Carnival Cruise Line has revealed further details of the opening of Celebration Key in the Bahamas in July 2025, with 18 ships from 10 homeports scheduled to make over 500 calls, accommodating more than 2 million guests.
The Mardi Gras and Celebration Excel vessels will include Celebration Key in their itineraries, with a four-port, seven-day itinerary incorporating the new destination as a bonus port.
This new destination will have a positive impact on fuel consumption and carbon emissions due to its proximity to South Florida and its location.
In addition to Celebration Key, Carnival ships also visit other corporate-managed destinations such as Amber Cove, Grand Turk, and Half Moon Cay, which is undergoing a pier project to facilitate ship docking.
Despite having its own ports, Carnival includes other destinations in its itineraries to offer guests new experiences, with ships also visiting San Juan, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, and other Caribbean destinations.
Ports looking to attract ships should focus on driving awareness, delivering guest experiences, considering crew ambassadors, evolving infrastructure for larger ships, ensuring smooth port transit, and straightforward business dealings when booking berth space. Carnival prioritizes reducing its carbon footprint in itinerary planning, with a current focus on cycles through May 2027 and a long-term planning horizon.
