Two American tourists died in separate drowning incidents within hours of each other on Friday, August 15, 2025, at Celebration Key, Carnival Cruise Line’s newly opened private resort in the Bahamas.
The victims, a 79-year-old man and a 74-year-old woman, were passengers traveling on separate Carnival cruise ships who died during water-related emergencies at the $600 million resort on Grand Bahama Island.
The first incident occurred just before noon when the elderly man became unresponsive while snorkeling off one of the resort beaches. A lifeguard assisted him from the water and administered CPR, but the man was pronounced dead by medical personnel. The Royal Bahamas Police Force confirmed the man was an American national traveling aboard the Carnival Mardi Gras.
Approximately two and a half hours later, at about 2:30 p.m., officers discovered the 74-year-old woman unresponsive in a swimming pool at the same resort. According to police reports, a lifeguard pulled the woman from the water and performed CPR, but she was also pronounced dead. The woman had been traveling with family aboard the Carnival Elation, which sails from Jacksonville, Florida.
Both victims were traveling with their families when the incidents occurred. Carnival confirmed that “Our thoughts and prayers are with the guests and their families,” while indicating that their Care Team is providing assistance to the affected families.
The cruise line responded to both emergencies with trained lifeguards and medical professionals stationed at the resort. Company officials noted that their staff responded to two separate emergency incidents on Friday, with one occurring in the lagoon area and the other at the beach.
Celebration Key opened in July 2025 as an exclusive destination for Carnival cruise passengers, featuring lagoons, pools, restaurants, a beach club, and various recreational activities. The resort is located approximately 100 miles off the Florida coast and includes what the company describes as the largest freshwater lagoon in the Caribbean.
The Royal Bahamas Police Force has opened investigations into both deaths and confirmed that autopsies will be performed to determine the exact causes of death. Police have not released the identities of either victim as investigations remain ongoing.
The resort features five main attraction areas, including two large lagoons totaling 275,000 square feet, an 11,000 square foot infinity pool at the Pearl Cove Beach Club, and what is marketed as the world’s largest swim-up bar with 166 seats. The facility includes a pier capable of accommodating two large cruise ships simultaneously.
Carnival projects that approximately two million visitors will pass through Celebration Key annually, with expectations to double that number by 2028. The company has indicated it is cooperating fully with law enforcement during the ongoing investigations.
The Mardi Gras typically operates six-day Eastern Bahama trips departing from Port Canaveral, Florida, while the Carnival Elation runs four-day trips from Jacksonville, Florida. Both ships were docked at Celebration Key when the drowning incidents occurred.
This incident marks a tragic beginning for the newly operational resort, which opened just one month prior to the drownings. Company officials described the opening as an extraordinary milestone when the facility welcomed its first guests in July.
The deaths occurred within a three-hour span on the same day, prompting heightened scrutiny of safety protocols at private resort destinations operated by major cruise lines. Both victims were found unresponsive in different water areas of the resort complex.
Carnival has emphasized that trained lifeguards and medical professionals are stationed at the resort and respond to emergencies. The company has not released additional details about the specific circumstances surrounding either drowning while investigations continue.
The resort offers various water activities and excursions, including paddleboarding and other recreational options for cruise passengers during their visits to Grand Bahama Island. Future expansion plans call for additional ship docking capacity at the facility.
