By
Rebecca Gibson |
Disney Cruise Line is to open a new island destination named Lighthouse Point on the island of Eleuthera in The Bahamas in summer 2024.
Developed in partnership with local artists and advisors, Lighthouse Point will offer multiple amenities for both families and adults, including a covered gaming pavilion, a volleyball court, a gaga ball pit, a children’s club and a family water park with two waterslides, water drums, fountains, other interactive amenities and a dedicated space for toddlers.
In addition, the island will have areas for water sports, nature trails for hiking and cycling, an adult-only beach with a dedicated dining area and six private cabanas, a quiet beach with 20 premium family cabanas, and an expansive family beach near to a market-style dining area. There will also be a pavilion where local artists will educate visitors about Bahamian art and culture.
Lighthouse Point’s architecture has been designed to reflect both the natural environment and cultural traditions of The Bahamas. The curvilinear buildings have been designed to “appear as Bahamian shells scattered along the shoreline” and will be decorated in bright, saturated colours, as well as “artistic expressions” of the native flora and fauna, and Junkanoo parades. There will also be references to characters from Bahamian folklore throughout the destination.
“At Disney Cruise Line, we have a deep appreciation for the Bahamian community,” said Sharon Siskie, the brand’s senior vice president and general manager. “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.”
Disney Cruise Line aims to minimise Lighthouse Point’s impact on the environment, so it will incorporate elevated walkways to protect the landscape and an onsite solar array to generate at least 90 per cent of the electricity the facility needs to operate. The pier has also been designed to avoid the need for dredging.
“Lighthouse Point is a place of extraordinary natural beauty, so our goal has always been to create designs that accentuate its qualities in an organic way,” said Kevin Thomas, creative director at Walt Disney Imagineering. “We’re focused on low-density, sustainable development that protects and preserves the environment, allowing the site’s biodiversity to shine.”
Disney Cruise Line has also collaborated with local tour operators to develop a collection of new Port Adventures, which will enable guests to explore Eleuthera.