Disney Cruise Line Adds Second Private Bahamas Destination

   October 22, 2018 ,   Cruise Industry

Bahamas officials have issued tentative approval for the plan of Disney Cruise Line to build and operate a cruise port on Eleuthera Island.

The project would be developed by Walt Disney Co. subsidiary and constructed on a 746-acre piece of land that the company has already agreed to purchase. The plans call for building of “a pier, shops, marina, restaurants and walkways through nearby forests and around salt ponds.”

The port project would create approx 150 new jobs and various entrepreneurial opportunities for Eleuthera residents and Bahamians in general.

Disney private island Castaway Cay (Bahamas)

Image: Disney private island Castaway Cay (Bahamas)

While the new project would bring more jobs to the isle, the plan has met resistance from locals in Eleuthera. A rival plan pitched by One Eleuthera Foundation called for the island's southern tip to be developed into a park featuring a small condo-hotel project, a dive center, canoe rentals, and horseback tours.

The Bahamas have issued preliminary approval for Disney's project on Friday, but island chain’s Parliament must agree to the plan once all terms and conditions are hammered out and proper environmental and safety testing is conducted.

Currently, on Eleuthera island is located the Carnival Corporation-owned (via ist subsidiary Princess Cruises) private island resort Princess Cays.