This or That: Comparing Disney’s Castaway Cay vs. Disney’s Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point
- Dana Birch
- Feb 1
- 6 min read
By now you’ve probably thought about going on a Disney Cruise Line sailing.  You may have heard that Disney now has not one, but two private island destinations. So, what is the difference? Do all Disney sailings visit these private destinations?  Which one should I plan to visit, if any? Do some sailings go to both destinations? Well, let’s get into it, and get these burning questions answered.
First up, the basics. Yes, Disney now has two private destinations to visit, Castaway Cay (pronounced key), and Lookout Cay at Lighthouse point (again Cay is pronounced key, it’s an island thing.) Both islands are part of the Bahamas, and as such they are governed by the Bahamian government, not Disney. So, you are visiting another country when you arrive at both destinations, and as such you will need proper documentation to enter and leave. So, this answers one of our questions, do all Disney sailings visit these private destinations? The answer is no. Only sailings in the Bahamas and Caribbean have the possibility of having one or both destinations on their itineraries. This brings us to another question, can you visit these private destinations both on the same sailing? The answer is, yes! I was fortunate enough to do just that this past December. Matter of fact, the sailing I chose only went to these two destinations, and nowhere else. The question of which one to visit is one of the most difficult, and it really goes right along with an explanation of the differences between them, to find your perfect fit.
Castaway Cay:
This is Disney’s original private island destination. Unlike Lookout Cay, Disney has leased the entire island from the Bahamian government for years to come. This rustic and laid-back destination is an idyllic island paradise. Everything here is meant to look weatherworn, and slapped together, but it is all meant to exude a laid-back vibe. To sort of give you the idea that you are a castaway on an island a la Gilligan, and to highlight the natural beauty of the place. There is so much to do here. Whether you want to run a 5K, ride bicycles, go snorkeling, kick back in the ocean on a float, or relax on the beach with a good book, this island has you covered and then some.  There are plenty of things to do here for both the adventurers and those wanting a more relaxing island experience.
The ships dock in stern first. So, to get the best views of the island it is best to have a room on the aft or starboard of the ship. From the ship it is a short walk to the marina to depart on your boat-based excursions. Continuing, you can choose to jump on a tram to take you around to the family beach and beyond to the adult beach, or you can choose to continue the walk to the stingray and snorkeling area to get over to the family beach area. There is shopping, and rentals for cabanas, snorkeling gear, innertubes, bicycles, and a host of other fun water conveyances.  Note that cabanas need to be reserved right when your booking window opens and are usually snapped up by high level Castaway Club Members, those part of Disney Cruise Line’s loyalty program. The kids’ club area moves to the beach for the day at Scuttle’s Cove, and a fun water play area is docked just off shore with slides and such called Pelican Plunge. Pelican Plunge is great for your pre-teen/teen set.
The characters make their way to the island for some fun and can be found along the walkway from the ship to the family beach area for pictures and autographs. The crew members from the ship also come ashore to assist in almost all the things on the island, including the restaurants and bars. There are two restaurants near the family beach areas, and one over on the adult only beach.  The food is mediocre, but it gets the job done. You can also go back aboard the ship to eat at the quick service locations near the pool. There are also a couple bars, and additional food stands that are not included in the cruise fare. All to say, my family and I enjoyed the relaxed island atmosphere here and can’t wait to get back to Castaway Cay.
Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point:
Our next stop was Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. This island destination is not as private as Castaway Cay. Disney has leased a section of the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas. Most other cruise ships the arrive here must tender, or ferry guests from the ship to the shore. Disney got around this by building a half mile long pier to dock their ships at which allows for the protection of the coral reef area around the island itself. If you have mobility issues you can request assistance from guest services to be driven across the pier in a golf cart, but this must be done ahead of time and may be limited. They also offer wagons for littles on a first come first serve basis. The walk is windy, and can get hot as there is no covering on the pier, but it is gorgeous. Note the ships dock on the port side here, so choose a stateroom on the port side for the best views of the island.Â
Once you get to the island, you arrive at Mabrika Cove where there are shops, the marina, cabana check in, and a tram stop. Here you don’t have the option to walk and must board a tram to get to the beach area and the Goombay Cultural Center. The tram ride here is very cute and is narrated by some local wildlife characters who tell you all about the island. Upon arriving at the beach area and Goombay Cultural Center, if you haven’t noticed the drastic difference in styling of this island upon arrival at Mabrika Cove, you will notice it here. This place is so much less rustic. There are boardwalks everywhere to protect the natural planting areas near the beach, and the buildings are designed with culture and ecology in mind. Goombay Cultural Center has more shops, and the cultural center itself is the main highlight here with the focus on Junkanoo, a Bahamian celebration.
Lookout Cay is picturesque, with so many more shaded sitting areas, planting areas, palm trees, and more sitting areas in general than Castaway Cay. Here there is a water play area on shore called Rush Out Gush Out, but it serves mainly the 8 and under set this time. The kids’ club again moves on shore, this time at Sebastian’s Cove, and the adult only beach area is a short walk down to the end of the family beach area. They are not anywhere near as separate as they are on Castaway, it technically is the same beach, just further down, and roped off. Also, you can’t rent fun water toys, or other aquatic conveyances, as it all may damage the reef. Again, the focus is on the natural surroundings and protecting the ecology and highlighting the culture of the Bahamas. There are nature hikes you can take to the remnants of the lighthouse, and some excursions to book.Â
Here again the crew comes on shore to run all the restaurants, bars, and such. Again, the food here is mediocre, and there is a bit of a fly problem at the restaurant area that they finally seem to have a handle on with the help of lots of fans. We decided to go back to the ship pretty soon after arrival, as it was super windy, and the waves were white-capped as they crashed into the beach. The lifeguards even had a jet ski ready to save guests if need be. To my understanding, this island’s weather is super variable. It can be very windy and have rough surf like the day we were there, or it can be drizzly/rainy and cool, or it can be absolutely perfect. Like a beach of seashells, you never know what you are going to get. There is no protection in the form of a cove here like at Castaway, so things are a bit more at the mercy of the weather pattern. It is an experience, and for younger families this place is ideal. There are lots of fun things to do, parades to participate in, activities in the Play-Play Pavilion with the characters, and the characters all make an appearance in their special Lookout Cay attire.
So, which sounds best to you? Castaway Cay? Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point? Maybe it is both? Whichever you prefer, we at Part of That World Vacations are here to help you when you are ready to go sailing. So, what Part of That World would you like to travel to?
Contact Dana Birch at: danabirch@partofthatworld.com