Port alert: These 2 cruise lines are building new private destinations in the Bahamas

“New details about Lighthouse Point reveal a relaxing beach escape designed with families in mind, infused with the color and energy of Bahamian artistry, and developed with a commitment to conservation at its core,” the line said in a March 9 statement on its website.

Lighthouse Point’s offerings are set to include the following:

• A dedicated family beach on the island’s east side.
• An arts and culture pavilion focusing on Bahamian traditions.
• A family water play area, featuring two slides, water drums, fountains and a section for toddlers.
• A covered gaming pavilion, volleyball court, gaga ball pit, bicycle and water sports equipment rentals, and nature trails for active cruisers.
• An adults-only beach, complete with a dedicated bar and dining area and six private cabanas available for rent.
• A themed, supervised kids club for children ages 3 to 12, offering a splash pad area and dedicated dining facilities, all with plenty of shade.
• A set of 20 family cabanas — four of which are double cabanas that accommodate larger groups and offer massage services — available for rent on a beach along the island’s southwest shore.
• Opportunities to learn about the island’s natural habitats and what the line is doing to protect them.
• A selection of new shore excursions that will allow passengers to explore other parts of Eleuthera in partnership with local tour operators.

Disney has committed to developing only a small portion of the land it purchased — something it says it will do with environmental protection and sustainability in mind. It also donated part of the Lighthouse Point land back to the Bahamian government.

Lighthouse Point’s location on Eleuthera Island is about 140 miles from Castaway Cay, the cruise line’s exclusive private island.

In addition to Disney Cruise Line passengers, locals will also be able to access Lighthouse Point.

Although Princess Cruises’ private island, Princess Cays, is technically part of Eleuthera, Princess Cays is only accessible by passengers who visit the island on a Princess ship, and it doesn’t allow passengers to explore the rest of Eleuthera. That makes Lighthouse Point the first cruise line-developed port area on Eleuthera to grant access to people who live in the area and to grant passengers access to the rest of the island.

Details about Lighthouse Point’s dining, entertainment and retail options, as well as shore excursions, will be released at a later time.

Royal Beach Club at Paradise Island

The Royal Beach Club, set to be located at the western end of Nassau’s Paradise Island, is a joint venture between the cruise line and the Bahamian government. Of the 17-acre property, Royal Caribbean owns 13 acres; the other four were given to the line by the Bahamas for development.

As part of the agreement, the Bahamian people can own 49% of the venture, with locals running most of the operation and a portion of the profits going back to the Bahamian government and the people who live on the island.

Although many ships call on Nassau, located on New Providence Island, none currently call on Paradise Island, located just across Nassau Harbor. Paradise Island is known for the iconic Atlantis Paradise Island resort located there.

When it opens, the Royal Beach Club will join Royal Caribbean’s other exclusive branded properties: private island Perfect Day at CocoCay elsewhere in the Bahamas and private beach Labadee in Haiti.