Carnival’s brand-new unique vacation spot, Celebration Key, formally opened in July 2025 on Grand Bahama Island and we have been among the many first visitors to go to. Not like conventional cruise personal islands, Celebration Key operates extra like an “unique vacation spot” moderately than an extension of your ship. This implies understanding what’s included versus what prices further is essential for planning your good day in paradise. That’s why we’ve put collectively this whole information following our go to to elucidate what’s really included on Celebration Key and what’s not so you possibly can price range accordingly.
What’s FREE on Carnival Celebration Key
The excellent news? Celebration Key provides loads of complimentary experiences that may simply fill your whole day with out spending a dime past your cruise fare. From the second you step off the ship, you’ll have entry to a number of the most spectacular pool and seashore amenities within the Bahamas, together with family-friendly actions, reside leisure, and handy transportation across the island.
Celebration Key doesn’t comply with the “every part included” mannequin like another cruise line personal islands like Excellent Day at CocoCay or NCL’s Nice Stirrup Cay; nonetheless, the facilities which might be included are fairly spectacular. The centerpiece lagoon swimming pools alone are definitely worth the go to, and when mixed with the pristine seashores, sports activities amenities, and genuine Bahamian vibes, you possibly can completely have an incredible day with out breaking the financial institution.
Seashore and Pool Entry
- Starfish Lagoon: Household-friendly freshwater lagoon with light sloped entry
- Calypso Lagoon: Grownup-friendly freshwater lagoon with DJ leisure
- Starfish Seashore: Household-friendly seashore space with complimentary loungers and umbrellas
- Calypso Seashore: Grownup-oriented seashore space with loads of free seating and umbrellas too
- 18+ Part of Calypso Lagoon: Adults-only pool space (complimentary, western aspect of lagoon)
Mixed, these lagoons complete over 275,000 sq. toes, making them the 2 largest freshwater lagoons within the Caribbean. The truth is, they’re 8 instances bigger than Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Lagoon.
Household Actions & Leisure
- Guppy Grotto Splash Pad: Shallow wading pool and water options for little ones
- Gaming Pavilion: Desk tennis, cornhole, and extra
- Sports activities Courts: Basketball, volleyball, and pickleball courts throughout Starfish and Calypso areas
- Stay Leisure: Caribbean music at Paradise Plaza and Junkanoo parades twice day by day
- Iconic Photograph Ops: Solar-shaped arch at Paradise Plaza and the towering Suncastle construction
Meals & Drinks
- Choose Meals: One meal per visitor as a part of Island Eats (extra on this beneath)
- Iced Water: Iced water stations and water bottle refills stations across the resort
Transportation
- Complimentary Trams: Two tram loops serving all portals with pickups each 5-10 minutes
- Seashore Wheelchairs: Accessible at Paradise Plaza on a first-come foundation
- Simple Strolling: Simply 6-10 minutes from ship to Paradise Plaza
WiFi
- Ship Web: Shipboard WiFi works whereas ashore
- Carnival HUB App: HUB app works ashore even and not using a WiFi bundle
Resort Facilities
- Freshwater showers
- Restrooms
- Towel Trade: Visitors should deliver towels from the ship however can alternate for dry ones on the Cabana Concierge through the day
Island Eats: Carnival’s Distinctive Free Meal Program
You’ve in all probability heard by now that issues work slightly in another way in relation to meals on Celebration Key. Not like different cruise personal islands with limitless buffets, Celebration Key makes use of the “Island Eats” credit score system. This entitles every visitor to one meal at one time through the day at choose areas and on choose objects.
How Island Eats Works:
- One credit score per visitor on your whole go to
- Select both:
- One full meal at fast-casual venues (entrée + aspect + cookie)
- 25% low cost on one entrée at full-service eating places
- All stateroom credit are linked – watch out to not use another person’s credit score in your cabin
- Youngsters below 12 eat free from youngsters’ menus at full-service eating places (with their Island Eats credit score)
- Drinks NOT included with the meal – solely ice water is free island-wide
The place to Use Your Island Eats Credit score
Quick-Informal Choices (Full Meal Included):
- Captain’s Galley Meals Corridor (burgers, pizza, scorching canines)
- Meals Vehicles throughout each lagoons (number of choices)
- Snack Shacks (wraps and salads)
Full-Service Eating places (25% Off Entrée):
- Mingo’s Tropical Bar & Kitchen (Calypso Lagoon)
- Surf N’ Sauce BBQ & Brews (Calypso Lagoon)
- Gill’s Grill (Starfish Lagoon)
Professional Tip: Evaluation menus rigorously as not all objects at every venue are coated by Island Eats credit. Be sure you search for the Island Eats image earlier than ordering in the event you don’t wish to pay out-of-pocket. To complicate issues even additional, a number of the meals are ONLY accessible via Island Eats. As an example, the Island Eats meal on the Fowl Play meals truck is 4 wings, however you possibly can solely order 6-piece or 10-piece wings when paying a la carte.
