Should you’re questioning what a Disney Cruise Line non-public seaside vacation spot is like, you may think it is Disney World in a tropical ambiance. Nonetheless, I can guarantee you that Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Level is not just like the parks in any respect — it is completely different in all the best methods.
For starters, it isn’t crowded, and it affords seashores as a substitute of amusement rides. Though you may share the seaside with others, you will not wait in generally hourslong strains for a lounge chair. As a substitute of retail retailers and eating places urging dad and mom and different guests to spend, spend, spend, there are solely a few retailers, and all eateries are freed from cost, which reduces temptation.
Lookout Cay can also be unspoiled and fortunately lacks the business really feel of different cruise line non-public islands. By a partnership with the Bahamian authorities, Disney Cruise Line created an oasis that is a nod to the tradition, meals and artwork of the Bahamas. It options native seafood, native flora, artwork courses, sculptures by native artists, Disney music with an island twist and Junkanoo dance celebrations. It additionally homes a nature path that results in a lighthouse overlooking the ocean, which is how Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Level obtained a part of its title.
Nonetheless, it does really feel just a little prefer it’s nonetheless rising into its ears. When it obtained its first ship name, signage was nonetheless being put in, and bicycles weren’t but obtainable to lease to be used on its bike paths. There was additionally a marked lack of shade as a result of many of the native flora Disney planted hasn’t but matured to offer it — one thing that may take years.
Need to know what else to anticipate throughout a go to to Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Level? This is a rundown of all of the beachy enterprise.
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The place is Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Level?
Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Level is on the southeastern tip of the island of Eleuthera within the Bahamas. Disney Cruise Line bought 900 acres of land for the aim of making its personal non-public seaside vacation spot there however developed lower than 16% of the general parcel.
The road additionally donated 190 acres again to the Bahamian authorities, together with the southernmost level and a major quantity of beachfront property.
Which cruise ships go there?
Disney Lookout Cay is unique to passengers who sail on Disney Cruise Line’s ships, and the entire line’s vessels are capable of name there. At press time, voyages visiting Lookout Cay by means of 2024 included three- to six-night sailings, totally on Disney Magic. Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream are additionally scheduled to make a handful of stops there.
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How do you get to and round Disney Lookout Cay?
Though Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Level has a pier for its ships to dock, vessels tie up a half-mile from the vacation spot entrance in an effort to keep away from harming the coral reefs that develop nearer to shore. Sadly, which means passengers face a 10- to 15-minute stroll within the Bahamian solar with no shade.
A restricted variety of complimentary wagons can be found close to the pier entrance for passengers with young children to borrow on a first-come, first-served foundation.
Passengers who cannot make the trek on their very own can request golf cart help by contacting visitor companies on the ship. As a result of width of the pier, a extra sturdy shuttle service can’t be provided for everybody. It is shocking that the cruise line did not anticipate this want, significantly because it caters so closely to households with younger youngsters.
From the doorway to Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Level, guests will take a free shuttle from the Mabrika Cove space to the Goombay space, the place many of the motion occurs. The latter is dwelling to the seashores, eating places, buffets, leisure and cultural venues that the vacation spot affords.
Shuttles depart in pairs on a daily cadence, and since there’s just one route with two stops — one initially and one on the finish — it is a better system to navigate than the one on Disney’s non-public island, Castaway Cay.
Be ready for the journey to take about quarter-hour in every path, and observe that there may very well be waits at peak instances. Shade is offered within the type of a protracted pavilion at every of the 2 shuttle stations. In the course of the journey, you may hear a recording that incorporates a solid of sea creature characters who intention to teach riders in regards to the historical past of the island, what it affords, and the forms of crops and animals that decision the island dwelling.
Once you arrive on the Goombay Cultural Heart tram cease, wagons and strollers are offered for passengers with youngsters to make use of on a complimentary first-come, first-served foundation.
