Behind the scenes on Carnival's new $600 million private cruise island
The countdown has begun to the opening of Carnival Cruise Line 's latest private island.
Celebration Key, based in Grand Bahama, will welcome cruise passengers with an inaugural visit from Carnival Vista on 19 July.
The development of the island cost $600 million (£474 million).
To mark the five-month countdown, Carnival Corporation chief executive officer Josh Weinstein and chief maritime officer Lars Ljoen joined Carnival Cruise Line president Christine Duffy to tour the final stages of the construction.
During the visit, they placed commemorative keys into the 10-storey Suncastle, the centrepiece of the destination's five 'portals', or areas of the island.
Other 'portals' include the Paradise Plaza entrance to the island and the Starfish Lagoon waterslide and sports area.
There is an adult-only Pearl Cove Beach Club featuring daybeds, private cabanas and villas, as well as Calypso Lagoon, which has a large swim-up bar.
Passengers can even get their retail fix at Lokono Cove, a shopping village celebrating Bahamian culture through local art and handmade goods.
Carnival representatives also planted palm trees from its Plant a Tree community engagement programme.
Ms Duffy, who participated in the ceremonial filling of one of two freshwater lagoons – described as the largest in the Caribbean – said: 'Celebration Key represents a new chapter for Carnival and its construction builds on our close partnership with the Bahamas, so seeing it transform from vision to reality is incredible.
'We broke ground on this site less than three years ago and now in five short months we'll see our first guests enjoy the many experiences we created just for them to celebrate and enjoy this gorgeous place on Grand Bahama.'
Celebration Key will be an exclusive port of call on more than 500 itineraries, across 20 ships sailing from 10 US homeports.
Mr Weinstein added: 'This destination will serve as a tribute to the rich Bahamian culture and Grand Bahama's natural environment. It is clear Celebration Key will be a game-changer for our flagship brand and its loyal guests, with endless options for relaxation and recreation, but it's also truly great to see firsthand how we're implementing our company's robust sustainability initiatives on land.'
Carnival Key will become the cruise line's second private island. The destination joins Half Moon Cay, which Carnival Cruise Line shares with sister brand Holland America Line.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- The Herald Scotland
Norwegian cruise guest falls from gangway, suffers 'minor injuries'
"On duty crew members were able to immediately assist the guest from the water and see that they were evaluated by the medical team," the spokesperson told USA TODAY in an emailed statement. "It was determined that they sustained minor injuries and were transported to a local hospital for further examination and treatment." The ship departed from Civitavecchia on May 24 for a 10-day cruise with stops in Italy, Greece, Malta and France, according to CruiseMapper. Tyler Roys, Senior Meteorologist with AccuWeather, said there were wind gusts up to 45 miles per hour in the afternoon from the east-northeast. "Gusts like this are not usual as we move into the summer months but are more common during the winter season," he said in an email. The cruise line halted disembarkation and embarkation until the weather improved and "the ship was able to safely dock again." "During this interruption, our crew were actively attending to our guests until they were able to re-embark the ship," the spokesperson added. "As always the safety of our guests and crew is our top priority." The incident isn't the only one of its kind in recent years. Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Magic ship hit a pier in Jamaica during windy weather in February 2024. Wind also caused an MSC Cruises ship, MSC Sinfonia, and another Norwegian vessel, Norwegian Prima, to break from their moorings the previous month. Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@
Scottish Sun
26-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
The Caribbean private islands you can enjoy on a cruise from Cayman Islands to Bahamas
We look at existing private islands you can cruise to SPLASH OUT The Caribbean private islands you can enjoy on a cruise from Cayman Islands to Bahamas IT doesn't get more exciting than sailing in style to a paradise Caribbean private island. And even more cruise lines are now going all out to host passengers on their own islands. Advertisement 4 Splash out at Thrill Waterpark at Perfect Day Credit: Supplied Royal Caribbean last week announced its second Perfect Day destination off Mexico, opening in 2027, which will include a waterpark with 30 slides, the longest lazy river in the world, adults-only beach clubs and a host of bars and restaurants. Lisa Minot looks at existing private islands you can cruise to. ROYAL CARIBBEAN IT was Royal who upped the ante with the launch of its revamped Perfect Day at Coco Cay in 2019. The £185million transformation of its Bahamas island included a new pier, thrill rides and chill zones. Advertisement There are seven beaches to laze beside the warm waters and six pools, including Oasis Lagoon, the largest freshwater pool in the