New Carnival Cruise Ship Makes Maiden Caribbean Call

The brand new Carnival Celebration has made her first-ever Caribbean port of call, spending Wednesday, November 23 at Grand Turk in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The port visit is the first for the ship’s maiden voyage from her new Florida homeport, PortMiami.

Carnival Celebration Visits Grand Turk

Carnival Celebration is spending the day in Grand Turk from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., giving guests onboard plenty of time to explore and enjoy the colorful Caribbean port, the very first port of call for the Excel-class ship on her first Caribbean sailing.

“It is an honor to bring our new flagship to Grand Turk as its first Caribbean port of call and welcome our guests to experience the beauty of the island,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.

“Grand Turk is a popular destination with our guests and I’m looking forward to Carnival Celebration making many memorable visits going forward.”

Grand Turk is the largest island in the Turks Islands archipelago, and offers cruise guests beautiful beaches, sparkling waters, and a colorful culture to enjoy.

While the cruise dock in Grand Turk was damaged earlier this year by Hurricane Fiona, the dock has since been fully repaired and reopened to all vessels.

The cruise port is one of the most popular in the Caribbean for its pristine beauty and friendly vibes, and has had record-breaking numbers of visitors throughout 2022.

Carnival Celebration is the only ship visiting the port on November 23, but her older sister ship, Mardi Gras, will be in Grand Turk on Thanksgiving Day, November 24, followed by Carnival Freedom on Friday and Carnival Sunrise on Saturday.

After leaving Grand Turk, Carnival Celebration will continue her special 6-night Thanksgiving sailing with visits to Amber Cove on Thanksgiving Day and Nassau on Black Friday.

Saturday will be a day at sea for guests to continue exploring the new ship before she arrives back in Miami on Sunday, November 27.

Itineraries to Celebrate

Carnival Celebration was christened in a star-studded gala event on Sunday, November 20, featuring cruise line executives, travel destination dignitaries, and various celebrities, including the ship’s godmother, actress Cassidy Gifford, daughter of Kathie Lee Gifford, godmother of the original Celebration that joined Carnival Cruise Line in 1987.

“Carnival Cruise Line has been a huge part of our family with my earliest memories taking family trips on Carnival ships,” said Cassidy Gifford. “And now to be asked to be Godmother of the namesake ship to the one my mom christened is truly an honor and a blessing.”

After this first Caribbean sailing, the 183,000-gross-ton Carnival Celebration will offer Eastern, Western, and Southern Caribbean itineraries ranging from 5-8 nights, depending on the sailing date.

Several of the Eastern Caribbean voyages will continue to stop at Grand Turk, while other ports of call on the various itineraries include San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Cozumel, Mexico; Roatan, Honduras; Oranjestad, Aruba; and Willemstad, Curacao.

Of course, guests onboard Carnival Celebration can celebrate more than just the ports they visit – the ship itself is an amazing destination with its distinct themed zones, the second all-electric BOLT rollercoaster, the nostalgic Golden Jubilee venue, and much, much more.

The ship can welcome 5,374 passengers when booked at double occupancy, and up to 6,500 guests when fully booked with all berths filled. More than 1,700 international crew members are onboard to provide excellent service.

The two Excel-class ships, Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration, will be joined by the third vessel in the class, Carnival Jubilee, in November 2023.