Carnival Corporation’s latest venture, Celebration Key, is rapidly progressing as a private destination designed for cruise passengers.

But notably, the project, expected to bring 2.2 million guests to the Bahamas annually when it opens in 2025, is making headway for its impact on its locale on Grand Bahamas island. It has been revealed that over 85% of the contracted companies engaged in building the new facility are from Grand Bahama.

The construction of Celebration Key, a private port 20 miles east of Freeport, Grand Bahama, involves more than 180 local workers and 29 Bahamian construction companies. This direct employment circulates financial benefits within the community and supports local enterprises.

Further economic contributions come from the project’s scale and infrastructure developments. With a recent $100 million investment to extend the pier to accommodate two additional ships by 2026, the port is expected to create over 700 permanent jobs across various sectors, such as retail, food and beverage, and shore excursions.

“Carnival has really demonstrated its belief in Grand Bahamians. Local companies are working on all aspects of this development, giving us a unique opportunity to employ so many local people,” said Lionel Jervis, project manager at KFL Construction. “We are all gaining invaluable experience on a groundbreaking project, working together to build something that will be extremely impactful for the future of Grand Bahama.”

Carnival has committed to significant local participation in the operation phase, as well. It promises that at least 75% of the businesses operating within the port will be owned by Bahamians.

A New Bahamian Escape with Exclusive Portals

Carnival Corporation’s Celebration Key, set to open in July 2025, will provide a unique escape on the island of Grand Bahama to Carnival Cruise Line passengers. Carnival Corporation’s Holland American Line, Princess Cruises, and Cunard Line may also call on the private resort, which will offer a range of amenities and attractions, dining, and shopping. 

Divided into five distinct “portals,” each area will offer unique attractions and activities celebrating the vibrant culture of the Bahamas. A standout feature of Celebration Key will be Lokono Cove, a specialized area within the destination that promises an immersive Bahamian cultural experience. Here, locally owned shopkeepers will sell predominantly locally sourced merchandise.

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Paradise Plaza, a brightly colored welcoming area and promenade, will be guests’ first impression and is being designed to reflect the colors, symbols, and heritage of the Bahamas. It will feature a Bahamian-themed fountain and ice cream shop and serve as the gateway to Celebration Key’s half-mile beachfront dedicated to water sports and relaxation.

The tranquil and more exclusive Adults-Only Private Club portal will provide private beach access, an infinity pool, and high-end dining options. The portal is also designed with an event pavilion to host special occasions, family reunions, and weddings.

A large freshwater lagoon is the highlight of the Family-Friendly portal. This area for all ages includes beach villas, sports courts, and a colorful splash pad for little ones. The lively portal will also offer a variety of dining options and entertainment.

The resort’s portals will mirror the themed areas of Carnival Cruise Line’s Excel-Class ships, offering a familiar feel to the more than 500 itineraries already incorporating a call following the grand opening.

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The first ship scheduled to arrive at Celebration Key will be Carnival Vista during its Southern Caribbean cruise departing from Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida, on July 12. Within its first week of opening, the resort will also welcome Carnival Conquest, Carnival Freedom, Carnival Mardi Gras, Carnival Liberty, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Pride.

Passengers aboard Carnival Vista experienced an unforeseen interruption during their voyage as the ship faced mechanical issues while docked in Puerto Rico. The incident was highlighted by a passenger, who shared an update via social media.

“We are currently on the Vista in Puerto Rico, and the ship broke down,” he posted, indicating that the vessel was temporarily immobilized due to technical problems.

The specifics of the mechanical issues have not been fully disclosed by Carnival Cruise Line, but the disruption caused Carnival Vista to overnight in Puerto Rico on its May 7 call as engineers worked on repairs.

Originally set to depart from San Juan at 5:30 p.m., the ship did not depart until about 7:30 a.m. on May 8. The unscheduled overnight has resulted in Carnival Cruise Line rearranging the itinerary of its 8-night Eastern Caribbean cruise.

The cruise line said in a statement to Cruise Hive, “Carnival Vista’s engineers resolved a technical issue that caused a delayed departure from San Juan, Puerto Rico. The ship’s itinerary has been modified, changing the order in which it visits St. Thomas and St. Maarten on Wednesday and Thursday, to maximize guests’ experience.”

Carnival Vista is currently sailing directly to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands a day ahead of schedule. It will sail to Philipsburg, St. Maarten on May 8 before returning to Port Canaveral on May 12.

Details regarding shore excursions were not revealed, but traditionally, any changes or cancellations to excursions booked through Carnival Cruise Line are remediated by the cruise line and require no further effort from passengers. Guests who booked private excursions must contact providers to make changes and cancellations.

Propulsion Problems Growing on Vista-Class

Carnival Vista’s current journey began in Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida, on May 4, 2024. Sailing first to Puerto Plata/Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic on May 6, the nearly 4,000-passenger, 133,500-gross-ton ship sailed into San Juan, as scheduled, on May 6. Passengers disembarked for what was intended to be a 7-hour call.

As passengers re-embarked, chatter began to erupt when Carnival Vista did not depart on time, with many sharing they would rather be at port dealing with technical issues than at sea.

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Passengers received word from the captain during the evening that the ship was experiencing mechanical issues and that the crew was working on repairs. Further updates shared on social media reported the issues to be related to propulsion.

This is not the first time a Carnival Vista-Class ship has experienced propulsion issues. Carnival Vista, Carnival Panorama, and Carnival Horizon have each experienced propulsion system issues and additional technical challenges. Each event has also resulted in itinerary changes, as well as cruise cancellations.

Carnival Vista’s propulsion problems were first noted in 2016 during a sailing from New York on November 16. The issue caused the ship to replace a Grand Turk call in Turks and Caicos with one in Nassau, Bahamas. In addition, three cruises were canceled in June 2019, and the ship was put into unscheduled dry dock for repairs of the system.

It wasn’t long before propulsion problems returned, with more itinerary changes enforced due to problems in May 2022.

Vista-Class ships from Carnival use Azipod Drive propulsion systems located outside of the vessel. This means, when it requires repair or maintenance, it cannot be accessed via the engine room and instead requires more complex repairs.

Despite the setbacks, Azipods are considered the best for fuel efficiency and maneuverability, which is why the cruise line continues to use it as its propulsion system.