Sneak peek! First photos of Carnival Cruise Line's new beach club in the Bahamas
Just five months before it's set to debut, Celebration Key, Carnival Cruise Line's new private beach area in the Bahamas, is nearing completion, with construction almost finished and several key milestones taking place.
Carnival has released the first photos of the new destination, which will open its doors to passengers July 19, when Carnival Vista becomes the first vessel to call there.
Take a peek at some of what you can expect during a visit to this exclusive new oasis.
This aerial shot of the progress at Celebration Key shows a view over the Calypso Lagoon Portal, the adults-only area. The 10-story Suncastle waterslide tower, which serves as the centerpiece for the destination's five portals, stands in the background, surrounded by scaffolding.
This view from inside one of Celebration Key's Calypso Lagoon Supervillas offers a closer look at the adults-only area under construction.
During a recent site visit, Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy assisted with the ceremonial filling of one of two of the largest freshwater lagoons in the Caribbean. Together, the lagoons hold about 7 million gallons of freshwater that will be desalinated by an on-property system.
This view over the Calypso Pool shows several of the nearly 1,000 native palm trees that the cruise line rescued and relocated so they wouldn't be lost to construction. Thousands of other native plants were also replanted throughout the property.
"This destination will serve as a tribute to the rich Bahamian culture and Grand Bahama's natural environment," said Carnival Corp. CEO Josh Weinstein in a statement from Carnival Cruise Line. "It's clear Celebration Key will be a game-changer for our flagship brand and its loyal guests, with endless options for relaxation and recreation, but it's also truly great to see firsthand how we're implementing our company's robust sustainability initiatives on land."
In a nod to the traditional ship construction milestone of keel laying, Duffy and Weinstein embedded a key in the Suncastle in honor of Celebration Key.
"Celebration Key represents a new chapter for Carnival and its construction builds on our close partnership with The Bahamas, so seeing it transform from vision to reality is incredible," said Duffy in a statement. "We broke ground on this site less than three years ago, and now in five short months we'll see our first guests enjoy the many experiences we created just for them to celebrate and enjoy this gorgeous place on Grand Bahama."
Celebration Key — which will feature food, music, shopping, a giant swim-up bar and a pier that will eventually accommodate as many as four of Carnival's largest ships — is one of two major private beach areas opening in 2025. Royal Caribbean's new Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is set to begin receiving guests in December.
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