Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point is Disney Cruise Line’s newest port-of-call, and it is a showcase and celebration of the culture and natural beauty of the Bahamas. Disney does it right by involving Bahamians in key positions in the creation and operation of Lookout Cay.
I’m a snob. On occasion, my snobbery has me missing out on some of the joys in life. For example, I had lived in Southern California for nearly a decade but never visited Disneyland because I thought it would be childish, commercialized, and overstimulating. Thankfully, I learned I was wrong! One day, a friend with sophisticated tastes told me they were picking me up early in the morning for a surprise outing. When they brought me to the gates of Disneyland, I was skeptical. Through the gates, it didn’t take long to realize why Disneyland has endured for decades as a destination for pure fun. Disney just does it right. Yes, there is some sort of magic at play.
Cut to, this spring I needed a family getaway that could fit into my hectic work schedule. A trip that would engage my pre-teen kids and accommodate my Mom, who has limited mobility. And I’m still a snob, so I needed something that would feel a little elevated. This aligned with the opening of Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, the new port-of-call accessible only by Disney Cruise lines. Lookout Cay is a secluded paradise on the Bahamian island, Eleuthera, and the chance to visit on a three-day cruise ended up being exactly what I was looking for.
Instead of imposing a Disneyland on a sandy beach, Disney has established a place to showcase and celebrate Bahamian culture, traditions, and stories, as well as the gorgeous natural environment. They engaged local artists, artisans, musicians, chefs, historians, and designers to integrate Disney into the Bahamas. Designer Theodore Elyett has outfitted the much beloved Disney characters with bright and beautiful colours inspired by Junkanoo, right up to Mickey and Minnie’s iconic ears. The soundtrack for Lookout Cay comes from Victor Johnson remixing Disney classics with the music of the Bahamas, as well as his original song, Ery’ting Cool. “When you hear it, you feel our heart. The pulse of the music, the pulse of the Bahamian people in every beat of the drum and every blow of the horn”, Victor says. Paintings, sculptures, murals and other handiwork from Bahamian artists are the decorations throughout the property. The National Junkanoo Committee worked closely with the Disney team to develop a genuine Junkanoo entertainment experience for guests.
We got to sit down with a panel made up of some of the Bahamians responsible for bringing Lookout Cay to life. The joy and pride in how Lookout Cay has come to life was palpable in the room. Joey Gaskins Jr., who was instrumental in bringing people together for this project, led the panel. “I cannot contain my smile here” he beamed. “It is the care and the tenderness with which the Disney team has worked with our Bahamian creatives to bring the destination to life. That makes it feel warm for us and makes us feel proud.”
In creating Castaway Cay, the natural land and seascape were as important as the people, and Disney made every effort to minimize the impact to the environment. “One of the best things we did was everything we didn’t do”, explained Bradley Watson, Conservation Program Manager. Disney used less than 16% of the land for the footprint of Castaway Cay, leaving the rest as pure Eleutheran nature.
The experience of Lookout Cay is very much Disney and very much the Bahamas. There is a natural compatibility on a spiritual level. It is a shining example of how two entities can work together to enhance each other. Again, putting the Bahamian people in the lead, Disney does it right.
Oh, but let’s also talk about the cruise, which is the ticket to get to Castaway Cay. Full disclosure, cruising is not my first choice of vacation. But in this circumstance, it was the perfect fit for our needs. The cruise managed to pack a dynamic adventure into the limited time that we had. By the end, we felt like we had had a longer vacation than just three days. With everything accessible, my mom was able to participate in whichever she wanted. The kids were never bored, running from plays to pools to snacks to fireworks to movies and all sorts of activities. My too-cool twelve-year-old even delighted in taking a picture with Donald Duck. For me, I appreciated the quality food and cocktails, the spa, watching my kids spend time with their grandmother, and not having to worry about anything!
Nassau was our other port-of-call, and it was a day packed with fun. We chartered a private boat through Get My Boat to explore and take us to the Bay of Pigs. This is an experience as charming as it looks on social media; the pigs are so cute and friendly. We also sought out Gourmet Seafood House for some of the best crab we’ve had. The rest of the time was spent strolling the charming streets of Nassau, shopping and enjoying the vibrant art and music and friendly people.
An easy flight from Ft. Lauderdale, and we arrived back in Toronto refreshed and smiling. It is true that Disney has a little bit of magic at work. And tapping into that magic was exactly what we needed. Bon voyage!
