Carnival's new Celebration Key to feature five distinct areas

Carnival Cruise Line revealed today more details of Celebration Key, the new exclusive destination on Grand Bahama designed to offer guests a key for unlocking their type of paradise.

Honoring the natural beauty and culture of Grand Bahama, Celebration Key will deliver endless opportunities for relaxation and recreation across five distinct areas called portals, featuring the largest freshwater lagoons in the Caribbean, a breathtaking white sand beach, an exclusive adult-only private club, spaces designed to maximize family fun and a variety of dining venues and libation stations all in one breathtaking place.

Celebration Key is a featured destination on more than 500 cruise itineraries currently open for sale on 18 Carnival ships sailing from nine U.S. homeports.

New details give first look at five portals

– The Welcome Portal is the point where guests are first immersed in the beauty of the destination and greeted with information to help guide them toward their own kind of fun. As live music fills the air, a much-larger-than-life sandcastle stands tall in the center of Celebration Key as the embodiment of all that is fun in the sun.

– The Family-Friendly Portal is the place for families with kids of all ages to enjoy their time at Celebration Key. The day can include swimming in the large freshwater lagoon, alongside a splash pad with a shallow pool, two exciting racing waterslides in the large sandcastle, sports courts, spaces designed for kids and teens to enjoy, a beautiful beach with all types of beach loungers and a variety of cabana rentals, including beach cabanas, villas with personal slides into the lagoon and floating cabanas. There are not only activities for the whole family, but also a variety of dining options and cuisines, that will appeal to all taste buds.

– The Adult-Friendly Portal is designed for adults looking to spend their day enjoying the freshwater lagoon or at the beach lounging on the warm white sands and splashing around in the Bahamian waters to kick back and relax. Guests can also find their favorite cocktails at a large swim-up bar while they enjoy a high energy vibe curated by a talented DJ. A variety of cabana rentals, including beach cabanas, villas with personal slides into the lagoon and floating cabanas are available. There are also several dining venues, including a full-service restaurant that will offer a variety of cuisines, including local Bahamian flavors.

– The Private Club Portal is a premium experience curated for those who are seeking a relaxing and luxurious day in paradise. The private club is an adult-only retreat, with a stunning infinity pool, overlooking the best views of the Bahamian waters, with loungers swaying beneath palm trees and vibrant foliage. A dedicated section of the beach provides premier and private access, along with elevated dining experiences.

– The Retail Portal will showcase Bahamian culture, featuring a backdrop of beautiful murals painted by Bahamian artists and shopping that will include authentic Bahamian artisanal goods and local Bahamian retailers, along with Duty-Free stores. As they explore this portal, guests will also find several food and beverage options serving Bahamian flavors.

"No one does FUN like Carnival and we are designing Celebration Key, and its five portals, with endless ways for our guests to unlock their own kind of fun in this incredible paradise that also celebrates the beauty of Grand Bahama," said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. "Celebration Key is uniquely positioned to bring an island experience to our diverse range of guests, in a way that lets them choose their slice of 'paradise.'"

Carnival ships will dock at an adjacent cruise pier that can accommodate up to two of the cruise line's largest ships simultaneously and will allow guests direct access to the destination. Celebration Key will also include an events pavilion that is dedicated to hosting weddings, vow renewals and other special celebrations.

Carnival plans to share more details for each of the portals over the coming months, and with the development underway, there are also plans for future expansion, including a waterpark and zipline course, to give guests more reasons to return and enjoy the destination for years to come.

Viking to offer first-of-their-kind China voyages

Viking has announced three new, first-of-their-kind itineraries that will provide guests with exclusive access to China in 2024. The new voyages range from 10 to 20 days and explore iconic cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.

