthusiastic Justin French—Carnival’s regional vice president for Canada and the Western-Northern U.S.—was all smiles as he took in the sights.

“As a first-time visitor, this exceeded my expectations,” French told PAX, sharing his first impressions. “It’s just like a Carnival cruise – there’s something for everybody. You can chill, take in the excitement, do waterslides, sit by the pool, go to the beach – we have everything here.”

French was particularly struck by the well-designed layout of Celebration Key. “You can’t appreciate the size and scope until you’re here in person and start walking,” he said.

For clients who upgrade everything, Celebration Key is also a pinnacle of indulgence.

There are numerous ways to elevate the day, from cabanas by the lagoons; “AquaBanas” (floating cabanas); over-the-water “Supervillas” (for up to ten guests, with hammocks, sofa, ceiling fans, mini fridge, water loungers and private water slide into the lagoon); and “Beach Supervillas,” which includes other comfort-focused amenities, like sofas and armchairs, including a dining table for eight. 

One of those great vacations

“It’s so amazing, after years of work by our team, to see this come to life. It’s so thrilling,” Janet Wygert, Carnival’s senior vice president of sales and trade marketing, told PAX.

Wygert noted the vital role travel advisors will play in selling Celebration Key.

“The trade is critical to our business,” she said. “Travel advisors are the heart of great vacations – and we think a sailing that visits Celebration Key is one of those great vacations.”

Between the five different portals, “travel advisors will help their clients understand what this destination has to offer,” she added.

“And if you have guests who want an elevated experience [like a villa or cabana], it’s recommended they book early because those will sell out,” she said.

Phase II under construction 

Set to welcome more than two million passengers this year alone, Celebration Key will welcome 20 different Carnival ships, sailing from ten U.S. homeports.

The destination can currently accommodate two of Carnival's largest ships simultaneously – but that’s just the beginning. The construction of Phase II is already underway, which will extend the pier to accommodate two additional ships in 2026. 

“What you see here is the vision our guests have when they think about taking a cruise to the Caribbean,” Duffy told PAX.

She noted other major investments Carnival is making to properties in its Paradise Collection of private island experiences.

This includes enhancements to Mahogany Bay (now known as Isla Tropicale), a port in Roatán, Honduras that will undergo expansion in 2026, with a new pool, swim-up bar and cabanas, an expanded beach and beach club.

Half Moon Cay, Carnival’s other private island destination in the Bahamas, is also undergoing a major transformation as it becomes RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay.

By 2026, it will see an expanded beachfront, new dining and bar options, and a new pier, allowing larger ships to dock, eliminating tendering.

The economic impact

As for Celebration Key, the economic impact for Grand Bahama is substantial, with hundreds of long-term jobs created by daily operations.

Duffy explained how Carnival has hired more than 1,200 Bahamians to work full-time at its new destination. “We’re very proud of the partnership we have with the community, making sure they benefit from the investment,” she said.  

The port’s opening also marks a new chapter for Grand Bahama Island, which was ravaged by Hurricane Dorian in 2019, a catastrophic event that forced many residents to leave their homes.

Since the hurricane, the island has faced economic challenges, as one employee and local resident shared with PAX during our tour of Celebration Key.

But there’s a renewed sense of optimism on the horizon.

“Celebration Key is the biggest thing to happen on this island in twenty years,” she said.

What’s it like to visit Celebration Key? What should travel advisors know? 

Don’t worry – PAX was on the ground (and behind the lens) to capture all the action.

In this Canadian trade media exclusive, get a firsthand look at Celebration Key, including PAX’s one-on-one interview with Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy!

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