Lookout Cay long pier.

[insureman]

Someone commented that they had to wait for the transportation to the island and by the time they got there all of the beach chairs were gone.

I kind of figured that might be an issue. Definitely they need more and higher capacity golf carts.

 

[emilymad]

I just got off the Fantasy today and was at Lookout Cay two days ago. Overall my daughter and I really liked the island. The beach is gorgeous! There was no issue with flies. I thought the food was better than Castaway. I liked a lot of the things they did related to Bahamian culture, like the jankakoo (sp?) celebration, crafts for kids, etc. I didn't think that the walk was that bad in good weather. When the landscaping grows in the island will be even more beautiful. They also had the bikes available now.

With that being said, with the larger ship there was a lack of seating on the beach. I got off pretty much right away so I could get a lounger near the water. They were gone very fast. I did see a lot of people taking the shorter chairs from behind the dunes and carrying them near the water. The serenity bay area is a lot smaller and not separate. My daughter saw younger kids hanging out there. Someone commented that they had to wait for the transportation to the island and by the time they got there all of the beach chairs were gone.

I came back to the ship around 1pm so I had no issues getting back. I was on my balcony later when I saw storm clouds form quickly with high winds. I felt so sorry for those that were on the pier when the storm occurred. People in my Facebook group commented how slippery the pier was and how scared their kids were. My daughter was on the beach at the time of the storm. The cement near the beach was also very slippery- so much so that a 19 yr old guy friend of hers fell and scratched his back up pretty bad. I think that they could have textured the cement more so it wasn't so slippery.

With this being said, I would be happy to go back again. It's one of the best beaches I have ever been to before. I think that there are some things that they can continue to tweak to improve the island.

We were also on this sailing. In the sections near where we were people completely emptied two entire seating areas behind the dunes of all chairs including the larger loungers to bring them beach side. We got off the ship immediately when they called all ashore (we were already on the staircase on deck 2) and did not get a chair on the beach as a party of 2. We sat on the dune side. What was especially frustrating was that we had to go to cross to the beach to go up another set of stairs before getting to the restroom and food area even though we were directly next to it.

We ate lunch right at 12 and it was nothing but huge lines to get food and to find a place to sit. It took over 20 minutes to get our food. Everyone we shared a table with commented that Disney does not have this figured out yet. Being at Castaway the next day really showed how much of a difference this was. We thought the food was better at Castaway. I had the chicken and ribs on both islands.

The day we visited had 20mph+ winds. It made crossing the pier extra challenging as you had to walk against the wind. The ocean had a lot of waves which was actually very nice but was not the calm waters from most of the pictures I had previously seen. It was so windy that sand was blowing into my eyes. Obviously nothing that Disney can control but it made the visit different that we had been expecting.

We were also back on the ship when the storm came and it was terrifying watching people having to cross that pier. The storm came from no where and the already choppy seas seemed to be almost crashing over the pier. I am sure it wasn't as close as it seemed from our viewing angle on our balcony.

Overall we had a good time but we felt like we wasted so much time on lunch and hiking up to use the restroom or refilling our water bottle, etc. The beach was great and I am sure even nicer when not really windy. There is the potential for this to become a favorite even over Castaway if they can work out some of these issues.

 

[insureman]

We were also on this sailing. In the sections near where we were people completely emptied two entire seating areas behind the dunes of all chairs including the larger loungers to bring them beach side. We got off the ship immediately when they called all ashore (we were already on the staircase on deck 2) and did not get a chair on the beach as a party of 2. We sat on the dune side. What was especially frustrating was that we had to go to cross to the beach to go up another set of stairs before getting to the restroom and food area even though we were directly next to it.

We ate lunch right at 12 and it was nothing but huge lines to get food and to find a place to sit. It took over 20 minutes to get our food. Everyone we shared a table with commented that Disney does not have this figured out yet. Being at Castaway the next day really showed how much of a difference this was. We thought the food was better at Castaway. I had the chicken and ribs on both islands.

The day we visited had 20mph+ winds. It made crossing the pier extra challenging as you had to walk against the wind. The ocean had a lot of waves which was actually very nice but was not the calm waters from most of the pictures I had previously seen. It was so windy that sand was blowing into my eyes. Obviously nothing that Disney can control but it made the visit different that we had been expecting.

