By
Alex Smith |
Carnival Corporation is to expand Carnival Cruise Line’s private destination, Celebration Key, with a $100 million pier extension following the opening of the destination in summer 2025.
Construction on two additional berths will be completed in 2026, bringing the total to four. The pier will be able to accommodate four of Carnival’s largest Excel-class ships simultaneously, with the company predicting that nearly four million guests will visit the destination annually by 2028.
"As is fitting for our plans for Grand Bahama island, our vision for Celebration Key is quite grand, and we're already thinking about the next phase of expansion and development," said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. "Building the second pier now allows us to implement growth plans and build itineraries with certainty, and signals to the local community just how important this development is to Carnival Cruise Line and the future of the island."
The pier extension plans were announced at the 25th Annual Grand Bahama Business Outlook by Chester Cooper, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation in The Bahamas.
"This is a momentous day for Grand Bahama and bodes extremely well for its future,” said Cooper. “The incredible level of new investment on the pier extension highlights the partnership between The Bahamas and Carnival Corporation and demonstrates the popularity of The Bahamas as a destination. Celebration Key will play a vital role in supporting the future prosperity of Grand Bahama and the country at large.”
Carnival Corporation is working with Bahamian officials and community leaders to recruit local companies, excursion operators, construction workers and entrepreneurs for the business and job opportunities the development will generate. The cruise company has also hired Bahamians for leadership roles in human resources, operations and community affairs, and is recruiting to fill a number of additional leadership positions
An economic impact study by Tourism Economics predicts that the project will create over 2,500 direct Bahamian jobs, generate $3.2 billion in incremental revenue for The Bahamas government, and contribute $9.7 billion in incremental economic impact to The Bahamas’ GDP.