Celebration Key: Inside each area at Carnival's Bahamas destination
"There really is something for everyone," Christine Duffy, Carnival's president, told USA TODAY onboard Carnival Vista ahead of Celebration Key's grand opening. Here's how each portal is different.
Paradise Plaza
A walkway - which is partially covered, a welcome feature on a nearly 90-degree day in late July - connects the pier where Carnival's ships dock to Celebration Key. Guests enter at Paradise Plaza, passing through a sun-shaped archway.
The area is home to Suncastle's pink Flash Flamingo and blue Mach III Marlin racing water slides, which cost $14.99 for unlimited access and are included with cabana and supervilla reservations. Guests can also cool down with ice cream at Yumshine Scoops; visit the shore excursions and guest services desk to make bookings and get information; and find beach wheelchairs (available first-come, first-served).
The plaza also offers access to other portals via walking paths and nearby tram stops.
Starfish Lagoon
Starfish Lagoon is designed with families in mind, built around what the line bills as one of the Caribbean's two biggest freshwater lagoons. Guests can swim there or at nearby Starfish Beach; sunbathe in loungers; or grab burgers, pizza, tacos and more at the open-air Captain's Galley Food Hall.
Other dining options include Gill's Grill, serving up Caribbean seafood along with other fare, and the Starfish Food Trucks (look out for Mini Donut King's guava cheesecake donut, which was tangy and just the right portion). Parents and kids alike can also enjoy tropical drinks, such as the frozen cocktails and mocktails from Parrotfish Swim-Up Bar.
For the sporty set, basketball - at an on-site court - table tennis and other games can be found in Starfish Lagoon (there are sports offered in another area, Calypso Lagoon, as well). Water-based excursions also depart from a pier off Starfish Beach.
Lokono Cove
As the destination's retail hub, guests can buy handmade Bahamian goods and other items, from woodcarvings to jewelry and duty-free products. Suncastle Grounds Coffee also offers iced drinks - or hot beverages, if you dare - for a price and a place to perch.
Land-based shore excursions depart from Lokono Cove, and guests can find taxis and rental cars to go elsewhere on Grand Bahama.
Calypso Lagoon
Calypso Lagoon is the grown-up answer to Starfish Lagoon. Sunshine Swings Bar has swings for seats, while guests can float up to the adults-only Calypso Lagoon Swim-Up Bar (guests must be at least 18 to enjoy the western portion of Calypso Lagoon). That part of Celebration Key felt like more of a party during my visit, thanks in part to the in-water DJ Island.
Mingo's Tropical Bar & Kitchen offers covered seating and serves a wide range of options, from conch fritters to chicken wings and sandwiches. Pro tip: try the key lime pie.
For other casual dining, visitors can head to Surf N' Sauce BBQ & Brews - with Bahamian craft beers on the menu - or the Calypso Food Trucks, among others. Calypso Beach is just a short walk away, too.
Pearl Cove Beach Club
Located at the western edge of Celebration Key, Pearl Cove offers an exclusive experience for an additional cost. The area features its own stretch of beach, an 11,000-square-foot infinity pool, and a private restaurant and bar, all offering prime views of the pier. There are three tiers of pricing:
Pearl Cove Beach Club Access includes access to the portal and a welcome drink for $99.99 per guest
Pearl Cove Beach Club Open Bar also includes up to 10 drinks for $139.99 per guest
Pearl Cove Beach Club All Inclusive includes the open bar perk along with dining at the restaurant for $179.99 per guest
How much does Celebration Key cost?
In addition to the water slides and beach club, guests can pay extra to customize their experience in other ways, such as choosing from a range of daybed, cabana and supervilla rentals if they want more comfort, but there is plenty of open space.
The destination's Island Eats program allows each guest to get one free meal at fast casual venues - many come with a side and cookie - or a 25% discount on an entree at a full-service restaurant. Kids who haven't redeemed their Island Eats meal can also order from the kids menu at full-service restaurants for no additional charge. Visitors can buy other food for an additional charge.
Not all venues participate in Island Eats, but I noticed complimentary options were denoted for those that did on the menus during my visit.
While onboard drink packages do not extend to Celebration Key, onboard internet plans do.
Shore excursions, from dolphin encounters to Jeep tours, also come at an extra cost, and there are kayaks, snorkel gear and lockers available to rent. Travelers can browse add-ons and pricing on Carnival's website.
Duffy noted that this month's opening is just phase one. Celebration Key currently has two berths, and the cruise line previously said it will add two more by 2026.