We were also back on the ship when the storm came and it was terrifying watching people having to cross that pier. The storm came from no where and the already choppy seas seemed to be almost crashing over the pier. I am sure it wasn't as close as it seemed from our viewing angle on our balcony.

Overall we had a good time but we felt like we wasted so much time on lunch and hiking up to use the restroom or refilling our water bottle, etc. The beach was great and I am sure even nicer when not really windy. There is the potential for this to become a favorite even over Castaway if they can work out some of these issues.

Thanks for the informative review. Shutting down the pier for heavy seas might have to be an option for a pier that long and not really that high above the water and something I didn't think about.

 

[imtallman]

I just wanted to chime in to say that my family was on the ten day sailing on the Fantasy and visited Lookout Cay on Friday. My impression of the island is overall quite positive. I also believe it will be better in the future as the plant life grows in and the pier is improved through shade/decoration to make it more inviting.

We were able to walk the pier in eleven minutes. This was my wife, myself and our children ages 15 and 8. We are all able bodied people and this was at a normal walking pace, not rushing, but not strolling slowly either. The pier is long. This has been established, but it didn't take long to traverse and perhaps looks longer than it feels. My biggest complaints about the pier were largely aesthetic. It's gray and rather uninviting. The day we visited was overcast and windy, so we didn't endure extreme heat on the walk. Some shade would make a big difference on sunny days, as would some color to liven things up. The tram ride to the beach is fairly short and not much of an issue. It is longer than the tram on CC to the first stop, but comparable to the ride to Serenity Bay.

I will say that on the walk back at the end of the day, after it had rained, the pier was somewhat slippery which was surprising. I was barefoot for the first half of the pier, and slipped slightly a couple of times. Not enough to fall down, but enough that I rinsed my feet and sandals off and put them on at the midway point. It could use a little texture. We saw quite a few folks riding golf carts both on the way to and returning from the island.

The food was good, very similar to Castaway, perhaps a little better. Burgers, fries, rotisserie chicken, rice, fish, potato salad were all tasty. My wife purchased a small cooler bag and some seltzers for around $40. My kids and I had smoothies which were good. Ice cream and drinks were easily accessible.

We visited the merchandise shops and were able to purchase a few shirts with LC graphics. The shops were crazy busy, but this was not unexpected on a new destination where most people had not visited before.

The biggest difference between LC and Castaway for us was the beach. Lookout Cay has very soft sand and beautiful clear water. There is really no comparison to CC, which we visited the following day. I find the plants underfoot in the water at CC to be disconcerting and not enjoyable. I have been fortunate enough to visit some amazing beaches on our vacations (Hawaii, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Mexico, several Caribbean islands) and LC ranks among the very best in terms of the softest sand and nicest water. We went out perhaps 60 feet from shore on the family beach and the sand remained soft as ever and not a single rough rock or plant to be found.

The Rush Out water play area looked great and was not super crowded on our visit. My youngest decided not to go as she was having a great time in the ocean. We did not visit the cultural center or watch the Junkanoo show except from a distance as our priority was really checking out the beach and the shops. Our snorkeling excursion was cancelled (as were nearly all others) due to the high winds and weather. This was also the case the following day on CC - no parasailing or glass bottom boat ride. There were a lot more waves at LC since it is not as protected as the CC beach. Late in the afternoon when we were about ready to head back to the ship, the rains rolled in and there was a mad dash from the beach to the trams. Even with the mass of humanity all trying to leave at once, the trams were able to handle the influx and we were back on board in about 20ish minutes.

My takeaway is that the beach is several orders of magnitude nicer at LC than CC, and that as shade and amenities/services are added, I will likely vastly prefer LC as the better of the two Disney stops. Honestly, I think it will make sense for itineraries to prioritize stopping at CC first and then LC to leave guests with the more positive impression.

For anyone who has not yet visited Lookout and has been concerned over the pier or the lack of shade, I urge you to keep an open mind. If you feel you will need a ride, ask for one. Be prepared with hats, sunscreen, umbrellas, whatever it takes to mitigate the lack of shade. in my opinion, the beach experience is worth any of the small inconveniences necessary to get there.

