Carnival Reveals BIG New Details About Celebration Key New Private Island

Table Of Content

• Other tailored shoreside cruise experiences
• Hotels With Cruise Shuttles For Every Major Port in America
• I tried the newest ships from Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Norwegian. Here’s how they compare
• Other Cruise-Owned Islands
• Princess Cruises Teams Up to Offer Easy Transportation to Florida Ports
• Half Moon Cay (Carnival Cruise Line and Holland America Line)

Guests can splurge on these exclusive destinations' paid excursions, boosting the cruise line's profits. But we do know the designated family area is expected to have a massive freshwater lagoon, a children's water play area, two waterslides, and sports courts. Princess Cays has private, air-conditioned bungalows for rent, where you can relax with your sweetheart, chill with friends, or enjoy some quality family time. Snorkel the SeasLike so many parts of The Bahamas, Princess Cays lets you snorkel without having to venture too far out into the ocean. The warm waters are teeming with brightly-colored fish and other sea creatures. If you thought relaxing on a private island was unattainable, you can check this entry off your bucket list with a Carnival cruise to the Caribbean.

Other tailored shoreside cruise experiences

Cruise from cities like Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Jacksonville or Tampa or depart from Baltimore, New York City, Charleston, Mobile, Galveston or New Orleans. Drop the kids off at the supervised children’s area, and head to the adults sanctuary bungalow. If you’re looking for souvenirs, visit the craft market or one of the many shops. Royal Caribbean exclusively uses Labadee, a beach area in Haiti, as a private location reserved for its passengers only. Because Labadee occupies only part of an inhabited island, access to the island is not exclusive to Royal Caribbean passengers, but access to the Labadee area is. Half Moon Cay — located in the Bahamas, about 100 miles southeast of Nassau — is owned by Carnival Corporation and plays host to both Carnival Cruise Line and Holland America ships.

Hotels With Cruise Shuttles For Every Major Port in America

Initially an uninhabited island in The Bahamas, it underwent a comprehensive development process to create a tropical paradise. The cruise line invested significant resources in infrastructure, including a welcoming arrival center, beach villas, dining facilities, water sports equipment, and various recreational activities. Developed as a luxury beach resort, it is used as a private port of call for Carnival and Holland America cruisers. About 100 locals work on the island and arrive by ferry from Eleuthera when there are visiting cruise ships.

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I tried the newest ships from Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Norwegian. Here’s how they compare

Half Moon Cay is an exclusive port of call for all HAL and CCL-Carnival Cruise Line ships operating in the Caribbean. If you've got enough people traveling together, and you book early enough, you can snag one of the coveted two-story beach villas (for a fee). Villas A, B and C are near the pirate ship action (and noise) while D and E will get you away from all the hubbub. Head to West End Village, where you’ll find restaurants, bars and plenty of local boutiques. The tender island of Princess Cays, found on Eleuthera in the Bahamas (about 70 miles from Nassau), covers 40 acres.

You’ll find a BBQ pit already fired up for lunch, and a supervised kids’ area ready to receive the little ones. Somewhere among the palm trees you might spy the exclusive adult-only retreat. As guests return to the ship at the end of an unforgettable day on the private island, they are left with memories of pristine beaches, exhilarating activities, delectable cuisine, and warm hospitality. The guest experience on Carnival Cruise Line’s private islands is a testament to the company’s dedication to provide an exceptional and memorable vacation experience. With an abundance of activities and attractions, Carnival Cruise Line’s private islands provide a captivating and diverse range of experiences.

The vessel has already been sailing since restarting operations in early August 2021. Carnival Cruise Line makes a return to Princess Cays, a private destination in the Bahamas with the Carnival Magic cruise ship. Carnival states the entire process, including boarding and disembarkation, takes around 45 minutes. Half Moon Cay is used primarily by Holland America cruise ships and by some Carnival cruises when not required by HAL. There is a special lagoon aqua park with island-themed action fun area where kids can play in the safe shallow water.

Other Cruise-Owned Islands

For guests who want to enjoy longer sailings, Celebration Key will be featured on a variety of unique itineraries and exclusive Carnival Journeys cruises. Also owned by Carnival Corporation are the Bahamian island resorts Princess Cays (on Eleuthera Island) and Celebration Key (on Grand Bahama Island/near Freeport's cruise port Lucaya). Half Moon Cay (officially Little San Salvador Island, sized 2400 acres / 9,7 km2) is located approx 10 mi / 16 km southeast of Nassau, and halfway between the Bahamian islands Cat and Eleuthera. This is a privately owned island, one of the assets of HAL-Holland America Line (subsidiary company and brand of Carnival Corporation). Pack a few sand toys and floaties, and you'll be here all day (or until nap time).

