Carnival releases more info on Celebration Key.

[dlphn501]

Soooo....can you purchase the access plus drinks or all inclusive option for the adults only area if you have Cheers?  Does the 10-drink maximum come off your 15 total for the day or is it completely separate?

[kcl57]

I booked my 2025 birthday cruise from Galveston specifically to go to Celebration Key 😄  I hope it's a awesome as the artist renditions!

[sunshower9]

18 hours ago, ZoeyVictoria said:

I looked at the choices yesterday because I was interested in a daybed. I did not reserve anything then, but today I took a chance and booked one at Calypso Lagoon 18+. We won’t be there until October 2025, so I will have plenty of time to read reviews and can cancel if we decide it is not right for us. 

I went through the same process lol.  I took a second look at all the options yesterday and the 18+ one seemed like a good choice because it's in the adults-only section of Calypso Lagoon.  They have another one that says Calypso Beach, which would be great since it's apparently right on the beach, but it doesn't say 18+.  It looks like the 18+ one is near the lagoon.  So I'm not sure which one to pick.  I'll probably go with the 18+.

[PrincessPatti]

15 hours ago, RoperDK said:

I am excited about Celebration Key!  It sounds like a Coco Cay kinda place.  Everyone loves cruising there on Royal and they also don't seem to get tired of returning there.  While it is expensive to build up front, the returns should be great over time.  I do hope that they follow in Royal's footsteps and include drinks and wifi on the island for those that have purchased the drink package and onboard wifi.     

I wouldn’t hold my breath on this one.  They don’t offer it in HMC, so it most likely won’t happen on Celebration Key.

[wendysue44]

On 8/3/2024 at 2:28 PM, 3smithboys said:

We booked a large cabana the day they opened at Calypso Lagoon in the 18+ area for our MG cruise in July. Can’t wait to see what Celebration Key is all about! 

I  booked a super-villa cabana (There are 9 of us) at the Lagoon in the same area (18+) for our Celebration cruise in Nov. 2025. Have a lot of questions and anxious for the reviews next year. 

Edited August 5 by wendysue44

[3smithboys]

31 minutes ago, wendysue44 said:

I  booked a super-villa cabana (There are 9 of us) at the Lagoon in the same area (18+) for our Celebration cruise in Nov. 2025. Have a lot of questions and anxious for the reviews next year. 

I’m excited & a bit nervous too! Since we will be one of the first groups going, there won’t be too many reviews. I said to my husband yesterday that I hope it’s ready for our cruise in July! We picked this one especially for the stop at Celebration Key!

[Jamman54]

Just now, 3smithboys said:

I’m excited & a bit nervous too! Since we will be one of the first groups going, there won’t be too many reviews. I said to my husband yesterday that I hope it’s ready for our cruise in July! We picked this one especially for the stop at Celebration Key!

Somebody's got to be the Guinea Pigs! Looking forward to your thoughts! 😎

[wendysue44]

4 minutes ago, 3smithboys said:

I’m excited & a bit nervous too! Since we will be one of the first groups going, there won’t be too many reviews. I said to my husband yesterday that I hope it’s ready for our cruise in July! We picked this one especially for the stop at Celebration Key!

I hope you enjoy it! At least we have 5 months for them to work out any issues. Have a great cruise!!

Edited August 5 by wendysue44

[RoperDK]

Not trying to start something (LOL), but I wonder if the casino will be open while the ship is in port at Celebration Key?  It is in Grand Turk and on Royal it is open at Coco Cay and Labadee.  Last time we went to Princess Cay on Princess, the casino was also open. Our days of laying out at the beach all day are long gone.  We will definitely enjoy visiting Celebration Key, but a quiet casino will also be welcome.   

[3smithboys]

59 minutes ago, Jamman54 said:

Somebody's got to be the Guinea Pigs! Looking forward to your thoughts! 😎

We will definitely report back…only 347 days (and an entire school year) to go until we cruise! 🤣

[jimbo5544]

1 hour ago, RoperDK said:

Not trying to start something (LOL), but I wonder if the casino will be open while the ship is in port at Celebration Key?  It is in Grand Turk and on Royal it is open at Coco Cay and Labadee.  Last time we went to Princess Cay on Princess, the casino was also open. Our days of laying out at the beach all day are long gone.  We will definitely enjoy visiting Celebration Key, but a quiet casino will also be welcome.   

Is it open in GT, Amber Cove and HMC?  What RCCL does has no reference.

[jam19872016]

13 hours ago, jimbo5544 said:

Is it open in GT, Amber Cove and HMC?  What RCCL does has no reference.

Yes to GT. I seem to recall it being open in HMC but I could be remembering incorrectly as it has been a while.

[RoperDK]

14 hours ago, jimbo5544 said:

Is it open in GT, Amber Cove and HMC?  What RCCL does has no reference.

I stated that it was open on Carnival in Grand Turk.  It is not open at Amber Cove or HMC.  Both Royal and Princess keep the casino open at their private islands.  It actually does set a precedence and therefore a valid question.   

[cruise4hobby]

All I saw were $$$ signs for Carnival.  It looks like all cabanas and loungers.  Nothing appeared to be free.

 

[cruisinqt]

We are going there next summer so I was able to access the price list for everything. Here it is:

Celebration Key Cabana Prices:

Over lagoon Super Villa $1,999

Super Villa at beach $1,799

Large Cabana $899

Over lagoon cabana $739

Regular Cabana $599

Aquabana (water cabana) $449

Daybed $149

Water daybed $119

[gnegron22]

Has anyone read the official press release from the Government of Bahamas on Sept. 4, 2024?