The destination builds on parent company, Carnival Corp.'s, long-held portfolio of land-based offerings, with another one of its Bahamas destinations, Princess Cays, established in 1992. "I think the scale of what we have at Celebration key is really what's new," Duffy said.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Felixstowe beach carnival to celebrate Nigerian community
A beach carnival will bring together hundreds of people to celebrate their Nigerian Nigerians in Ipswich Community group will host its second annual carnival at Felixstowe beach on Saturday from 10:00 BST to 18: year's event drew 300 attendees, with more expected this Akingbesote set up the community group in November 2023, and said it allowed Nigerians to integrate and come together to celebrate their heritage. "We put it upon ourselves to create a platform where we can integrate ourselves. As a people we can come together as a community with common understanding and create a platform where people can get settled," he added."We've been through the struggle of trying to migrate and, plus, if you get to a new environment and get to know people from where you are, [they] can help you settle you in the community." Nigerians in Ipswich Community has a WhatsApp group with over 890 members where they can seek help and support from others in Ipswich."It's been a blessing," Mr Akingbesote said."We always want to come together, see people, talk to people, speak your language with them."We are here to help everyone settle, we here to contribute positively to the Suffolk county as a host community for Nigerians."We keep raising the bar and we keep representing." Mr Akingbesote said the beach carnival was a family-friendly event and open to everyone."We're going to do a lot of games - tug of war, egg race, sack race, dance competitions, food eating competitions, drink competitions - a lot of stuff that day."For people who like to play chess or play scrabble, we will have table games."We will have couples dance competitions to make it fun, and as well we've got music and our DJ live there."There will also be an after party held from 22:00 BST to 03:00 at Murrayside Community Centre in Nacton Road, Ipswich. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- The Herald Scotland
'South Park' parodies Trump in premiere, but it's not the first time
In response to the episode, the White House told USA TODAY on Thursday, July 24, that the scene was a "desperate attempt for attention," calling the series a "fourth-rate" show. During a panel about the show at San Diego Comic-Con on Thursday evening, July 24, "South Park" creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone sarcastically said they were "terribly sorry" for the episode. Though Trump himself is not often depicted directly in the series, like the recent episode, Parker and Stone have used the popular character Mr. Garrison to represent the president through several seasons. In the series' 20th season, Mr. Garrison, who previously was an elementary school teacher, wins the 2016 U.S. presidential election against Hillary Clinton. Becoming President Garrison, the character continues to serve as a parody for Trump until 2020. President Garrison takes on Trump's swooped, blonde hair, sends out fiery social media posts and is obsessed with hosting Make America Great Again rallies. Here's a look at some of the key moments the president has been featured, or parodied, in "South Park." White House, 'South Park' trade barbs: What to know about the feud 'Where My Country Gone?' (Season 19, Episode 2) "Where My Country Gone" highlights the U.S.-Mexico border wall that Trump wished to build long before he took office in 2017. The episode aired in September 2015, ahead of the 2016 presidential election. In the episode, Mr. Garrison (not yet President Garrison) begins to promote the idea of building a wall along the U.S.-Canada border to eliminate the number of illegal Canadian immigrants entering the country. Can 'South Park' take on Trump 2.0? They're walking a tightrope 'Oh, Jeez' (Season 20, Episode 7) In "Oh, Jeez," Mr. Garrison is elected as president in the 2016 election. The character, renamed to President Garrison, continues to serve as a parody of Trump in the series until Season 24, when Trump lost the 2020 election. The episode aired on Nov. 9, 2016, the day after the election. 'Members Only' (Season 20, Episode 8) In the next episode, "Members Only," President Garrison begins his duties. He gets a Trump-style toupee, tours the Pentagon, is given a book of "military secrets" and gets in a heated phone call with Boris Johnson, the former prime minister of the United Kingdom. 'Put It Down' (Season 21, Episode 2) "Put It Down" highlights the United States' relationship with North Korea and references Trump's presence on social media. In the episode, which aired in September 2017, President Garrison posts aggressive tweets about North Korea, specifically about a nuclear missile fired by the country, which causes car accidents by drivers who are distracted by the posts. 'Doubling Down' (Season 21, Episode 7) "Doubling Down," references the decreasing popularity of Trump during his first presidential administration. The episode aired in November 2017. During the episode, President Garrison insults a world leader on the telephone in the White House while his advisers discuss low approval ratings. 