This June, Disney Cruise Line will start sailing to its new private destination port-of-call, Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. The fun-in-the-sun beach day oasis is on the Bahamian island of Eleuthera, and many of the island’s most prominent design elements will be inspired by Bahamian culture.
A beautiful beachfront is nice, but what’s being served for lunch, snacks, and drinks may be even more important when it comes to setting a cruise line’s private island apart from the competition. At Lighthouse Point, the dining style will be similar to Disney’s original private island, Castaway Cay, with two main family dining spots, one adult-exclusive area, and quite a few bars dotted around the island.
Today, FamilyVacationist can exclusively reveal the menus for the main dining pavilions and the drink offerings around Lighthouse Point. Let’s just say there’s not going to be any need to go back to the ship for lunch. I can’t wait to try some of these Bahamian-inspired eats and drinks at Lighthouse Point.
Family and adult dining at Lighthouse Point
Families with kids can enjoy two main outdoor dining pavilions. These two areas are called True-True and True-True Too BBQ. There will also be an adults-only dining pavilion called Serenity Bay BBQ (the same name as the adult BBQ at Disney’s Castaway Cay).
At all three locations, you’ll enjoy a menu filled with dishes inspired by the flavors of the Bahamas. Two highlights include Bahamian Pigeon Peas & Rice, which is topped with savory marinated chicken and crispy fried okra. Those who love seafood can try a Bahamian-style lime-marinated grilled snapper, which is a mild white fish.
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Of course, the classic Disney Cruise Line beach BBQ offerings like cheeseburgers with all of the toppings (and my favorite, fall-off-the-bone BBQ ribs) will be available as well. The island curry is going to be a tasty plant-based meal with a mix of tofu, ginger, cilantro, and potatoes.
One of the more cravable options will be the Disney Lookout Cay Spiced Rotisserie Chicken. The chicken is marinated in a sweet and savory concoction of bay leaves, onion, sweet peppers, lime, thyme, and goat pepper. The spicy final ingredient is a native Bahamian pepper that has the same spice level as a habanero or scotch bonnet.
No beach BBQ is complete without sides, and at Lighthouse Point the sides are plentiful and flavorful. Consider trying one or all of the options, including grilled pineapple and black bean salad, sautéed pickled veggies, yucca fries, grilled corn, American Cole slaw, French fries, and oven-baked plantain slices. I’m particularly excited for the yucca fries and plantain slices which will add more island flavor to my beach BBQ plate.
Sip, sip hooray! Drinks around the island
Having a beachside cocktail is one of my favorite things to do on any cruise line private island. At Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are going to be readily available and be inspired by the island flavors.
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The three main specialty drinks served at bars around the island will be the Bahama Brew, which is a non-alcoholic specialty coffee made with cold brew, tropical fruit flavors, and coconut foam; the Butterfly Switcha, which is non-alcoholic and mixes lemonade and butterfly jasmine tea with edible glitter for a perfectly Instagrammable concoction; and the Eleuthera Euphoria, a sweet cocktail made with rum, pineapple smoothie, and Dole Whip Pineapple.
The bar menus will also highlight local Bahamian favorite drinks like the pineapple-flavored Bahamas Goombay Punch soda, Pirate Republic Brewing Company Long John Pineapple Pilsner, and Kalik and Sands beer.
A day at a tropical private destination is fun, but sometimes you need a little pick-me-up in the middle of the day. That’s where Mangroves and Go, the coffee shop at Disney Lookout Cay will come in handy. The coffee shop will be the first bar that guests see once they get off the ship. All of the coffee drinks are made to order and feature coffee from Bahamas Coffee Roasters, which is roasted on Eleuthera. One of the drinks I’m looking forward to trying is the Junkanoo Latte, which has vanilla and lavender flavors.
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Because Lighthouse Point is being built and will be serviced with sustainable practices, including sending zero waste to landfills, the island will have no single-use plastics. All drinks will come in reusable stainless steel cups and be served with edible straws. Additionally, all service ware at the food and beverage locations around the island destination will be reusable.
If you want to bring a piece of Disney Lookout Cay home with you, consider one of the many souvenir cups. One in particular that I can’t wait to get my hands on is covered in a colorful Bahamian design featuring pineapples, seashells, ocean waves, wildlife, and tropical greenery.
