Carnival Makes Celebration Key Cashless With Sail & Sign Rollout
Passengers sailing to Carnival Cruise Line’s new Celebration Key won’t have to carry a wallet.
The destination will be the first private resort of the cruise line to use its cashless payment system, Sail & Sign, beginning July 19, 2025.
Guests sailing to the brand-new destination will be able to use their Sail & Sign cards at kiosks found at the resort’s food and beverage providers.
This means no cash or credit cards will be needed as purchases will be linked directly to onboard accounts.
The self-service kiosks and point-of-sale (POS) technology is being provided in collaboration with Cantaloupe Inc. and, according to Carnival Cruise Line, is “critical to making Celebration Key a destination that is full of fun and take the worry out of carrying cash for our guests.”
Richard Morse, senior vice president of Food and Beverage at Carnival Cruise Line said, “Through this partnership, we’re able to offer an experience that extends the ease and familiarity of onboard dining to our exclusive destination.”
Morse added that guests at Celebration Key will be able to use the system at any of the resort’s wide range of over 30 dining and beverage options.
The private destination, which will also be available to Carnival Cruise Line’s sister brands under the Carnival Corporation umbrella – including Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, and Cunard – will feature four-service restaurants, a food hall, nine food trucks, five snack shacks, two counter-service kiosks, and 12 bars.
Dining and Payment on Celebration Key
Celebration Key, which will open on July 19 after undergoing several years of construction at a cost of over $100 million, will also offer Carnival Cruise Line guests one complimentary meal at any of its fast-casual dining venues.
Passengers can also select a full-service restaurant, where they can receive 25 percent off any entry under the Island Eats program.
Full-service dining will be available at several locations across Celebration Key, each with a distinct atmosphere and menu.
At Calypso Lagoon, guests can head to Mingo’s Tropical Bar & Kitchen for Bahamian favorites like fried fish and conch fritters. A nearby food truck, Mingo’s Express, will feature quick bites.
Nearby, Surf N’Sauce BBQ & Brews will offer slow-smoked meats and Bahamian craft beers served in an open-air setting.
At Starfish Lagoon, the family-friendly Gill’s Grill will dish out Caribbean seafood baskets, burgers, and kids’ meals.
Meanwhile, adults seeking a more elevated beachside experience will find it at the Pearl Cove Beach Club Restaurant, featuring upscale fare and cocktails served poolside or right on the sand.
For fast-casual and grab-and-go options, Celebration Key’s food hall, Captain’s Galley, will feature five outlets and serve a variety of options, including burgers, hot dogs, fried chicken, pizza, Mediterranean bowls, tacos, and burritos.
Read Also: What Are All the Cruise Line Private Islands – Including Upcoming Destinations!
While the majority of food and beverage choices will be found at Calypso and Starfish Lagoons, the cashless payment option will also be available in Lokono Cove’s coffee shop and food carts, and Paradise Plaza’s Yumshine Scoops ice cream shop.
The first ship scheduled to arrive at Celebration Key on July 19 is the 3,934-passenger Carnival Vista, visiting during an 8-night Southern Caribbean sailing from Port Canaveral, Florida.
Up to 2,980 passengers aboard the Carnival Conquest will be next to experience the new destination on July 20, followed closely by Carnival Freedom, Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, Carnival Liberty, Carnival Pride, Carnival Conquest, and Carnival Elation.
Cashless payments using Sail & Sign cards will be limited to Celebration Key’s food and beverage locations. Shops and boutiques are not yet included in the rollout.
While Carnival Corporation also operates Half Moon Cay and Princess Cays in the Bahamas and Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic, the company has not indicated whether or when the new payment system will expand to these locations.
Carnival Makes Celebration Key Cashless With Sail & Sign Rollout