Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point

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Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point
Lookout Cay logo.svg
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Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point
Location in the Bahamas
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Red pog.svg
Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point
Location in the Caribbean
Geography
LocationBannerman Town, South Eleuthera, The Bahamas
Coordinates 24°37′36″N76°08′55″W / 24.6268°N 76.1487°W / 24.6268; -76.1487
Type Peninsula
Archipelago Lucayan
Adjacent to Atlantic Ocean
Area700 acres (280 ha)
Administration
District South Eleuthera
Additional information
Time zone
 • Summer (DST)

Disney's Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point is a privately owned port in The Bahamas that serves as an exclusive destination for Disney Cruise Line ships. It is located on Lighthouse Point, located southeast of Bannerman Town on the island of Eleuthera. Unlike Disney's first exclusive Bahamian destination, Castaway Cay which is located on a private island, Lookout Cay occupies a privately controlled peninsula that remains part of the larger, inhabited island of Eleuthera.

Contents

In March 2019, The Walt Disney Company purchased the Lighthouse Point property from the Bahamian government, giving the company long-term control over the site while it continues to fall under Bahamian laws and governance. This area opened June 6, 2024 with the Disney Magic being the first ship to dock there.

History

Following the expansion of its cruise fleet announced in 2016, Disney sought another exclusive destination in The Bahamas to support additional cruise capacity. The company initially considered acquiring Egg Island, however, local opposition and environmental concerns, particularly regarding nearby reefs, led Disney to abandon those plans. [1]

In March 2019, the company announced an agreement to purchase the Lighthouse Point property on Eleuthera from the Bahamian government. [2] Disney invested an estimated US$250–400 million to develop the roughly 700-acre (280 ha) site with facilities themed around Bahamian culture, while donating about 190 acres (77 ha) including the southernmost tip, to the government for use as a national park. [3]

Disney committed to hiring and training Bahamians for construction, vendor opportunities, and ongoing operations, and also committed to increasing calls to other Bahamian ports such as Nassau and Freeport by 30–40 percent compared with 2018 levels. [3]

Disney Imagineer Joe Rohde, known for projects including Disney's Animal Kingdom and Aulani, initially oversaw the project prior to his retirement on January 4, 2021. [4]

Construction workers were hired in March 2022, [5] and site work began the following month. [6] The destination was officially named Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point during Destination D23 in September 2023, [7] and opened to guests on June 6, 2024. [8] [9]

Features

Transportation

At Lighthouse Point, Disney Cruise Line ships dock alongside an open-trestle pier known as Turbot Berth, which connects to the shore and Mabrika Cove via an approximately 1⁄2-mile-long (800 m) walkway. The pier’s design was intended to address environmental concerns related to water flow, marine life, coral reefs, and sediment disruption. It was routed to avoid existing coral reefs, and any viable individual corals within the pier’s footprint were relocated. Extending the open-trestle pier from shore to deep water eliminated the need to dredge a ship channel. A tram operates between Mabrika Cove, near the pier walkway, and the Goombay Cultural Center, which is located near most of Lighthouse Point's guest amenities. Some guests have criticized the length of the pier walk and tram wait times, particularly in comparison to Disney’s Castaway Cay, where the pier walk is approximately 1⁄5-mile (320 m) and tram use is optional. [10] [11]

Amenities

Island amenities include multiple food and beverage venues, such as the True-True BBQ, True-True Too BBQ, and Serenity Bay BBQ, as well as several bars including Blue Ribbon, Watering Hole, Reef & Wreck, and Sandsational Smoothies. [12] [13] [14] The island features multiple beaches, attractions, Disney character meet-and-greet experiences, and retail merchandise locations. Additional recreational offerings include a designated nature trail, bicycle rentals, and private cabana rentals located in Mabrika Cove and Serenity Bay.

Access

Disney Cruise Line's agreement with the Bahamian government allows for citizens and residents of the Bahamas to access Lighthouse Point for non-commercial purposes. [13] [14]

This is in addition to the access provided for by Bahamian law, which states that all land in the country up to the high water mark is public property and must be available for any Bahamian to access. [15] [16] [17]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Staletovich, Jenny (July 22, 2016). "Disney backs off cruise port on pristine Bahamas island". Miami Herald . Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  2. ↑ Tribou, Richard (March 11, 2019). "Disney Cruise Line completes land purchase, enters agreement for second Bahamas destination". Orlando Sentinel . Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  3. 1 2 Storey, Ken (February 11, 2020). "Disney Cruise Line gives new details on its upcoming, game-changing private Bahamian port of call". Orlando Weekly . Archived from the original on October 20, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  4. ↑ Bevil, Dewayne (November 23, 2020). "Disney: Joe Rohde, Imagineer who designed Animal Kingdom, is retiring". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  5. ↑ Mackey, Jade (February 27, 2022). "Construction for Disney Cruise Line's Lighthouse Point to Begin in the Bahamas Starting March 2". WDWNT. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  6. ↑ Mazloum, Thomas (April 20, 2022). "The Future Is Bright as Work Begins at Lighthouse Point – Disney Cruise Line | Lighthouse Point Bahamas". lighthousepointbahamas.com. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  7. ↑ Libbey, Dirk (September 9, 2023). "Destination D23 2023 Disney Parks Panel: Ahsoka In Star Tours, What's Next For Animal Kingdom, And When Epcot's Transformation Will Finally Be Done". Cinema Blend. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  8. ↑ McKenzie, Natario (April 11, 2024). "Disney Cruise Line to host final job fair for Lighthouse Point destination with employment to exceed HOA commitment". Eye Witness News. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  9. ↑ Peros, Evily Giannopoulos (March 9, 2023). "New Disney Cruise Line Island Destination at Lighthouse Point in The Bahamas to Welcome Guests in Summer 2024". disneyparks. Archived from the original on June 12, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  10. ↑ Zelinski, Andrea (June 8, 2024). "Dispatch, Disney's Lookout Cay: Bring your walking shoes". Travel Weekly. Retrieved February 3, 2026.
  11. ↑ Sanders, Scott (June 13, 2024). "Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point's Open-Trestle Pier". The Disney Cruise Line Blog. Retrieved February 3, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Our Tropical Guide to Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point". Undercover Tourist. August 13, 2025. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  13. 1 2 Roseboom, Matt (June 19, 2024). "FAQ: What to know before you visit Disney Cruise Line's Lookout Cay". Attractions Magazine. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  14. 1 2 Leppert, Jason (June 18, 2024). "Here's Everything We Know About Disney Cruise Line's Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point". Cruise Critic. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Bahamas Public Parks and Public Beaches Authority Act 2014" (PDF). Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  16. ↑ Davis, Ancilleno (March 2, 2016). "Your right to free, unlimited, restricted and costly access". Science and Perspective. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  17. ↑ Nixon, Annelia (December 10, 2025). "DPM pledges continued Bahamian beach access". Tribune 242. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
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