Celebration Key Food Guide: What’s Free, What Costs Extra, and How the Island Eats Program Works
Celebration Key Announcement © Carnival Cruise Line
Celebration Key is Carnival Cruise Line’s new private island destination in the Bahamas—and while the beaches, pools, and scenery are complimentary, food and drink are handled differently than many guests expect. One of the most important things to understand before visiting Celebration Key is how the Island Eats program works and what food and drink is actually included in your visit.
This guide breaks down the Island Eats policy, highlights what’s available at no cost, and helps you plan whether to eat on the island or head back to the ship—because unlike other cruise line private islands, most food at Celebration Key is not included all day.
Click here to learn more about Celebration Key.
Island Eats: One Free Meal Per Person—And That’s It
Every guest at Celebration Key is entitled to just one complimentary Island Eats meal for the entire day. This free meal can be redeemed at one of 14 participating quick-service food venues, and includes:
One eligible entrée from the Island Eats menu
A side (usually French fries or potato chips)
A chocolate chip cookie
You’ll need to swipe your own Sail & Sign card to redeem your free meal—each guest must swipe for themselves, and you cannot use your card to claim meals for anyone else in your party. Once you’ve used your Island Eats credit, any additional food on the island must be purchased out of pocket, even at the same location.
This structure is very different from what many Carnival cruisers are used to, especially compared to other cruise line private islands like Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay or Norwegian’s Great Stirrup Cay, where food is often included all day. At Celebration Key, your complimentary food stops after one meal, unless you return to the ship.
Where Can You Use the Island Eats Meal Credit?
Your free Island Eats meal is valid at any of the 14 quick-service casual eateries around Celebration Key. These locations are a mix of food trucks, snack shacks, and food hall-style counters, spread throughout the island.
Beachside Burgers and More
Classic beach eats including cheeseburgers, hamburgers, fried chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders, and Caesar salads. Served with fries and a cookie. Click here to view menu
Calypso Chicken Co.
Specializes in fried chicken and Caribbean flavors, featuring spicy fried chicken sandwiches, tenders, cheesesteaks, and Caesar salads. Click here to view menu
Flippin’ Fritters
Serves a 6-piece Island Eats fritter meal with conch, shrimp, and corn fritters, sweet potato fries, coleslaw, and a cookie. Additional fritter varieties, sauces, and drinks are available for purchase. Click here to view menu
Fowl Play Wings Co.
Offers 4-piece chicken wings or boneless wings in sauces like Korean BBQ, Garlic Parmesan, and Bahama Buffalo. Comes with fries and a cookie. Click here to view menu
Grand Bahama Taco Co.
Caribbean-inspired tacos and quesadillas including jerk chicken, fried fish, steak, and vegetarian options. Served with a cookie. Click here to view menu
Mini Donut King
Choose 4 mini donuts—two classic and two specialty flavors like Oreo, Pina Colada, or Maple Bacon. Comes with shaved ice. Click here to view menu
Seaside Burgers & Dogs
Simple burger stand with hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, Caesar salads, and fries. Comes with a cookie. Click here to view menu
Seaside Shack: Subs & Tenders
Features cheesesteak sandwiches, grilled chicken melts, chicken tenders, mozzarella sticks, Caesar salads, and fries. Click here to view menu
Streatery Sushiva
Two featured Island Eats rolls: Orange Chicken Roll and Crazy California Roll, served with a cookie. More sushi fusion options are available for purchase. Click here to view menu
Pizza & Subs
Choose cheese or pepperoni individual pizza, or a selection of sub sandwiches with potato chips, or beef lasagna. Click here to view menu
Taco, Burrito, or Bowl
Build your own taco, burrito, or bowl with a choice of protein, rice, toppings, and sauces. This stand offers flexible options for a variety of diets. Click here to view menu
Mediterranean Flavors
Build-your-own bowls with a choice of base (pita, rice, greens), protein (shawarma or falafel), toppings, and dressings like tzatziki or garlic sauce. Click here to view menu
Snack Shack (Calypso Lagoon & Starfish Lagoon Locations)
Wraps, hot dogs, and Caesar salads with chips and a cookie. Wrap options include chicken Caesar, turkey club, and hummus vegetable. Click here to view menu
Each of these offers a different theme and menu, but the one free meal rule applies no matter where you eat.
What Happens After You Use Your Free Meal?
After redeeming your one free Island Eats meal, you will need to pay for any additional food. That includes:
Any second or third meal, even if it’s from the same Island Eats location
Any items outside the Island Eats menu at those venues
Any food from full-service restaurants like Mingo’s Tropical Bar & Kitchen, Surf N’ Sauce BBQ, Gill’s Grill, or the Pearl Cove Beach Club restaurant
If you don’t want to pay for extra food, you do have another option: you’re allowed to return to the ship and eat onboard. Celebration Key is designed for easy back-and-forth access, and you can come and go from the ship as often as you like throughout the day. If you want a second meal without spending money, the complimentary food venues on the ship are your best bet.
What About Full-Service Restaurants?
Celebration Key will also feature four full-service restaurants, but these are not included under the Island Eats program. Instead, you have three options:
Pay à la carte with your cruise card or credit/debit card
Use your Island Eats credit for 25% off one entrée (instead of a free meal)
Purchase a Pearl Cove All-Inclusive Pass, which includes one premium meal at the exclusive Pearl Cove Beach Club restaurant
The full-service restaurants are:
Mingo’s Tropical Bar & Kitchen
Surf N’ Sauce BBQ & Brews
Gill’s Grill
Pearl Cove Beach Club Restaurant (available only with paid access)
We’ll update this post with menus and pricing for these restaurants once Celebration Key opens.
Drinks at Celebration Key: What’s Free and What’s Not
Many guests also wonder how drinks work on the island—and again, Celebration Key is different from the ship.
Here’s how drinks are handled:
Carnival’s drink packages do not apply at Celebration Key.
Water stations are available around the island for free.
All other beverages must be purchased, including:
Bottled water
Soda
Juice
Alcoholic drinks
Drinks must be paid for using your Sail & Sign card or a credit/debit card. The island is 100% cashless.
Celebration Key Food FAQ
How many meals are free at Celebration Key?
Only one. Each guest gets one free Island Eats meal per visit. After that, all food must be paid for unless you return to the ship.
Can I get more food on the island without paying?
No. You’ll need to return to the ship if you want more food without paying. You can go on and off the ship as many times as you’d like during your port day.
Do drink packages work on the island?
No. Carnival’s Cheers! and Bottomless Bubbles packages do not apply at Celebration Key. You must pay for all drinks unless it’s plain water from the free water stations.
Can I share my Island Eats credit with someone else?
No. Each person must swipe their own cruise card to redeem their one meal. You cannot use your card to claim meals for others in your party.
Is food from full-service restaurants included?
No. Full-service restaurant meals are extra. You can use your Island Eats credit for a 25% discount on one entrée. If you have a Pearl Cove All-Inclusive Pass, you can get one free meal at the Pearl Cove Restaurant.
Where are the Island Eats venues located?
There are 14 total locations across Celebration Key, including food trucks, food hall counters, and Snack Shacks in both the Calypso Lagoon and Starfish Lagoon areas.
Celebration Key offers a range of casual food options and upcoming full-service restaurants, but understanding the one free meal rule is essential to avoid surprise charges. Whether you use your Island Eats credit for a burger, taco, wings, or sushi, plan ahead if you think you’ll want more than one meal—or make time to head back to the ship for included options.
