Several months ago, Disney Cruise Line introduced a new exclusive cruise port: Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. Available as a port of call on select Disney Cruise Line sailings in the Bahamas, Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point isn’t a private island but a private destination on an existing island (Eleuthera in the Bahamas).
Like Disney’s Castaway Cay (a private Disney island), Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point is free for guests. However, there are some up charges, such as excursions, alcohol, merchandise, and cabanas. Only one Disney ship visits Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point at a time.
You’ll need to look at the specific sailings to see exactly which itineraries include Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. Our sailing included a stop at both Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay, but most of the Bahamian/Caribbean cruise itineraries include one or the other.
What You Need to Know About Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point
Location
Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point is located on the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas. As a Bahamian island, it’s more north than Caribbean destinations, and while it’s typically warm there, it can be a little cooler than the Caribbean islands. The actual Disney beach area is in the southern part of the country.
Getting to Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point
Our ship arrived at Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point fairly early, but we could not disembark the ship until 10:15 am. That’s because all of the food, staff, and merchandise for the day is taken off the ship and brought to the island. I’ve seen other reports of earlier disembarkation times on other sailings, so be sure to check your app to see specifics.
Once you get the all-clear, you’ll need to head off the ship to the Mabrika Cove area. There is a port (no tender ships are required), but it’s a walk. We timed it, and it’s about a 15-minute walk (in flip-flops and bathing suits) on the approximately half-mile pier. There was no shade or seating to rest, but there were water stations halfway down the pier. Wagons are available right outside the ship if you need one to carry your stuff.
Golf carts are available for guests needing assistance. For our sailing, they asked guests needing assistance to meet in the Walt Disney Theater before disembarkation. Aid is only available to those specifically needing it – not the entire party.
Once you finish your walk on the pier, you’ll reach the main entrance. Most of the activities and the main beach areas are on the other side – beyond Mabrika Cove. Trams are available for rides there. To keep kids interested, a narration on the tram explains some of the fun elements of the island.
I didn’t time the ride, but it wasn’t too long. We were told that the walking/bike path was closed, but hopefully, it’ll be open in the future. Even if it is open, I probably wouldn’t walk after the long pier walk. While many guests were waiting for the tram, they ran continuously, so the wait wasn’t very long.
The tram drops you off at another entrance, where you’ll find the family beach areas, food, shops, and other activities.
Activities at Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point
Lookout Cay was designed with the culture and consideration of the area in mind. Instead of using paper cups, guests are served drinks in metal cups. The colors and decor are inspired by Bahamian culture, and the resort also includes the Goombay Cultural Center. This cultural pavilion offers programming to teach guests about the area and its people.
Kids’ Activities
Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point offers many things that kids will love. The family beach is available to guests of all ages. There are also the following:
- Rush Out Guest Out water play area
- Play-plan gaming pavilion/volleyball
- Sebastian’s Cove kids’ club area
Cabanas
For a special beach day, Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point offers private cabanas for guests to rent for the day. These are extremely popular and can be difficult to obtain. They can be reserved when your Castaway Club booking window opens and generally are sold out by the time pearl guests are able to reserve.
Cabanas are located in two areas – in Mabrika Cove, right by where the ship docks, and in Serenity Bay, where the adult beach is. If you reserve one in Mabrika Cove, food is available by the cabanas (otherwise, you’d need to take the tram to the main area).
Shopping
There are several different shopping areas on Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. These offer essentials and exclusive merchandise. There’s also Treasures of Eleuthera, an area offering local merchandise from Bahamian vendors. The First and Last Chance Stand has some items for sale right by the pier for last-minute purchases.
Complimentary Beach Area
In my opinion, the best thing to do at Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point is to go to the beach. The sand is so soft and a beautiful light pink, while the water is a beautiful blue. Towels are available when you exit the pier – you don’t need to carry them off the ship.
There’s plenty of seating, including lounge chairs, small tables, and umbrellas. During our visit, however, it was too windy to put the umbrellas up, so there was limited shade.
Excursions
If you’d rather book an excursion, there are several options. In most cases, these should be booked in advance, when your booking window options.
Options include ATV rentals, banana boats, snorkeling, a nature walk, a history tour, a fishing trip, eco-tours, and more. During our trip, the bicycle rental booth was closed—I suspect that’s because the path was closed.
Food at Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point
You won’t have to head back to the ship for lunch—there are several places to eat, and it’s included in your cruise fare. These include True-True BBQ, True-True Too BBQ, and Serenity Bay BBQ. Food options include hot dogs, burgers, ribs, chicken, salads, and more.
There are also several bars around the area. If you drink alcohol, the Eleuthera Euphoria is a must-try. It includes Dole-Whip frozen treat and rum and is a signature drink.
Are you planning to visit Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point?
