Officially announced at the D23 Expo today, Disney Cruise Line will soon have a 2nd port of call to add to their Bahamas itinerary: Lighthouse Point.
Lighthouse Point will be located on the Eleuthera island which is a few miles east of the island of Nassau. According to Joe Rhodes of the Walt Disney Company:
Guests can look forward to a signature island experience that celebrates the spirit and culture of The Bahamas and the natural environment at a new Disney port of call. Disney will be directly involved in conservation efforts to preserve and protect the environment and will be working with local artists to create a unique destination that is rooted in Bahamian culture and filled with Disney magic.
This announcement comes just months after Royal Caribbean spent $200 million for a major facelift to their Bahamian private island CocoCay. New attractions have been added to the island including a massive water park with 13 water slides...one of which being the tallest waterslide in North America at 135 feet tall. The trend of cruise lines buying private islands to add to their itineraries is something that will likely continue to occur. Keeping the passengers on the cruise lines' own island allows for a much larger profit as any money spent while on the island theoretically goes right back to the company rather than being spent at private island businesses and tour companies.
Disney's 1st private Bahamian island, Castaway Cay, has had rave reviews since the company bought it in 1997, but many reviews point out the lack of beach access and limited activities during peak season. Lighthouse Point will add quite a bit more beach access with a large amount of facilities and activities pictured in the concept art. This could be Disney's chance to regain customers that are drawn to the very kid-friendly CocoCay with Royal Caribbean.
Construction at Lighthouse Point will begin only after an Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan are reviewed and accepted by the Government of The Bahamas and public consultation has occurred. Construction could begin in 2020 with completion in late 2022 or 2023.
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