By Randy Peterson
We had the privilege of being one of the first non-media guests to visit Lookout Cay, as we were on the DVC Member Exclusive “First Wave” sailing from June 12 – June 19. What was different than any of the prior sailings that stopped at Lookout Cay, ours made TWO stops to LHP, with a day at Castaway Cay tucked between them. Like the media preview sailing, we were on the Magic. This was our first time sailing on the Magic, and in normal Disney/DCL fashion – it was FABULOUS!!
After reading several reviews already posted on Lookout Cay, we had a decent idea of what to expect when we got off the ship. As others have expressed previously, the pier looks intimidating especially since there wasn’t any shade along the entire expanse. But undaunted, we along with all of our other cruise-mates were excited to check out the newest addition to Disney’s private island collection. Well, private may be a slight misnomer. Yes, the southern tip of Eleuthera where Lighthouse Point and Lookout Cay is located is owned by Disney, the rest of the actual “island” is still held by the Bahamian government and as such is public land. When we docked, we could see a Princess Cruise Line ship north of us and tenders were going back and forth shuttling their guests to the non-Disney side of the island (similar to how things are done in Grand Cayman).
Back to the topic at hand. Thankfully, unlike previous reviews, our first day on Lookout Cay was pleasant. Mostly cloudy with a slight ocean breeze and temps in the low to mid-80s. This made for a easy trek across the pier, even though it’s a good half a mile plus once you disembark to when you walk through the “gate” to Mabrika Cove – the first area you come to after the pier. At Mabrika Cove, you’re greeted with the first of many immersions into the Bahamian culture. You hear distinctly themed music playing to get you in the mood. And yes, after two days on Lookout Cay the music does get stuck in your head. To the left as you get past the “gate” building, is the excursion desk where you can sign in for the various boat-based activities. Next to that was a drink stand and a small merchandise cart quaintly named “First & Last Chance Stand”. If you think about it for a few, you’ll get the cleverness of the name. Just beyond that is the Mabrika Cove tram stop. Speaking of the trams, they are a welcome sight after the trek across the pier. Two trams with a total of 4 cars each were awaiting us at the tram stop. Each tram looked to be able to hold roughly 80-90 passengers each. Before our tram was full, we could see another pair of trams approaching, so it appears that’s how they timed things so you never really had to wait for a tram to arrive. Off to the right of the tram stop you could see the Mabrika Cove Cabanas. If you were expecting cabanas like what is offered at Castaway Cay or the WDW water parks, think again. The cabanas here are more like tiny houses…..very well appointed tiny houses at that! Each one can handle up to 10 guests and have all the amenities to boot. No we didn’t get to see one in-person, but there are Youtube videos out there to watch though.
After a short 10-12 minute ride to the “beach” side of Lookout Cay, we arrived at Goombay Cultural Center tram stop. Along the way, there was a cute audio presentation on the tram that gave guests a quick backstory/history of Lighthouse Point and Lookout Cay. After departing the tram stop area, you’re greeted with several buildings and a LOT of boardwalk spans. These lead to the main “family areas” as well as the adults-only section also named Serenity Bay. As you walked along these boardwalks (which were plenty wide enough to support two-way traffic), you began to see colorful umbrellas along the beachfront areas. Each family area had a restaurant with covered seating areas. The restaurants were BBQ in nature with the typical fare but everything had a distinctively Bahamian flair (and spiciness) to it. There were drink stations and ice cream machines as well. Be aware though, lunch is only served from 11:30am ship time until 2pm. So be sure to plan accordingly. Speaking of the food areas, previous reviewers have mentioned issues with flies when you’re in the serving lines. While we noticed some flies, it wasn’t nearly to the extent that was noted so Disney apparently took to heart the comments submitted, which in this case is a GOOD thing.
As you get to the beachfront areas, each umbrella has 2 lounge chairs and 2 beach chairs. From what we could see, there were PLENTY of umbrella and chairs so it shouldn’t be a problem getting one in your preferred location. As other reviews have pointed out, there’s not a lot of shade on the island, but you can see that trees and such have been planted – so in 5 years or so the shade situation will be significantly different. If you liked the beautifully clear water at Castaway Cay, you’re going to really enjoy it here. Because it’s EVERYWHERE. And the sand is this intriguing pinkish tan color, but unlike Castaway there is also a more powdery texture to it here at Lookout. Overall, the beaches at Lookout Cay are even more beautiful than Castaway, and likely will get even more so once the shade trees mature.
As for activities, there’s plenty to do here. From snorkeling to the nature trail, to banana boat rides and bike rentals. It’s up to you whether you want to lean towards the adventure side or the much more low-key relaxed lifestyle. Suspect Disney will add more offerings as the island moves forward, so be sure to look over the excursions offered on your sailing as you’re planning your cruise. Either way, you’ll not want to leave the island at the end of the day as the all-aboard time approaches. Speaking of that, be sure to leave yourself at least 30-45 minutes to get back to the ship so you don’t get left behind. Thankfully, that did not happen during our sailing!
To wrap things up, Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point is a wonderful addition to the Disney Cruise Line island stop collection. While it’s still new, you can sense the possibility of what the future holds and can tell it will just get more and more beautiful as time goes by. Definitely looking forward to our next stop on a future cruise!
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