Carnival Wraps Up "Your Peek at Paradise" Roadshow in Chicago

Carnival Cruise Line concluded its “Your Peek at Paradise” roadshow with a final event held in Chicago over the weekend. The event offered a sneak peek at the line’s new private destination in Grand Bahama, Celebration Key.

Geared toward travel advisors, the Chicago event marked the last stop in a summer-long series that also took place in Miami, Baltimore, and Atlanta.

Adolfo M. Perez, senior vice president of global sales and trade marketing, noted that alongside the in-person attendance of hundreds of travel advisors, over 8,000 people registered to join the Chicago event virtually.

“We are making sure that you have as much information about Celebration Key because it’s going to be a game changer for us,” Perez told the gathered advisors.

Perez added, “We spent a lot of time putting this program together, kicking it off in Miami then going to Baltimore, Atlanta, and Chicago.”

As part of the event, Carnival held a giveaway for four early-access trips to Celebration Key, scheduled to take place prior to its public opening.

Perez also emphasized the company’s significant $600-million investment in the new port of call, which is located near Freeport. “We are investing a little bit more than half a billion dollars because we have so much confidence in this destination, and we think it’s going to be a great experience for our guests,” he said.

Amy Martin Ziegenfuss, Carnival’s chief marketing officer, mentioned that Celebration Key addresses the desires of passengers, who are eager for beach-focused travel and water-based activities.

“They also want to know that it’s going to be an amazing experience, and they really trust Carnival to bring these experiences like we do on the ships,” she explained. “This is a way to extend that Carnival experience and vibe to an island destination, creating that beach moment that people are looking forward to.”

Set to open in July 2025, Celebration Key is expected to be a stop for 18 ships departing from ten different homeports. The destination is projected to host more than two million guests in its first year, with over 500 scheduled calls.