Martin Aquatic, a world-class aquatic firm, has announced that its new technology has served over 150,000 guests who have visited Carnival’s exclusive destination, Celebration Key, since its debut one month ago. The new private cruise port on Grand Bahama allows guests to enjoy the Caribbean’s largest freshwater lagoons.
These extensive amenities are supported by Blue Mar Basins technology from Martin Aquatic, which keeps the water crystal clear across more than 7 acres of surface area. Celebration Key marks Martin Aquatic’s first installation of the patent-pending, algorithm-based Blue Mar Basins system, which has evolved through multiple design iterations since its initial development.
“The scale of the lagoons at Celebration Key is nothing short of astonishing,” says Josh Martin, president & creative director of the Orlando, Florida-based creative design and engineering firm, Martin Aquatic.
“But what is even more incredible is the quality of water throughout these entirely swimmable basins, and that’s thanks to superior engineering and automation controls within our Blue Mar Basins system.”
More sustainable operations
Measuring 3.5 acres each, the two lagoons at Celebration Key offer unique experiences to Carnival’s guests—from swim-up bars and shallow sunshelves for in-water lounging, to a DJ island and overwater cabanas.
However, the true wonder of these basins extends beyond their design, showcasing a more sustainable operation compared to an average swimming pool. With different depths and concentrations of bathers, the two basins utilise the Blue Mar Basins system, which employs a patent-pending method for monitoring, treating, and responding to changes in water chemistry.
“The Blue Mar Basins system intelligently uses automation for creating the right water balance at the right time, and the technology we’ve created is getting better all the time,” says Alessandro Orio, vice president of Blue Mar Basins.
Ease of installation
Engineering a project like Celebration Key to operate sustainably is a key aspect of the Blue Mar Basins’ innovative approach. During the development of the Blue Mar Basins system, Martin Aquatic designed proprietary ‘smart’ controllers to manage all chemical and mechanical equipment.
Alongside Carnival and its ship deployment schedule, the Blue Mar Basins system utilises proprietary algorithms to estimate the level of activity in the lagoons, based on daily passenger arrivals at the port.
Currently, Celebration Key can accommodate up to 11,000 passengers daily, hosting two ships per day. When the second pier opens in 2026, it will be able to accommodate four ships and serve up to 20,000 passengers per day. On days with higher capacities, the system is optimised to operate more efficiently and uses a proprietary AI algorithm to adjust water levels based on historical trends.
This system enables the basin to leverage historical data alongside current environmental conditions to optimise chemical and power consumption for the design day. It is also designed to identify patterns in water quality fluctuations, facilitating proactive treatment of water that could pose risks to guests.
Tracking water and active learning by the system is just one of the innovations that Martin Aquatic has implemented as part of Celebration Key.
Thanks to Blue Mar Basins’ turnkey solutions, installing this equipment was straightforward. Despite the challenges of an island setting and local contractors doing the work, Celebration Key’s lagoons were completed first during construction, saving several months in the development timeline.
Equipment was delivered on-site in a plug-and-play manner, enabling pre-certified and trained construction crews to quickly and smoothly install complex modules. With a fully supplied equipment package, Martin Aquatic’s engineering team developed a system that reduces installation time, helping large lagoon projects open more quickly and easily for clients.
The impact of Blue Mar Basins
Celebration Key has demonstrated how the Blue Mar Basins system can efficiently handle large numbers of bathers in a multi-acre facility. This technology replaces traditional water management methods, enabling developers to transform every square foot into a fully functional, swimmable water feature.
“Seeing our Blue Mar Basins system used in our largest project to date has been incredibly rewarding—especially for a project as high profile as Carnival’s Celebration Key,” says Orio. “The next developments coming down the pipeline will inevitably benefit from the experience and information we are gathering at this seven-acre site.”
Celebration Key is not the first Blue Mar Basins project to launch, as Martin Aquatic has been refining this technology for years through various large-scale pools, including a 1.3-acre water body that formed the centrepiece of a retail and dining complex.
Future projects will include surf lagoons, mixed-use development lagoons, and other waterpark attractions that benefit from a more efficient water quality management system.
“We’re excited for the future of our Blue Mar Basins technology,” adds Martin. “The lagoons at Celebration Key have made an incredible impression on guests, and our clients are seeing what is achievable in creating the next great Aquatic Leisure Destination.”
Earlier this year, Martin Aquatic named themed entertainment industry veteran Chris Grap as creative director, increasing the company’s capabilities in thematic storytelling. Grap is a blooloop 50 influencer and a member of the TEA Eastern North American board. He brings vast experience in experiential design and formerly served at Mall of America following a career in film production.
