Crush on the Magic

Earlier this month, I was hosted by Disney Cruise Line on a 4 night sailing aboard the Disney Dream with stops at Nassau, Bahamas and Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. Lookout Cay is the newest island destination designed and operated by Disney Cruise Line in partnership with the Bahamanian government. This port is located at the very southern tip of the island of Eleuthera.

Our schedule on this 4 night sailing was as follows:

Day 1 – Embarkation Day – Port Everglades – home of Disney’s second permanent cruise terminal in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Day 2 – Nassau, Bahamas

Day 3 – Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point

Day 4 – Sea Day!

Day 5 – Disembarkation – (The sad part, when you have to leave!)

While this was not my first sailing aboard the Disney Dream, it was my first sailing to Lookout Cay and the first traveling as a solo passenger. It was also my first time sailing out of the new port terminal in Fort Lauderdale. Port Everglades is undergoing massive amounts of construction so guests driving themselves to the port should be extra mindful and patient. The Disney Cruise Line Terminal is #4.

The new terminal is absolutely beautiful with fun inspirational design taken right out of Finding Nemo franchise. The terminal is well marked and is fairly large; although I will say, they did allow the terminal to fill up pretty quickly before starting the boarding process.

One of the many fun aspects of a Disney Cruise is that they announce you and your family aboard the ship (one at a time). It’s a very fun and touching way to make families feel special and on their way to a magical vacation.

Many of Disney Cruise Lines itineraries include a port day at Nassau, Bahamas. Many guests choose a variety of excursions here, such as Atlantis, Baha Mar, etc. For me on this trip, I enjoyed my a few hours on board with less passengers and took a brief walk around the markets by the port. There is plenty to do on board, from spa, to trivia, crafts, fitness, movies and other entertainment, you can fill a day at sea or at port on the ship very easily.

My main focus was maximizing my experience at Lookout Cay. I disembarked the ship early and participated in a small walking tour with local guides where I learned about the native plants and animals, history of the island, local “slang,” and also how Disney is giving back to the Bahamas. Around the port area, Disney has created a coral farm where they are working to regrow and rebuild the coral. Disney is also working with schools in the Bahamas to improve and build more playgrounds for the Bahamian children.

The rest of my time on the island, I spent exploring and taking part in some of the Junkanoo activities. I participate in a Junkanoo crown making activity and watched the celebration and parade. These celebrations as unique to the culture of the Bahamas.

I walked over to enjoy the adult area of the beach and have lunch and enjoyed some live music.

After lunch, I took a leisurely walk up and down the water line, down toward the family section. The water and sand are quite beautiful. The sand has sparkles of pink thorough out the shoreline due to the ecosystem of the ocean in that area. The water is very clear with very light and deep shades of blue. Photos do not do these beaches justice.

My overall impression of Lookout Cay is that is provides a complimentary stop to Castaway Cay. Both are uniquely designed with different “vibes.” Both have the same Disney feel of design, care and operation but their styles feel very different. Lookout feels more deeply connected to the Bahamas in the way that Castaway may be more Disney destination like. Lookout feels like a perfect balance of Disney and Bahamian culture preserved.

The most common things folks have issue with regarding Lookout Cay is the walk from the ship to the island. The pier is roughly a 1/2 mile walk. It can be quite warm during the sunny Caribbean days; however, Disney does provide water and cold towels at the end of the pier (both ways) to help cool you off. There are also wagons for families if they need to pull children and/or items to/from the ship to the island and they do provide golf cart transfers for those with mobility/disability related needs.

The other complaint guests have is about is the lack of shade; however, in the common areas there are lots of umbrellas and canopy shaded roofs which provide quiet a bit of shady options. The only real direct and intense sun is in the commute to/from the ship.

Overall, I feel like Disney Cruise Line has done an amazing job on this port of call and I look forward to seeing how it matures over the coming years. There is plenty to do (or little to do, depending on your vacation style) at Lookout Cay. A relaxing day or an adventurous day are both completely possible. With so many ships being added to the fleet and two permanent terminals in Florida, this destination is sure to be busy!

*I know I mentioned this was my first solo cruise but did not elaborate on this experience. I will say, it was still very fun and enjoyable! I plan to write a future post about my solo cruise experience. If you have questions related to solo cruising, send them my way! I am happy to respond.

If you are considering a Disney Cruise or have questions, send me a note and I’ll be in touch.