by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 11:05 AM ET, Mon July 20, 2026
Carnival Cruise Line is celebrating the first anniversary of Celebration Key, its private destination on Grand Bahama.
Celebration Key opened July 19, 2025. Since then, it has welcomed 2.4 million travelers and achieved numerous other milestones. More than 500,000 guests have raced down the waterslides, more than 400,000 sweet treats were served by Mini Donut King, a popular Bahamian-owned food truck; more than 100,000 piña coladas were enjoyed by guests across the island and hundreds of lively Junkanoo parades brought the vibrant energy and music of The Bahamas directly to travelers.
Celebration Key also earned Sensory Inclusive Certification through the partnership with KultureCity.
The destination supports approximately 1,000 year-round local jobs and continues to prioritize partnerships with Bahamian entrepreneurs and businesses. Today, more than 80 percent of Celebration Key's food and retail operators are locally owned, including Bahama Mama Seafood Pit, Flipping Fritters and Mini Donut King.
The anniversary also coincides with Carnival Corporation's expansion of its Less Left Over food waste reduction strategy to The Bahamas, where Carnival Cruise Line ships 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.
“We’ve built something special here at Celebration Key,” says 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.”
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