Celebration Key: Carnival’s New Private Island Experience
One of the highlights of our recent Carnival Vista cruise was a stop at Celebration Key, Carnival’s brand-new private island in the Bahamas. As someone who has also been to other cruise line private islands like Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay, I was excited to see how Carnival’s version compared.
First Impressions
Stepping off the ship, you walk down the pier (trams are available if needed). The island is clean, colorful, and easy to navigate. The main attractions are split between Starfish Lagoon (the family-friendly area) to the right and Calypso Lagoon (a more adult-oriented space) to the left. There is beach area with plenty of seating on both sides, along with the large pools.
Family Fun at Starfish Lagoon
We headed straight to Starfish Lagoon, where Brooks had a blast in the splash area and the huge lagoon pool right next to it. The pool was busiest right where you enter, but for quieter spots, you could simply walk around to the other side of the lagoon.
I’m sure the same holds true for the beach—if you walk farther away from the entrance, you’ll likely find more peaceful areas.
Calypso Lagoon: Grown-Up Vibes
If you head left after the pier, you’ll find Calypso Lagoon, which is designed with adults in mind. There’s a DJ by the pool, lots of swim up bar seating and lounging, a bar with adorable swing seats, and an overall more “party” atmosphere compared to the family side. Even though it isn’t all adults-only (only a small section is 18+), the vibe definitely leans that way.
Food and Drinks
Every guest at Celebration Key gets one dining credit per person loaded onto their Sail & Sign card. If you want more than that, or something not on the “Island Eats” menu, you can use your Sign and Sail card to add it to your onboard account. Food is available from mid-morning until mid-afternoon.
The Island Eats menu is available at certain locations on the island, including the Food Trucks, and the Captain’s Galley Food Hall. There are additional dining options on the island as well that offer additional food options at an upcharge.
Here’s what we tried:
- Morning snack: We used Brooks’s dining credit to grab mini doughnuts and a snow cone from one of the food trucks, then shared our lunches later. It was a fun way to spread out our credits and sample more options.
- Lunch: Later, we ate in the Captain’s Galley Food Hall, where there were multiple stations including pizza, burgers, chicken, salads, a taco/burrito stand, and Mediterranean-inspired bowls. We got chicken tenders and fries for one of the meals, and a burrito bowl for the other. Each meal also came with a cookie at checkout.
One thing I did notice (since I’m a picky eater and always like to customize my meals) is that the Galley makes it very easy to do that. When you order from the taco/burrito stand you choose your toppings and they make it in front of you. If you’re ordering a hamburger or sandwich, they have a topping bar after checkout so you can add whatever you want at your leisure. The food trucks, on the other hand, you are ordering from a machine out front of the truck (for all trucks except the donuts), so I was told if I wanted to customize something, I would have to order then go up to the window and let them know.
What to Know About Drinks
This is where Celebration Key is different from some other cruise line islands. Your Carnival drink package does not transfer over to the island. Any alcoholic beverages you buy on Celebration Key must be purchased separately and charged to your Sail & Sign card.
One important detail: even though drinks on the island aren’t included in your package, they still count toward the daily 15-drink maximum if you have the Cheers package. That means if you buy three drinks on the island, you’ll only have 12 left once you’re back onboard. It’s something to keep in mind when planning your day.
Extras and Entertainment
- Shopping: Walk through the big sandcastle structure, and you’ll find shops selling souvenirs, jewelry, and beach gear.
- Slides: There are a couple of large waterslides available for an extra fee. Lines looked long, but plenty of guests seemed to enjoy them.
- Junkanoo Parade: A couple of times during the day, the island comes alive with a lively Junkanoo parade—complete with music, colorful costumes, and dancing. It’s a short event, but really fun to watch and adds a festive Bahamian flair to your day.
- Seating: Cabanas and upgraded loungers are available to rent if you want a more private or luxurious setup, but there was more than enough free seating for everyone during our visit.
Tips for Visiting Celebration Key
✨ The closer you stay to the entrance, the busier it gets. For quieter vibes, head around to the far side of the lagoon pool (or farther down the beach).
✨ Food credits are per person— if you have a child that likes the morning snack, using one of the credits for a mid-morning snack and then sharing lunch was a great option!
✨ If you want shade, umbrellas are included at no charge, but they go faster near the pool and splash pad. If you want a specific spot (like right next to the kids’ pool/splash area) get there early to get your spot.
✨ If you have the Cheers package, remember: drinks on Celebration Key cost extra but still count toward your daily 15-drink limit.
Final Thoughts
We enjoyed our time at Celebration Key—it’s a fun, colorful, and well-planned island that adds a lot to a Carnival itinerary. While the splash pad was smaller than I expected and the food setup is more limited than Royal Caribbean’s CocoCay, we still had a great day swimming, snacking, and soaking up the sun.
If your cruise stops at Celebration Key, my advice is simple: pack your swimsuits, bring your sunscreen, and plan to spend the day in the water.
👉 Want to see how this day fit into our full cruise? Check out my complete Carnival Vista recap.
Jenny Even
As I grew up, my main bucket list item became to visit all 50 states (which I just completed in 2023 with an island-hopping trip in Hawaii)! When asked what my favorite type of vacation is I never have an answer – I love to do it all! And now being a mom of two young kids it has been fun getting more into the family vacations for our own family.I plan vacations because I love to help people have the best experience and make unforgettable memories.