Each itinerary also includes a domestic sailing off China’s coast that highlights rarely-seen destinations and ports to which only Viking has access – something that has never before been offered for international visitors. The new voyages will operate from September to November on the Viking Yi Dun – formerly the Viking Sun – a sister ship featuring the same design and service as all other ocean ships in Viking’s fleet. The Chinese-flagged Viking Yi Dun will be the first ship dedicated specifically to the foreign market to operate domestic sailings in China. Each voyage will offer The Viking Way of exploration, with immersive experiences to introduce guests to the people, history and culture of China, including insightful lectures, Chinese-inspired cuisine and destination experts. ­

“We are proud that Viking will be the first to operate domestic sailings in China for international travelers. Our guests are curious travelers who are interested in experiences that broaden their mind – and China, with one of the richest cultures in the world, has been inspiring travelers for centuries,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “For more than 15 years, our Yangtze River voyages were among our highest-rated itineraries. We brought guests to China’s Yangtze River, to Beijing, to the Great Wall, to the Terra Cotta Warriors and to many other iconic places in this captivating nation. We introduced the real China to our guests, and visiting local school children was always a particular highlight. Now, we are delighted to offer such encounters once again with new voyages to a destination that never ceases to capture the imagination.”

New China voyages

– Wonders of China — 20 days; Beijing roundtrip — This comprehensive 20-day cruisetour itinerary delivers China’s main highlights. Guests can meet a Tibetan family at their home, walk on the Great Wall and see the Terra Cotta Warriors. Additionally, guests experience the scenic coast of Dongtou and have opportunities to explore Gulangyu Island in Xiamen, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Shenzhen, a UNESCO city of design.
– Classic China & the Coast — 15 days; Beijing, Xian – Hong Kong (Shenzhen) — This voyage combines the experiences of Viking’s 10-day China Discovery voyage with opportunity to see the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Terra Cotta Warriors and other iconic landmarks. While sailing China’s coastline, guests can experience a phenomenal diversity in languages, cultures and cuisines.
– China Discovery — 10 days; Shanghai – Hong Kong (Shenzhen) — This 10-day itinerary allows guests to experience the Buddhist shrines of Zhoushan and the cliffs of Dongtou, follow the steps of 19th-century European diplomats on Gulangyu Island in Xiamen, or try Cantonese dim sum in Shenzhen.

Guests and crew of German cruise ship AIDAbella enjoy Victoria Harbour Fireworks and New Year Party

As Hong Kong's picturesque Victoria Harbour came alive with a 12-minute New Year Countdown Firework Musical, about 2,000 passengers of German cruise ship AIDAbella berthed at Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui took their “front-row seats” on deck to herald in the New Year in a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience.

The pyrotechnic show themed “New Year New Legend”, playing out in a 1,300-metre stretch extending from Central to Causeway Bay, was the biggest and longest yet taking centre-stage at iconic Victoria Harbour. Hundreds of thousands of locals and visitors packed the vantage points along both sides of the harbour to farewell 2023 and ring in 2024.

On the open deck of AIDAbella, cruise guests could relax to enjoy unobstructed views and best camera angles of the firework extravaganza, set against the spectacular skyline of the city that has been made ever more vibrant with festive lights and decorations.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board made the countdown party for AIDAbella guests all the merrier with a New Year Countdown Celebration party onboard, featuring a host of traditional Chinese craft demonstrations and performances.

In the Hong Kong-themed party from 10pm to midnight, the ship’s open deck was lined with stalls offering local treats like dragon beard candy and Chinese cookies, and demonstration of crafts such as calligraphy on paper fan, Chinese rainbow calligraphy and flour doll-making. Captivating cultural performances were also staged – the energetic LED lion dance was symbolic of Hong Kong's diverse cultural scene, and the harmonic duet performances pairing traditional Chinese instruments mesmerised the audience with rich artistic expression in Chinese style.

AIDAbella perfectly timed her Hong Kong port call for her guests to join in the greatest show of the year in Hong Kong right at the world-famous Victoria Harbour. The specially curated New Year Countdown Celebration party onboard infused with local flavours exemplified how cruise passengers get twice as much fun with the integration of major onshore events with culturally rich activities onboard.

Throughout the year in Hong Kong, renowned as the event capital of Asia, there is a robust lineup of world-class art exhibitions, sports events and cultural festivals that can enrich the onshore experiences for international cruise passengers to immerse themselves in the vibrant culture and dynamic spirit of Hong Kong.