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Disney Cruise Line has announced dates and itineraries for its new island destination in the Bahamas, Lighthouse Point, bookable from summer 2024.

In June 2024, Disney Cruise Line will launch its Bahamian beach retreat on the island of Eleuthera at Lighthouse Point, designed specifically for families to bring “the colour and energy of Bahamian artistry…developed with a commitment to conservation at its core”.

On June 8, the inaugural seven-night sailing on board Disney Fantasy cruise ship will depart from Port Canaveral, Florida, carrying some of the first guests to step foot inside Lighthouse Point.

Source: https://globetrender.com/2023/05/26/disney-cruise-line-private-island-resort-bahamas/

Lighthouse Point, the new Bahamas destination for Disney Cruise Line, will open next year, the company announced late last week.

Source: https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/attractions/2023/03/13/disney-cruise-line-new-island-destination-lighthouse-point-to-open-in-2024

Guests currently can visit one Disney-owned private island, Castaway Cay. But they will soon have another. The Walt Disney Company is making significant progress on Lighthouse Point, a $400 million private island. Disney Cruise Line confirmed swirling rumors that they would purchase the unfinished German ship, Royal Dream. In a Disney Parks Blog post, Disney announced that the purchase was complete.

Source: https://insidethemagic.net/2022/11/disney-cruise-line-german-dream-jc1/

Proper concept art released.

Disney is collaborating closely with Bahamian artists and advisors to develop a destination that reflects the natural beauty and culture of the Bahamas and brings them to life through Disney storytelling and the assistance of a local cast and crew, according to Josh D'Amaro, experiences and products chairman, Disney Parks.

The latest visualizations revealed by the company portray a beach retreat surrounded by Bahamian artistry. Disney’s second island destination amenities will further include a recreation center, dining options, shops, a water playground, and a cultural pavilion, among others.

Source: https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/28242-disney-cruise-line-unveils-lighthouse-point-destination.html

As part of Disney’s commitment to building the workforce of tomorrow and inspiring and empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs, Disney Cruise Line is providing funding to support Junior Achievement Bahamas on Eleuthera.

This year’s programme is expected to provide financial literacy, entrepreneurship, college preparedness and work readiness curriculums to nearly 1,000 students on Eleuthera ranging in age from kindergarten to 12th grade.

Disney Cruise Line is the corporate sponsor for all Junior Achievement programmes on the island of Eleuthera this year.

Source: https://ewnews.com/disney-cruise-line-partners-with-junior-achievement-bahamas-to-build-work-readiness-skills-on-eleuthera

Environment and Natural Resources Minister Vaughn Miller said yesterday that while he supports the Disney Lighthouse Point project, he is still “very concerned” about its potential environmental impact on Eleuthera.

“I was reassured that they have been complying with everything that was demanded from them to this point, so I’m satisfied in that regard,” he said.

Despite these assurances from Disney Cruise Lines, Mr Miller said he is still monitoring the situation cautiously due to its potential impact, not only on Eleuthera, but The Bahamas as a whole. "Am I concerned? Very concerned. I’m from Eleuthera, it’s personal to me, but not just Eleuthera, but for the entire Commonwealth of The Bahamas.”

Source: http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/feb/04/miller-very-concerned-about-disney-project-impact/

The Access Accelerator Small Business Development Centre and Disney Cruise Line have come together to award $150,000 in small business grants to 30 Central and South Eleuthera businesses.

The Eleuthera Grant Programme, sponsored by Disney Cruise Line, received more than 125 applications. Grant recipients in South and Central Eleuthera received up to $5,000 in funding each, along with training opportunities designed to further empower local businesses and entrepreneurs.

Forty-three businesses successfully completed the training program, received a certificate of completion from Access Accelerator and advanced as a program finalist.

At the end of the adjudication process, 30 businesses received approval for grant funding: 23 existing businesses and seven startups. The businesses span across eight industries, including fishing, landscaping, e-commerce and delivery services. The $150,000 will impact 39 employees.

Source: https://ewnews.com/access-accelerator-awards-small-business-grants-funded-by-disney-on-eleuthera

This is the most recent news I can see about Lighthouse Point but it's looking positive that this is going ahead given that they were appointing contractors back in April...