It was a little concerning that he stated, "completed by the fourth quarter of 2025." The following statement said Celebration Key is expected to debut in 2026. This does not line up with Carnival's schedule of opening or Cruise Mapper's Schedule for the first ship to dock. Makes me wonder if Celebration Key will open with a soft opening first. Let's hope its just a misprint or wrong information on Grand Bahama's fault. 

Click below:

PM, officials tour Celebration Key site, Grand Bahama

 

 

[9tee2Sea]

1. I am new to all this " Private Islands" concept.  Is there a town attached that one could stroll around, or is it just for laying out in the sun, playing the surf?  Why not just stay on the ship, enjoy the emptiness, and have your drink package onboard?  What am I missing about these "private Islands"?

[tidecat]

2 hours ago, gnegron22 said:

Has anyone read the official press release from the Government of Bahamas on Sept. 4, 2024?

It was a little concerning that he stated, "completed by the fourth quarter of 2025." The following statement said Celebration Key is expected to debut in 2026. This does not line up with Carnival's schedule of opening or Cruise Mapper's Schedule for the first ship to dock. Makes me wonder if Celebration Key will open with a soft opening first. Let's hope its just a misprint or wrong information on Grand Bahama's fault. 

Click below:

PM, officials tour Celebration Key site, Grand Bahama

 

 

There is a pier expansion that is scheduled for completion in 2026. I've seen varying timelines on Phase II, but most have Phase II opening in 2026. 

[tidecat]

2 hours ago, 9tee2Sea said:

1. I am new to all this " Private Islands" concept.  Is there a town attached that one could stroll around, or is it just for laying out in the sun, playing the surf?  Why not just stay on the ship, enjoy the emptiness, and have your drink package onboard?  What am I missing about these "private Islands"?

You don't have the beach onboard.

 

Private Islands/destinations (Celebration Key is really the latter) are going under a little bit of a transition in that there is an increased focus on attractions (like water parks, shore experiences, and shopping) rather than just being a simple beach day (like Half Moon Cay, which you can also visit on Carnival).

 

Celebration Key is on Grand Bahama Island, not that far from Freeport. Carnival actually sells some of the same excursions it has sold for Freeport in addition to all of the upgrades (like cabanas) specific to Celebration Key. This is different from Princess Cays, which doesn't have excursions into places elsewhere on the island of Eleuthera. Actual private Islands like Half Moon Cay and Coco Cay (Royal Caribbean) have no adjacent town one could visit.

[Sagittarius traveler]

On 8/5/2024 at 7:09 PM, 3smithboys said:

We will definitely report back…only 347 days (and an entire school year) to go until we cruise! 🤣

Reacting to remind you to report back 😭😂

[Sagittarius traveler]

On 8/6/2024 at 9:13 PM, cruisinqt said:

We are going there next summer so I was able to access the price list for everything. Here it is:

Celebration Key Cabana Prices:

Over lagoon Super Villa $1,999

Super Villa at beach $1,799

Large Cabana $899

Over lagoon cabana $739

Regular Cabana $599

Aquabana (water cabana) $449

Daybed $149

Water daybed $119

Discover cove cabana prices cheaper and I think island of adventure 

 

carnival prices doing way tooo much when people already have waisted money of the rooms and drink packages it better be all inclusive like discovery cove have food and drinks all day and hopefully drink package off the ship 

[Sagittarius traveler]

3 hours ago, 9tee2Sea said:

1. I am new to all this " Private Islands" concept.  Is there a town attached that one could stroll around, or is it just for laying out in the sun, playing the surf?  Why not just stay on the ship, enjoy the emptiness, and have your drink package onboard?  What am I missing about these "private Islands"?

I hope it is a town nearby it would be tiring at times to always go there , good question because I like to sight see the island 

[jsglow]

So I think some folks are missing the point of these newly expanded "Private Islands'. They are specifically designed nowadays to give you the maximum opportunity to spend all your vacation money directly with the cruise line and actually make it difficult to leave, especially on your own. Carnival's best current example of this is Mahogany Bay down on Roatan; a beautiful, self-contained facility I might add. One literally needs to watch a Youtube video and practically memorize the circuitous route to get to the front gate on foot before ever accessing any private excursion vendors that don't have a relationship with (and pay $ to) Carnival. Costa Maya is similarly difficult to leave although there is a modest town and private walkable establishments if you do.  On a going forward basis, 95% of partons to these Private Islands will either remain on property or will leave on an excursion through a Carnival (or at least Carnival authorized) tour company.

 

Frankly, it's the new business model for mass market cruising. They aren't taking you anywhere 'new'. It's no longer about exploring distant ports of call. They're taking you on a 7 night 'Disney experience' where you rarely or never leave their control. In some ways I find this a bit sad as I very much valued my opportunity to support the 'local' economy. I remember very clearly buying our family's lunch from Big Moma's Chicken in St. Lucia 20+ years ago on the advice of our tour operator. She cooked it at home that morning keeping it perfectly prepared at whatever waterfall (or whatever) we were visiting. That was her job and how she supported her family. 

Edited September 8 by jsglow

[Essiesmom]

There’s another private island without water park features.  Ocean Cay Marine Reserve by MDC.  It’s not an unspoiled island…it was an industrial waste dump that has been recreated by MSC.  No pools or rides, but lots and lots of beaches.  Beaches with a little wave action, and beaches without.  Crowded beaches with cabanas, and others nearly deserted.  Food is free except one food truck with seafood.  EM

[Sagittarius traveler]

On 8/5/2024 at 6:06 PM, 3smithboys said:

I’m excited & a bit nervous too! Since we will be one of the first groups going, there won’t be too many reviews. I said to my husband yesterday that I hope it’s ready for our cruise in July! We picked this one especially for the stop at Celebration Key!

 

make sure you be very detailed we are trying to see if all of it worth the hype