Disney Fantasy 4-Day Very Merrytime Bahamian Cruise Review – Day 3: December 19, 2025

It is Day 3 aboard the Disney Fantasy, and we have arrived at Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, Disney’s exclusive beach destination on the island of Eleuthera. The seas are calm with scattered clouds, and temperatures should stay in the upper 70s to low 80s, which is just about perfect for a day at the beach.

I did a “first look” review of Lookout Cay on a previous sailing, so today was more about kicking back in the sun and maybe doing a little more exploring of areas we had not hit yet. We took our time with breakfast and let the mad dash off the ship pass before grabbing our beach bags and heading ashore. All ashore was called right on schedule at 8:30, and with all aboard not until 4:45, there was plenty of time to even out those tan lines.

The half-mile walk down the pier from ship to shore has been discussed plenty, and honestly, I feel like it is a non-issue at this point. After all the initial backlash during the first year of Lookout Cay being open, Disney has made additional accommodations, most notably adding hundreds of wagons for hauling kids and gear, along with more courtesy shuttles for guests with mobility issues. That has made wait times much shorter for those who need assistance. Between that and expectations now being properly set for guests, there seem to be far fewer complaints. You know exactly what you are signing up for when you book an itinerary that stops here.

Put up or shut up.

Those courtesy shuttles came in handy for our parents, as one is recovering from knee surgery. The shuttles are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Guests needing a ride check in at the Buena Vista Theater, where they can wait in comfort and air conditioning until the next transport is ready. Since the wait was short, we split up and the able-bodied group set out for the walk, with some protest from the tween.

The timing worked out well, as we all arrived ashore at about the same time and then boarded the tram that takes you from the western side of the island, where the pier is located, to the eastern side beaches.

Along the way, we took a few minutes to check out the island-themed holiday decorations and wander through the gift shops, because, well, Disney.

We quickly found a group of lounge chairs and umbrellas to camp out in. Unlike many other cruise line private beaches, with Disney you do not have to worry about renting chairs or those all-important shade-providing umbrellas. They are already set up and waiting for you. Each setup generally includes two loungers and two beach chairs per umbrella. A popular move is to drag the chairs down to the water and set them just into the surf as the waves roll in.

What really makes Lookout Cay famous is the silky pink sand. This has to be some of the finest sand we have ever experienced on a beach, with virtually no shells to be found since they have all been pulverized into a fine powder. That is what gives the sand its pinkish hue. The water temperature today was a very refreshing contrast to the warm sun. With a stretch of beach that runs more than two miles long, there is plenty of room to spread out, although for some reason most families still decided to pile on top of each other at the first access point off the boardwalk.

We spent a few hours alternating between lounging in the chairs and cooling off in the water, really just soaking up the incredible weather. This was by far the best conditions we have experienced at Lookout Cay, with only a slight breeze compared to the steady winds during our first two visits. Just enough to keep you from sweating, but not so much that it felt like sitting inside an industrial sandblaster.

Just before noon, a Junkanoo celebration kicked off, led by Mickey and Minnie at the Goombay Cultural Center. As it turns out, we picked the perfect spot to settle in, since all we had to do was turn our chairs around to enjoy the presentation, which lasted about ten minutes.

Video of Mickey and Minnie Mouse Leading the Junkanoo Parade

Pirate’s Code

After enjoying an island-style BBQ lunch at True-True BBQ, I decided it was time for a stroll along the beach to work off some of the excess calories from the past few days. I am someone who enjoys long walks on the beach, not just the romantic kind, but the kind where you keep going as far as the horizon allows. In this case, I trekked down the southern expanse of the beach to the absolute tip of the island, where I explored some stunning sea caves and wrapped around to catch a few great views of the ship.

During the journey, I came across a sign warning guests not to go beyond that point, as Disney safety measures could not be guaranteed. Now, I would NEVER recommend breaking these rules. However, it was pirate night, and I chose to “stick to the code.” As in, “the code is more what you’d call guidelines than actual rules.” Proceed at your own risk if you decide to go off trail.

Out there, I discovered some incredible acts of natural art. Waves lapped against the ornate cliff sides, carving out beautiful little nooks and crannies to explore. Of course, I grabbed a few “shelfies” and enjoyed a bit of solitude that made it feel like I was on my own private island. At one point, the realization hit that if I slipped and fell, they would probably never find my body since it would have been swept out with the tide. Needless to say, I chose my footing very carefully.

Thankfully, I made it back safely, with no need to recreate my favorite scenes from Castaway.

While I do not have a steps tracker, by comparing my route to the 5K trail I more than hit that mark. I could have spent all day just hanging out down there. Next time, I may sew an AirTag into my swimsuit so I can be recovered.

Thar be Pirates!

A staple of Bahamian and Caribbean sailings on DCL is the designated Pirate Night. While some cruise lines do White Night, Orange Night, Red Night, or Formal Nights, this one brings a level of flair that is genuinely fun for the whole family. I think we saw a higher percentage of participation on this cruise than any other. Almost every family was dressed in their swashbuckling best. The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique even transforms young sailors into pirates instead of the usual princes and princesses.

Not only is the dress theme pirates, but a special Caribbean-themed menu is also served shipwide. Possibly the best part was getting a break from the nonstop holiday music that has been playing on an endless loop in all the common areas. I will be honest, we were getting dangerously close to a man overboard situation as my ears were on the verge of bleeding. Have I mentioned I am not a fan of Christmas?

The culmination of the night is when Captain Jack and his crew take control of the ship and engage in some mayhem that ends in a little something flashy. Nothing beats Pirate Night fireworks at sea, and it is something you only get on Disney Cruise Line. I attempted to do a Facebook Live of the fireworks, but unfortunately the feed froze just as the sky lit up. Considering it had been running smoothly for about eight minutes during the stage show, I am convinced they either cut the internet during the fireworks or use some form of signal jamming to prevent interference with the pyrotechnics controls.

Excuse me for a moment while I adjust my tin foil hat.

Pirates Invade The Royal Court

The Pirate Night menu definitely falls into the category of needing a full revamp. While there are some solid choices on offer, the fact that it has gone largely untouched for around eight years and is served fleetwide has made it feel pretty stale.

I went a little lighter, selecting the Calypso Crab Cake and Lime-Marinated Shrimp. That was followed up with the Jerk Chicken and Jack’s Treasures of the Sea.

I am counting both the crab cake and the chicken as my “something different,” if not entirely new. The crab cake had a perfect crust with a soft, but not soggy, center. The shrimp were a good size and had a nice citrus flavor without being overpowering.

As far as the jerk chicken goes, it was just ok. It definitely could have used more seasoning and a bit more kick.

I mainly ordered the Treasures of the Sea to get a few scallops, but I did not let the rest of the plate go to waste by any means.

A good meal, but I am more than ready to see this menu sent straight to Davy Jones’ locker.

With the pirate invasion taking over the ship, the activities both around the atrium and out on deck stayed right on theme. There were photo ops with Captain Jack and pirate backdrops, Mickey and friends decked out in their pirate gear, and a full-on pirate party on the pool deck leading up to the fireworks.

Fire and Ice

With the newest installment of the Avatar franchise, Fire and Ice, opening in theaters, it also hit the high seas. Since Disney owns the Avatar IP, there were multiple showings available throughout the week. Honestly, I did not like the first one, never watched the second, and have zero interest in spending more than three hours of my cruise watching the third. Still, it is one of those perks of sailing on Disney Cruise Line when brand-new releases are available onboard.

We wrap up the sailing with a sea day tomorrow as we slowly make our way back to Port Canaveral on Sunday.

Daily Schedule

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