Carnival Cruise Line unlocked paradise as it opened Celebration Key, the cruise line’s new exclusive destination on Grand Bahama. Carnival Vista made the first official visit to the world’s newest cruise port and nearly 5,000 guests experienced all the fun of Celebration Key: from the unique Suncastle, 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. The group cut the ribbon to open Lokono Cove, the shopping village; and O’Neal made the first shot at the basketball court. All this was 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.”

There are five areas to explore, including:

• Paradise Plaza – The central location where guests are welcomed with live music.
• Starfish Lagoon – A fun-filled area for families that features one of the two largest freshwater lagoons in the Caribbean, with 275,000 square feet. The beach in this area is lined with loungers and cabanas and guests can also enjoy casual dining various options.
• Calypso Lagoon – This adult-friendly area features an equally large, 275,000-square-foot lagoon as well as a dedicated area for adults only, a DJ Island, where guests can enjoy music and drinks at the world’s largest swim-up bar with 166 in-water seats. Sunshine Swings Bar offers 50 swings to enjoy cocktails while staying cool. Other dining and drink options include Surf N’ Sauce BBQ & Brew, Calypso Food Trucks and Snack Shacks.
• Pearl Cove Beach Club – The largest adults-only retreat at any cruise destination, this private club features an 11,000-square-foot infinity pool overlooking a white sand beach with loungers, cabanas and supervillas. Find elevated dining and beverage options at Pearl Cove Restaurant and the Pearl Cove Bar as well as a separate swim-up bar.
• Lokono Cove – The island’s retail village offers unique shopping and showcases authentic Bahamian culture through vibrant murals and local art, as well as handmade goods.

Guests can find more than 30 food and beverage venues across the destination and a variety of live entertainment including Junkanoo parades, roaming rake-and-scrape musicians, DJs and all-day beach games. A wide variety of cabanas, daybeds and villas are available for private relaxation and sports courts, water activities and shore excursions are available for those seeking action and adventure. Guests looking for a perfect beach day can enjoy over one mile of pristine, white sand beach overlooking the beautiful Bahamian waters.

Celebration Key will initially bring more than two million guests a year to Grand Bahama; the number is expected to grow to 4 million by 2028. Long-term jobs create a substantial economic impact for Grand Bahama.

Celebration Key features an adjacent cruise pier capable of accommodating two of Carnival’s largest ships at the same time. Construction has already began on an extension to the pier to accommodate two additional ships.

For additional information on Carnival Cruise Line and to book a cruise vacation, call 1-800-CARNIVAL, visit www.carnival.com, or contact your favorite travel advisor or online travel site.

Photo c/o Carnival Cruise Line