 

[insureman]

I just wanted to chime in to say that my family was on the ten day sailing on the Fantasy and visited Lookout Cay on Friday. My impression of the island is overall quite positive. I also believe it will be better in the future as the plant life grows in and the pier is improved through shade/decoration to make it more inviting.

We were able to walk the pier in eleven minutes. This was my wife, myself and our children ages 15 and 8. We are all able bodied people and this was at a normal walking pace, not rushing, but not strolling slowly either. The pier is long. This has been established, but it didn't take long to traverse and perhaps looks longer than it feels. My biggest complaints about the pier were largely aesthetic. It's gray and rather uninviting. The day we visited was overcast and windy, so we didn't endure extreme heat on the walk. Some shade would make a big difference on sunny days, as would some color to liven things up. The tram ride to the beach is fairly short and not much of an issue. It is longer than the tram on CC to the first stop, but comparable to the ride to Serenity Bay.

I will say that on the walk back at the end of the day, after it had rained, the pier was somewhat slippery which was surprising. I was barefoot for the first half of the pier, and slipped slightly a couple of times. Not enough to fall down, but enough that I rinsed my feet and sandals off and put them on at the midway point. It could use a little texture. We saw quite a few folks riding golf carts both on the way to and returning from the island.

The food was good, very similar to Castaway, perhaps a little better. Burgers, fries, rotisserie chicken, rice, fish, potato salad were all tasty. My wife purchased a small cooler bag and some seltzers for around $40. My kids and I had smoothies which were good. Ice cream and drinks were easily accessible.

We visited the merchandise shops and were able to purchase a few shirts with LC graphics. The shops were crazy busy, but this was not unexpected on a new destination where most people had not visited before.

The biggest difference between LC and Castaway for us was the beach. Lookout Cay has very soft sand and beautiful clear water. There is really no comparison to CC, which we visited the following day. I find the plants underfoot in the water at CC to be disconcerting and not enjoyable. I have been fortunate enough to visit some amazing beaches on our vacations (Hawaii, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Mexico, several Caribbean islands) and LC ranks among the very best in terms of the softest sand and nicest water. We went out perhaps 60 feet from shore on the family beach and the sand remained soft as ever and not a single rough rock or plant to be found.

The Rush Out water play area looked great and was not super crowded on our visit. My youngest decided not to go as she was having a great time in the ocean. We did not visit the cultural center or watch the Junkanoo show except from a distance as our priority was really checking out the beach and the shops. Our snorkeling excursion was cancelled (as were nearly all others) due to the high winds and weather. This was also the case the following day on CC - no parasailing or glass bottom boat ride. There were a lot more waves at LC since it is not as protected as the CC beach. Late in the afternoon when we were about ready to head back to the ship, the rains rolled in and there was a mad dash from the beach to the trams. Even with the mass of humanity all trying to leave at once, the trams were able to handle the influx and we were back on board in about 20ish minutes.

My takeaway is that the beach is several orders of magnitude nicer at LC than CC, and that as shade and amenities/services are added, I will likely vastly prefer LC as the better of the two Disney stops. Honestly, I think it will make sense for itineraries to prioritize stopping at CC first and then LC to leave guests with the more positive impression.

For anyone who has not yet visited Lookout and has been concerned over the pier or the lack of shade, I urge you to keep an open mind. If you feel you will need a ride, ask for one. Be prepared with hats, sunscreen, umbrellas, whatever it takes to mitigate the lack of shade. in my opinion, the beach experience is worth any of the small inconveniences necessary to get there.

 

[insureman]

I'm wondering if the pier is getting slippery from possible algae growth due to being exposed to open water and sea spray.

 

[gsdweller]

Thanks for the informative review. Shutting down the pier for heavy seas might have to be an option for a pier that long and not really that high above the water and something I didn't think about.

They would shut down any tenders in that situation as well.

 

[insureman]

They would shut down any tenders in that situation as well.

Yes they would shut down a tender but if this pier was wider and higher the slippery factor might not be an issue.

 

[Lucien Franciosa]

Yes they would shut down a tender but if this pier was wider and higher the slippery factor might not be an issue.

You still bumping this thread? BTW, what does width or height have to do with ‘slippery?’ It’s no slope.

 

[insureman]

You still bumping this thread? BTW, what does width or height have to do with ‘slippery?’ It’s no slope.

You still watching this thread ?

