Key Aspects:
- A heavy thunderstorm drenched Carnival’s Celebration Key on September 17, 2025, and one guest captured the massive storm on video.
- The thunderstorm will continue into September 18, with more rain on the horizon through early next week.
- Bad weather is always a risk when cruising during hurricane season, but guests with the right mindset can still make the most of their visit to the new private destination.
A day in paradise at Carnival’s Celebration Key has turned into a wet mess for cruise guests who visited the newly opened destination on September 17, 2025.
A video taken by a current Carnival guest that appears to have been filmed from the Captain’s Galley Food Hall in Starfish Lagoon shows the rain coming down in heavy sheets.
As the rain pours down, the cruiser pans over a shallow layer of water that covers the ground, which likely posed quite the slip hazard.
It’s not clear which cruise ship the videographer is sailing with, as both Carnival Liberty and Carnival Freedom were docked at the exclusive resort during the storm.
“Big time storm in Celebration Key today 9/17/2025,” the passenger captioned the clip.
The dining area is nearly deserted and not a soul can be seen swimming in the nearby lagoon.
Only a small number of passengers, perhaps just a dozen or so, can be seen taking shelter under the awnings near the closed food pick-up counters while a few crew members work to cover what looks like cash registers with protective tarps.
In the comments section, the video poster said that the storm was so big that power had been inconsistent on the island.
“This one was a big one; power has been off and on…” he wrote.
But on the bright side, at least it’s a warm rain as the temperature (Fahrenheit) in the Grand Bahama destination tends to be in the high 70s and 80s during this time of year.
More Cruise Ships Could Be Impacted
Unfortunately, it’s possible that more cruise ships could be impacted by the stormy weather.
Just like on September 17, the forecast calls for heavy thunderstorms on September 18 – when Carnival Paradise and Carnival Elation are expected to visit.
Light rain is expected on Friday, September 19, through Sunday, September 21, during which time five ship calls are scheduled.
Monday and Tuesday of next week (September 22-23) will also experience scattered thunderstorms with a chance of lightning.
Cruise tracking data shows that Carnival Elation will visit Celebration Key on Monday, with Carnival Dream arriving and Carnival Freedom returning on Tuesday.
The forecast does not call for sunny skies until Wednesday, September 23.
Although rain can be disappointing, bad weather is a risk that cruisers take when they decide to set sail during the Atlantic Hurricane Season, which runs from June 1 to November 30 annually.
The season is usually at its peak from mid-August through the end of September.
In addition to hurricanes, the risk of rain showers and thunderstorms like these is also heightened during this time.
“Ugggg. Same thing happened to us a few weeks ago! So disappointing! Can’t wait to go back though,” one guest, who recently visited Celebration Key, shared.
“It was bad. Lighting strikes and thunder like I have never heard before. Umbrellas flying everywhere because of the wind lol. It was nuts,” she continued.
If cruising during hurricane season, guests can always opt to stay on the ship during bad weather.
They can also make financially prudent decisions by skipping add-ons like cabana rentals, which start at $599.99 for a small cabana for six and are not very pleasant in a downpour.
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Carnival may refund the rental in particularly severe weather, but there is no guarantee.
Finally, it all comes down to attitude. Guests with a positive mindset can still enjoy a rainy day in Celebration Key as long as they are willing to make the most of it.
