Disney Cruise Line’s new non-public island vacation spot is Lighthouse Level, situated on Eleuthera within the Bahamas. This put up covers all the things we find out about DCL’s counterpart to Castaway Cay, together with the opening date, when preview & inaugural sailings to Lighthouse Level will occur, plus full particulars & idea artwork. (Up to date November 4, 2023.)
Created in shut collaboration with native artists and advisors, Disney Cruise Line’s vibrant island retreat at Lighthouse Level might be a novel celebration of Bahamian tradition delivered to life with the standard and repair of a Disney trip.
Preserve studying to find all the newest particulars about this stress-free seashore escape designed with households in thoughts, infused with the colour and vitality of Bahamian artistry, and developed with a dedication to conservation at its core.
When Disney Cruise Line friends arrive at Lighthouse Level, they’ll be greeted by distinctive, sweeping structure in vivid, saturated hues. This fashion was impressed by nature and created in partnership between Walt Disney Imagineering and native artists.
The curvilinear buildings will at first seem as Bahamian shells scattered alongside the shoreline. Upon nearer inspection, friends will uncover creative expressions of the native wildlife of The Bahamas and the pageantry and historical past of Junkanoo parades. All through the vacation spot, references to playful folklore characters will evoke the heat and allure of the native tradition.
Respect for the setting is on the coronary heart of the design at Lighthouse Level. At the very least 90 % of the vacation spot’s electrical energy wants might be met by an onsite photo voltaic array, the pier was designed to keep away from the necessity for dredging and elevated walkways will assist restrict influence on the panorama.
Let’s begin with a primary have a look at the arrival level, Mabrika Cove, with brand-new idea artwork launched by Disney Cruise Line in November 2023.
“Mabrika” means “welcome” in Taino, the language of the Lucayans, who’re thought-about the indigenous individuals of The Bahamas. Whereas the language is not used, a couple of phrases stay – certainly one of them being “Mabrika.” At this colourful arrival level, friends will instantly expertise the heat of Bahamian tradition.
The Goombay Cultural Middle (pictured beneath) will embody the essence of “Junkanoo,” a Bahamian pageant stuffed with joyous music and vibrant parades that can come to life in some ways throughout Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Level. Goombay is likely one of the conventional music kinds of The Bahamas, involving singing, dancing and drumming.
The brilliantly coloured cultural pavilion and its Junkanoo-inspired arch will invite friends to embrace the traditions of The Bahamas, together with the sights, sounds and spirit of the nation’s signature pageant.
There might be loads of household leisure in retailer at Triton’s Trumpet Stage. And enjoyable reality: The gazebo’s identify is impressed by one of many beautiful pure wonders discovered among the many Bahamian seashores – a big, spiral seashell generally referred to as “Triton’s Trumpet.” And for you Disney followers, if Triton sounds acquainted, you may acknowledge it because the identify of the mighty king from the beloved Disney animated basic “The Little Mermaid.”
In fact, we should point out the buying alternatives! Treasures of Eleuthera would be the retail store that includes regionally made items and artisan crafts. What I actually love is how the store will highlight Bahamian artists via an array of distinctive objects that households will be capable to deliver house with them as a particular memento.
And now, the query you might need been asking … is there going to be an adults-only area on the island? The reply is sure! I’m delighted to share that Serenity Bay might be a soothing retreat completely for adults 18 years of age and older. For these of you who’ve sailed with Disney Cruise Line earlier than, you may acknowledge Serenity Bay as a must-visit location on Disney Castaway Cay! At Disney Lookout Cay, Serenity Bay will characteristic a tranquil seashore expertise with a eating space and personal cabanas out there for reservation.
Disney Cruise Line’s guests to Lighthouse Level can have the chance to be surrounded by the wonders of nature and get a glimpse into the efforts happening to preserve wildlife and their distinctive island habitats.
At Lighthouse Level, households will get pleasure from a day of enjoyable within the solar as they calm down on pristine seashores, embark on lively adventures and uncover genuine Bahamian storytelling alongside favourite Disney characters. As with DCL’s different non-public island, Castaway Cay, Lighthouse Level will provide actions and areas for each age group.
Households can calm down and play alongside white sandy seashores and turquoise waters on the expansive household seashore on the east facet of the Lighthouse Level, which might be centrally situated close to market-style eating, recreation and different facilities.
A Bahamian artwork and tradition pavilion that includes particular applications and native artists will present DCL guests to Lighthouse Level alternatives to study and rejoice the traditions and pure fantastic thing about The Bahamas.
Lighthouse Level’s interactive household water play space will embody two slides, water drums, fountains and extra. This play space can even characteristic a devoted area for toddlers.
North of the household space might be Lighthouse Level’s grownup seashore. This stretch of sun-drenched serenity will provide Disney Cruise Line friends a devoted eating space for handy entry to meals and drinks all through the day, plus six non-public cabanas out there by reservation.
Kids ages 3 to 12 will splash and play at a children’ membership beneath the care of Disney Cruise Line counselors. The youngsters’ membership will provide a splash pad impressed by favourite undersea creatures from “The Little Mermaid,” loads of shade, in addition to a devoted eating space.
Set away from the exercise of the primary household space, a peaceable seashore alongside Lighthouse Level’s southwestern shore might be lined with 20 premium household cabanas out there for DCL friends to lease, together with 4 double cabanas that accommodate bigger teams and provide therapeutic massage providers.
Extra leisure actions might be out there for friends of all ages, together with a lined gaming pavilion, volleyball courtroom, gaga ball pit, watercraft and bicycle leases, nature trails for mountain climbing and biking, and extra. New Port Adventures developed in partnership with native tour operators will take friends past Lighthouse Level to discover the wealthy tradition and breathtaking fantastic thing about Eleuthera.
