Carnival is opening a private resort for cruise passengers. See what's in the works
Beginning in July, Doral-based Carnival will send ships between PortMiami and Celebration Key, a private development in the Bahamas.
Described by the cruise ship company as 'a new destination from the ground up,' Celebration Key is on the southern side of Grand Bahama island and about 17 miles northeast of Freeport.
When finished, the resort will have its own pier with two berths where Carnival's largest ships can dock. In 2026, the pier at Celebration Key will add two more berths so a total of four Carnival ships can dock at the same time.
The resort will feature water slides for kids, scuba diving and other sports, and excursions. And there will be restaurants and bars that passengers can reach by walking or swimming.
Costing $600 million, the destination is the latest in major cruise carriers betting big time on private islands or resorts built from the ground up. The new stops give cruisers more beach time, expand group activities and bring in more money.
Royal Caribbean, also based in Miami, is developing a third private space in Mexico that's expected to be ready in 2027. The company's other two private resorts are in Labadee, Haiti, and Coco Cay in the Bahamas. Norwegian Cruise Line has Great Stirrup Cay, also in the Bahamas.
Carnival is so keen on Celebration Key that 20 of its 27 ships plan to sail there, including all five ships that call PortMiami home: Carnival Celebration, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Sunrise, Carnival Conquest and Carnival Magic. Ships sailing from Baltimore, New Orleans and Galveston will also head there this year.
Carnival Conquest, which does three-and four-day trips to the Bahamas, will be the first PortMiami-based ship to visit Celebration Key, departing South Florida on July 18.
'Celebration Key represents a new chapter for Carnival and its construction builds on our close partnership with the Bahamas,' Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, said in a statement. 'Seeing it transform from vision to reality is incredible.'
Duffy visited the under-construction Celebration Key in February, along with Carnival Corp. Chief Executive Officer Josh Weinstein and Chief Maritime Officer Lars Ljoen. The cruise executives joined leaders from the organization Plant a Tree and replanted about 1,000 sabal palms, a nod to the role their industry needs to play in increasing sustainability.
Duffy also took part in 'the ceremonial filling of one of two expansive freshwater lagoons, the largest in the Caribbean.' These will be sustained by Celebration Key's desalination system that converts seawater into freshwater. The lagoons span over seven acres and hold about seven million gallons of water.
Carnival broke ground on the project less than three years ago. About 500 Bahamian workers are on the 65-acre site around the clock to make sure the resort is ready by July.
The cruises from Miami that will stop at Celebration Key range from a three-day weekend cruise on Carnival Conquest to a 13-day trip starting from Barcelona on Carnival Journeys. Carnival Celebration will offer a variety of seven-day cruises to the eastern and western Caribbean that stop at the new resort.
The resort expects to have more than 30 restaurants and bars, from full-service sit-downs to self-ordering food trucks.
The development is broken down into different areas.
Paradise Plaza is the welcoming area. Starfish Lagoon has recreation and relaxation. Calypso Lagoon has an adult-only area with a DJ island and a large swim-up bar. Pearl Cove Beach Club is a premium adult-only space with an infinity pool and beachfront cabanas. Pearl Cove Beach Club will offer beachfront daybeds, private cabanas and Super Villas, each of which includes access to the club's open bar service, infinity pool, full-service restaurant and beachfront.
Here is a rundown on the food and drinks:
Calypso Lagoon
▪ Mingo's Tropical Bar & Kitchen, named after the Bahamas' national bird the flamingo, is a full-service, Carnival-run restaurant offering Bahamian favorites including fried fish and conch fritters, as well as burgers, seafood, tacos, steak and sandwiches. Mingo's bar will serve tropical frozen drinks and cocktails.
▪ Mingo's Express food truck, just outside the restaurant, has self-ordering kiosks and shaded seating, and to-go hamburgers, salads and fish sandwiches.
▪ Surf N' Sauce BBQ & Brews is a full-service dining spot serving slow-smoked meat prepared in an outdoor smoker. A full-service bar pours craft beer from Bahamian breweries.
Starfish Lagoon
▪ Gill's Grill, a full-service restaurant and full bar, cooks up Caribbean seafood including seafood baskets, local fish, lobster, steamed crab and shrimp, chicken, burgers and kids' meals.
▪ Captain's Galley Food Hall features five outlets serving burgers, hot dogs, fried chicken, pizza, Mediterranean bowls, tacos and burritos.
