Carnival Cruise Line’s newly opened Celebration Key is an exclusive-to-Carnival beach destination located on Grand Bahama Island. For cruising families, a visit here means you can choose to spend the day enjoying the beach, freshwater pool, and other port amenities, or venture beyond the gates to enjoy tours and activities elsewhere on the Bahamian island. If you choose to stay within Celebration Key, here’s what your family will love about the experience.
Complimentary beach and pool access just for families
Celebration Key is divided into two areas. From the entry gateway, veer left to the adult-focused Calypso Beach and Lagoon, or head right to the Starfish Beach and Lagoon, created with families in mind. Here, you can claim a couple of umbrella-shade beach chairs free of charge, either along the humongous freshwater pool or on the beach facing crystal-clear waters with cruise ship views. Swim vests are available for novice swimmers.
All of the kid-focused attractions and dining are located within Starfish Beach and Lagoon. Kids can let loose and parents can relax, knowing that if your shipmates don’t want to be around kids and teens, they can hide out on their own section of the island.
Families with older children should also know that only half of Calypso Lagoon is 18+. The area is geared toward adults, but kids are not turned away if they stick to the area closest to the central plaza.
A splash pad for the diapered set
Parents of the un-potty-trained are often frustrated by cruise ships that don’t allow swim diapers in the onboard pools and splash play areas. That all changes at Celebration Key, where a splash pad and shallow pool welcome babies and toddlers to get wet and play. Families can access complimentary swim diapers available on-island at shore excursions and rental kiosks.
The water play area is conveniently located near the port’s entrance, along with rows of lounge chairs and a bar where parents can enjoy a drink while keeping an eye on the littles from outdoor seating. You can thank Christine Duffy, Carnival’s president, for this innovation; she wanted to make sure her young grandchildren could enjoy Celebration Key as much as the rest of the family.
Water slides in a sandcastle-shaped tower
Thrill-seekers of all ages can get an adrenaline rush on Celebration Key’s two water slides. They’re located in the port’s signature structure, a tower designed to look like a giant sandcastle. You will need to purchase a wristband for all-day access to the slides; the current price of $15 seems reasonable to me, given that both slides are thrilling but not extreme, so suitable for anyone who meets the height requirement (40 inches tall).
I liked the red one better because you zipped through different colored sections, while the blue slide had many sections in pitch darkness. Pro tip: Hold your nose as you splash to the finish.
Dining choices abound
You’ll find casual, counter-service food venues all around the Starfish Lagoon, and each member of your cruise party can eat one meal for free. (A meal consists of a small main, a cookie, and sometimes French fries.) Or, you can eat at a waiter-service restaurant and receive 25 percent off your entree.
Families will appreciate that most dining venues are grouped together, either in a food court or a collection of food trucks. So, if the kids want pizza and one parent wants a burger while the other wants a Mediterranean salad with falafel, you can go to one spot and order everyone what they want.
For afternoon sweet treats, there’s an ice cream shop on the family side of the main path into Celebration Key by the Suncastle. For a local treat, do not miss the Mini Donut King food truck on the far end of Starfish Lagoon. The donuts are made by a local Bahamian bakery, and the one I ate put Krispy Kreme to shame.
Family cabanas of all shapes and sizes
Families willing to splurge on a private hangout have tons of choices in the Starfish area of Celebration Key, both on the beach and by the lagoon.
The smallest, most affordable options are the two-person day beds, shaded and cushioned double loungers with privacy curtains. Standard-sized cabanas come with couch seating in the shade and two regular loungers in the sun, plus water, soda, and light snacks; extra-large cabanas add a four-seat dining table and accommodate additional guests.
For the true lagoon experience, book an overwater cabana, where your lounge chairs are set in a shallow area of the pool. Super Villas are the ultimate indulgence with an expansive shaded living and dining area, loungers in and out of the water, a hammock, and a private slide into the pool. Aquabanas are floating hideaways with circular seating where your feet dangle in the water. Cabanas and villas also come with complimentary water slide access.
Sports and game areas for dry fun
When the kids get waterlogged, send them to the sports and game areas where they can play volleyball, basketball, foosball, and other games while they dry off. This area is currently unshaded, so it can get extremely hot. Slather your kids in sunscreen and fill up their water bottles before you send them out to play.
Free tram transit
The walk from the ship to the entrance to Celebration Key is a long trek in the hot sun, so if you haven’t schlepped a stroller on your vacation, take advantage of the complimentary trams that run from the ship and around the island. Your loved one’s little legs (and general attitude) will benefit from skipping the walk. Your teen might appreciate the ride, as well. Plus, if your toddler is as obsessed with cars and trains as mine once was, riding the tram around the island can be a good entertainment option when the splash pad gets old.
Celebration Key is accessible from 10 U.S. homeports
Flying with a family can get pricey, but Carnival likes to make cruise vacations more affordable by offering sailings from ports around the country. Currently, 10 cruise ports (including Galveston, Texas, and New York, New York) offer itineraries to Celebration Key. If you’re willing to road trip to start and end your vacation, you can save on airfare and use that money to upgrade your beach day at Celebration Key—or maybe even visit twice, if you prefer.