A collection of attractive boardwalks join factors of curiosity within the Goombay space. As a substitute of offering straight paths, they’re largely winding. That makes them aesthetically pleasing but additionally irritating as a result of their structure forces you to stroll longer than crucial when transferring from place to position. As a consequence of an absence of signage, which the road says it is engaged on, it may also be troublesome to search out your means between areas.
After you’re taking the tram again to the Mabrika Cove space on the finish of the day, you may need to move by means of a safety checkpoint with the intention to start the lengthy stroll again to the ship.
What are the Lookout Cay seashores?
The Goombay part of the vacation spot is split into two tiers. The higher tier has bars, eating places, loos and sights. It additionally has small sandy areas with loungers and umbrellas. Nonetheless, to entry the ocean and seashores at Disney Lookout Cay, cruisers should enterprise to the decrease tier through stairs or certainly one of 5 accessible ramps, which descend a brief distance down the dunes that separate the tiers.
As a substitute of a number of separate seashores, Lookout Cay has one lengthy white-sand stretch that encompasses two areas: Household Seashore, which is for everybody, and Serenity Bay Seashore, which is for cruisers 18 and older solely.
The seashores move into each other with no seen divider. Nonetheless, crew members will direct households with youngsters to the right seaside if crucial.
One different seaside space — at Mabrika Cove, close to the doorway to Lookout Cay — is simply accessible in the event you lease one of many household cabanas there. (See under.)
Beachgoers who benefit from the two major seashores can benefit from bars and buffets which might be a brief stroll away. Cruisers accessing the Mabrika Cove seaside through cabana rental have their very own devoted eating pavilion in that space. (See under.)
All seashores have complimentary entry to loungers, umbrellas and close by loos. Lifeguards are stationed each on land and on private watercraft that scan the entire seaside areas. Life jackets for youngsters and adults additionally can be found for complimentary use.
Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Level has no swimming pools.
A towel station is close to the Mabrika Cove tram cease, so that you needn’t convey your individual from the ship.
A restricted variety of first-come, first-served seaside wheelchairs will quickly be obtainable for complimentary passenger use.
What are the very best issues to do at Disney Lookout Cay?
For households
Households on the lookout for greater than only a day lazing on the seaside can head to Rush Out Gush Out, Disney Lookout Cay’s colourful, family-friendly water play space. It options water sprayers and a few small tube slides for youths.
A separate splash space for youths is Sebastian’s Cove, the place younger youngsters who’re signed up for the cruise line’s children membership actions can play underneath the supervision of youth membership employees. Mother and father can test their children in throughout set hours to take pleasure in some adults-only time whereas the little ones splash amongst fountains adorned with sea characters a la “The Little Mermaid.”
For interactive enjoyable and video games, try the “Disney Enjoyable within the Solar Seashore Bash,” which is, mockingly and mercifully, held within the shade of the Play-Play Pavilion — a big, coated, open-air construction used for household actions. The bash occurs twice a day and entails ring toss and water video games for youths, hosted by Chip, Dale, Goofy and Pluto. Different kid-friendly actions — Hula-Hoops, soccer, and many others. — occur all through the day, too.
Subsequent door, you too can try Triton’s Trumpet Stage, the place varied family-friendly actions and music performances happen. Throughout my go to, artists had been there making sand sculptures.
For seaside bums
This one is straightforward. Merely plant your self at one of many free umbrella loungers alongside any of the seashores, and luxuriate in. For a kid-free expertise, head left simply previous the Goombay space’s info station and make your strategy to the far finish of the seaside, the place you may discover Serenity Bay.
If in case you have the price range and you’ll ebook one earlier than they promote out, renting a personal cabana is one other nice strategy to benefit from the seaside — however with further facilities. (See under.)
For tradition vultures
Should you’re desperate to study extra in regards to the Bahamas’ lovely tradition, go to the Goombay Cultural Heart within the coronary heart of the Goombay space of Disney Lookout Cay.
Along with admiring the native artwork items displayed, you’ll be able to participate in artwork courses taught by locals and study a bit in regards to the islands’ historical past.
