Carnival’s Mardi Gras and Pride Cruise Ships Bring 9,000 Guests to Celebration Key

Carnival Cruise Line marked a major milestone this week as two of its ships — Mardi Gras and Carnival Pride — docked simultaneously at the new Celebration Key destination on Grand Bahama, welcoming a combined 9,000 guests to the destination.

The event marked the first visit by Mardi Gras, Carnival’s first Excel-class ship, to the new 65-acre private port, which officially opened just last weekend. Mardi Gras arrived as part of a week-long Eastern Caribbean cruise from Port Canaveral that departed July 19, while Carnival Pride made the stop during a week-long Bahamas sailing out of Baltimore that began July 20.

Celebration Key is Carnival’s newest and most ambitious destination to date — a purpose-built cruise port designed to deliver an all-day island experience with wide-ranging appeal. The destination features five themed “portals,” each offering a distinct mix of relaxation and activity. Guests have access to a 1.5-mile stretch of beach, a series of expansive freshwater lagoons, the world’s largest swim-up bar and swings bar, and more than 30 food and beverage options.

One of the signature draws is what Carnival is calling the largest private beach club retreat at any cruise port — a premium experience designed to elevate the traditional beach day with enhanced service and amenities.

“We’re immensely proud and grateful for the great reaction from our guests visiting Celebration Key throughout this first week,” said Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy. “The world’s newest cruise destination is already a success and delivering more fun to 9,000 visitors in one day is a great testament to that.”

Celebration Key is now a featured stop on itineraries for 20 Carnival ships sailing from 10 different U.S. homeports — a major expansion of the brand’s footprint in The Bahamas and a key part of its long-term destination strategy in the region.