▪ Food trucks with self-ordering kiosks offer chicken sandwiches, burgers and conch fritters.
Pearl Cove Beach Club
▪ Pearl Cove Beach Club restaurant in an area for guests 18 and older.
Calypso Lagoon
▪ Long Necks Bar is where you can grab one of 100 seats and order a frozen drink, beer or Bahamian cocktailwhile aDJ spins tunes.
▪ The Sunshine Swings Bar has 40 swings and offers a 'chill vibe.'
▪ The Parrotfish Swim Up Bar has seating in-water and out-of-water and serves frozen cocktails and mocktails with tropical fruit juice.
Pearl Cove Beach Club
▪ An infinity pool overlooks the beach and a swim-up bar
Paradise Plaza
▪ A welcome area where you can get your caffeine fix or energy boost with coffee and ice cream.
You can book sailings taking place into 2027. To learn more about their sailings and make reservations, visit the Carnival website at carnival.com.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Insider
an hour ago
- Business Insider
Upcoming Stock Splits This Week (July 28 to August 1)
These are the upcoming stock splits for the week of July 28 to August 1, based on TipRanks' Stock Splits Calendar. A stock split is a corporate play that boosts the number of shares in circulation by handing out extras to existing shareholders, without changing the company's overall value. This reduces the price per share, making the stock more affordable and often more appealing to retail investors. Elevate Your Investing Strategy: Take advantage of TipRanks Premium at 50% off! Unlock powerful investing tools, advanced data, and expert analyst insights to help you invest with confidence. But not all splits are about broadening appeal. Some companies flip the script with a reverse stock split, consolidating shares to boost the share price while shrinking the total share count. The company's market cap stays the same, but the higher price tag often helps meet listing standards like Nasdaq's minimum price rule, warding off the threat of delisting. Whether the goal is to court investors or stay in the game, these corporate maneuvers often send signals that smart traders are quick to pick up on. Let's take a look at the upcoming stock splits for the week. ChargePoint Holdings (CHPT) – ChargePoint is an electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure provider operating an extensive network of chargers and connected services. On July 9, ChargePoint announced a 1‑for‑20 reverse stock split scheduled to become effective on July 28. The split is intended to increase the per-share price and regain compliance with NYSE's minimum bid price requirement, after trading below the $1.00 threshold since January 2025. FOXO Technologies (FOXO) – Developing advanced payment-processing platforms for the dental and medical industries, FOXO is taking strategic action to stay compliant with NYSE American listing standards. On July 17, the board approved a 1‑for‑1.99 reverse stock split effective on July 27, with trading on a split‑adjusted basis starting July 28. Mersana Therapeutics (MRSN) – Mersana is a clinical-stage biotech developing antibody‑drug conjugates (ADCs) targeting cancer. On July 24, it announced a 1‑for‑25 reverse stock split, effective before market open on July 28. The split seeks to increase per‑share price to regain Nasdaq Global Select listing compliance after prolonged depressed stock price. Ikena Oncology (IKNA) – Ikena Oncology, am immuno‑oncology biotech company, received shareholder approval on July 15 for a 1-for-12 reverse stock split, to be implemented at the start of trading on July 28 – the same day it merges with Inmagene Biopharmaceuticals. Upon closing, the combined company will be rebranded as ImageneBio and begin trading on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol IMA. AgriFORCE Growing Systems (AGRI) – AgriFORCE Growing Systems, a Canada-based ag-tech and food systems company listed in the U.S., is going through a 1-for-9 reverse stock split. Shareholders gave the green light back on June 6, and the move will officially take effect when markets opened on July 28. The goal here is to get the share price back above Nasdaq's $1.00 minimum and stay in compliance with listing rules. Velo3D, Inc. (VLDX) – Velo3D, a leading innovator in metal 3D printing technology, is making a move to reposition itself in the market. On July 25, the company announced a 1-for-15 reverse stock split, set to take effect at the start of trading on July 28. To mark the change, Velo3D shares will temporarily trade under the ticker symbol VLDXD for 20 sessions before reverting back to VLDX. Senmiao Technology (AIHS) – Senmiao Technology, a U.S.