It is also the place to view “Rush! A Junkanoo Celebration” — a vibrant and energetic efficiency by native Junkanoo dancers. It options elaborate, brilliantly coloured costumes and visits from Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Daisy.
For lively guests
Passengers who simply cannot sit nonetheless can lease bicycles on the Rocky Level rental stand close to the Goombay Cultural Heart tram cease ($15 per particular person for the entire day). Pedal alongside a collection of motorcycle paths that wind all through the vacation spot. (Throughout my go to, the paths weren’t but prepared and, subsequently, weren’t open to guests.)
If counting steps is extra your factor, you will not wish to miss a stroll alongside the Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Level nature path. It takes between 10 and quarter-hour every strategy to stroll the sandy however agency path to see the outdated lighthouse, from which the vacation spot’s title was derived. It is a terrific spot for photographs, and alongside the best way, you are positive to identify a few of the island’s native crops and perhaps an animal or two. You may stroll it by yourself or ebook a guided tour.
Given the terrain, I do not suggest sporting flip-flops for the stroll. Moreover, as a result of the path is hard-packed, it is largely wheelchair accessible. Nonetheless, the route has some gentle inclines and areas the place the terrain could be just a little looser or rougher. Anybody utilizing a mobility support ought to proceed with warning and discretion.
Need some watery enjoyable when you burn energy? Lease snorkeling gear (a masks with a snorkel, a life vest and fins) for $38 per particular person for the day. You may choose up the gear on the Flippers & Fins stand, about midway between Household Seashore and Serenity Bay Seashore.
Like Castaway Cay, Lookout Cay will finally host a 5K run for passengers wishing to participate whereas they’re in port. At press time, details about the precise route was not but obtainable.
If you would like to pay for an lively tour, choices abound, together with biking, kayaking and snorkeling. (See under.)
For eco-conscious visitors
Should you’re within the native setting, try the Discovery Path, a part of the character path expertise. A collection of posted indicators all through the vacation spot provide QR codes that present details about native crops and animals, the island’s geography, and extra.
A number of eco-tours are provided among the many listing of shore excursions that take passengers out of the quick Lookout Cay space and into the remainder of Eleuthera. (See under.)
Can I meet Disney characters at Lookout Cay?
Sure, alternatives abound to satisfy and take photographs with Disney characters. Examine the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App for scheduled appearances.
You too can catch a glimpse of Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Daisy throughout “Rush! A Junkanoo Celebration” on the Goombay Cultural Heart. Plus, Chip, Dale, Goofy and Pluto lead the “Disney Enjoyable within the Solar Seashore Bash,” held on the Play-Play Pavilion.
What are the excursions at Lookout Cay?
What’s good about Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Level is that it isn’t everything of the island. Not like Castaway Cay — which is its personal island, totally operated by Disney Cruise Line — Lookout Cay is a small portion of a bigger island on which individuals stay, work and go about their day by day lives. Due to that, Disney is ready to provide excursions that enterprise past the cruise line’s designed areas.