For a whole breakdown of Island Eats, Celebration Key’s food and drinks choices, and restaurant menus, see our full information.
What Prices Additional on Celebration Key
Whereas Celebration Key gives glorious complimentary facilities, understanding the upcharge objects is essential for price range planning. As we’ve already mentioned, not like cruise personal islands the place most meals is limitless, Celebration Key operates in another way. Premium experiences, all drinks, and extra eating past your one Island Eats credit score all come at an additional value.
Sure, Carnival’s Cheers beverage bundle does NOT work on Celebration Key both. This implies all drinks in addition to iced water will value you further. This consists of alcoholic drinks, bottled water, espresso, and soda.
Whereas Carnival’s beverage packages don’t prolong to the island, and your single Island Eats credit score might not cowl every part your loved ones desires to eat all through the day, the opposite upcharge experiences are typically well-priced when in comparison with comparable facilities at land-based Caribbean resorts.
So, let’s breakdown what prices further and the way a lot they really value.
Drinks
- All drinks value further – Carnival’s Cheers! bundle does NOT work on the island
- Cocktails: $12.50-$16
- Beer: $7-$9
- Wine: $8-$11.50
- Espresso: $3.25-$7.75
- Comfortable drinks: $3.50
- Solely ice water is complimentary
Premium Experiences
- Suncastle Waterslides: $15 per individual for all-day entry to twin racing slides
- Pearl Cove Seashore Membership (Adults-Solely):
- Primary entry: $100+ per individual (consists of welcome drink)
- Open bar entry: $140+ per individual (10-drink restrict)
- All-inclusive: $180+ per individual (consists of lunch from a separate menu + 10 drinks)
Further Meals & Treats
- Ice cream at Yumshine Scoops: $5+
- Espresso at Suncastle Grounds: $3.25-$7.75
- Further meals past your Island Eats credit score
Cabana & Villa Leases
- Cabanas: $600-$900 (accommodate 4-6 visitors)
- Over-Lagoon Cabanas: $740+ (consists of personal solar shelf)
- AquaBanas: $450+ (floating cabanas for as much as 8 folks)
- Tremendous Villas: $1,800-$2,800 (accommodate as much as 10 visitors)
- Daybeds: $150+ (two-person daybeds with cover)
Resort Facilities
- Lockers: Leases situated close to restrooms and have built-in cellphone chargers
- Massive lockers (accommodates backpacks, baggage, small strollers, and so forth.) are $20 all day and $10 hourly
- Medium lockers (appropriate for small private objects) are $15 all day price and $5 hourly
- Visitors who buy all-day entry might benefit from locker hopping which permits them to relocate to a different accessible locker financial institution all through the day
- Lockers are free for Pearl Cove Seashore Membership members
- Procuring: Lokono Cove
- Watersport leases:
- noodles $10.99
- floating mats and tubes $19.99
- snorkel gear $19.99
- kayaks beginning at $29.99
- stand-up paddleboards $39.99
Shore Excursions
Whereas visiting Carnival’s Celebration Key, visitors can freely depart the resort to discover extra of Grand Bahama Island if they want. They will hire taxis or e book shore excursions immediately with Carnival. Some examples of shore excursions accessible embody:
- ATV adventures and seashore breaks
- Zipline experiences at Pirate’s Cove
- Grand Bahama Island excursions
- Swimming with pigs excursions
How Celebration Key Compares to Different Non-public Islands
Understanding the place Celebration Key suits within the spectrum of cruise personal locations helps set reasonable expectations on your go to. Whereas it doesn’t provide the all-inclusive expertise of Royal Caribbean’s Excellent Day at CocoCay or Disney’s Castaway Cay, it gives considerably extra worth than conventional Caribbean ports the place nearly every part prices further.
Consider Celebration Key as the center floor between absolutely inclusive personal islands and pay-per-experience locations. You’re getting high-end amenities and one meal included, however you’ll wish to price range for drinks and extra meals all through the day. This mannequin permits Carnival to supply spectacular facilities mixed with genuine Bahamian aptitude whereas preserving cruise fares aggressive.
