Carnival Corporation to Enhance Celebration Key with $100 Million Pier Extension

Carnival Corporation, the world’s leading cruise company, has emboldened its commitment to the future of cruise tourism and the economic prosperity of The Bahamas with an ambitious $100 million pier extension at Celebration Key. Set on the pristine shores of Grand Bahama Island, this expansion will revolutionize the cruise experience for travelers and mark a new chapter in the island’s tourism sector. Envisioned to open in the summer of 2025, with the additional enhancements anticipated by 2026, Celebration Key is poised to become the crown jewel of private cruise destinations. The expansion aims to double the current arrival capacity, accommodating up to four of Carnival’s mammoth Excel-class ships simultaneously. With this bold venture, approximately 4 million guests are projected to visit Celebration Key annually by 2028, immersing themselves in the unparalleled beauty and hospitality of The Bahamas.

The announcement of this visionary project was made during the 25th Annual Grand Bahama Business Outlook, spotlighting the deep-rooted partnership between The Bahamas and Carnival Corporation. This partnership not only underscores the popularity of The Bahamas as a cruise destination but also highlights the mutual commitment to fostering long-term growth and prosperity for Grand Bahama Island. The island is on the cusp of an exciting transformation, with the pier extension facilitating a considerable influx of tourists and opening doors to unprecedented opportunities for local businesses, entrepreneurs, and the broader community. Carnival Corporation’s expanded investment is heralded as a testament to their dedication to the island’s development, promising a future brimming with prosperity and growth.

Celebration Key has been meticulously designed to cater to an expected surge in visitors, featuring a mile-long white sand beach, the Caribbean’s largest freshwater lagoons, and a variety of dining, shopping, and entertainment options. The destination will feature five unique areas, or 'portals,' each offering guests a myriad of ways to explore, relax, and enjoy. With the aim of creating a distinctly Bahamian experience, Carnival Corporation is actively working with local stakeholders to ensure that the economic benefits of this development are widespread, creating more than 2,500 direct jobs for Bahamians and driving significant growth in revenue and GDP for The Bahamas.

With the pier extension, Carnival Corporation solidifies its $600 million investment in Celebration Key, marking it as the largest project ever undertaken by the company in its efforts to innovate the cruise industry. This project not only signifies a monumental commitment to enhancing guest experiences but also to the sustainable development and economic revitalization of Grand Bahama. According to an economic impact study by Tourism Economics, this development is set to generate $3.2 billion in incremental revenue for the Bahamian government and contribute $9.7 billion to the island’s GDP over the next two decades. As Celebration Key prepares to welcome its first visitors in 2025, both Carnival Corporation and The Bahamas anticipate a bright future characterized by enhanced tourist offerings, economic growth, and the creation of countless memories for cruise passengers from around the globe.