Throughout my go to, excursions listed on the DCL app included:
- Bahama Financial institution Boat Escape: A two-hour, 15-minute tour for $109 (ages 10 and older) or $79 (ages 8-9)
- Banana Boat: A forty five-minute tour for $59 (ages 10 and older) or $49 (ages 8-9)
- Bike and Kayak at Disney Lookout Cay: A two-hour, 15-minute tour for $99 (ages 10-80) or $89 (ages 4-9)
- Boiling Gap Reef Snorkel: A 3-hour, 15-minute tour for $109 (ages 10 and older) or $79 (ages 8-9)
- E-Bike, Sand, Snorkel and Historical past: A two-hour, 15-minute tour for $139 (ages 16-75)
- Historic Nature and Buggy Tour (two individuals): A one-hour, 45-minute tour for $239 (ages 12 and older)
- Historic Nature and Buggy tour (4 individuals): A one-hour, 45-minute tour for $399 (ages 12 and older)
- Nature Stroll and Coral Nursery: A two-hour, 15-minute tour for $59 (ages 10 and older) or $49 (ages 8-9)
- Pirates of Eleuthera: A two-hour, 15-minute tour for $79 (ages 10 and older), $69 (ages 3-9) or free (ages 2-3)
- Non-public Historic Cultural Tour (in SUV): A four-hour, 15-minute tour for $799 (ages 18 and older)
- Snorkel by Boat: A two-hour, 45-minute tour for $109 (ages 10 and older) or $89 (ages 5-9)
- South Eleuthera Eco and Cultural Tour: A 3-hour, 45-minute tour for $149 (ages 10 and older), $119 (ages 4-9) or free (ages 2-3)
- South Eleuthera Eco and Historic Tour: A 3-hour, 45-minute tour for $119 (ages 10 and older), $79 (ages 4-9) or free (ages 2-3)
- Tropical Reef Safari Snorkel: A two-hour, 15-minute tour for $109 (ages 10 and older) or $79 (ages 8-9)
You may ebook excursions previous to crusing, on board at your ship’s Port Adventures desk, through the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App or upon arrival at Lookout Cay. Excursions depart from both the Turbot Berth stand at Mabrika Cove, simply inside the doorway to Lookout Cay, or The Gathering Tree to the left of the data middle close to the Goombay Cultural Heart tram cease.
Does Disney Lookout Cay provide cabanas to lease?
Disney Lookout Cay has two cabana sections: Mabrika Cove Cabanas, designated for households, and Serenity Bay Cabanas, designated for adults solely.
All cabanas ebook up shortly on a first-come, first-served foundation. They’re one worth for the complete day for a set variety of individuals, relying on the scale. Nonetheless, you’ll be able to add extra individuals (as much as a most quantity, relying on cabana sort) for an extra payment (per particular person). (See under for particulars.)
Accessible cabanas can be found. Passengers can contact Disney Cruise Line’s particular companies at 407-566-3602 to inquire about reserving these.
Mabrika Cove Cabanas
Oddly, the household cabanas are in Mabrika Cove, because the title suggests, which suggests they are a 15-minute tram journey away from the primary leisure location – one thing that does not appear significantly family-friendly.
Luckily, households do not need to make the journey to seize a chunk to eat. Along with snacks offered within the cabanas, lunch is served at a devoted eating pavilion close by. Guests can dine at tables there or take meals again to their cabanas.
Cabanas for households are available in two sizes. Household Cabanas are the smaller of the 2 and might maintain as much as six individuals for $963. The second, Grand Household Cabanas, are just a little bigger and might accommodate as much as 10 individuals for $1,375. Extra individuals can be part of for $56 every. In whole, 20 cabanas can be found: 4 Grand Household Cabanas and 16 Household Cabanas.
Cabanas should not air-conditioned. They include three partitions (one with counter area and a minifridge stocked with bottled water and soda), a major entrance and slatted home windows that push out to open. A fourth partial wall is generally open-air and leads out onto the connected wood deck, the place guests can benefit from padded loungers and a desk with chairs.
Inside, a few chairs and occasional tables make for nice and cozy indoor seating. Passengers wishing to enterprise to the seaside can achieve this through a set of stairs that leads down from the deck. Ready within the sand are loungers, upright chairs and an umbrella (which does not present almost sufficient shade for the entire chairs).
Bigger cabanas embody extra deck area, further outside loungers and an indoor eating room with a big, lengthy desk and chairs.
Household cabanas additionally embody freshwater outside showers for simple sand elimination, meals (snacks and lunch) and nonalcoholic drinks, sand toys, sunscreen, seaside towels, and a secure to be used in the course of the day. Snorkeling gear can also be included upon request. Cabanas don’t have non-public restrooms, however a public restroom facility is close by.
Serenity Bay Cabanas
Completely for visitors 18 and older, the Serenity Bay adults-only cabanas are about as removed from the household cabanas as you may be on the developed a part of the Disney property.
