Carnival’s Celebration Key Welcomes 1 Millionth Guest in Five Months

Carnival Cruise Line welcomed the one-millionth guest to its new private destination, Celebration Key, on Dec. 18, 2025, reaching the milestone just five months after the site opened in The Bahamas.

The one-millionth visitor, Andrew Sexton of Knoxville, Tennessee, arrived with his family on Carnival Vista, the same ship that made Celebration Key’s inaugural call on July 19, 2025. Carnival said Sexton was a first-time cruiser, and the trip was part of a holiday vacation organized as a gift from the grandparents.

A milestone visit, marked with an on-arrival celebration

Carnival staged a surprise welcome when the Sexton family disembarked. A Junkanoo band and crew members greeted the group, Santa Claus joined the arrival, and Cruise Director MarQ Anthony met the family in person to recognize the milestone.

Sexton stepped ashore with his wife, Savannah, their three daughters, and additional family members. Carnival said the daughters received commemorative sashes as part of the celebration.

• Private cabana: Carnival provided the family a private cabana for the day as part of the one-millionth-guest recognition package.
• Food and beverages: The package included complimentary food and beverages for the day during the Celebration Key visit.
• Waterslide access: Carnival also included unlimited access to the destination’s waterslides for the family during the call.

Early scale of operations, from ship calls to guest activity

Carnival has positioned Celebration Key as a high-volume call for its fleet. Since opening, the destination has hosted visitors from 20 Carnival ships sailing from 10 U.S. homeports, including PortMiami, Port Canaveral, and Jacksonville.

Carnival Vista brought 4,800 guests on the first visit on July 19, 2025. The ship returned to Celebration Key for the Dec. 18 milestone call during a six-day Eastern Caribbean cruise sailing from Port Canaveral.

Carnival also released early operating metrics covering dining and beverage service, shore excursion participation, and premium purchases since the destination opened.

• Complimentary dining: Carnival reported more than 500,000 complimentary Island Eats meals served since the July opening.
• Beverage service: Carnival said 600,000 beverages have been served during the same period.
• Excursions and participation: The destination has offered 40 offsite shore excursion options, and Carnival reported more than 3,600 guests participating in a parasailing excursion.
• Signature attractions: Carnival said more than 49,000 guests have used the Suncastle waterslides.
• Premium purchases: Carnival reported over 16,000 bookings for premium accommodations such as private cabanas and super villas.

Local employment and business participation in The Bahamas

Carnival describes Celebration Key as the largest development project Carnival Corporation has undertaken. The cruise line said the destination has created more than 1,000 permanent jobs for local Bahamian residents and has partnered with 58 locally owned businesses that operate on site.

During development, Carnival said it hired 29 Bahamian construction companies and that 96% of landside employees were Bahamian.

Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, tied the one-millionth-guest milestone to both guest reception and on-island jobs. “Both local residents who have benefited from the job creation and our guests have embraced Celebration Key from the very first day, and this milestone underscores an exciting chapter for us in The Bahamas,” Duffy said.

Duffy added: “We’re proud to lay the foundation for long-term growth and a positive impact in the region, while creating something truly special for our guests.”

Minister Pia Glover-Rolle also framed the destination’s activity around employment and longer-term benefits for residents. “We look forward to the same results that Celebration Key has brought, which is more employment for more locals and the ability for family islanders to actually relocate and move back home so that they could have gainful employment in their places of domicile,” Glover-Rolle said.

Expansion plans and visitor projections tied to added berth capacity

Carnival said it is continuing work on a Phase 2 expansion at Celebration Key that is estimated to cost $100 million and is scheduled to open in 2026. Plans include a second pier and expanded berthing capacity designed to allow up to four ships to dock simultaneously, including Carnival’s larger Excel-class ships.

The company has linked its longer-term visitation expectations to that capacity buildout. Carnival has previously said it anticipates welcoming two million guests in 2026 and reaching four million visitors annually by 2028.

With the next construction phase underway and ship calls already in rotation from multiple U.S. homeports, Carnival’s timeline places the next major on-site developments into 2026, with visitation targets extending through 2028.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is Celebration Key?

Celebration Key is Carnival Cruise Line’s private destination in The Bahamas. Carnival has positioned it as a high-volume call for its fleet, with a mix of on-island experiences, premium accommodations, and offsite shore excursions.

When did Celebration Key open?

Celebration Key opened on July 19, 2025, with Carnival Vista making the destination’s inaugural visit.

Which ship brought the one-millionth guest to Celebration Key?

The one-millionth guest, Andrew Sexton of Knoxville, Tennessee, arrived on Carnival Vista during the ship’s Dec. 18, 2025, visit.

What is changing with Celebration Key’s expansion in 2026?

Carnival’s Phase 2 project, estimated at $100 million and scheduled to open in 2026, includes a pier expansion designed to allow up to four ships to dock at once, including larger Excel-class ships.

How many visitors does Carnival expect Celebration Key to serve?

Carnival has previously said it anticipates welcoming two million guests in 2026 and reaching four million visitors annually by 2028, projections it has linked to expanded berth capacity.