 

[MomOTwins]

I know this thread is an oldie but I think I said somewhere I would report back on our experience so here I am.

We changed plans a few times but landed on a cruise earlier this week on the Fantasy. We upgraded to concierge and also experienced a cabana for the first time. I had hoped one or both of those things would allow us to use a golf cart. However, on board concierge informed me they were no longer allowed to use golf carts for concierge/cabana guests and we would have to walk unless we could show we had a physical disability.

The walk was very hard. We made it, but it was very hot and sunny and we were all very sweaty and miserable by the end. Definitely bring “real” shoes and bring flip flops/water shoes to change into after the walk. I wore flip flops and boy was that a mistake—my feet were in agony by the end. We made it but it really left a negative memory—we all agree the walk was so unpleasant we do not want to visit the island again. With shade it might be doable so maybe those who didn’t mind it as much had a cloudy day, but in the hot sun it was horrible. Cool towels and water were provided at the very end but would have been better if they were along the pier to help with the walk. I do think they should have just done a tender boat system like princess. We saw some sort of construction along the shore near the pier so I wondered if perhaps they were building a tender dock—if so that would be amazing.

I will also say, we were really glad to have a cabana. We stayed the whole day at our cabana, alternating swimming/exploring with downtime in the shade of the cabana. In contrast I heard from a lot of people on our cruise that they couldn’t stay more than a couple hours at the family or adult beach because there was no shade and the few shaded chairs filled up quick, and they couldn’t get tables at lunch and so had to eat on the floor or go back to the ship (we were on a sold out sailing on the Fantasy, so YMMV). I am surprised they would plan on the Destiny going to lookout when they can’t accommodate the Fantasy and the Destiny is a larger ship.

However, there were also some disappointing parts of the cabana experience. The cabana itself was lovely, but I am surprised they chose such an awkward location. There were not enough beach loungers for every cabana guest, which really isn’t acceptable for the price. There are also strong currents and sharp rocks on a large part of the beach—meaning that we had a long walk from our cabana to the small stretch of water that was safe for swimming. And they provided snorkel equipment but there was nothing to see—just sand (no reef in the part that was allowed for swimmers between the buoys). You really had to plan to take tram to the other beach for any entertainment, snorkeling, or the splash pad, which wasn’t very convenient as it was a half hour each way. Still overall we had a nice beach day and it sounds like much better than a lot of folks on our cruise so I recognize we were very lucky overall.

Going forward will book castaway cay cruises unless/until they find a solution or alternative for the pier.

 

[ShaneDJ]

We upgraded to concierge and also experienced a cabana. I had hoped...things would allow us to use a golf cart.

However, on board concierge informed me they were no longer allowed to use golf carts for concierge/cabana guests and we would have to walk unless we could show we had a physical disability.

The walk was very hard. We made it, but it was very hot and sunny and we were all very sweaty and miserable by the end.

However, there were also some disappointing parts of the cabana experience. The cabana itself was lovely, but I am surprised they chose such an awkward location. There were not enough beach loungers for every cabana guest, which really isn’t acceptable for the price. There are also strong currents and sharp rocks on a large part of the beach—meaning that we had a long walk from our cabana to the small stretch of water that was safe for swimming.

You really had to plan to take tram to the other beach for any entertainment, snorkeling, or the splash pad, which wasn’t very convenient as it was a half hour each way.

Going forward will book castaway cay cruises.

That's really disappointing that DCL has further downgraded the value and experience of concierge guests sailing to Lookout Cay.

Those golf carts that they were providing for concierge guests was one very nice perk.

And it's still perplexing that they put the Family Cabanas in that location (worst beach and rocky)...and on the other side of the island (isolated from most of the activities).

 

[insureman]

I know this thread is an oldie but I think I said somewhere I would report back on our experience so here I am.

We changed plans a few times but landed on a cruise earlier this week on the Fantasy. We upgraded to concierge and also experienced a cabana for the first time. I had hoped one or both of those things would allow us to use a golf cart. However, on board concierge informed me they were no longer allowed to use golf carts for concierge/cabana guests and we would have to walk unless we could show we had a physical disability.