They include two sorts: Serenity Bay Cabanas, which maintain as much as 4 individuals for $523, and Serenity Bay Grand Cabanas, which may accommodate as much as 10 individuals for $963. Extra individuals may be accommodated for $56 every. Six cabanas make up the overall stock, with two of them within the Grand Cabana class.
Layouts and facilities are much like these of the Mabrika Cove Cabanas, and they’re additionally not air-conditioned, nor do they provide non-public loos. Public ones are within the neighborhood, nonetheless.
Is meals included at Disney Lookout Cay?
You wager. Lookout Cay has two major (and free) buffet areas: True-True BBQ and True-True Too BBQ. True-True is discovered between the data sales space and the household seaside, and True-True Too is between the data sales space and Serenity Bay.
Each serve fish (mahi-mahi and salmon), rooster and seafood rice bowls, barbecue ribs, rotisserie rooster, cheeseburgers, sizzling canines, Inconceivable Burgers, and crispy rooster sandwiches. Sides embody couscous salad, coleslaw, baked beans, grilled broccoli, corn on the cob, baked plantains and candy potato fries.
Sadly, the meals areas have a fly drawback. The bugs buzz throughout the serving areas and infrequently land on the meals objects. The road has taken steps to curb the problem, together with including followers to meals service counters and tables within the seating areas.
Talking of seating, True-True has 5 coated pavilions with tables, and True-True Too has 4. At peak instances, it may be troublesome to discover a spot.
Every location has a drink kiosk space that provides free self-serve water, mushy drinks and mushy ice cream.
Moreover, Serenity Bay has its personal complimentary buffet, Serenity Bay BBQ, which serves the identical objects as True-True and True-True Too. It additionally has its personal shaded seating areas and a stand with drinks and ice cream. The close by Blue Gap Bar is the place to seize an alcoholic beverage.
The buffets are the one locations at Lookout Cay that serve meals, and so they achieve this between 11 a.m. and a pair of p.m. Which means in the event you’re hungry or want a snack earlier or later, you are out of luck. Remember to eat a great breakfast earlier than you disembark, and pack your individual nibbles in the event you assume you could be peckish within the late afternoon.
Are there bars at Lookout Cay?
In fact! Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Level has 4 bars, a smoothie stand and a espresso kiosk. All are within the Goombay space, apart from the espresso stand, which is at Mabrika Cove.
The Blue Gap Bar serves the Serenity Bay adults-only space, and it is the bar with the simplest entry from the seaside. The subsequent closest one to the seaside is on the completely reverse finish, on the finish of the household seaside. Midway between the 2 are the Watering Gap Bar, close to True-True BBQ, and the Bow & Ribbon Bar, which is close to True-True Too BBQ.
The menus embody Volley, Actually and White Claw seltzers; Kalik and Sands beers; a choice of flavored cold-brew coffees; and cocktails like a black cherry pina colada, Junkanoo Juice (rum, banana, lime, pineapple and fervour orange guava) and a Bahama Sling (peach rum, Cointreau, lime, orgeat and bitters).
The menu additionally options specials: Eleuthera Euphoria (rum, pineapple and Dole Whip pineapple) and Butterfly Switcha (lemonade, jasmine inexperienced tea and a tastebud enhancer).
You too can buy memento pineapple cups and tumblers on the bars for $21 every.
Sandsational Smoothies, the smoothie stand close to the Watering Gap Bar, affords nonalcoholic frozen drinks. (Attempt the Tropical Teaser: vanilla ice cream, mango, pineapple and tropical Pop Rocks.) Nonalcoholic specialty drinks embody flavored iced tea and watermelon limeade.
The espresso stand Mangroves & Go is simply past the doorway to Lookout Cay. It is preferrred for grabbing a morning cup of joe to start out your day ashore. Select from double and single pictures of espresso, lattes, cappuccinos, iced espresso and chilly brew, in addition to spiked espresso drinks and specialty island concoctions just like the Junkanoo Latte — a mix of chilly brew, vanilla and lavender.
