Disney is working on a NEW private island — called Lighthouse Point — for its cruise ships but there’s something important about it that you might not have realized.

Disney’s retreat on the island is set to have architecture inspired by nature and will embody a “unique celebration of Bahamian culture brought to life with the quality and service of a Disney vacation.” There will be a family beach, a Bahamian art and culture pavilion, a family water play area, and MUCH more. And it’ll all be located on the Bahamian island of Eleuthera. But Disney does NOT have this island all to itself!

That’s right — while Disney is creating a private destination (which will open in the summer of 2024) for its cruise line passengers on the southernmost tip of Eleuthera, the island isn’t just home to Disney’s private beaches. There are actually other things already existing on the island and you could visit them right now!

Eleuthera is already home to one of Princess Cruises’ exclusive ports of call — Princess Cays. Princess Cruises has a private beach on the island (at the southern tip) that is home to snorkeling, fishing, and much more.

On top of that, there are resorts on the island, like Royal Island Resort…

…or The Cove Eleuthera (located in Central Eleuthera).

Eleuthera (and Harbour Island) might be new for Disney cruisers but it isn’t for other vacationers! (Eleuthera is separated from Harbour Island just by a 5-minute ferry, which is why you may see it mentioned a lot on things discussing Eleuthera.)

If you want to visit the island (but not those areas privately owned/run by the cruise lines, of course) you can actually book a flight to Eleuthera. Recently, Silver Airways resumed weekly, nonstop service from Orlando International Airport to Eleuthera.

Next stop: paradise! Yesterday, we celebrated our friends @silver_airways who resumed weekly, nonstop service to Marsh Harbor & Eleuthera, Bahamas. We look forward to connecting the City Beautiful to the Caribbean sunshine – sea you in the Bahamas!
: https://t.co/TW7MH9qRDo pic.twitter.com/zkQOoHCYvY

— Orlando International Airport (@MCO) May 21, 2023

 

It appears that the airline actually flies into North Eleuthera.

Just be careful when booking. The nonstop flights are quick, but you wouldn’t want to accidentally book a non-direct flight as those can be MANY hours long.

Again, a flight to Eleuthera should only give you access to parts of the island that the public can access or whatever resorts you book a stay at, not those spaces exclusive to cruise lines like Disney (or any other private and exclusive areas). But if you’re itching to see the island that Disney Cruise Line visitors will eventually go to, this could be a way to do it!

Want to see when Disney cruises will first visit Lighthouse Point in 2024? Click here!

For more Disney Cruise Line planning tips, click here to see when is the BEST time to cruise the Caribbean. Or click here for our ULTIMATE list of Disney Cruise Line tips and secrets!

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Would you travel to Eleuthera on your own or wait to visit Disney’s private space there while going on a cruise? Tell us in the comments.

The post Wait…You Can Go to Disney’s New Private Island WITHOUT Taking One of Their Cruises? first appeared on the disney food blog.