Heidi and I are back from Carnival’s Celebration Key. We were among the first cruise passengers to visit this exclusive destination on Grand Bahama Island. Following our day of sun and fun at the destination’s grand opening, we’ve put together our Celebration Key review with some takeaways on what we loved and what to skip.
As Carnival Vista slowly approached Celebration Key, we first saw the silhouette of the Suncastle, the destination’s iconic 10-story sandcastle structure from our portside balcony. Soon, other features came into focus, and we could hardly contain our excitement. From the adults-only private beach club, Pearl Cove, to the colorful pier and mile long pool, Celebration Key looked stunning.
Together with a select group of media, we were front and center for all the opening day festivities. Following remarks from President Christine Duffy and special appearances from icons like Shaquille O’Neal, it was finally time to explore all that Celebration Key has to offer.
The Pools and Beaches on Celebration Key
Celebration Key is home to the two largest freshwater lagoons in the Caribbean, divided into two distinct portals. There is the adult-friendly Calypso Lagoon on the west side and the family-focused Starfish Lagoon on the east side.
Splitting the two sections of this pool is the aforementioned signature Suncastle. Along with being Celebration Key’s iconic landmark, it is also home to the destination’s most thrilling attraction. The dual racing waterslides, Flash Flamingo and Mach III Marlin, twist and turn over 350 feet.
These slides have a cover charge of $14.99 per person for an all-day pass. If you have kids, this might be a great deal; though, as adults, there isn’t much re-rideability. However, the top of this sandcastle does offer some fantastic views of the island.
In contrast, while we knew the pools were going to be large, we still were not prepared for how massive they really were. In fact, the Starfish Lagoon pool alone dwarfs Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Lagoon. That pool on Perfect Day at CocoCay used to hold the title as the largest freshwater pool in the Caribbean. Now, Celebration Key’s combined freshwater lagoons are close to 8 times the size of the competition.
So, whether you want a lively Caribbean vibe with DJ music or a more serene day wading in the shallows, Celebration Key has you covered.
Surrounding the lagoon on each side are a variety of lounge chairs and umbrellas, which are available for use on a first-come, first-served basis. Many of the loungers closest to the arrivals plaza were filled with fellow cruisers early in the day. However, within a five-minute walk, there were plenty of empty chairs.
Similarly, the pool area near the Long Necks Swim-Up bar in the “adults-only” section was packed most of the day. Still, there was plenty of other pool space to call your own. While this western section of Calypso Lagoon is technically supposed to be 18+, we didn’t see any enforcement besides some signage.
Although, we were surprised that there aren’t more kid-focused water features. The Guppy Grotto splash pad and wading pool are relatively small, especially given the behemoth size of the rest of the pool area. When compared to Disney Cruise Line or even Royal Caribbean, we would have expected a family-focused cruise line like Carnival to have a more expansive space for the youngest cruisers.
While the pools were busy for most of the day, the opposite was true for the mile long stretch of beach. Both Starfish Beach and Calypso Beach were relatively empty. Still, with great ship views and plenty of complimentary loungers and umbrellas, beach lovers will feel right at home on Celebration Key.
Keep in mind that most amenities are centralized around the lagoons. So, if you’re lounging beachside, you will need to leave your lounger to quench your thirst or satisfy your appetite.
Upgrading Your Day at Celebration Key
While there is plenty of beach and pool space available on Celebration Key that won’t cost you anything, the Pearl Cove Beach Club offers a more secluded and luxurious option.
Reserved for guests 18 and older, this private beach club is the largest of any cruise line destination. It boasts its own 11,000 square foot infinity pool with a swim-up bar and exclusive beach access with upgraded loungers. This unspoiled beach provides perfect views of the ship. There’s also a full-service restaurant, aptly named Pearl Cove Beach Club Restaurant and Bar, offering upscale menu items such as grilled calamari and seafood pasta.
Unlike Royal Caribbean’s 18+ Hideaway Beach Club, Pearl Cove is a relaxed and chill spot with plenty of space to spread out and unwind. It’s more similar to Royal Caribbean’s Coco Beach Club, but Pearl Cove is larger and strictly adults-only.
Carnival Cruise Line offers three different packages for guests to enjoy Pearl Cove. The lowest entry point provides access only, while the most expensive option is an all-inclusive pass that includes ten alcoholic drinks and food at the restaurant. There are also cabanas available for those who wish to upgrade their stay even further.
We spent the morning touring Pearl Cove and both remarked on how much we liked the setup, the infinity pool, and the peaceful vibes. While we had plans to return to Pearl Cove later in the day, we never made it back. When we return to Celebration Key again, we would certainly consider purchasing passes to escape the crowds and the kids.
