Two American tourists drowned only hours apart on Friday at Carnival Cruise Line’s newly opened private Bahamas resort, Celebration Key, multiple sources have reported.
The dual tragedies have cast a shadow over the $600 million destination, which officially welcomed its first guests less than a month ago.
According to Carnival officials, the two “water emergency incidents” occurred on the same day but involved passengers from different ships. Both emergencies unfolded at the resort on Grand Bahama Island, one in the lagoon and the other at the beach.
Carnival said lifeguards and medical staff stationed at the facility responded immediately, but despite their efforts, both tourists lost their lives, the Royal Bahamas Police Force detailed.
Authorities with the Royal Bahamas Police Force identified the victims as a 79-year-old man and a 74-year-old woman, both American nationals, Cruise Fever reports.
The man, officials said, was snorkeling at the beach shortly before noon when he suddenly became unresponsive. A lifeguard quickly pulled him from the water, and CPR was performed onshore, but he was later pronounced dead.
Just over two hours later, tragedy struck again when the 74-year-old woman was found unconscious in one of the resort’s swimming pools. Despite attempts to revive her, she too was declared dead. Autopsies will be conducted to determine the official causes of death in both cases.
The victims had traveled to the Bahamas on separate cruises. One was visiting Celebration Key as part of a six-day Eastern Bahama voyage aboard Carnival’s Mardi Gras, which departed Port Canaveral, Florida. The other passenger had arrived on the Carnival Elation, which sailed from Jacksonville, Florida, for a four-day trip.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the guests and their families,” Carnival said in a statement, adding that its Care Team is providing direct support to the victims’ loved ones.
The incidents have drawn attention to Celebration Key, a highly promoted private destination developed exclusively for Carnival passengers. The resort, which opened on July 19, has been marketed as the “Key to Paradise,” offering what the company described as an unparalleled beach experience. The property features two massive lagoons (Starfish and Calypso) covering a combined 275,000 square feet, as well as an 11,000-square-foot infinity pool at the Pearl Cove Beach Club.
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One of the most touted attractions is the Calypso Lagoon, designed for adults and featuring what Carnival bills as the world’s largest swim-up bar, with 166 seats. Additional offerings include paddleboarding, restaurants, bars, and other curated excursions. A pier was constructed to accommodate two ships at a time, with future expansion plans aimed at doubling that capacity.
The New York Post reported that Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy hailed Celebration Key as an “extraordinary milestone” when the resort debuted last month, highlighting the cruise line’s vision of creating the “ultimate beach day” for passengers.
The drownings, however, serve as a sobering reminder of the risks associated with water activities, even in carefully designed leisure environments. Bahamian authorities continue to investigate, while Carnival has pledged full cooperation with local officials as they work to determine what led to the two sudden and devastating losses.