Cruise line executives often say that their private island-style experiences rank at the top of the list when guests are surveyed and asked to name their favorite global port destinations. So, it's exciting this summer to see the newest, private island-style experience in the Bahamas: Disney Cruise Line’s new 900-acre Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point on Eleuthera.
Currently, Disney Magic, Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy call at Lookout Cay. Luxury Travel Advisor visited last month on a three-night Disney Magic sailing from Port Everglades (Greater Fort Lauderdale), FL. Travelers have a choice of itineraries that include three-, four- or five-night Bahamian cruises from Port Everglades and four- to 10-night sailings to the Bahamas and Eastern Caribbean from Port Canaveral along Florida’s Space Coast.
Good to know? Select itineraries even call at both Lookout Cay and Disney Castaway Cay, the cruise line's first private island-style experience that opened in 1998. Those sailings allow travelers to soak up the island-style vibes and beach relaxation on two different port days.
Tropical Vibes, Eco-Preservation
Lookout Cay offers a relaxing, tropical vibe, soft white sands and crystal-clear waters.The lengthy beach area offers several different beach experiences. Family Beach is designed for all travelers, including families with young children and teens, while Serenity Bay Beach is for adults only (18 years and older); both have cabanas for rental. A separate Mabrika Cove family beach area is only open to those who've rented a cabana in that area.
Guests will find prolific beach loungers and umbrellas for shade throughout the beaches, most at points immediately adjacent to the water. Others are just steps away but behind low sand dunes with easy beach access points.
From our perspective, the overall look and feel of Lookout Cay seems less commercial than some other cruise line private islands we've explored in the past. Good to know? Just 16 percent of Lookout Cay is developed, leaving room for eco-preservation and future activity options.
Open now, though, is a wonderful nature trail that meanders along scenic areas of the destination's eastern side. That eco-experience was highly rated by many guests that we spoke with during our cruise. One fellow traveler raved to us that it was the absolute highlight of his day ashore. Those who set out on the trail should look for statues of native wildlife along the path. The eco-trail offers spectacular views of Lighthouse Point.
At press time, Disney was also putting the finishing touches on a separate bike trail. Bikes will be available to rent ashore.
Bahamian Cultural Touches
Throughout Lookout Cay, in both the family-friendly and adults-only areas, Disney sought a true Bahamian experience for guests. So, the cruise line collaborated closely with Bahamian artists, historians, cultural ambassadors and community leaders. The result is a robust, authentic Bahamian cultural experience.
Most notable is “RUSH! A Junkanoo Celebration,” a cultural celebration. Guests will experience a colorful, vibrant mix of pageantry, costumes, dance action, drumming and percussion elements (cowbells and so on). Many love joining with their own “moves” as a local Bahamian Junkanoo group leads a parade to the Goombay Cultural Center.
Not surprisingly Minnie, Mickey and other recognizable Disney characters also participate. Tip: Check the daily program for timing, as it varies. Typically, it might be several times a day (on our cruise, for example, noon and 2 p.m.).
At that Goombay Cultural Center, guests can peruse many local art pieces, learn more about Bahamian culture and enjoy art classes by Bahamian instructors.
BBQ, Drinks and More
Throughout the main areas of Lookout Cay, travelers can chow down at several eateries with barbecue and Bahamian fare. They include True-True BBQ, True-True Too BBQ and Serenity Bay BBQ. We loved the melt-in-your-mouth barbecue rib meat at Serenity Bay BBQ's open-air (but covered) dining pavilion. Tasty burgers, salads, desserts and more options were also available.
Since those renting a Mabrika Cove Cabana are a bit off the beaten path for the above eateries, Disney has provided them with their own dedicated dining area with picnic tables. Guests can enjoy the same type of BBQ lunch as they'd find in those eateries mentioned above.
As for bars, yes, you'll find several ashore, including the Bow and Ribbon Bar, the Watering Hole Bar, the Reef and Wreck Bar, and, within the adults-only Serenity Bay area, the Blue Hole Bar. A full range of libations including many tasty Bahamian cocktail specialties are available for purchase. How about an Eleuthera Euphoria, a Shipwrecker or an Island Colada? Champagne, wine, beer, spritzers and zero-proof beverages are also available for purchase.
Children's Fun
Children can cool off at the colorful Rush Out Gush Out family water play area. Given the heat of summer, the water sprayers are particularly welcome to cool the kids off. In addition, children can zip down a few small tube slides.