Food and Drinks on Celebration Key
For cruisers who have sailed to other cruise line private islands, Celebration Key can be confusing when it comes to its food and beverage program.
At private islands like Perfect Day at CocoCay, Great Stirrup Cay, Castaway Cay, or even Carnival’s Half Moon Cay, most of the ashore food is complimentary. Likewise, Royal Caribbean’s and Norwegian Cruise Line’s drink packages work at these private destinations.
But Carnival Cruise Line officials were quick to correct us when we insinuated that Celebration Key is comparable to these private islands. Instead, they refer to Celebration Key as an “exclusive destination”. Thus, most of the food and drinks on Celebration Key are not included in the cruise fare. Similar to other Carnival Corp. destinations, such as Mahogany Bay or Amber Cove, guests have access to several bars and restaurants for an additional fee. These destinations are not an extension of the ship.
Island Eats on Celebration Key
However, unlike Mahogany Bay or Amber Cove, Carnival has introduced a new benefit for Celebration Key, called Island Eats. With Island Eats, everyone receives one meal credit to enjoy while ashore.
The credit is valid for one full meal at one of the casual eateries. Or, guests receive 25% off an entree at full-service restaurants. Children 12 and under eat free from the kids menu at all full-service restaurants.
While we had no issues using our credits, we did observe several guests experiencing difficulties redeeming their meal credits for the included options. Since the credits for all stateroom members are linked, in theory, one cabinmate could use all of them. So, your kids could literally eat everyone’s lunch, meaning mom and dad could be stuck paying for food.
Even though these Island Eats credits work at all fast casual venues, what’s covered varies by location. Thus, you’ll need to review the menus carefully to know which items are included and which will incur extra charges. Included options are often hamburgers or sandwiches. This is often accompanied by one side dish, usually fries or chips, and a cookie.
One big miss is that the meal credit does not include a drink. The only complimentary beverages available on Celebration Key are water. Self-service water refill stations are next to lagoons and food trucks. But, there are no other included drinks like iced tea or lemonade like you find on almost any private cruise line destination.
Casual Dining Ashore
The largest dining venue on Celebration Key is the Captain’s Galley Food Hall in the Starfish Lagoon portal. This venue is home to popular quick-service items. These include pizza, burgers, and hot dogs. There are also upcharge selections including tacos and Mediterranean bowls. Most of these selections are priced between $12 and $15, excluding the service charge and local VAT.
At the outskirts of each portal are our favorite dining options, the food trucks. The 8 unique offerings feature a variety of handheld treats perfect for munching poolside. While each is different, there is some overlap in menu items.
In Starfish Lagoon, food trucks include Grand Bahamas Tacos, Mini Donut King, Seaside Shack Subs & Tenders, and Streatery Sushiva. Across the way at Calypso Lagoon, there are 4 different venues. These include Fowl Play, Calypso Chicken Co, Flippin Fritters, and Seaside Burgers & Dogs. Both food truck venues offer limited picnic tables with umbrellas.
At most of these food trucks, guests can redeem an Island Eats credit for select menu options. For additional servings or menu items not covered, guests need to pay à la carte. For instance, we redeemed one credit for the boneless chicken tenders meal at Fowl Play. But, if we wanted to add some loaded nachos to our order, it would have been an additional $11.25, plus 18% gratuity and VAT.
While we’re sure the vendors will work out the kinks, it did take 20+ minutes to receive our food items. This could be pretty time consuming if you’d like to make individual purchases from multiple food trucks for your travel party.
Celebration Key Full-Service Restaurants
Along with the Pearl Cove Restaurant, there are three additional full-service venues scattered throughout the resort.
All full-service restaurants offer table service dining with unique food menus. Plus, all restaurants boast a signature bar menu with unique cocktails. Unfortunately though, all of the seating is al fresco. With 90-degree temperatures and scorching sun, these venues didn’t provide the escape from the heat or sun that we were hoping for.
The largest venue and the best themed is Mingo’s Tropical Bar & Kitchen in Calypso Lagoon. The authentic menu offers selections such as Bahamian Conch Chowder for $9.99 and Coconut Curry Chicken for $21.99.
At the north side of Caylpso Lagoon is Surf N’ Sauce BBQ & Brews. This barbecue restaurant serves up Southern-inspired cocktails like the Lynchburg Lemonade and local craft beers. Along with sandwiches, guests can opt for BBQ sharing platters priced at $29 per person, including various meats and side dishes.
