Carnival’s Celebration Key with Blue Mar Basins
Martin Aquatic Design & Engineering, a world-class aquatic firm, has revealed that Carnival Cruise Line’s eagerly awaited Celebration Key on Grand Bahama Island will feature two freshwater lagoons, showcasing the firm’s advanced Blue Mar Basins technology.
Spanning a combined area of over 7 acres, these expansive lagoons will offer experiences tailored for Carnival cruise guests of all ages.
Creating Unique Experiences
Josh Martin, president and creative director of Martin Aquatic, expressed excitement about the project: “Having collaborated with Carnival from the initial concept of the swimming experience at Celebration Key, we are thrilled to see this paradise destination come to fruition. With our aquatic technology, we can facilitate a variety of activities across two large bodies of water, enabling families and friends to connect while still enjoying the freedom to choose their vacation activities.”
Keith Carr, VP of development for Carnival Cruise Lines, added: “We turned to Martin Aquatic for their innovative solutions in designing these freshwater lagoons, equipped with incredible amenities that our guests expect on their Carnival cruise vacations. Their technology will provide an unparalleled operational experience, allowing us to focus on delivering FUN for our guests.”
Fun for Guests of All Ages
Carnival’s Celebration Key features five distinct ‘portals’ designed for an optimal vacation experience. Guests enter through the Paradise Plaza welcome portal, marked by its iconic Suncastle. They can then explore the retail portal, Lokono Cove, to shop for authentic Bahamian handcrafted items, or retreat to the exclusive adult-only hideaway, the Private Club Portal.
The final two portals centre around a vast aquatic experience, offering both family-friendly and adult-only sections for relaxation or enjoying the lively atmosphere of the swim-up bar and DJ.
The adult-friendly portal, Calypso Lagoon, is located west of Paradise Plaza and comprises a three-acre freshwater lagoon created by Martin Aquatic, alongside a picturesque beach. Here, guests can enjoy vibrant hangouts, including a 40-seat swim-up bar next to an island with a DJ playing throughout the day. Numerous relaxation spots are available, from shallow beach entrances and islands with hammocks to ankle-deep sunshelves featuring daybeds and loungers. An exclusive section of the lagoon offers private cabanas with direct shallow access to the water, while another in-water bar with unique swing seats provides a refreshing way to unwind.
Martin Aquatic also designed and engineered Starfish Lagoon, the second lagoon to the east, which anchors the family-friendly portal and offers a unique vacation experience for guests of all ages. Children can enjoy an adventure on the waterslides that encircle the Suncastle and explore the lagoon. Various beach access points for wading into the ocean are complemented by a swim-up bar adjacent to a beachside restaurant. Families can spend quality time together in private cabanas, which include a sunshelf entry, and overwater cabanas where visitors can make a splash by jumping into the lagoon.
Martin stated: “Having two separate basins at Celebration Key allows us to offer unique programming for each, catering to multiple demographics and age groups seeking different experiences during their island vacation. With our patent-pending technology, Carnival Cruise Lines will provide the most pristine swimming environment at the highest efficiency.”
“At the core of a Blue Mar Basins amenity is a fully swimmable and guest-centric experience. Creating beautiful, clean water that is entirely usable without limitations is what Carnival desired. Our aquatic technology enables us to achieve this while ensuring that the guest experience remains the focal point of the design.”
Martin Aquatic is currently developing over a dozen Blue Mar Basins, set to open to the public in 2025. The Blue Mar Basins exemplify how a focus on operationally efficient design that thoroughly treats the water can help Martin Aquatic deliver multi-acre amenities to any destination worldwide. These fully usable facilities do not feature concealed underwater walls, excessively deep sections, or swim zone limitations.
Carnival’s Celebration Key will provide direct access from its ships via a new pier capable of accommodating two of the cruise line’s largest vessels simultaneously. This destination is included in over 500 cruise itineraries available for purchase on 18 Carnival ships departing from nine US homeports.
Earlier this year, Martin Aquatic Design & Engineering celebrated the launch of its project for Royal Caribbean by taking its entire team on a cruise to experience it firsthand. The firm designed and engineered two pools for the new Hideaway Beach, an adults-only area on Royal Caribbean’s private island destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay.