The cruise company held a virtual public meeting last week on its publicly released environmental impact assessment (EIA), where it reaffirmed its pledge to create at least 120 construction jobs for Bahamians.

“Right now, we are still out in a competitive bid environment. We will be looking to select a contractor by mid to end of May to develop the project. The way we are treating the contracting for the project is via a design build, which means that we will hire a general contractor that will be responsible for the design and the construction of the poject,” Senior Project Manager at Walt Disney Imagineering David Chiaradonna said.

“That means they will have the architect, engineer under their purview. What we’ve given them is a very robust request for proposal for the project that will allow them to come up with the means and methods to use sustainable practices, all the things we’re looking at, to develop the project with a very light footprint and very light touch to the environment and the land side portion.”

In addition to construction jobs, Disney Cruise Line has committed to providing 150 permanent jobs for Bahamians, which its Vice President of Public Affairs Kim Prunty said will pay between $600-$700 weekly including benefits.

Source: https://thenassauguardian.com/disney-wants-contractor-for-lighthouse-point-by-next-month/

I have been trying to find any news on the Lighthouse Point project but keep coming up empty handed. The last "news" on the official site was in December 2019 and the FAQ's offers this answer to the question - what is the current status of the project?

Disney Cruise Line has completed its purchase of the Lighthouse Point property and signed a Heads of Agreement with the government of The Bahamas. Disney will only move forward with a project at Lighthouse Point if it can do so in a way that aligns with the company’s deep and longstanding commitment to the environment. In addition to its own animal and conservation experts, Disney assembled a team of highly qualified and experienced scientists and other professionals who spent more than two years developing a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Disney submitted the EIA to the BEST Commission in late December and has been advised that the BEST Commission will post the document on their website after their feedback is incorporated and government reviews are complete. Additional public consultation will occur as part of the site plan approval process. The EIA is based on extensive field work, robust data collection and analysis, direct engagement with those who have studied the site and the species observed there, and an exhaustive review of available literature. Construction will only begin on the site after the Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan are accepted by government, public consultation has occurred and all other necessary government permits and approvals have been granted.

Does anyone know when we might see the environmental impact assessment or public consultation? I can see a number of groups already opposing the construction but nothing concrete seems to have been announced about the consultation process etc. Starting to think this will be abandoned in the current climate.

Source: https://lighthousepointbahamas.com/frequently-asked-questions/

The Disney Wish, the cruise ship linked with the opening of Lighthouse Point is currently under construction and has now been announced to be setting sail in January 2022 despite rumours that it is being delayed further.

Construction on the ship can be seen here from June 2020.

Disney lovers, we finally have a date for the maiden voyage of the the company's newest cruise ship. In August last year, the entertainment giant announced the next cruise liner to join its ever-growing fleet will be called the Disney Wish - and now we have learned it will be setting sail in January 2022.

The Wish joins four other cruise ships already part of The Disney Cruise Line - Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, and Disney Fantasy. A further three ships are planned to be added in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Source: https://www.tyla.com/entertaining/tv-and-film-disney-wish-january-2020-maiden-voyage-date-details-images-20200702

New image of plan from the Lighthouse Point official progress page.

Source: https://lighthousepointbahamas.com/progress/

Earlier this week, we shared news of a town hall meeting in Eleuthera to discuss an economic development plan for Lighthouse Point, a 700-acre peninsula located at the southern tip of Eleuthera. During the town hall, which did NOT include official representatives from Disney Cruise Line or the local government, attendees received a handout.

When asked for comment on the town hall, a representative from Disney Cruise Line said Disney was not part of the event. Therefore, please take the following as an overview of what was presented to the public, not an official plan from Disney or any other developer.

Source: https://disneycruiselineblog.com/2018/08/lighthouse-point-eleuthera-town-hall-handout-reveals-conceptual-site-plan/

Walt Disney Imagineer Joe Rohde, whose work includes the design of Disney's Animal Kingdom and Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii, has embarked on an in-depth cultural tour of the Bahamas to meet with local artists and cultural advisers. Together, they have explored arts and cultural sites across New Providence and Eleuthera, from Junkanoo shacks to noted art galleries.

Source: https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2019/08/disney-cruise-line-new-island-destination-will-celebrate-the-culture-of-the-bahamas/