Carnival Cruise Line will turn the spotlight on Grand Bahama this Saturday, July 19, when it officially opens Celebration Key at 10 a.m. Eastern. The ceremony-streamed live on Carnival's Facebook page-ushers in a $500 million private-island experience designed to serve 20 ships from ten U.S. homeports, including Norfolk-based sailings on Carnival Sunshine. Five themed "portals" promise everything from the world's largest swim-up bar to a family splash pad, giving travelers a Bahamian playground crafted for every age and energy level.
Key Points
- Why it matters: Adds a new Bahamian port for 20 Carnival ships.
- Ceremony: July 19 at 10 a.m. ET, live on Facebook.
- Headliner: 10-story Suncastle with twin racing slides.
- Largest swim bar on record anchors Calypso Lagoon.
- Norfolk sailings let Hampton Roads travelers sample the island starting September 28.
Snapshot
Celebration Key sits on Grand Bahama's south coast, about 110 miles east of Miami. Guests step into Paradise Plaza, crowned by the 130-foot-tall Suncastle, then branch into portals built for distinct moods. Calypso Lagoon gives adults a DJ-backed party scene and a 5,000-square-foot swim bar, while Starfish Lagoon delivers pint-size thrills at the Guppy Grotto splash pad. Shoppers find island crafts in Lokono Cove, and serenity seekers retreat to Pearl Cove Beach Club, an 18-and-up enclave with an 11,000-square-foot infinity pool. Thirty dining and bar venues weave Bahamian flavors throughout.
Background
Carnival announced the $500 million project in 2021 as part of a broader push into purpose-built destinations like Amber Cove and Half Moon Cay. Construction accelerated after the line secured environmental approvals from the Bahamian government, promising thousands of local jobs and new tourism revenue for Grand Bahama-an island still rebuilding after Hurricane Dorian. Celebration Key's phased plan ultimately envisions two berths handling Carnival's Excel-Class flagships and a potential overnight pier.
Latest Developments
A preview week wrapped on July 12, when local officials toured the finished portals and blessed the Suncastle. On July 19, Carnival Vista will become the first ship to dock, disembarking guests directly into Paradise Plaza. Three headline features stand out:
Paradise Plaza & Suncastle
The entry plaza frames an ocean-view boardwalk and the 10-story Suncastle. Glass elevators whisk riders to panoramic decks before launching twin slides that twist 900 feet into a shallow run-out. At night, programmable LEDs turn the tower into a beacon visible for five miles.
Calypso Lagoon
Marketed as the Caribbean's largest man-made lagoon, this acre-wide pool sports a 160-foot swim-up bar with 24 submerged stools. DJ Island stages daily sets; Mingo's Tropical Bar & Kitchen grills jerk seafood and 14-ounce rib-eye steaks.
Pearl Cove Beach Club
Tucked behind mangroves, the adults-only club caps capacity at 1,500 travelers. Cabanas ring an infinity pool that faces a half-mile crescent of powder sand. A $79 day pass bundles loungers, towel service, and priority tender boarding for return-to-ship.
Outside the fanfare, Carnival confirmed that Carnival Sunshine will run six- and seven-day Bahamas voyages from Norfolk beginning September 28, each featuring a full-day call at Celebration Key. Additional deployments from Miami, Port Canaveral, and Galveston begin this fall, scaling to 20 ships by spring 2026.
Analysis
Celebration Key gives Carnival a proprietary port that keeps onboard spending within the brand while satisfying guest demand for beach days that feel effortless. Compared with Nassau's congested downtown, the new stop offers controlled capacity, streamlined security, and pared-down tendering-advantages that appeal to first-time cruisers wary of logistics. For Norfolk, the addition of a marquee Private Island strengthens the port's seasonal appeal and could justify longer homeport windows in the mid-Atlantic. Bahamian officials, meanwhile, gain a high-visibility tourism asset that disperses visitor traffic beyond Nassau and supports year-round employment on Grand Bahama.
Final Thoughts
From the sky-piercing Suncastle to a lagoon big enough for a party flotilla, Celebration Key signals Carnival's most ambitious land build yet. Travelers booked on Carnival Sunshine out of Norfolk-or any of the other nine participating homeports-can expect shorter lines, new shore-excursion revenue credits, and a Bahamian vibe that blends resort ease with local culture. For a deeper look at the island's history and attractions, read our guide to Celebration Key, Bahamas. With Saturday's ribbon-cutting poised to make headlines, the countdown to the Celebration Key opening has officially entered its final hours.