-listed fintech and auto-finance company based in China, is streamlining its stock structure with a 1-for-10 reverse split. Announced on July 24, and set to take effect on July 29, the move aims to lift its share price to meet Nasdaq's listing standards. Silexion Therapeutics (SLXN) – Israel-based Silexion Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing personalized cancer vaccines and immuno-oncology therapies. On July 16, Silexion announced a 1-for-15 reverse stock split of its common shares, effective after market close on July 28, with trading on a split-adjusted basis beginning July 29. The reverse split is intended to boost the stock price and regain compliance with Nasdaq's minimum bid price requirement for continued listing. NaaS Technology (NAAS) – NaaS Technology is a China-based provider of EV charging services and software, listed on the Nasdaq. On July 14, the company announced a 1-for-4 reverse ADS split set to take effect on or about July 30. The move aims to lift the ADS price, ensure compliance with Nasdaq's minimum bid requirement, and strengthen its appeal to investors. Biodexa Pharmaceuticals (BDRX) – Biodexa Pharmaceuticals is a UK-based clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing treatments for diseases with unmet medical needs, including a Phase 3 trial for familial adenomatous polyposis and a Phase 2a trial for type 1 diabetes. On July 15, the company announced a 1-for-10 reverse ADR split, effective July 31. The goal is to raise the ADR trading price to meet Nasdaq's $1.00 minimum bid price requirement. Yoshiharu Global (YOSH) – Yoshiharu Global is a restaurant operator specializing in Japanese ramen and rolls, primarily located in Southern California and Nevada. On July 18, the board and shareholders approved a 4-for-1 forward stock split, record date July 28, with the additional shares distributed after market close on July 30, and trading on a post-split basis starting July 31. The aim is to increase stock liquidity and investor accessibility, making the shares more appealing to retail investors. TipRanks Stock Splits Calendar.
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Trump ‘really likes' TikTok— but admin warns Chinese ownership not acceptable as dead deadline looms
President Trump likes TikTok but the Chinese-owned short video app, used by some 170 million Americans, has to move to US ownership, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick said on Sunday. 'The President really likes TikTok, and he said it over and over again, because, you know, it was a good way to communicate with young people,' Lutnick said in an interview on Fox News Sunday with Shannon Bream. 'But let's face it, you can't have the Chinese have an app on 100 million American phones, that is just not okay. So, it's got to move to American ownership, it's got to move to American technology, American algorithms,' he said. 'I know the President is positive towards TikTok, if it can move into American hands.' Advertisement 3 Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Sunday that President Trump likes TikTok because 'it was a good way to communicate with young people.: FOX NEWS Lutnick's comments follow his warning last week that TikTok will have to stop operating in the U.S. if China does not approve a deal for the app. He told CNBC on Thursday that US must control the algorithm that makes the social media platform work. Advertisement TikTok parent ByteDance has a Sept. 17 deadline to divest the platform's US assets. Last month, President Trump extended by 90 days to Sept. 17, a deadline for China-based ByteDance to divest the US assets of TikTok. Trump's action took place despite a 2024 law that mandated a sale or shutdown by Jan. 19 of this year if there had not been significant progress. 3 President Trump has set a Sept. 17 deadline for Chinese firm ByteDance to divest TikTok's US assets. Getty Images 'China can have a little piece or ByteDance, the current owner, can keep a little piece. But basically, Americans will have control. Americans will own the technology, and Americans will control the algorithm,' Lutnick said. Advertisement 'If that deal gets approved, by the Chinese, then that deal will happen,' he added. 'If they don't approve it, then TikTok is going to go dark, and those decisions are coming very soon.' 3 A deal that was in the works this spring that would spin off TikTok's US operations into a new US-based firm stalled. Chidori_B – A deal had been in the works this spring that would spin off TikTok's US operations into a new US-based firm, majority-owned and operated by US investors. This stalled after China indicated it would not approve it following Trump's announcements of steep tariffs on Chinese goods. Trump has three times granted reprieves from federal enforcement of the law that mandated the sale or shutdown of TikTok that was supposed to take effect in January.