Families relaxing in Starfish Lagoon can grab lunch at Gil’s Grill. Here, you can share items like the Smoked Fish Dip for $15.99 or the Coconut Shrimp plate for $23.99.
We love the addition of a coffee shop on Celeberation Key. The Suncastle Grounds Coffee is at the base of this landmark in Lokono Cove. Here, guests can grab a latte or a cold brew coffee. There’s also an up-charge ice shop, Yumshine Scoops. Currently, Island Eats does not work at either of these venues. So, guests will be paying around $5 for coffee or a scoop of ice cream.
Grabbing a Drink on Celebration Key
Along with the bars at the full-service restaurants, there are a variety of watering holes. So, you’ll never have to venture too far to grab a drink.
Many of the bars, like the Lagoon Bar East, Lagoon Bar West, and Shoalmates Island Bar, serve a standard menu. Featured drinks include classics like a mojito or a margarita. There is also a selection of local beers and wines.
Perhaps the most Instagrammable bar is the Sunshine Swings Bar. This bar is located in Calypso Lagoon, a few steps from the Suncastle. With a signature cocktail menu featuring concoctions like the Bahama Mama, this open-air bar boasts dozens of swings over both the water and land.
Party people will want to grab one of the 160+ in-water seats at the largest swim-up bar in the world, Long Necks Swim-Up Bar located next to Mingo’s and the DJ island. Or, those who want something a bit less rowdy can still enjoy an in-water libation at Parrotfish Swim-Up Bar located next to the Captain’s Galley Food Hall in Starfish Lagoon.
As we mentioned earlier, the cruise line’s Cheers Package does not work on Celebration Key. So, guests will be paying full price for all beverages at all bars. For the most part, cocktails are around $13, with beers and wine $8 and $11, respectively.
Navigating Celebration Key
Currently, Carnival’s Celebration Key has a pier that can berth two ships, with plans to extend to four ships in the future. The walk from the ship to Paradise Plaza is a short 5-10 minute walk, or trams are available. Once you make your way down the pier, guests can walk around the portals or utilize the tram loops.
Each portal boasts paved walking paths. With plenty of signage, we found it easy to navigate the perimeter on foot. Further, it was simple to find our way into some of the alcoves, which are home to various cabanas and clusters of loungers and umbrellas.
If you’d prefer not to walk, there are two tram routes. One tram takes guests from Starfish Lagoon to the north end of Lokono Cove with 5 stops. Likewise, at Calypso Lagoon, the tram takes guests to Pearl Cove, along with three additional stops ending at Lokono Cove. These trams run all day in a continuous loop.
Unlike some other cruise line private destinations, the layout of Celebration Key is intuitive. This makes it easy for guests to access all the amenities. While most of the restaurants and bars are located around the lagoon pools, those lounging on the beach still don’t have too far to go.
Our Celebration Key Review
Celebration Key is a vibrant, exciting, and overall fun pool or beach day. The colorful island offers families, couples, and multigenerational groups plenty of options to make the most of their time ashore. Similiar to more recent cruise line destinations, Carnival’s Celebration Key features authentic Bahamian touches. With locally inspired food and drink menus, as well as craft markets and local art, Celebration Key merges the spirit of Carnival Cruise Line and the Bahamian people.
Overall, we were pleasantly surprised with Celebration Key. While we were skeptical that anything could compete with Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay, Carnival’s Celebration Key delivers on many fronts.
While an obvious winner when it comes to lagoon-style pools, there are plenty of other included amenities and activities that are complimentary. Three sports areas boast games, basketball and volleyball, and even a pickleball court. There is live music, a Junkanoo parade which occurs twice a day, and plenty of beach space with loungers and umbrellas to spread out.
Albeit an up-charge, the Pearl Cove Beach Club also gets two thumbs up from us. The exclusive beach, infinity pool, and swim-up bar are the perfect adult-only escape.
With a variety of dining options and bars, food and drinks are plentiful on Celebration Key. Many of these venues are well-themed too, from the flamingos adorning the Mingo’s dining venue, to the Sunshine Swings Bar, to the local Bahamian food trucks. While Island Eats does offer some included food, guests should budget accordingly for additional dining and beverages when visiting this exclusive destination on Grand Bahama Island.
With the iconic Suncastle, dual racing slides, plenty of swim-up bars, and several unique cabana options, Carnival’s Celebration Key certainly exudes FUN. We can’t wait to get back!
With twenty Carnial cruise ships from ten different U.S. homeports offering stops at Celebration Key, it’s easy to find a ship and itinerary that includes a full day at this brand new exclusive destination. Whether you are a frequent Carnival cruiser, or have never sailed with the cruise line before, we think Celebration Key is worth visiting.
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