It’s been exactly one year since Carnival Cruise Line opened Celebration Key. Since welcoming its first guests on July 19, 2025, the private destination has welcomed 2.4 million guests in its first year.
The sheer size of this private oasis is what first caught our attention. When Cruise Fever visited Celebration Key back in July 2025, we found it hard to believe just how big the entire area really was.
The pool complex, which includes the Starfish and Calypso Lagoons, takes up 550,000 square feet. For comparison, we mentioned that is 16.5 times larger than the freshwater pool at Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay.
A Popular Guest Experience
The past year has shown how Carnival cruisers are enjoying the port. Statistics from the first year were highlighted by Carnival in a press release that showed some of the numbers over the last 365 days:
- Waterslides: Guests took over 500,000 trips down the 10-story sandcastle waterslides.
- Dining: The Mini Donut King food truck was a hit, serving 400,000 treats.
- Drinks: More than 100,000 Piña Coladas were served to guests.
As we pointed out during our initial visit, the destination is not a typical private island, even though some cruisers still call it just that.
It is a dedicated port area on Grand Bahama Island. This setup is convenient because it allows guests to easily switch between the cruise line’s amenities, like the swim-up bars and loungers, and local excursions that explore the entire island.
Commitment to the Community
A major focus for Carnival this year has been the local economy. The port currently supports about 1,000 year-round jobs.
Over 80 percent of the food and retail businesses at Celebration Key are locally owned, which means that those 2 million + cruise guests helped benefit the local community.
The destination has also prioritized accessibility, becoming the first cruise port to earn Sensory Inclusive Certification through a partnership with KultureCity.
Looking Ahead
With only 68 acres used in the first phase, there is still plenty of room to grow. As Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy said at the port’s opening:
“Today marks an extraordinary milestone for Carnival as we open the first phase of our initial $600M investment, with more to come.”
In this past weekend’s press release, Duffy said that Carnival built something special with Celebration Key, adding:
“Our goal is to create unforgettable memories for our guests, and in its first year, the destination has done exactly that for more than 2 million people. We’re proud to be part of those moments while also creating real, lasting impact in the local community. As we look ahead, we’re excited to continue building on this momentum, creating new experiences for our guests and deepening our commitment to Grand Bahama and its people.”
With 154 acres of land still available for future development and plans to expand the pier to hold more ships, Celebration Key will continue to be a major part of Carnival’s itineraries for the foreseeable future.
You can read more about the second phase for Celebration Key here.
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