In March, Grand Bahamaians were given the opportunity to name the Artisan Village of Carnival Cruise LIne’s new Celebration Key cruise destination, and we have a winner–Lokono Cove. Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy announced the name at the Seatrade Cruise Global conference in Miami Beach.
Lokono Cove is one of the five portals of Celebration Key which will feature a variety of stores and kiosks offering locally crafted goods from Bahamian artists. Guests will find everything from souvenirs, fine jewelry and everything in between. Not only will Lokono Cove showcase Bahamian culture in its goods, but also in its atmosphere. Guests will explore the portal to Bahamian music under palm trees while admiring murals painted by Bahamian artists while snacking on cultural foods.
The winning submission submitted by Deidre Rahming was chosen by local Grand Bahama officials and representatives from the cultural and creative industries. Lokono which means “the people” comes from those that were some of the first to call Grand Bahama home, the Lucayans. The Lucayans have been described as a “gentle and creative community of artisans who excelled at basket-weaving, pottery and painting.”
Speaking at the conference, Duffy said, “Lokono Cove will be a treasure trove – a place for our guests to immerse themselves in the spirit of The Bahamas and find locally-inspired keepsakes, symbols of paradise they can share with loved ones, or cherish for themselves for years to come. Honoring the beauty and culture of the Bahamas is integral to our plans for Celebration Key, and that will be on display throughout Lokono Cove. It’s a special honor that locals from Grand Bahama have contributed already in an impactful way, giving this portal its name.”
With this announcement, Carnival has now given details on three of the five portals at Celebration Key and will share more details on the last two portals–a family-friendly area and an adults-only private retreat–soon. Celebration Key is expected to welcome its first guests in July 2025 and more than 500 itineraries are open for booking to the destination across 18 ships sailing from 10 US homeports.