Disney Cruise Line announces 1st sailings to new private destination, plus summer 2024 itineraries
Lighthouse Point, Disney Cruise Line's new private destination in Eleuthera, Bahamas, was announced in 2019, but it wasn't until earlier this month that we learned the exclusive destination will welcome guests in 2024.
On Friday, Disney Cruise Line shared its 2024 sailings, including which ships and itineraries will include a stop at Lighthouse Point. The inaugural sailing to Lighthouse Point will be a seven-night sailing aboard Disney Fantasy on June 8, 2024. The ship will depart from Port Canaveral, Florida, and make two stops at Lighthouse Point and an additional stop at Disney's Castaway Cay.
That's three full days of island fun.
If you prefer shorter sailings, Disney is also hosting a three-night preview cruise on June 6, 2024, aboard Disney Magic. The cruise will sail out of Fort Lauderdale and feature a visit to Lighthouse Point with "limited access to some areas," according to an announcement from the cruise line.
Lighthouse Point
Following these first visits, Lighthouse Point can be visited in 2024 only on Disney Magic sailings out of Fort Lauderdale; options include three-, four- and five-night Bahamas and Caribbean sailings. You'll want to look closely at the itinerary before booking because Disney Magic will vary stops between Lighthouse Point and Castaway Cay. Five sailings will include stops at both of Disney's private destinations.
Many of the amenities at Lighthouse Point are similar to those at Disney's existing Bahamian private island destination, Castaway Cay. Both offer family and adults-only beaches, beach games and sports, snorkeling, waterslides and play areas, dining, shopping and more.
Both also put sustainability and environmental protection at the forefront.
Castaway Cay has ongoing coral reef restoration and loggerhead sea turtle protection programs, as well as solar panels to fuel water heaters for crew members who live on the island. Workers recycle as many as 7,000 pounds of used cooking oil every week to power waste management vehicles in Nassau.
Lighthouse Point takes things a step further by weaving environmental and cultural awareness into its design and amenities.
Disney Cruise Line partnered with Bahamian artists to create murals, sculptures and other design elements throughout Lighthouse Point. The line will offer special programming in the island's Arts and Cultural Pavilion to honor Bahamian traditions and shore excursions developed in partnership with local tour operators.
Disney is developing only a small portion of the land purchased on Eleuthera. It has also donated part of the land it purchased back to the Bahamian government.
Summer 2024 cruise itinerary highlights
In addition to the new itineraries featuring visits to Lighthouse Point, Disney Cruise Line announced the rest of its summer 2024 lineup, including sailings to Europe and Alaska and a 13-night transatlantic cruise on Disney Dream from Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona.
Disney Dream will spend the summer in Europe, offering 3-to-12-night sailings in the Mediterranean, Greek isles, Norwegian fjords, British isles and Iceland. Passengers will have their first chance to visit Haugesund, Norway, during a seven-night Norwegian Fjords cruise in August 2024 and Hamburg, Germany, during a seven-night Western Europe cruise in September 2024.
Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Disney Cruise Line ship
Disney Wonder will sail to Alaska from May through September. Disney Fantasy and Disney Wish will join Disney Magic sailing in the Caribbean and Bahamas; each itinerary will include a visit to Castaway Cay.
2024 is shaping up to be an exciting year for Disney Cruise Line, especially as Disney's newest ship, Disney Treasure, is scheduled to start sailing in 2024. The line has not yet announced details on those itineraries.
Bookings for Disney Cruise Line's summer 2024 itineraries open to Platinum Castaway Club members and Golden Oak Club members March 27, Gold Castaway Club members March 28, and Silver members and Disney Vacation Club members March 29. Bookings for the general public begin March 30.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
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- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.