New Private Beach Destination Celebration Key Is a ‘Game-Changer’ for Carnival Cruise Line

“I was blown away. It is better than any of the artists’ renderings.”

That was the reaction of April Jolly, owner of Tolleson Travel and Associates, a Dream Vacations franchise, on opening day of Celebration Key, Carnival Cruise Line’s new private beach destination on Grand Bahama Island. That sentiment was echoed by the other travel advisors and guests who had the privilege of being the first cruise passengers to experience the new port of call.

Carnival Cruise Line invested $600 million in phase one of the new port project, revitalizing 68 acres of land on the south side of the island with two enormous freshwater lagoons, family and adult-focused beaches, a 10-story waterslide tower shaped like a sandcastle, and a variety of retail, dining, and drinking establishments. The company intends to expand this private beach destination by an additional 154 acres and double ship capacity from two ships to four with a second dock. It will also maintain 110 acres as a wetlands preserve.

The cruise line made a point to partner with Bahamian businesses and Grand Bahama Island residents, both to provide jobs and economic opportunities for the local population and to incorporate the local culture into the destination experience. More than 25 local businesses operate on site, and the port is staffed by Bahamians. 

Initial responses to the new beach destination have been positive. “I was pleasantly surprised,” Robin Brown, owner of Caribbean Soul Travel, an Outside Agents franchise, told TMR. “Seeing everything [online] before we got here did not begin to give me a full vision of what really was here and how big this place actually is. That Lagoon is magnificent.”

“I love the pool areas,” gushed Jolly. “It doesn’t feel like anyone is ever going to have to fight for a lounge chair or feel overly crowded. The pools just go forever.”

And true to Carnival’s brand, the people on site definitely enhanced the experience. “The staff there were all so friendly,” said Sherri Head, owner of Heads Travel, another Dream Vacations franchise. “I caught an empty shuttle golf cart, and Carlos, the driver, was so kind to drive me around [when] I was too hot to venture on foot. He was so appreciative of Carnival for bringing so many jobs to Grand Bahama Island.”

An Asset for Selling Carnival Cruises

“The one thing we have seen from guests is that they really respond to these exclusive destinations,” Janet Wygert, SVP of Trade, Marketing, and Sales for Carnival Cruise Line told TMR. “We know it helps [your] sales efforts when we can give them this type of island experience.”

Some repeat cruisers lose interest in the Bahamian ports of Nassau and Freeport after their initial visits, so Celebration Key will give experienced travelers something new to look forward to on Grand Bahama Island. 

“I think it’s going to be a game changer for Grand Bahama Island,” says Jolly. “People know that if they don’t like one of the ports of call, they know they’re going to enjoy this.”

That’s because Carnival has made a point to make Celebration Key appealing to a wide variety of cruise travelers. Families can find their happy place at Starfish Lagoon and Beach, with its dual water slides, splash pad and pool for toddlers in swim diapers, and convenient food halls and trucks serving burgers, pizza, and better-than-Dunkin’ donuts from a local bakery.

Adults can relax at an enormous swim-up bar with 166 in-water seats and another watering hole with nearly 50 swing seats as they groove to tunes spun from a DJ on a mid-lagoon island. Cruisers looking for a more exclusive experience can reserve a spot at the Pearl Cove Beach Club, with its own infinity pool, swim-up bar, and sit-down restaurant serving more elevated cuisine than the food trucks’ fast-casual tacos and chicken tenders.

With eight types of villas, cabanas, and daybeds for rent in every section of the island, guests can curate their beach day experience, either taking advantage of complimentary lounge chairs with shade umbrellas by pool and beach or upgrading for nicer personal space.

“The cabanas are amazing!” says Jolly. “Right now, Pearl Cove is very popular [with my clients]. They also like the daybeds because it’s a little bit of a lower price point but it gives you your own place.”

Advisors should tell their clients to reserve their cabanas as soon as possible. “We highly recommend that they book those in advance because they’re limited and they’ll sell out,” advises Wygert.

Another plus is that clients interested in visiting the new port can easily find the cruise that works for them, whether that’s a quick three-day getaway or weeklong vacation, or a drive-to or fly-in trip. The destination appears on more than 1,400 itineraries offered by 20 ships sailing from 10 departure ports. 

For cruisers who love Carnival’s vibe, Celebration Key is essentially an extension of the ship’s ethos on shore. 

“It captures the essence of what Carnival wants their brand to be,” says Jolly. “That fun, high-energy, family atmosphere [with] something for every age group, something for everybody. They have captured it here better than [with] their other private destinations.”

What Travel Advisors Need to Know About Celebration Key

Before Carnival Vista became the first ship to call on Celebration Key, travel advisors on board noted that many of their clients had questions about the new port.

“I think there’s a lot of misconceptions,” said Brown. “They think it’s a private island rather than part of the Grand Bahamas.” Advisors should message to their clients that cruisers don’t have to spend the day in Celebration Key; they can book Carnival-run or independent tours to attractions in other parts of the island, such as swimming with pigs or dolphins, island tours, or biking or kayaking excursions.

While Carnival Wi-Fi works on Celebration Key, drink packages do not extend to onshore purchases. And unlike at Relaxaway, Half Moon Cay, guests won’t find a complimentary barbecue lunch buffet. Instead, each guest is entitled to one free meal (main, French fries and a cookie) at fast-casual establishments or 25% off their entree at sit-down restaurants.

“The dining situation definitely has some kinks to be worked out,” cautions Head. Carnival loads the dining credits for connected travel parties onto everyone’s Sail & Sign cards, so one person can order and bring back meals for their group. But this plan backfired when Head’s teenage son ordered food twice before she could use her credit, meaning she had to pay for her meal. 

Advisors should explain to clients how this meal plan works because Head witnessed a lot of confusion by the food counters. “The people in line thought they had several meal credits because they were unknowingly using their family’s or friends’ credit.”

Pricing is also a factor as travelers decide how they want to spend their day at Celebration Key. “Even on the ship now, I’m listening to the concerns of customers about the cost of the various products being offered,” Freda Cartwright-Lewis, owner of Sanjoe Travel, an InteleTravel franchise, told TMR on Carnival Vista.

Head agreed, noting that some of her clients got “sticker shock” when looking at the price of cabanas, which they found higher than at Relaxaway, Half Moon Cay. While a family of six would have to foot the entire bill, she reminds her clients that if they’re a group of six girlfriends or three couples, the price would then be divided among them, bringing each party’s cost down.

For travel advisors looking for more information on Celebration Key, Carnival’s webinar series about the new port is still live and its GoCCL.com site has tons of information about the destination.

Ultimately, advisors agree that getting on site and experiencing Celebration Key for yourself is a huge asset for being able to answer questions and better present the experience to potential cruisers.