The walk was very hard. We made it, but it was very hot and sunny and we were all very sweaty and miserable by the end. Definitely bring “real” shoes and bring flip flops/water shoes to change into after the walk. I wore flip flops and boy was that a mistake—my feet were in agony by the end. We made it but it really left a negative memory—we all agree the walk was so unpleasant we do not want to visit the island again. With shade it might be doable so maybe those who didn’t mind it as much had a cloudy day, but in the hot sun it was horrible. Cool towels and water were provided at the very end but would have been better if they were along the pier to help with the walk. I do think they should have just done a tender boat system like princess. We saw some sort of construction along the shore near the pier so I wondered if perhaps they were building a tender dock—if so that would be amazing.

I will also say, we were really glad to have a cabana. We stayed the whole day at our cabana, alternating swimming/exploring with downtime in the shade of the cabana. In contrast I heard from a lot of people on our cruise that they couldn’t stay more than a couple hours at the family or adult beach because there was no shade and the few shaded chairs filled up quick, and they couldn’t get tables at lunch and so had to eat on the floor or go back to the ship (we were on a sold out sailing on the Fantasy, so YMMV). I am surprised they would plan on the Destiny going to lookout when they can’t accommodate the Fantasy and the Destiny is a larger ship.

However, there were also some disappointing parts of the cabana experience. The cabana itself was lovely, but I am surprised they chose such an awkward location. There were not enough beach loungers for every cabana guest, which really isn’t acceptable for the price. There are also strong currents and sharp rocks on a large part of the beach—meaning that we had a long walk from our cabana to the small stretch of water that was safe for swimming. And they provided snorkel equipment but there was nothing to see—just sand (no reef in the part that was allowed for swimmers between the buoys). You really had to plan to take tram to the other beach for any entertainment, snorkeling, or the splash pad, which wasn’t very convenient as it was a half hour each way. Still overall we had a nice beach day and it sounds like much better than a lot of folks on our cruise so I recognize we were very lucky overall.

Going forward will book castaway cay cruises unless/until they find a solution or alternative for the pier.

That can't be going over too big for concierge guests.

 

[OKW Lover]

Thanks for the review. We've been to the new island and won't be going back until there is some kind of solution to that pier. My wife has had a knee replacement about 6 months ago and the walk would not be possible for her so we did take the cart - which was a disaster of its own.

However, on board concierge informed me they were no longer allowed to use golf carts for concierge/cabana guests and we would have to walk unless we could show we had a physical disability.

How would you "show" a physical disability? My wife's scar is almost non-existent. And I don't think they can ask for any medical information due to our HIPPA laws.

We saw some sort of construction along the shore near the pier so I wondered if perhaps they were building a tender dock—if so that would be amazing.

Interesting. But I don't think a tender is a good solution either. Especially for those with limited mobility.

I am surprised they would plan on the Destiny going to lookout when they can’t accommodate the Fantasy and the Destiny is a larger ship.

I'm confused. What ship were you on and why do you think it couldn't accommodate the Fantasy?

There were not enough beach loungers for every cabana guest, which really isn’t acceptable for the price.

We looked at the cabanas when we walked by on the adult beach. It looked to me like the setup, including beach loungers, was pretty much the same as the Castaway Cay cabanas.

 

[MomOTwins]

Thanks for the review. We've been to the new island and won't be going back until there is some kind of solution to that pier. My wife has had a knee replacement about 6 months ago and the walk would not be possible for her so we did take the cart - which was a disaster of its own.

How would you "show" a physical disability? My wife's scar is almost non-existent. And I don't think they can ask for any medical information due to our HIPPA laws.

Interesting. But I don't think a tender is a good solution either. Especially for those with limited mobility.

I'm confused. What ship were you on and why do you think it couldn't accommodate the Fantasy?

We looked at the cabanas when we walked by on the adult beach. It looked to me like the setup, including beach loungers, was pretty much the same as the Castaway Cay cabanas.

I think you would just need to explain you had the mobility problem. For us, we did not have one, so we did not qualify under the new rules. It used to be they were allowing cabana guests to use the golf carts without having mobility issue. I have a special needs kid who is too old to ride in a toddler wagon and has a really really hard time with long walks, but since that was a neurological rather than a physical/mobility issue it didn’t qualify. We ended up carrying him a lot of the way.

