CELEBRATION KEY CELEBRATES FIRST BIRTHDAY AFTER WELCOMING 2.4 MILLION GUESTS

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Carnival Cruise Line (NYSE: CCL) marked the first anniversary of its exclusive Grand Bahama destination, Celebration Key, on July 19, 2026, after welcoming 2.4 million guests since opening in 2025. The site features culturally focused experiences, supports about 1,000 local jobs, and is the first cruise destination with Sensory Inclusive Certification through KultureCity. According to the company, more than 80% of food and retail operators are locally owned, and the anniversary aligned with Carnival Corporation’s Less Left Over food waste reduction program expanding to The Bahamas.

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Carnival Cruise Line's Exclusive Destination Celebrates One Year of Creating Memorable Guest Experiences and Lasting Impact in Grand Bahama

MIAMI, July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Celebration Key, Carnival Cruise Line's exclusive destination on Grand Bahama celebrated its first anniversary Sunday, July 19, 2026, after welcoming 2.4 million guests since opening on July 19, 2025. Designed to celebrate the natural beauty of Grand Bahama and the culture of The Bahamas, the destination offers guests the opportunity to connect with the island's unique spirit while enjoying the signature fun Carnival is known for. The milestone marks a successful inaugural year defined by unforgettable guest experiences, meaningful community partnerships and economic opportunity for Grand Bahama.

In just one year of operation, Celebration Key has delivered incredible guest experiences and cultural immersion memories across its shores:

• 500,000+ thrill-seekers raced down the destination's signature waterslides.
  
  
• 400,000+ sweet treats were served by Mini Donut King, a popular Bahamian-owned food truck.
  
  
• 100,000+ refreshing Piña Coladas were enjoyed by guests across the island.
  
  
• Hundreds of lively Junkanoo parades brought the vibrant energy and music of The Bahamas directly to travelers.

Celebration Key also achieved a historic milestone by becoming the world's first cruise destination to earn Sensory Inclusive Certification through the partnership with KultureCity, reinforcing Carnival's commitment to providing welcoming and accessible experiences for all guests.

"We've built something special here at Celebration Key," said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. "Our goal is to create unforgettable memories for our guests, and in its first year, the destination has done exactly that for more than 2 million people. We're proud to be part of those moments while also creating real, lasting impact in the local community. As we look ahead, we're excited to continue building on this momentum, creating new experiences for our guests and deepening our commitment to Grand Bahama and its people."

Beyond the guest experience, Celebration Key has delivered meaningful economic opportunities for Grand Bahama. The destination supports approximately 1,000 year-round local jobs and continues to prioritize partnerships with Bahamian entrepreneurs and businesses. Today, more than 80 percent of Celebration Key's food and retail operators are locally owned, including Bahama Mama Seafood Pit, Flipping Fritters and Mini Donut King.

The destination's milestone was celebrated with a day of special festivities for guests visiting aboard Carnival Conquest and Carnival Freedom. From a special birthday-inspired Junkanoo performance to interactive scavenger hunts and a giant birthday cake displayed at the entrance to welcome guests and mark the occasion, the festivities reflected the energy, fun and Bahamian spirit that have defined Celebration Key's first year.

The anniversary also coincides with Carnival Corporation's expansion of its Less Left Over food waste reduction strategy to The Bahamas, where Carnival Cruise Line ships Carnival Freedom and Carnival Conquest made the program's first surplus meal donation in the country, redirecting prepared, unserved meals to local community organizations on Grand Bahama.

For additional information on Carnival Cruise Line and to book a cruise vacation, call 1-800-CARNIVAL, visit carnival.com, or contact your favorite travel advisor or online travel site.

ABOUT CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE
Carnival Cruise Line, part of Carnival Corporation (NYSE: CCL), the world's largest cruise company with a portfolio of cruise lines operating in over 800 ports & destinations worldwide – and is proud to be known as America's Cruise Line and for carrying more Americans and serving more U.S. homeports than any other. Carnival sails more than six million guests annually and in 2023 was the first cruise line to sail more than 100 million guests in total. Operating from 13 U.S. and two Australian homeports, as well as seasonally from Europe, Carnival hosts more than 95,000 guests on its ships every day of the year and employs more than 50,000 team members, representing 120 nationalities. 

Since its founding in 1972, Carnival has continually revolutionized the cruise industry and popularized the cruise vacation as an affordable and fun travel option. Carnival's fleet of 29 ships reflects an exciting period of growth that continues with the addition of five ships through 2033: a fourth and fifth Excel class ship scheduled for 2027 and 2028 respectively; followed by three additional new ships from an innovative new class currently under development. Carnival's newest guest offering is its all-new exclusive destination, Celebration Key on Grand Bahama, which debuted in 2025 to join the company's Paradise Collection of Caribbean gems. 

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SOURCE Carnival Cruise Line

FAQ

What milestone did Carnival Cruise Line’s Celebration Key reach in July 2026 for CCL shareholders?

Celebration Key celebrated its first anniversary in July 2026 after welcoming 2.4 million guests. According to Carnival Cruise Line, the Grand Bahama destination opened on July 19, 2025 and has since focused on guest experiences, cultural immersion, and economic opportunities for the local community.

How many guests have visited Celebration Key since opening, and why is this important for CCL?

Celebration Key has welcomed 2.4 million guests in its first year of operation. According to Carnival Cruise Line, this guest volume highlights strong utilization of the exclusive Grand Bahama destination and supports local jobs, partnerships with Bahamian businesses, and recurring traffic for Carnival ships calling there.

How does Celebration Key support the local Grand Bahama economy, according to Carnival Cruise Line (CCL)?

Celebration Key supports approximately 1,000 year-round local jobs on Grand Bahama. According to Carnival Cruise Line, more than 80 percent of its food and retail operators are locally owned businesses, including Bahama Mama Seafood Pit, Flipping Fritters and Mini Donut King, creating ongoing economic opportunity.

What accessibility recognition has Celebration Key received that may interest CCL investors?

Celebration Key became the world’s first cruise destination to earn Sensory Inclusive Certification. According to Carnival Cruise Line, this recognition came through a partnership with KultureCity and reflects the company’s commitment to more welcoming, accessible experiences for a broad range of guests visiting the destination.

What guest experience highlights were reported for Celebration Key’s first year by Carnival Cruise Line (CCL)?

Carnival Cruise Line reports over 500,000 guests used Celebration Key’s waterslides, more than 400,000 mini donuts were served, and over 100,000 Piña Coladas enjoyed. The destination also hosted hundreds of Junkanoo parades, emphasizing Bahamian culture and entertainment for visiting cruise guests.

How is Carnival’s food waste reduction strategy connected to Celebration Key and CCL operations?

Carnival Corporation expanded its Less Left Over food waste reduction strategy to The Bahamas alongside Celebration Key’s anniversary. According to Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Freedom and Carnival Conquest made the first surplus meal donations in the country, redirecting prepared, unserved meals to Grand Bahama community organizations.