Carnival Celebrates First Anniversary of Celebration Key

Carnival Cruise Line’s exclusive destination on Grand Bahama has officially been open for one year! Since opening on July 19, 2025, Celebration Key has welcomed 2.4 million guests.

The milestone marks a successful first year in operation, and to celebrate Carnival hosted a day of special festivities for travelers visiting from aboard Carnival Conquest and Carnival Freedom. They included a special birthday-inspired Junkanoo performance, interactive scavenger hunts, and a giant birthday cake displayed at the destination’s entrance.

carnival cruise line celebration key — (Credit: Carnival Cruise Line)

Here are some fun stats about Celebration Key’s first year:

500,000+ people raced down Celebration Key’s waterslides
400,000+ sweet treats were served by Mini Donut King, a popular Bahamian-owned food truck
100,000+ piña coladas were enjoyed by visitors across Celebration Key
Hundreds of lively Junkanoo parades brought the vibrant energy and music of the Bahamas to visitors

“We’ve built something special here at Celebration Key,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “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.”

celebration key bahamas birthday — (Credit: Carnival Cruise Line)

Beyond the guest experience, the addition of Celebration Key to Grand Bahama has brought meaningful economic opportunities to the island. Celebration Key supports around 1,000 year-round local jobs, and continues to prioritize partnerships with Bahamian entrepreneurs and businesses. Today, over 80 percent of the destination’s food and retail operators are locally-owned.

Celebration Key also achieved an important milestone, as it has become the world’s first cruise destination to earn Sensory Inclusive Certification through a partnership with KultureCity, reinforcing Carnival’s commitment to providing welcoming and accessible experiences for all visitors.

In addition, the first anniversary coincides with Carnival Corporation’s expansion of its Less Left Over food waste reduction strategy to the Bahamas. Carnival Freedom and Carnival Conquest made the program’s first surplus meal donation in the country, redirecting prepared, unserved meals to local community organizations on Grand Bahama.