On July 19, 2025, Carnival Vista brought 4,800 guests on the inaugural visit to the brand new Celebration Key.

The grand opening was a hit, with guests in attendance remarking upon the beauty and excitement of the island.

Five months later, on December 18th, Carnival Vista returned to the private destination on a 6-day Eastern Caribbean cruise from Port Canaveral.

Amongst the guests onboard was Andrew Sexton of Knoxville Tennessee, who was sailing with his wife, three daughters, and extended family on their first ever cruise.

Unbeknownst to Sexton, he was about to mark a major milestone for Celebration Key: he was the one-millionth visitor.

As he disembarked with his family, he was greeted with an unexpected, but fitting celebration.

A Junkanoo band played, Carnival crew danced, and Sexton’s daughters were fitted with special sashes.  Even Santa Claus showed up to get in on the fun.

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Cruise Director, MarQ Anthony, personally met with the family to congratulate them on the special milestone.

Commemorating the event, the Sexton family was given a special package, which included a private cabana as well as free food and beverages for the day.

Not bad for your first cruise.

Celebration Key’s Huge Success, and More to Come

Since opening, Celebration Key has been a major benefit not only to Carnival Cruise Line and the guests who enjoy it, but to the locals as well.

20 ships currently call upon the destination from 10 U.S. homeports, including PortMiami, Port Canaveral, and Jacksonville.

To date, Celebration Key is the largest development project ever undertaken by Carnival Corporation, and the locals are reaping the benefits.

It has created more than 1,000 jobs for local Bahamian residents and partnered with 58 locally-owned companies.

“Both local residents who have benefited from the job creation and our guests have embraced Celebration Key from the very first day, and this milestone underscores an exciting chapter for us in The Bahamas,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. 

Construction of the destination also relied upon 96% local Bahamian labor, and that benefit continues with the ongoing construction of the phase 2 expansion.

This expansion is estimated to cost $100 million and is set to open in 2026.

The project will feature an additional expanded pier that would allow up to four ships to dock at once.

With double the visitations, including from the fleet’s largest Excel-class vessels, Celebration Key is full steam ahead on course to blow past its current one-million mark.

In fact, by 2028, Carnival Cruise Line expects four-million passengers to have visited Celebration Key, four times the recent milestone.

One wonders what sort of package the four-millionth guest will get.

Carnival’s Celebration Key Welcomes One Millionth Guest in Just Five Months