Carnival Cruise Line has welcomed its one-millionth guest to Celebration Key just five months after the destination opened.
“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,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “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.”
The company said that Celebration Key has generated more than 1,000 permanent local positions and has partnered with 58 Bahamian-owned companies that have business operations on-site. During the construction phase, Carnival also hired 29 Bahamian construction companies, with 96% of landside employees being Bahamian, creating significant employment opportunities during the destination’s development.
“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,” said Minister Glover-Rolle.
To mark the special moment for Celebration Key, Andrew Sexton, the one-millionth guest, was greeted with a surprise celebration as soon as he stepped ashore with his family. He was sailing with his wife, Savannah, their three daughters, and extended family all from Knoxville, Tennessee, on a big holiday vacation as a special gift from the grandparents. It was Andrew’s and the children’s first-ever cruise.
The Sexton family arrived on Carnival Vista, the same ship that made the inaugural call to Celebration Key in July. A Junkanoo band led the welcome, surrounding the guests with high energy that has become signature to the Celebration Key experience. Carnival also gave the family a special package of experiences, including a private cabana, food and beverages for the day, and unlimited access to the waterslides.
Since opening on July 19, Carnival has served more than 500,000 complimentary Island Eats meals, 600,000 beverages, and has offered guests 40 different types of offsite shore excursions – including a parasailing adventure where more than 3,600 guests have viewed Celebration Key from above the destination. More than 49,000 guests have enjoyed the Suncastle water slides, and guests have also booked over 16,000 premium accommodations, such as private cabanas and super villas to underscore there is something for everyone at Celebration Key.
Carnival currently calls on Celebration Key with 20 ships from ten different U.S. homeports and has previously said it expects to welcome two million guests next year and four million guests by 2028, following the pier expansion that is set to open in summer 2026.
