The past Friday, two American passengers from Carnival Cruise Line died in separate drowning incidents at Celebration Key, the company’s newly opened private destination on Grand Bahama Island.
The first tragedy occurred shortly before noon, when a 79-year-old man who was snorkeling at one of the beaches lost consciousness. A lifeguard quickly pulled him from the water and performed CPR, but he was later pronounced dead.
Just a few hours later, around 2:30 p.m., a 74-year-old woman was found unresponsive while swimming in a lagoon area of the resort. Despite receiving emergency medical attention, she could not be revived.
Carnival confirmed that both passengers were traveling on different ships, the Mardi Gras and the Carnival Elation, and stated that their care team is already providing support to the families of the victims. Local authorities in the Bahamas have launched investigations and autopsies to determine the exact causes of death.
Why did these drownings happen in such a recently inaugurated resort?
Although Celebration Key was designed as a safe, exclusive paradise for cruise guests, the incidents show that accidents can occur anywhere, even in controlled environments like beaches and lagoons. The victims’ advanced age may have also been a contributing factor.
