On July 25th, CCL-Carnival Cruise Line reached a significant operational benchmark at Celebration Key (Bahamas), as two of its vessels—Mardi Gras and Carnival Pride—simultaneously docked at the newly opened private cruise resort destination on Grand Bahama Island.
This marked the first time that Mardi Gras, CCL’s first Excel-class ship, called at the port, joining Carnival Pride at berth. Together, the ships carried approximately 9,000 passengers to the 65-acre facility.
The arrivals coincided with the first operational week of Celebration Key, which officially opened to cruise traffic in mid-July. Mardi Gras called during an Eastern Caribbean voyage that departed Port Canaveral on July 19, while Carnival Pride made the visit as part of a Bahamas itinerary departing Baltimore on July 20.
Celebration Key has been positioned as a flagship destination in Carnival’s regional itinerary development strategy. Designed to accommodate large passenger volumes with a blend of beachside recreation, culinary offerings, and record-setting amenities, the destination features a 1.5-mile stretch of coastline, five distinct themed areas, and a number of superlative facilities. These include what are currently described as the Caribbean’s largest freshwater lagoons, the world’s largest swim-up and swings bars, more than 30 dining and beverage venues, and a private beach club touted as the most expansive of its kind in any cruise port.
Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, noted that the early guest response to Celebration Key had been highly favourable. She described the dual-ship call as an example of the destination’s capacity to deliver high-volume, high-quality guest experiences, with 9,000 visitors in a single day serving as a proof point of its scale and appeal.
Currently, Celebration Key is included in itineraries for 20 CCL ships sailing from 10 USA homeports, forming a key component of the company's ongoing investment in private destinations and tailored guest experiences in the Caribbean region.