One Meal Per Guest? Carnival’s Celebration Key Dining Options Disappoint

September 25, 2024 Randy Young

Since Carnival first announced their new private destination, Celebration Key, many have been eager to know what’s included in the experience. It’s a fair question, considering Carnival is already selling cruises going to this destination. Carnival has been playing very coy with the answer, and now we know why. Now, with details finally revealed, it’s clear that while there are many dining options, the included options are going to make people unhappy.

Included Food is Limited to One Meal Per Guest at Certain Venues

Celebration Key will have an “Islands Eats” program. Guests will have to show their Sail & Sign card and a participating restaurant to receive one meal at a quick casual outlet, snack shack, or food truck. Guests who prefer a sit-down service restaurant instead will receive 25% off one entrée (excluding Pearl Cove Beach Club restaurant).

Of course, we don’t yet know the food’s pricing and whether it will be excessive theme park-type pricing or more reasonable pricing like seen on Carnival ships. Still, having to pay extra for snacks and items from the food carts throughout the day can add up for a large family. It’s also concerning because many of the “included” restaurants are food halls and food trucks where, typically, you’d get several small bites, not an one entire meal from one place.

Food Options on Celebration Key

According to a recent press release by Carnival, Celebration Key will have more than 30 different food and beverage locations across the port. Food options range from traditional hot dogs and burgers to Bahamian-inspired cuisines like fried fish and conch fritters. Guests will be able to choose full-service restaurants or fast-casual, grab-and-go-style offerings. Celebration Key will also have two food truck plazas and a food hall.

Restaurant	Type of food	Service	What’s included
Captain’s Galley Food Hall	Five different counters offering fare like pizza, fried chicken, Mediterranean bowls, and tacos.	Fast Casual	1 complimentary entrée
Food Truck Plazas	Beachside classics and Bahamian-inspired food like conch fritters.	Fast Casual	1 complimentary entrée
Mingo’s Express	Beachside favorites	Fast Casual	1 complimentary entrée
Snack Shacks	Wraps, salads, sandwiches, and grab-and-go items.	Fast Casual	1 complimentary entrée
Gill’s Grill	Fresh seafood and land-based favorites	Full-Service	25% off entrée
Mingo’s Tropical Bar & Kitchen	Chicken, burgers, tacos, and more.	Full-Service	25% off entrée
Surf N’ Sauce BBQ & Brews	Slow-smoked BBQ meals	Full-Service	25% off entrée
Food Carts		Grab-and-go	Nothing
Yumshine Scoops	Ice cream treats	Grab-and-go	Nothing
Pearl Cove Beach Club and Restaurant	Exclusively for guests who booked Pearl Cove Beach Club	Full-Service	Nothing

The venues are located throughout the Celebration Cay, making it easy to get food without traveling too far.

Beverage Options on Celebration Key

The beverage options are just as diverse as the food offerings. Celebration Key has three different swim-up bars to choose from: Long Necks Bar has 100 in-water seats to enjoy the live DJ, Sunshine Swings Bar features 40 over-water swings and a more relaxed atmosphere, and for parents with their kids in Starfish Lagoon, the Parrotfish Swim Up Bar features in-water and out-of-water seats where they can get frozen cocktails or mocktails.

In addition to those bars, most restaurants will have a full-service bar. For example, at Surf N’ Sauce BBQ & Brews, guests can enjoy craft beer from local Bahamian breweries.

Celebration Key will not honor Carnival’s Cheers or Bottomless Bubbles packages, so all drinks will be priced a la carte.

Guests Reactions To The News Have Been Negative

Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald posted the news to his Facebook page, and the comments have been pouring in with guests being disappointed in the charges here.

Naddav Rubina said “Oh boy! We get 1 whole included meal and extra charge for drinks! This is not shaping up to be a competitor to the other titans in the industry.” Tina Vallejo von Stage said “Should be like Royal @ CocoCay, all food included & beverage pkgs good on island. Carnival, do better.”

Disappointing Nickel and Diming from Carnival

Though the number and variety of food options are impressive—ranging from Bahamian-inspired dishes to classic beachside favorites—the restrictions on complimentary meals may leave many guests disappointed.

It should be noted that Carnival’s other private destinations, Half Moon Cay and Princess Cay, both offer all-you-can-eat lunch buffet setups. At Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay, guests can enjoy unlimited complimentary snacks and meals at various snack shacks and restaurants scattered across the island (their drink package also works on the island). Carnival’s approach at Celebration Key, however, feels more like a cost-saving measure that limits guests to just one complimentary meal, with added charges for other dining experiences.

As Carnival’s newest destination shapes up to be an exciting experience, these limitations on food and drink options could have guests second-guessing the value of their visit. Will this model work for Carnival, or will they need to rethink their approach?