Carnival Corporation has successfully completed the expansion of the Celebration Key pier, its exclusive destination on Grand Bahama Island. This significant expansion adds two new berths, allowing Celebration Key to accommodate up to four ships simultaneously and host more than 13,000 passengers in a single day.
The expansion complements the original two-berth pier, which opened alongside Celebration Key in July 2025. Completed ahead of schedule, this new infrastructure doubles the destination's berthing capacity, increasing it from two to four ships simultaneously. In addition to offering greater operational flexibility, it will allow for approximately 200 additional ship calls per year and accommodate an additional 700,000 passengers annually.
“Celebration Key is a cornerstone of our Paradise Collection, a destination designed to redefine the Caribbean vacation experience,” said Josh Weinstein, CEO of Carnival Corporation. “From its mile-long white-sand beach to the largest freshwater lagoons in the Caribbean and its five themed areas, every corner of Celebration Key has been designed to deliver unforgettable experiences. Completing this expansion ahead of schedule allows us to respond more quickly to the extraordinary demand we are experiencing and welcome even more guests sooner than anticipated.”.
In less than 18 months, Celebration Key has established itself as one of the flagship assets of Carnival Corporation's Paradise Collection. Currently, 20 Carnival Cruise Line ships call at this destination from 10 U.S. homeports, reflecting its strategic importance within the company's Caribbean itinerary. Starting in September 2026, it will be common to receive three to four ships daily, and later this year, Princess Cruises and AIDA Cruises will also add Celebration Key to their itineraries, making it a destination shared by various Carnival Group brands.
For her part, the Bahamas Minister of Tourism, Glenys Hanna Martin, emphasized that “the expansion of Celebration Key demonstrates the continued confidence in Grand Bahama and the Bahamas as one of the world’s leading tourist destinations. Our priority is that investments of this magnitude generate real opportunities for Bahamian businesses, boost employment, and deliver lasting economic benefits for our people. We congratulate the Celebration Key team on their first anniversary and look forward to seeing their continued contribution to the economic development of Grand Bahama and its communities.”.
When Celebration Key celebrates its first anniversary on July 19, 2026, it will have welcomed approximately 2.5 million visitors. Thanks to the pier expansion, it is projected to reach 3.5 million passengers during its second year of operation, growth that, according to the company, will generate significant economic benefits for The Bahamas.
According to a study by Tourism Economics, a company belonging to Oxford Economics, the development, construction and operation of Celebration Key will generate more than 2,500 direct jobs for Bahamian citizens over the next two decades, contribute $3.2 billion in additional revenue to the Government and contribute $9.7 billion to the country's GDP.
Celebration Key is part of Carnival Corporation's Paradise Collection, comprised of seven exclusive Caribbean destinations: RelaxAway Half Moon Cay, Isla Tropicale (Roatán), Amber Cove (Dominican Republic), Puerto Maya (Cozumel, Mexico), Grand Turks Cruise Center (Turks and Caicos Islands), and Princess Cays (Bahamas). Together, this network of exclusive destinations allows the company to offer differentiated experiences, drive demand for Caribbean cruises, and reinforce its leading position in the world's most important region for this industry.
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