Oddly, most bars and the smoothie stand are fairly removed from the seaside, which means you may have a little bit of a trek to seize drinks. It may be an ordeal if you need to pack up the youngsters each time you head off looking for water or different hydration, which is essential within the sizzling Bahamian solar.
The cruise line says it is engaged on including water stations past the soda fountains discovered close to the buffet areas. Within the meantime, one fairly expensive possibility beachgoers have is to buy a cooler bag at Mabrika Cove. Every carries six bottles of both Dasani or Smartwater for $26 or $32.25, respectively.
Since Disney Cruise Line does not provide beverage packages, every drink is charged a la carte to your onboard account utilizing your keycard.
Is there procuring at Disney Lookout Cay?
Is Mickey a mouse? Shopaholics can fulfill their retail remedy cravings at a number of outposts, together with Disney T’ings and Treasures of Eleuthera, each within the coronary heart of the Goombay Cultural Heart space, close to the tram cease of the identical title.
The previous affords Disney merchandise, which incorporates quite a lot of attire bearing Bahamian-designed representations of well-liked characters like Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy. You may additionally discover Lookout Cay Spirit Jerseys, T-shirts, hats, tumblers, Loungefly baggage, seaside blankets, photograph frames, water bottles, magnets, vacation ornaments, Crocs and, after all, mouse ears.
The latter options handicrafts made by native artists. Throughout my go to, the store showcased work, prints, straw purses and totes with Disney characters hand embroidered on them.
Guests wishing to have their hair braided can achieve this on the close by Plaits & Pleats.
For passengers who simply cannot wait till they arrive within the Goombay space — or those that waited till the final potential second earlier than heading again to the ship — there’s the First & Final Probability Stand. Discovered simply previous the doorway to Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Level in Mabrika Cove, this small kiosk sells shirts, seaside towels, sunscreen, pins, keychains and an assortment of different necessities and Disney-branded objects.
What further facilities will I discover?
So far as the fundamentals go, loads of loos, trash cans and recycling bins are dotted all through Disney Lookout Cay. Locations for service animal reduction are additionally designated all through the world.
You may discover an info desk and a primary support middle if you arrive on the Goombay Cultural Heart tram cease.
Wi-Fi is offered there. Should you’ve bought a bundle, you can entry it however observe that you will probably lose connectivity on the tram journey between Mabrika Cove and Serenity Bay. You too can connect with mobile information you probably have a global plan that covers the Bahamas. In any other case, preserve your telephone on airplane mode.
Should you stroll to the far finish of Household Seashore, previous the Play-Play Pavilion, you may discover the doorway to the character path. Should you proceed straight as a substitute of turning to the left to enter the path, you’ll be able to observe the trail from the character path to the Goombay Cultural Heart tram cease. Should you’re making your means again to Mabrika Cove and do not wish to cope with different passengers on the winding boardwalk, it offers a much less chaotic path to hop on the shuttle.
Are you able to keep in a single day at Disney Lookout Cay?
Though the island of Eleuthera is inhabited, passengers should not capable of keep in a single day at Lookout Cay. The non-public vacation spot itself has no resorts or different sleeping lodging that might enable for in a single day visitors.
What is the typical Lookout Cay climate like?
The climate within the Bahamas is usually nice and heat all yr, with common temperatures within the excessive 70s in winter and the excessive 80s to low 90s in summer season. Count on probably the most rain in June, August and September.
Shade, sunscreen (ideally one which’s reef-safe) and hydration are key to avoiding the damaging results of the solar. Remember to drink loads of water, reapply sunblock and search shelter if crucial. Protecting clothes, sun shades and hats are additionally necessities.
Can I see a Disney Lookout Cay map?
Passengers can request a paper copy of the Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Level map on the info desk close to the Goombay Cultural Heart tram cease. Though it is obtainable on the Disney Cruise Line app, it may be troublesome to see on a tiny telephone display, particularly within the vivid solar.
Be aware that the map may also be cumbersome to learn as a result of every merchandise is numbered as a substitute of labeled, and you need to use a key to find out what’s what.
Click on right here to view, obtain or print a bigger PDF model of the map.
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