New York Post
3 hours ago
- New York Post
Why top NYC restaurants are bringing in famed chefs from around the world
Top New York City restaurants are increasingly turning to collaborations with renowned chefs from around the globe to boost business and stand out from high-end rivals, Side Dish has learned. The collabs, while not a new phenomenon, have taken on added importance as President Trump's tariffs create challenges for chefs to source some of their favorite ingredients. However, importing talent from all corners of the globe – which at popular Tribeca haunt l'abeille means bringing in chefs from England, France, Belgium, Japan, Hong Kong and Thailand – remains tax-free. 7 l'abeille in Tribeca is importing talent from all corners of the globe. Eric Vitale Photography 'Global residences help everyone grow and learn — from the guests to the staff. They keep the restaurant interesting,' said Howard Chang, co-owner of Kuma Hospitality Group's l'abeille with partners Rahul Saito and executive chef Mitsunobu Nagae. The dinners these top chefs serve up at ticketed events aren't cheap. At a recent, prix-fixe collab dinner at l'abeille, Nagae worked with London-based chef Chet Sharma, who studied physics at Oxford and now helms the standout Indian-themed restaurant BiBi in London's swanky Mayfair neighborhood. The meal cost $325, with an additional $295 for wine pairings. The exclusive events, however, often don't bring in more money than regular a la carte dinners, restaurateurs told Side Dish. That's because the higher prices are offset by the cost of flying in the foreign-based chefs, along with some of their team members, and putting them all up in hotels. 7 Chet Sharma, left, and Mitsunobu Nagae collaborated on a prix-fixe dinner. Eric Vitale Photography 7 The collabs, while not a new phenomenon, have taken on added importance as President Trump's tariffs create challenges for chefs to source some of their favorite ingredients. Eric Vitale Photography The upside, they say, is that global collabs raise the restaurants' profiles, bring in new diners and offer educational benefits for staff. On the Upper East Side, Sushi Noz's executive chef Nozomu Abe is bringing in Michelin-starred Chef Endo Kazutoshi, a third-generation sushi master who trained in Japan before opening his namesake restaurant, Endo, at the Rotunda in London. 7 At Sushi Noz on the Upper East Side, executive chef Nozomu Abe, left, is bringing in Michelin-starred Chef Endo Kazutoshi. Hannah Wyatt Last week, the pair offered a rare collaborative omakase where they presented their culinary visions through the use of local fish and other influences. 'We started the Japan series in 2019,' said Hannah Wyatt, Sushi Noz's operations manager. 'Our goal was to showcase top chefs from Japan through collaborative dinners with chef Noz, with a focus on sushi and kaiseki chefs at the top of their respective fields.' In Williamsburg, Brooklyn, the owners of Layla's began bringing in chefs during COVID and continue to have pop-ups for 'brand exposure.' 7 The dinners these top chefs serve up at ticketed events aren't cheap. Eric Vitale Photography 7 The exclusive events, however, often don't bring in more money than regular a la carte dinners, restaurateurs told Side Dish. Eric Vitale Photography The most recent international collab involved chef Kyle Garry and chef Whyte Rushen of Whyte's in London, who is now on a 'worldwide' tour. 'We did it once, and it was really successful and fun and now it's something we try to do as often as we can,' Samuel Lynch, one of Layla's co-owners along with Stefano D'Orsogna and David Lacey, told Side Dish. The trend has even extended to the Hamptons, where Mavericks Montauk will welcome the crew from Michelin-starred Parisian restaurant Contraste on July 31. 7 The upside, they say, is that global collabs raise the restaurants' profiles, bring in new diners and offer educational benefits for staff. Interior of l'abeille, above. Eric Vitale Photography The collaboration was made possible by the deep-rooted friendship between Mavericks' pastry chef Remy Ertaud and Contraste's Louis De Vicari. We hear … that celeb chef Scott Conant is opening a posh new Italian restaurant, Leola, in the Bahamas at Baha Mar this fall. Leola will be on the casino level of Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, joining hotspots including Jon Batiste's Jazz Club, Marcus Samuelsson's Marcus at Baha Mar Fish + Chop House, Daniel Boulud's Cafe Boulud, and Dario Cecchini's Carna. The 8,800 square foot space comes with 106 seats in the main dining room and 130 seats outside. 'Bringing Leola to life at Baha Mar is something I've dreamed about for a long time,' Conant said. 'I've always been inspired by the beauty and spirit of the Bahamas, and it felt like the perfect place to create a restaurant that's both personal and inviting. With Leola, we're blending the kind of food and hospitality I love—warm, soulful, and rooted in connection.' Conant will also participate in the Fourth Annual Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival, which runs from Oct. 22-26.