Lighthouse Level is being thoughtfully designed to offer a hassle-free expertise for households, together with complimentary seashore necessities (towels, chairs and umbrellas and lunch), and tram transportation.
First Sailings to Lighthouse Level Personal Island
In June 2024, Disney Cruise Line will debut its new non-public island vacation spot, Lighthouse Level, on Eleuthera within the Bahamas. Cruises aboard the Disney Magic from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, will go to this vibrant seashore retreat designed with households in thoughts, infused with the colour and vitality of Bahamian artistry, and developed with sustainability and conservation at its core.
A 3-night preview cruise on the Disney Magic from Fort Lauderdale is scheduled for June 6, 2024 and can characteristic a sneak peek of Lighthouse Level with restricted entry to some areas. All through Summer season 2024, Lighthouse Level might be a featured cease on choose three-, four- and five-night sailings to The Bahamas and Caribbean on the Disney Magic out of Fort Lauderdale. These South Florida-based itineraries will fluctuate stops between Lighthouse Level and Castaway Cay, with 5 particular sailings together with each Disney Cruise Line island locations.
A 7-night inaugural cruise to Lighthouse Level aboard the Disney Fantasy from Port Canaveral, Florida will happen on June 8, 2024. This final Disney Cruise Line island vacation spot itinerary will characteristic not one, however two stops at Lighthouse Level … and that’s not all! Someday of sun-drenched serenity at Castaway Cay additionally awaits your loved ones on this once-in-a-lifetime crusing.
One particular 10-night Southern Caribbean crusing aboard the Disney Fantasy will give your loved ones one other alternative to go to Lighthouse Level with extra visits to the islands of Antigua, St. Lucia, Dominica, Tortola and Castaway Cay.
By way of commentary, I don’t have rather a lot so as to add. The idea artwork makes this look very nice, like a cross between Castaway Cay and Aulani. We love each Castaway Cay and Aulani, and I’m certain this might be superior. Having the non-public island lean extra in direction of authenticity is nice, even when I do benefit from the Imagineered vibe of Castaway Cay. (That jogs my memory a little bit of Storm Lagoon, whereas I think this won’t.)
All in all, we anticipate Lighthouse Level to be an amazing vacation spot for Disney Cruise Line friends. Primarily based on the outline, it feels like DCL and Imagineering have discovered classes from what labored and didn’t with Castaway Cay, and that is basically the subsequent era of that. It seems that sensible enhancements have been made, giving Lighthouse Level a higher sense of enjoyable and luxuriousness, together with the elevated emphasis on authenticity. That’s simply my impression primarily based on the idea artwork and press launch, although.
I finished paying shut consideration to the Lighthouse Level saga some time in the past, however have however been anticipating an replace on this for the final couple of years. You may recall that ex-Imagineer Joe Rohde was the face of the Lighthouse Level undertaking when it was first introduced nearly 4 years in the past.
Famend for his culturally-respectful work on Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Aulani Resort & Spa in Hawaii, Villages Natures in Paris, and quite a lot of different impartial tasks, Joe Rohde was unquestionably Disney’s greatest ambassador on the subject of conservation and tasks that spotlight cultures.
When Lighthouse Level was introduced, Joe Rohde shared how he was embarking on an in-depth cultural tour of the Bahamas assembly with native artists and cultural consultants. He explored cultural websites throughout New Windfall and Eleuthera, from Junkanoo shacks to famous artwork galleries, gathering samples, listening to from locals, and figuring out the most effective method for telling their tales.
If anybody may “promote” a undertaking like this to conservation teams or these in any other case opposed or on the fence, Joe Rohde is that individual. He has an easy manner of passionately talking about just about something, doing so in an earnest and interesting manner. He comes throughout as real and simple to belief. Not like some stuffed shirt, if he says Disney will give attention to tradition and conservation, you consider him. Or no less than, you need to consider him.
At the moment, Lighthouse Level was a controversial undertaking that was nonetheless awaiting an Environmental Impression Evaluation and Environmental Administration Plan, together with approval by the Authorities of The Bahamas and public session. There was lots of backlash pre-pandemic, however the plan was to open Lighthouse Level by final yr or this yr. Clearly, building delays had been an inevitability with the border closures and cruise business basically pausing for over a yr.
There was additionally Joe Rohde’s “retirement” in late 2020. At that time, all the design work and assessments would’ve been accomplished, but it surely appeared like Rohde was nonetheless vital because the face of the undertaking–simply as he had been with Aulani till (and even after) its opening. That together with all the things else led us to wonder if Disney Cruise Line had deserted Lighthouse Level.
Disney Cruise Line aggressively continuing with its fleet enlargement (to not point out the shock acquisition of one other partially-completed ship) made it possible that Lighthouse Level was going ahead. Nonetheless, we hadn’t heard something about it and had been stunned when no updates had been supplied at the latest D23 Expo.
In the end, Lighthouse Level seems prefer it’ll be a implausible vacation spot for Disney Cruise Line friends. The environmental points it poses do give me pause, and I hope Disney wasn’t simply paying face to those points with a purpose to safe approval. Whereas the corporate’s observe file with Aulani is nice, it is a bit completely different in nature. Hopefully Disney is honest in its statements that Lighthouse Level might be minimally disruptive to the pure setting and that the island vacation spot might be utilized in an environmentally-responsible manner.
Once more, Lighthouse Level will open for Disney Cruise Line friends on choose sailings in summer season 2024. Keep tuned for extra particulars about inaugural itineraries, signature leisure, eating, retail and excursions, and extra data.
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Your Ideas
What do you consider the Lighthouse Level? Does this new non-public island vacation spot look higher or worse than Castaway Cay? Did Joe Rohde’s involvement make this extra attention-grabbing to you? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions? Listening to suggestions about your experiences is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!