Caribbean with swim-up bar and in-water loungers. The Thrill Waterpark has 14 slides including the tallest in North America while Splashaway Bay and Captain Jill's Galleon are perfect places for the kids to play. There's complimentary food at four restaurants as well as a host of bars and shops. The adult-only Hideaway Beach opened in January last year and, for an extra charge, over-18s can enjoy a private beach, two pools, seven bars and two restaurants. Advertisement Also available to book for an extra charge are overwater cabanas, a zipline and tethered hot air balloon as well as kayak tours and snorkelling excursions. GO: A week full-board on Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas is from £1,064pp, sailing from Miami on November 8 and calling at St Maarten, St Thomas and Perfect Day at Coco Cay. Inside the huge new cruise ship coming to the US next year - with waterpark, bumper cars, and 20 bars onboard See MSC CRUISES WITH its signature stripey lighthouse and two miles of white sand beaches, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in the Bahamas is a regular port of call for MSC cruise ships. Advertisement They sail from their new private terminal in Miami as well as Port Canaveral in Florida and New York, including MSC World America, which made its debut in April. 4 Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in the Bahamas is a regular port of call for MSC cruise ships Credit: Supplied The Italian cruise line has transformed a former sand excavation site in the last ten years, planting more than 75,000 trees and bringing back marine life and birds. A newly-opened conservation centre on the island allows guests to discover their achievements and includes a land-based coral nursery and fully-equipped bio-lab. Advertisement But cruise guests will also appreciate the island's laid-back vibe with food trucks and restaurants offering Bahamian specialities, barbecue classics, snacks and oodles of ice cream and beach bars serving tropical cocktails. There's a chance to explore the underwater wonders with snorkelling, kayak, paddle board and windsurfing excursions. For a bit of luxury, you can relax in a cabana or take a sunset champagne cruise. GO: Seven nights' full-board on MSC World America is from £649pp. Advertisement Sailing from Miami on September 13, the cruise calls at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. See HOLLAND AMERICA/CARNIVAL ONE of the original private island pioneers, the Holland America line first started calling at RelaxAway at Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas in 1997 and it has been expanding its presence there ever since. In summer next year, a major upgrade will see a new beach club and lunch venue on its original facilities on the south of the island's stunning two-mile crescent of powder-soft white sand as well as a new pier at the north end of the beach that will be used by both Holland America and its sister cruise line Carnival. Advertisement 4 The Holland America line first started calling at RelaxAway at Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas in 1997 Credit: Supplied Thrill-seekers can enjoy horseback riding along the shore, snorkelling, jet skiing, and stingray encounters. Families will love the Half Moon Lagoon Aqua Park, while nature enthusiasts can explore eco-tours and birdwatching. Unique experiences include glass-bottom boat tours and a pirate ship-themed bar. Advertisement With beach sports, shopping and complimentary barbecue lunches, this is a high-end island escape for cruisers. GO: A 14-night full-board Western & Eastern Caribbean cruise on Holland America's Zuiderdam is from £1,379pp, departs Miami on November 8 and calls at Half Moon Cay, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Cozumel, Mexico, Miami, Bahamas, Amber Cove, Dominican Republic, Turks & Caicos. See DISNEY MICKEY Mouse and pals now have two private islands to enjoy in the Bahamas. Advertisement Their original, Castaway Cay, opened in 1998 as part of the launch of the new cruise line. 4 Mickey Mouse and pals now have two private islands to enjoy in the Bahamas Credit: Disney Parks And last year, they opened Lookout Cay. As you would expect, there is a huge amount of fun activities for kids including kids' clubs for three to 17-year-olds. Advertisement The family beach features plenty of umbrellas, chairs and hammocks plus tube and float rentals and an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet. Water babies will love Pelican Plunge, a huge floating platform featuring water slides and cannons. Spring-a-Leak is a water play area with freshwater jets. Adults get their own Serenity Bay stretch of pristine sands as well as a restaurant and bar. Advertisement The island features a 12-acre snorkel trail dotted with sunken treasures including the submarine from the classic Disney attraction 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea and there are miles of paths to explore on foot or bicycle. Over at Lookout Cay, there's more of a focus on nature and celebrating the island's Bahamian location with a cultural centre where you can learn about traditions and crafts. GO: A four-night full-board cruise on Disney Wish to the Bahamas, including calls at both Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay is from £920pp, based on two adults and two children sharing. The cruise departs August 17. Advertisement See
