Private destinations for cruise lines are nothing new. But what’s new is that just like the cruise ships themselves, cruise lines keep going bigger and better with their private, passenger-only seats. Places like Royal Caribbean’s CocoCay AND NCL’s Great Stirrup Cay continue to offer more to passengers.
Now it’s Carnival’s turn with their next destination set in Grand Bahama, just about 100 miles from Miami.
The cruise line, which already has its own private lounges for passengers, plans a flagship destination where Carnival passengers can enjoy everything from “Peaceful water beach relaxation with high adrenaline and adventure comfort” while they visit.
This new destination will be groundbreaking for the cruise line in everything from size to amenities and capacity. And while the port destination isn’t set to be ready for passengers for quite some time, there are a few details we’ve uncovered… and a few things we’re still waiting to know.
Below, we cover everything we know so far about Carnival’s upcoming private destination plan.
Location of the Grand Carnival Port Project
So where will the new port be located? As mentioned, it is being built in Grand Bahama – the home of Freeport. In fact, the location provided by Carnival is about 20 miles east of the cruise dock in Freeport. It is located on the southern side of the island between the city of Freeport and the Lucayan National Park.
The site features a wide stretch of uninterrupted beach and is undeveloped, giving the cruise line a seemingly empty blueprint to build its new port of call.
Carnival has not said what the port will be called
Until now, Carnival has been mum on many details about the island. But perhaps the biggest was what will be called!
So far, Carnival has called it the Grand Port project — but that’s not the official name. During a Groundbreaking ceremony in May 2022Carnival president Christine Duffy said there will be more details about what the port will bring… and its name… in the coming months.
“We decided that just breaking ground was a big enough moment for today! So I’ll wait and we’ll have another moment where we’ll reveal not only the name, but a little bit more about what people can expect from this project when it opens in late 2024. Duffy shared before the ceremony began.
In other words, for now, the official name is still a mystery.
The port will be able to accommodate two Excel class ships at the same time
Carnival’s fleet is undergoing a major makeover as the company builds its largest ships ever with the Excel class. This includes ships such as Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee.
These ships are huge – they can hold around 6,000 passengers at full capacity. Meanwhile, Carnival wants to be able to dock two of them at once in the new port. Still, the cruise line says it will have a “daily shore capacity” of 13,000 passengers and 4,000 crew, according to a Request for Qualifications letter posted on the destination’s website.
The Port area will measure more than 300 hectares
No doubt 13,000 passengers is a lot to handle at one time. But if you’re worried about the new destination being too crowded, there should be plenty of space.
The carnival destination will be on more than 300 acres – 329 acres to be exact. By comparison, Royal Caribbean’s CocoCay comes in at about 125 acres.
But this does not mean that every centimeter will be devoted to passengers. Cruise line executives said at launch that about a third will be preserved as a nature reserve.
No opening date… But an opening time period
So when will the new port open to passengers? Carnivals have not given a specific date or even a specific month.
However, Carnival says construction will take about two years. An estimated opening date of “the end of 2024.” In other words, while everyone is excited to see the new place, it will be a while before it welcomes its first passengers.
There is a large focus on Bahamians
The new Carnival Island is a big deal for its fans and millions of passengers. However, it can be an even bigger deal for people living and working in Grand Bahama.
The cruise line is putting a big emphasis on the Bahamas, with a focus on boosting the local economy. According to FAQ on the cruise line’s website regarding the project, “85 to 90 percent of employees at the port will work with other companies. Carnival will only work with companies that have licenses from the Port Authority. In terms of the employees who will work directly for us, the vast majority will be Bahamians.”
Between construction and operation, Carnival says about 2,300 people will work on the project.
Moreover, it is said “The economic impact that will be generated by the new port will provide tremendous opportunities for businesses in Grand Bahama, not only during the pre-construction and construction period, but throughout the period when the port is fully operational. Only existing and newly established Bahamian retail and food and beverage brands will be permitted to operate the destination.
Night operations are being considered
Everyone knows that the big draw to visiting the Bahamas is spending the day on the beach. However, these days many lines are requiring longer stays that extend into the evening and even overnight.
While it’s not clear, Carnival has said they are reviewing night operations. In a request for applicants to cover destination food service, the post said:
The carnival welcomes around 1 million guests in its first year
How popular of a destination will the new project actually be? Carnival is planning big. In fact, in the same filing that mentioned night operations, the cruise line also says it plans to see 1 million guests visit the site in its first full year of operation.
This works out to around 2,700 passengers per day on average throughout the year. That’s roughly the passenger capacity of a medium-sized Carnival ship that visits each day.
But remember that Carnival’s fleet continues to grow in capacity with ships like Mardi Gras, Celebration and Jubilee. It is not excluded that the figure will increase even more.
There will be plenty of food options
Cruises are known for having plenty to eat. Expect the same when it comes to the new destination. In a request for proposal posted on Carnival’s website about the project, it listed all of the following food options:
- Up to three high-volume dining and bar areas
- Multiple quick service and bar support operations
- Dedicated crew dining area
- Small specialty food outlets as well as Grab and Go services.
- Delivery service where guests, using an app, can order food for delivery to their location
instead, ie on their beach chair
Note that specific restaurants or even cuisines are not mentioned. It’s just that guests can assume there will be plenty of options to choose from.
Notably, the request also states “Guests will be charged for all meals and snacks [food and beverage] purchases. Grand Port will work together with the Operators to ensure competitive menu prices.”
While it’s not entirely clear, it may indicate that you don’t have free dining options like on the ship.
The initial rendering doesn’t offer many details about what will be there for passengers
So what can passengers expect once they arrive at the port? So far, the joint plans are not very revealing. We’ve seen two different renderings — one from a few years ago that was posted on Carnival’s website for the port, and another found in a vendor request that’s shown above.
Neither provides much detail other than a few items:
- Both show large bodies of water running through the middle. At a glance if it looks like a big pool. The other shows a large river-like feature.
- Both interpretations show a the central area of the “village”. with a number of buildings, which we assume are such things shops and restaurants.
- Both features large paths extending from the main harbor area which look like they could be nature trails. At a glance it looks like a promenade. The other looks more like a hiking trail.
- Both also work prominent areas for excursions to other parts of the island. Unlike other private destinations, it appears that Carnival is putting an emphasis on making the port project a place to head to other parts of the Bahamas – not just to keep passengers in the immediate area.
- Both also page along one long stretch of beach, with what appear to be cabanas dotting the shore.
Here’s what we know from what Carnival has to say:
“We will have a mile of beautiful Bahamian beach for people to enjoy. We’re going to have a water park area, big pools, food and drink, places where people can just really enjoy what they imagine being on a ship and arriving in Grand Bahama.”
- Christine Duffy, President of Carnival Cruise Line
In other words, we know it’s going to be a must-visit destination, but the full details haven’t been released yet. We’ll continue to keep readers updated as we hear more.
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