'Splatty Tomato' (Season 21, Episode 10) "Splatty Tomato," again, parodies Trump's approval ratings following the 2016 election. The episode aired in December 2017. Throughout the episode, President Garrison pops up, scaring characters and asking them about his approval ratings. The characters compare Garrison sneak attacks to characters in "Stranger Things" and "IT." At one point, the character Tweek is riding his bicycle around town when he sees a collection of balloons that read, "Make America Great Again." The balloons then pop, revealing President Garrison, who asks Tweek about his ratings. 'The Pandemic Special' (Season 24, Episodes 1-2) "The Pandemic Special" was the premiere of Season 24. Airing in September 2020, the episodes satirize the United States' handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and civil unrest amid the Black Lives Matter movement. President Garrison makes minor appearances in the episodes, notably using a flamethrower to encourage citizens to vote in the 2020 presidential election. 'Spring Break' (Season 26, Episode 6) "Spring Break" parodies the insurrection of Jan. 6, 2021. In the episode, Mr. Garrison, who freshly lost the 2020 presidential election, goes on a trip with his boyfriend to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The episode aired in March 2023. During the trip, Mr. Garrison starts to slink away to Make America Great Again rallies, despite his boyfriend's pleas not to. The episode ends with Mr. Garrison leading a chant that results in his supporters rushing the U.S. Capitol. Want to watch old episodes? Here's how Old and new episodes of "South Park" are now available for streaming on Paramount+ with a paid subscription. A Paramount+ Essential subscription is $7.99 a month with ads, and a Paramount+ Premium subscription is $12.99 a month without ads. Contributing: Brian Truitt and Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@
The Sun
4 days ago
- The Sun
I had no idea going to a carnival could be dangerous until my wardrobe malfunctioned – people say I should move country
A YOUNG woman was left blushing after a wardrobe malfunction at a carnival. Kariah, from Louisiana, US, took to social media to share what happened after a friend managed to capture the moment on video. 2 In the clip, Kariah started by showing off the outfit she put together for her fun-filled day at the carnival. She wore a long-sleeved shirt in blue and white stripes which she tied in the middle to make it cropped. Kariah then paired the look with a glam yellow and silver feathered mini skirt. "POV: You went to play playground in a skirt," she wrote over the clip of her dancing and showing off her outfit. But then she revealed the reason why she should have picked something else to wear. Kariah and her group of girlfriends decided to try the Velcro Wall Game. You essentially put on a velcro suit and run to a sticky wall and try to get attached to the target. And Kariah was game to join in on the festivities. She put the suit on and made a sprint for the target and everything seemed to go as planned as she hit the middle. However, as she was stuck to the board her friends noticed something mortifying. I only have one dress to wear to my grandad's funeral but worry it's too booby - trolls agree & say I'm 'disrespectful' The back of the velcro jumpsuit had a large hole in the butt area and as Kariah had jumped up, her skirt came up to leaving her stuck to the wall with her bottom on full display. "10/10 but wouldn't recommend," she captioned the clip, which went viral with over 5 million views on her TikTok account @ kariahh1. People were quick to take to the comments, and said they would leave the country if it happened to them. One person wrote: "You need to move country and change your identity." Another commented: "I would've started crying lmaooo omg." "I think this qualifies you for witness protection, I would disappear," penned a third. Can you be dress coded for wearing crop tops in public? The concept of being "dress coded" typically applies to specific environments such as schools, workplaces, or certain establishments where dress codes are enforced to maintain a particular standard or atmosphere. In public spaces, however, the situation is generally more relaxed and governed by societal norms rather than strict rules. That said, whether or not you can be dress coded for wearing a crop top in public largely depends on the context and location: Public Spaces: In most public spaces, like parks, streets, and beaches, wearing a crop top is generally acceptable and unlikely to result in any formal repercussions. People have the freedom to dress as they choose, provided they adhere to basic standards of decency and local laws. Establishments and Venues: Some restaurants, shops, or clubs may have their own dress codes. It's possible that a crop top might not meet the dress requirements for more formal venues. In such cases, staff may politely request that you adhere to their dress code or deny entry. Schools and Workplaces: Educational institutions and workplaces often have dress codes in place. Crop tops may be considered inappropriate in these settings, and you could be asked to change into more suitable attire. Cultural and Regional Considerations: In certain cultures or regions, norms and expectations around acceptable clothing can vary widely. It's always a good idea to be aware of and respect local customs and dress codes when travelling. Meanwhile, a fourth said: "Flames of embarrassment would've engulfed me." "I haven't laughed this hard in a while,' claimed a fifth