Princess Cruises Teams Up to Offer Easy Transportation to Florida Ports

For those seeking an adrenaline rush, Carnival’s private islands offer exciting attractions such as water slides, aqua parks, and floating obstacle courses. Thrilling rides and challenging activities ensure that guests of all ages have a fun-filled and memorable time on the island. The ownership of Carnival Cruise Line’s private islands has allowed the company to have full control over the island experience, ensuring the highest standards of service and amenities. The cruise line works closely with local authorities and stakeholders to protect and preserve the natural beauty and ecosystem of these islands while providing an exceptional guest experience. Half Moon Cay, the first private island owned by Carnival Cruise Line, was purchased in the late 1980s.

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And if you're seeking some sparkle, get ready for duty-free jewelry and diamond shopping. The island is now being updated with an additional berth to accommodate the cruise line's biggest ships. Celebration Key is located on the south side of Grand Bahama Island, approximately 20 miles (32 kilometers) from the existing dock in Freeport.

One of the best features about the private island is the powder-soft white sand stretching around the 2.5-mile-long Half Moon Beach. It is nicer than some other private islands such as Princess Cays which has coarser sand and some rocky areas. Half Moon Cay is surrounded by shallow waters and reefs and there is no currently deep-water dock for the cruise ships.

Medallion Net WiFi is available (for a fee) for guests visiting Princess Cays on a Princess ship. The exit gate from Princess Cays is located near Love Boat Marina where the tenders dock. Walk back away from the water as if you were going to the southern part of Princess Cays, and you’ll see an open gate with a security guard on your left. When there’s not a kayaking group getting ready to leave, you can enjoy gazing out at the water from the sandy beach behind Pelicans’ Perch. Whether you’d like to pick up a few Bahamas souvenirs or just some essential beach day items you forgot to pack, there are several shopping spots at the resort to suit your needs.

(The only one that doesn't is Celebrity Cruises.) Some of the islands are owned by the lines that visit them, while others are leased by the lines from the countries that own them. Through these environmental and sustainability initiatives, Carnival Cruise Line strives to minimize its environmental footprint and promote responsible tourism practices on its private islands. By raising awareness, engaging guests, and collaborating with local communities, the cruise line is making a positive impact on the preservation and sustainability of these breathtaking destinations. Carnival Cruise Line is actively involved in beach and shoreline cleanup efforts on its private islands. The cruise line organizes regular clean-up events where guests, crew members, and local volunteers come together to collect and properly dispose of any litter or debris found on the beaches. These initiatives help maintain the pristine beauty of the islands and preserve the natural habitats for local wildlife.

In 1997, the cruise line purchased another island in The Bahamas, known as Big Stirrup Cay. Renamed as Great Stirrup Cay, this new addition further strengthened Carnival’s commitment to providing unforgettable experiences on their private islands. The island is a popular port of call for many of Princess’ and Carnival’s Caribbean cruises. These smaller boats ferry groups of passengers between the cruise ship and the tender dock on the island. For example, Virgin Voyages developed the Beach Club at Bimini in the Bahamas in partnership with Resorts World. When a Virgin ship is docked, its passengers have exclusive use of the Beach Club.

As a private cruise line destination, Princess Cays is only accessible to guests visiting on a cruise ship. Many cruisers wonder if leaving Princess Cays to visit the rest of the island of Eleuthera is a possibility. Pre-COVID, cruise lines did offer some excursions to see Eleuthera’s highlights. One of the most unique shore excursions at Half Moon Cay is horseback riding.

Guests should make sure to bring everything they need for the day, including lots of sunscreen, towels, their Sail & Sign card, and anything else required for activities. You should factor this into your plans, as you simply cannot walk off whenever you'd like. If you want to spend all day on the beach, you will want to ensure that you wake up a little bit early to grab a tender ticket for one of the first few groups. Winter months tend to be drier with temperatures in the high 70s for both the air and sea. To make the most of your day, here’s what you need to know when visiting Half Moon Cay.

On land, cruise passengers can embark on a bike tour or nature walk (both guided and self-guided options are available). Alternatively, sign up for a guided tram tour of the island to stop at its most popular spots while basking in the beautiful views. Exact offerings vary depending on your itinerary, so be sure to check which will be offered during your sailing as you plan your trip. With miles of sandy beaches, clear blue waters, and all-around stunning scenery, this private island offers something for everyone. Best of all, Formby says, “Half Moon Cay can be an expense-free port stop,” thanks to complimentary amenities like lounge chairs plus a splash pad and playground for children.