Disney Cruise Line faced significant environmental challenges in building Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point on the southern tip of Eleuthera. Before constructing the pier for the new private Caribbean destination, the cruise line needed to relocate hundreds of coral pieces, find new homes for barrel sponges, and track the changing behaviors of birds and crabs on land.
In an effort to minimize the impact on wildlife, Disney Cruise Line partnered with biologists and established a conservation management team. Only 16% of the 900 acres purchased on Eleuthera will be occupied by Lookout Cay, with the remaining land left in its natural state.
The line took measures to protect marine communities by constructing a trestle pier as a bridge above the sea bed, avoiding the need to dredge and disturb sensitive coral reefs. The relocation of 800 coral pieces and barrel sponges was carefully executed to ensure their survival in new habitats.
Disney Cruise Line sent biologists to Eleuthera periodically over a span of four years to monitor the impact of Lookout Cay on local wildlife. Birds were tagged with detection devices to track changes in their behavior once the destination became operational. Similar studies will be conducted at Castaway Cay, the cruise line’s private island destination.
The information gathered will be shared with the Bahamian government to build conservation capacity throughout the Bahamas. The line hired Bahamian conservation experts to lead efforts on the new beach destination, including the development of a nature trail with informative signage about local animals.
At Lookout Cay, Disney Cruise Line has created educational opportunities for guests, such as Sebastian’s Cove, an activity space where kids can learn about the land, sea, and sky. The cruise line has partnered with NatGeo Kids to educate children about animals like land crabs and loggerhead sea turtles.
While Disney Cruise Line has embarked on a development project in creating Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, the cruise line has demonstrated a commitment to balancing development with wildlife conservation. Through careful planning, collaboration with biologists, and educational initiatives, the cruise line aims to safeguard the natural environment and promote environmental stewardship among guests.