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Carnival Cruise Line SLAMMED by mourning woman who was refused a refund for her 'forced' cancelled vacation
A woman who suffered a tragic miscarriage just days before she was set to embark on a cruise has claimed that the cruise line is now refusing to give her a refund... which means she has been forced to sacrifice thousands of dollars while mourning the loss of her child. Last year, Monique McChristian, 25, from Roseville, California, booked a 10-day Alaskan cruise with Carnival for herself, her husband, Alfonso, and her parents that was scheduled to leave in May 2025, forking over $4,400 for two staterooms. At the time, she and her husband were trying for a baby, but were struggling to conceive and thought a vacation together would help ease their stress. In February 2025, three months before they were set to embark on the cruise, they received the exciting news that they were expecting. 'We were through the roof with excitement and to be honest I couldn't believe it,' she gushed during a recent chat with 'I took about 15 at home pregnancy tests (not kidding) and each one had a screaming positive result.' They still intended to go on the vacation, as they figured out that she would be roughly 14 weeks along when it departed, and Carnival's guidelines only advise against traveling if you're more than 24 weeks into your pregnancy. In fact, they were even more excited than ever, and decided to upgrade their rooms to celebrate, spending another few hundred dollars each to ensure they had their own private balconies. Three days before they were set to depart, Monique decided to get one final ultrasound just to 'make sure their baby was doing well' before leaving for the trip... but they received heartbreaking news that would completely shatter their worlds. 'Within one minute of the scan the tech immediately looked at me and said, "I want you to go to the hospital and talk to your doctor as soon as possible,"' she recalled. 'At the time of this scan I was 13 weeks [but] she said our baby does not have a visible heartbeat and was only measuring 11 to 12 weeks. 'We went to the ER straight away. After being there for hours, it was confirmed I lost my baby at 11 weeks and four days.' Monique explained that because she hadn't 'passed her baby naturally' there was a chance she could 'hemorrhage or suffer from other complications' so it was recommended that she undergo a dilation and curettage procedure to remove the fetus. But they couldn't get one scheduled before their cruise was set to embark, so the doctor told them it would not be safe to go. Monique said the medical professional explained that it was a risk because if she started to suffer from 'excessive bleeding' on board the ship, 'medical staff on the cruise are not equipped for this.' Heartbroken and mourning the loss of their baby, Monique said she called the cruise line and explained the situation in the hopes of canceling their reservation. But then she was hit with more bad news: she would not be allowed to get a refund. '[The agent said that] since I did not get vacation protection there is nothing I can do and that I would lose about $2,800 per room,' she shared. 'I explained again everything that happened with the baby and she still gave me the same answer. 'She said I can try to reach out via email and plead my case and maybe they would do something. 'I sent that email explaining everything and attached a doctor's letter as well. I had high hopes that the cruise line [would refund me] and would understand our situation. 'It is a very serious medical emergency that simply no one could ever plan for. Also, Carnival is supposed to be about fun times but what is fun about having a miscarriage on a boat and having to pass my baby in the middle of the ocean?' has reached out to Carnival Cruise Line for comment. Monique said she was even open to changing the dates of the cruise rather than canceling, since she still wanted to go on the trip once she was healthy again. But then she was hit with more bad news: she would not be allowed to get a refund. Screenshots of her email conversation with Carnival is seen above 'I was convinced that they would have enough heart to at least grant me that,' she added. When they hadn't heard back from the cruise line come Monday morning, Monique said her parents made the 'hard decision' to go without her and her husband as they too didn't want to lose thousands of dollars. 'After a long weekend of hard decisions, heartbreak and crying, we dropped my parents off at the port for their cruise and still awaited an email from the cruise line,' she continued. On Wednesday morning, Monique claimed that she received a cold response from the cruise line. 'It stated that they reviewed my case and they are unable to honor any type of compensation because they are a business and I did not use vacation protection,' she alleged. 'It's a complete gut punch. When talking on the phone for the third time now I got the same answer that what that email said is final. 'After the call he then offered me a cruise deal? The most inconsiderate and insensitive time to ask. 'So now I am here without my baby, no vacation and almost three thousand dollars lost.'
