Happiest place in the Caribbean? Disney Cruise Line to open Lighthouse Point island destination
Disney Cruise Line will welcome guests to its new island destination for the first time next year, the cruise line said Thursday.
The beach retreat at Lighthouse Point, located in the Bahamas, will open for passengers on select cruises in the summer of 2024. The cruise line first announced plans for the project in 2019.
"At Disney Cruise Line, we have a deep appreciation for the Bahamian community," Sharon Siskie, the line's senior vice president and general manager, said in a news release. "We are connected in many ways, including our shared values of storytelling and hospitality. With the opening of Lighthouse Point, visitors from around the world will experience the magic of The Bahamas in a new way, one that truly celebrates its natural and cultural beauty."
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Where is Disney Cruise Line's destination at Lighthouse Point?
The family-friendly destination will be located on the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas.
What can passengers expect from Disney Cruise Line's Lighthouse Point destination?
Much like on board the line's ships, passengers can take advantage of a range of activities, from a water play area for families with slides, water drums and more, to a volleyball court, gaming pavilion, and biking and hiking trails.
The destination will also feature a Bahamian art and culture pavilion where guests can learn about area traditions from local artists, according to the release. There will also be a family beach located close to market-style food options, among other amenities; a kids club for children between 3and 12; an adults-only beach where grown-up guests can unwind, featuring private cabanas and more.
The line will share more information about dining, entertainment, inaugural itineraries and other details "at a later date," according to the release. Disney Cruise Line also has its own private island in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay.
When are the first sailings to Lighthouse Point?
The line will sail a three-night preview sailing on June 6, 2024 on its Disney Magic ship from Fort Lauderdale, Florida and offer limited access to some areas at Lighthouse Point, according to a separate news release.
A seven-night inaugural voyage on the Disney Fantasy will follow on June 8, departing from Port Canaveral. The sailing will make two stops at Lighthouse Point, and spend a day at Castaway Cay.
"Following the inaugural voyage, Lighthouse Point will be a featured port of call on select three-, four- and five-night sailings to The Bahamas and Caribbean on the Disney Magic out of Fort Lauderdale," the line said in the release. "These itineraries will vary stops between Lighthouse Point and Castaway Cay, with five special departures including both Disney Cruise Line island destinations."
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Disney Cruise Line welcoming guests to new Bahamas destination in 2024