Extra Included Than:
- Conventional ports within the Bahamas and Caribbean the place every part prices further
- Carnival Corp. locations like Mahogany Bay and Amber Cove
Much less Included Than:
- Royal Caribbean’s Excellent Day at CocoCay (limitless meals, drink packages work)
- Disney’s Castaway Cay (intensive complimentary eating)
- Norwegian’s Nice Stirrup Cay (free lunch and a few drinks)
- Carnival Corp.’s Half Moon Cay (limitless buffet however Carnival’s drink bundle doesn’t work)
Funds Planning Suggestions for Celebration Key
Good planning could make all of the distinction between a anxious day of sudden fees and a soothing trip.
The fantastic thing about Celebration Key’s you could simply customise your expertise based mostly in your price range and priorities. Whether or not you wish to keep on with the complimentary facilities or splurge on premium experiences, figuring out your choices prematurely helps you to make intentional decisions moderately than impulse selections.
For a Funds-Pleasant Day:
- Use your Island Eats credit score correctly at meals vehicles or Captain’s Galley Meals Corridor
- Follow free actions: lagoons, seashores, gaming pavilion, sports activities courts
- Deliver a refillable water bottle without cost water stations
- Return to ship for added meals if wanted
For a Splurge Day:
- E-book Pearl Cove Seashore Membership for adults-only luxurious
- Hire a cabana or villa for premium facilities
- Attempt the Suncastle waterslides
- Discover a number of eating places and bars throughout the island
Professional Cash-Saving Suggestions:
- Return to ship without cost eating: Buffet and different informal venues stay open whereas in Celebration Key
- Share cabanas with different households to separate prices
- Forego shore excursions and simply loosen up on the seashore or within the lagoon swimming pools
- Wait to eat alcoholic drinks till again on the ship; beverage packages nonetheless work on the ship whereas docked in Celebration Key
- Examine your cell provider protection: In case your plan doesn’t embody the Bahamas, depart your cellphone in airplane mode so that you don’t incur roaming fees
The Backside Line
Celebration Key provides spectacular complimentary facilities, notably the huge lagoon swimming pools and exquisite seashores. The Island Eats program gives one stable meal per individual, although the dearth of limitless eating and beverage packages means you’ll seemingly spend greater than at different cruise personal islands.
Funds roughly $50-$100 per individual for a snug day together with drinks and snacks, or $150-$200+ per individual if you would like a extra premium expertise.
Regardless of the extra prices, Celebration Key delivers on Carnival’s promise of FUN with genuine Bahamian touches and loads of methods to customise your day of enjoyable within the solar.
Continuously Requested Questions About Celebration Key
Can I depart Celebration Key and return to the ship through the day? Sure, you possibly can come and go between the ship and Celebration Key as many instances as you need. The ship’s complimentary eating venues and a few bars stay open whereas docked.
What ought to I deliver from the ship to Celebration Key? Deliver your Sail & Signal card, bank card/money, bathing swimsuit, sunscreen, a refillable water bottle, towels, and any private objects you want.
Can I deliver meals and drinks from the ship to Celebration Key? The official reply isn’t any, nonetheless, you seemingly received’t be stopped for bringing a small quantity of non-alcoholic drinks to Celebration Key, like bottled water or gatorade. Alcoholic drinks from the ship are strictly prohibited as are coolers with meals.
Are seashore chairs, towels, and umbrellas accessible at Celebration Key? Seashore chairs and umbrellas are complimentary and could be discovered all through the seashores and surrounding the lagoon swimming pools. Seashore towels ought to be introduced from the ship until you might have Pearl Cove Seashore Membership entry.
Are cellphone charging stations accessible on Celebration Key? Chargers (USB-A and USB-C) can be found inside for-fee lockers, and retailers can be found in massive cabanas and tremendous villas.
Are there therapeutic massage or spa providers accessible? Spa providers are usually not presently provided at Celebration Key.
What’s the swim diaper coverage? Common diapers are usually not permitted in any pool amenities. Swim diapers are required for non-potty-trained kids within the splash pad and shallow areas of Starfish Lagoon.
Are there lifeguards at Celebration Key? Sure, Celebration Key has skilled lifeguards stationed at swimming pools and choose seashore areas for security.
Is smoking allowed at Celebration Key? Sure, however smoking of every kind is simply permitted in designated areas. Examine supplied maps or signage across the island for particular areas.
Are scooters allowed at Celebration Key? Visitors are welcome to deliver their scooters into port, however there aren’t any designated charging stations.
Feedback
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