The aqua waters lapping up on the soft, sandy beach were pristine, resembling a picture on a postcard that was too good to be true.
The beach I was standing on had long been known by Bahamians as Lighthouse Beach, referencing a small structure nearby. Today it goes by the name Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, a private destination developed by Disney Cruise Line that puts an emphasis on Bahamian culture.
There is a story behind the name. If you stand at the end of Lookout Cay, located on the southern tip of the island of Eleuthera, and look out to the east, you'll see the Atlantic Ocean stretching beyond the horizon. Turn to the west, and you'll be gazing at the Caribbean Sea, with other Bahamian islands just out of sight.
In addition to giving a nod to the spot where these two great bodies of water meet, the name also refers to the destination being "a window into the beautiful and vibrant heritage and culture of the Bahamas," said Joey Gaskins, Disney Cruise Line's regional director of public affairs for the Bahamas and the Caribbean.
Rather than focus on the stories of Disney characters, the new private destination tells the story of the Bahamian people through music, dance, parades, costumes, culture, design and food.
The main theme of the private destination is Junkanoo, the traditional Caribbean celebration where locals parade to lively music wearing masks and colorful costumes. Photo Credit: Andrea Zelinski
In June, I sailed on the first cruise to Lookout Cay, a three-day voyage on the Disney Magic out of Fort Lauderdale. That first visit revealed some wrinkles for the line to work out, including an unshaded walk of more than half a mile from the ship to the destination and a 10-minute tram ride to reach the beach. But most guests I encountered raved about the beach and the focus on Bahamian culture.
The main theme of the private destination is Junkanoo, the traditional Caribbean celebration where locals parade to lively music wearing masks and colorful costumes. On the day of my visit, I heard the clanging of cowbells, blowing of whistles and banging of goatskin drums as a parade of Junkanoo revelers decked out in elaborate outfits made from cardboard and crepe paper danced toward the area's cultural center for a performance.
The Beach Bash at Lookout Cay includes dancing and games with Disney characters. Photo Credit: Andrea Zelinski
Offering authenticity
To get the details right when presenting Bahamian culture, Disey Cruise Line needed help. It enlisted the expertise of the National Junkanoo Committee and of Bahamian artists, who painted murals, crafted handmade tiles and designed Junkanoo outfits for Disney characters. The line also turned to a local musician, Victor Johnson, who reworked classic Disney songs to give them a Bahamian flavor.
Aside from the (cow)bells and whistles associated with Junkanoo, Johnson also leaned on other sounds, like Bahamian rake-and-scrape percussion.
"It was my job to preserve the energy and the spirit of what our Bahamian music brings," Johnson said. "When you hear it, you feel our heart, the pull of the music and also the Bahamian people in every beat of the drum and every blow of the horn."
Food was also an important element at the Lookout Cay. The menu was designed to offer guests their favorites while honoring Bahamian heritage.
Beyond hamburgers, hot dogs and other standard fare, the buffet menu included inspiration from Bahamian recipes, such as grilled spiced mahi-mahi with mango and bell pepper and lime cilantro salsa with oven-baked plantains. I enjoyed a seafood rice bowl with saffron and vegetable rice, shrimp, mussels and scallops.
Saffron and vegetable rice with shrimp, mussels and scallops with a side of pineapple black bean salad. Photo Credit: Andrea Zelinski
Embracing the culture
Kelley Lord, a travel advisor and owner of Orlando-based Vacation Ever After, has visited the private destination twice. While she noted issues during her first visit in early June, like flies attracted to the food, she saw on her second visit that Disney Cruise Line had made improvements to mitigate the problems; for instance, fans were added to blow away the winged pests.
She said the private destination's embrace of Bahamian culture offered the best entertainment she has experienced on a private destination, and she's relaying that to her clients: Don't miss the Junkanoo show; don't miss the Beach Bash, which features Disney characters dressed in Bahamian garb playing games and doing a conga line with kids.
The embrace of Bahamian culture is an important selling point, Lord said.
"You actually have an educational opportunity to expose your children to the entertainment of another culture. They have a different type of music. They have a different type of entertainment, the Junkanoo parade, where they're blowing the whistle and they're excited and you've got the drums playing. It's a different sound than what we hear in the U.S.," she said.
And that beach? That's not a bad selling point either.
First look at Disney's Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point