Carnival Cruise Lines confirmed the tragic deaths of two guests at its new $600 million private island resort, Celebration Key, in the Bahamas. The incidents occurred less than a month after the resort opened to cruise passengers, with a 79-year-old man and a 74-year-old woman succumbing to their injuries after receiving CPR from lifeguards. The Royal Bahamas Police Force reported that the man became unresponsive while snorkeling at a beach, and the woman became unresponsive while swimming in a pool. Both were quickly removed from the water by lifeguards but could not be revived.
Carnival officials confirmed the deaths to Fox News Digital, stating that the incidents occurred on its new Celebration Key destination. The cruise line’s lifeguards and medical team responded to two separate water emergencies—one in the lagoon and one at the beach. Carnival has expressed its condolences to the families of the victims and is offering support through its Care Team. The resort, which opened on July 19, features a 10-story sandcastle, two thrilling racing watersides, a shopping village, a basketball court, and an adults-only retreat. Carnival cited the potential for significant economic impact, noting that Celebration Key is expected to bring more than two million guests annually, with projections of up to four million by 2028.
The resort’s opening has also been accompanied by a series of other incidents, including allegations of sexual assault on Carnival cruise ships, which are currently under investigation by the FBI. Despite these issues, Carnival remains confident in the economic benefits that the new destination will bring to the Grand Bahama region. With construction already underway for an extension to the adjacent cruise pier, the resort is set to accommodate even more ships and visitors in the coming years.