A separate venue, Sebastian’s Cove, staffed by youth counselors, is Lookout Cay’s island-inspired children’s area. So, if kids are signed up for the cruise ship's kids' club program, they can go there for a few hours of fun, while the parents and grandparents have a little adult-time, perhaps at Serenity Bay Beach.
Unfolding at the large, covered Play-Play Pavilion, the family-friendly "Disney Fun in the Sun Beach Bash" is hosted by Goofy, Pluto, and Chip and Dale. Kids will enjoy interactive games, ring tosses and more. At the adjacent Triton's Trumpet Stage, more family activities are offered. Guests might craft a sand sculpture or listen to a Bahamian musical performance.
Private Cabanas
For luxury travelers seeking an exclusive enclave for private use during their day ashore, Lookout Cay offers two types of private cabanas for rent at both the family-friendly and adults-only beach areas. Families with children and young teens can rent cabanas at the Family Beach or at Mabrika Cove, which is nearer the destination's pier entry point. Or, if they're all adults (18-plus), such as families with adult children and/or grandchildren, they can rent one of two cabana types at Serenity Bay and have a kid-free zone. Luxury Travel Advisor loved the Serenity Bay area.
We'd opt for the largest cabana there, the Serenity Bay Grand Cabana. Guests will enjoy the views from their lovely, covered exterior deck with comfortable furniture. A few stairs from that deck lead directly to the beach. In addition, Serenity Bay's BBQ dining and full-service bar are just steps away.
Getting Around
Overall, we loved the new Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. It's a really nice destination for travelers seeking something new to see and do in the Bahamas. Worth noting, though? To protect the reef, Disney needed to construct a half-mile pier from ship to shore. It has no shade or benches, and guests are expected to walk. Parents of young children should definitely bring strollers.
In addition, those needing mobility assistance must talk to guest services in advance about arranging golf cart transport down the pier; otherwise, they'll be told on the pier to "go back inside to guest relations" to make those arrangements. Firsthand, we watched people with canes being turned away and told to do this.
Once ashore, guests can tap into Disney's tram transportation—available to everyone—to get to Lookout Cay’s eastern side, where most of the facilities are, such as the bulk of the beach space. Once at the Goombay Cultural Center tram station, families with small kids will find strollers or wagons to borrow at no charge, with availability on a first-come, first-served basis.
Advise travelers to have patience at the tram stops. Sometimes the wait can be 15 minutes or so. That said, the tram is recommended to reach the destination's top spots. Unlike some more compact private-island-style destinations, Lookout Cay has lots of undeveloped eco-space. So, the tram is a good idea. Otherwise, the walk once ashore is lengthy and through undeveloped territory. Also, directional signage was still in the works at press time.
Other Island-Style Experiences
Disney isn't the only cruise line that's invested in creating tropical private island-style destinations for guests. Opened earlier this year is Hideaway Beach, a new adults-only area at Royal Caribbean International’s private island experience, Perfect Day at Coco Cay in the Bahamas; Celebrity Cruises also now calls there. Opening in summer 2025, Carnival Corporation’s new private island experience, Celebration Key, will open on Grand Bahama Island.
Depending on the itinerary, Explora Journeys, Regent Seven Seas, Oceania Cruises, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, and other lines also call at their parent companies’ island-style destinations. Seabourn is known for its signature "Caviar in the Surf" experience at various beach destinations across the globe, while Virgin Voyages offers a Bimini Beach Club experience in the Bahamas in collaboration with Resorts World Bimini.
In French Polynesia, guests sailing on Windstar Cruises, depending on itinerary, might go ashore at two non-owned islets. One Windstar experience is a lunch barbecue and water sports at Motu Mahaea off Taha'a. Another is at at private motu off Bora Bora for an evening Destination Discovery Event consisting of a feast, fire dancing and Polynesian music.
Guests sailing on Paul Gauguin Cruises’ seven-day “Tahiti and the Society Islands” itinerary on multiple dates in 2025 will stroll the white sand beaches at Motu Mahana, the line’s own private Tahiti islet experience. Under a backdrop of swaying palm trees, they’ll enjoy a barbecue lunch, drinks served in coconuts, and a floating lagoon bar.
Whatever the line, whatever the ship, these private-isle-style experiences offer luxury guests a great way to spend the day, before heading back to the ship and out to sea—ready for the next great port destination.
Related Articles
Paul Gauguin Announces 2025 “Moana Explorer Program” Voyages