We were on the fantasy, When I said I didn’t think they could accommodate the fantasy, I meant they did not have adequate facilities on the island for that many guests. People having to sit on the ground to eat because there weren’t enough tables at lunchtime, extremely long lines at lunch and the merchandise shop, and the lack of shaded loungers, were the consistent complaints from guests on our cruise.

I can tell you first hand, the setup of the chairs/loungers cabanas is not the same as castaway. At castaway, there are chairs loungers outside each cabana that are dedicated to the use of each cabana. At lookout, the chairs and loungers are only available on the part of the cabana beach closest to the pier, which is likely what you saw. The cabanas further down the beach are not allowed to have chairs in front of them because they are on the rocky end of the beach where guests are not allowed to enter the number for safety reasons and so those guests have to walk down to the sandy part. The chairs on the sandy part are supposed to be first come first serve and not dedicated to any cabana as a result. The cabana guests on the “good” side of the beach felt they should not have to share the chairs in front of their cabana with others, and the cabana guests on the “bad” side felt they paid the same as the other cabanas and should have beach chair access. So nobody was happy. Disney should either have not have built cabanas on the rocky side with no direct beach access, or should be discounting those significantly.

 

[anricat]

How would you "show" a physical disability? My wife's scar is almost non-existent. And I don't think they can ask for any medical information due to our HIPPA laws.

I don't know, but I personally will be taking our handicap parking placard along just in case I need to make a compelling case. My daughter doesn't look disabled but she can tire quickly and we never know when she will have a flare up. She might be fine for part of the walk and not for another. We just never know.

 

[MomOTwins]

I don't know, but I personally will be taking our handicap parking placard along just in case I need to make a compelling case. My daughter doesn't look disabled but she can tire quickly and we never know when she will have a flare up. She might be fine for part of the walk and not for another. We just never know.

I phrased it poorly, it is not that you have to need documentation, but rather that you have to be able to say you fall within a qualifying category of a “mobility impairment”. The examples they gave were hip or knee replacement. We saw folks in wheelchairs being pushed by a family member down the length of the pier, no golf cart, not sure if that was by choice or didn’t meet their criteria.

Overall, I think disney just massively underestimated how many guests would need assistance and that is why they had to take the perk away for concierge/cabana guests—not nearly enough golf carts for transfers.

 

[holula]

I phrased it poorly, it is not that you have to need documentation, but rather that you have to be able to say you fall within a qualifying category of a “mobility impairment”. The examples they gave were hip or knee replacement. We saw folks in wheelchairs being pushed by a family member down the length of the pier, no golf cart, not sure if that was by choice or didn’t meet their criteria..

I think I’m going to struggle in January as I sprained my ankle in July and it’s just not really healing well at all. I’m happy to show them pictures of the sprained ankle if they want so they can see all my bruising and swelling.

 

[lanejudy]

How would you "show" a physical disability? My wife's scar is almost non-existent. And I don't think they can ask for any medical information due to our HIPPA laws.

HIPAA doesn't pertain to cruise ships, and is only US law not international. Even the ADA allows for documentation to be required if the accommodation is considered to have value or something not available to the general population. However, from the PP's follow-ups DCL is simply expecting one to ask for a ride "due to X concern" which reflects an inability to do the physical walking required. Not asking for documentation.

 

[brentm77]

How would you "show" a physical disability? My wife's scar is almost non-existent. And I don't think they can ask for any medical information due to our HIPPA laws.

Just for general information, since the public has so many misconceptions about HIPAA, it only applies between you and your healthcare provider (and the business associates they use, for example, a software vendor that stores your medical information for your doctor). It would not apply between you and a company like Disney. However, the ADA does have privacy provisions that limit what a company may ask for related to accommodations. It's a nuanced areas of law. Generally speaking, companies are limited from asking for documentation for obvious disabilities (assuming the accommodation is not significant), and are only able to require limited documentation for non-obvious disabilities. That said, the extent to which the ADA applies to cruise ships is limited, and would not apply to the accommodations on a pier in a foreign country.

None of this really matters, since Disney only requires that you explain that you have a disability in this situation, but I figure it never hurts to help the public better understand a very misunderstood law.

It does surprise me to hear from @MomOTwins that it only offered for physical disabilities, which is exactly the opposite of what has happened in the parks with DAS. I hope that was a misunderstanding, since each disability should be evaluated individually. There are plenty of non-physical disabilities where transportation is a reasonable request, right?