Disney Destiny Moves Lookout Cay Call to Christmas Day Over Winds
Holiday sailings leave little room for error, and Disney’s reliance on private-island days shows how forecasts now shape cruise experiences as much as destinations do.
Disney Cruise Line has adjusted the itinerary for the inaugural Christmas sailing of Disney Destiny, citing forecasted wind and sea conditions in parts of The Bahamas. The five-night cruise is scheduled to depart Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades on Dec. 21, 2025.
In a message sent to booked guests, the cruise line said it had been tracking “an approaching weather system” expected to bring “challenging wind and sea conditions” early in the voyage, conditions that can affect safe docking operations. The revised plan keeps both of Disney’s private-island calls on the schedule, but changes the order of the port days.
What changed on Disney Destiny’s Christmas-week itinerary
The cruise had been set to visit Castaway Cay on Monday, Dec. 22, followed by Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point on Tuesday, Dec. 23. With docking conditions expected to be less favorable on Dec. 23, Disney Cruise Line shifted that day to a sea day and moved the Disney Lookout Cay call to Christmas Day, Dec. 25.
Disney Cruise Line confirmed the adjustment, telling guests: “Given the anticipated strong winds and adverse sea conditions, we have revised the itinerary and will visit Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point on Thursday, instead of Tuesday as originally scheduled.”
- Castaway Cay: Still planned for Monday, Dec. 22, 2025.
- Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025: Now planned as a sea day.
- Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point: Now scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025 (Christmas Day).
Why wind and sea conditions can disrupt port calls
Disney Cruise Line emphasized that the change is precautionary and tied to docking operations. While modern cruise ships can operate safely in a wide range of conditions at sea, higher winds, swells, and local sea state can make it harder to maneuver and secure alongside a pier.
For this sailing, local forecasts near South Eleuthera, where Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point is located, called for evening showers on Dec. 22 and winds reaching about 30 miles per hour the following morning. Disney said those conditions could make docking more challenging, prompting the shift to a later day intended to improve comfort and operational safety.
What the forecast does and does not show
The adjustment is tied to expected local marine conditions rather than a named tropical cyclone. For the period in question, the National Hurricane Center (NOAA) did not list storm activity that would indicate an out-of-season hurricane threat.
If the forecast holds, conditions are expected to be calmer by the time the ship arrives at Disney Lookout Cay on Christmas morning, preserving the planned stops while avoiding the least favorable docking window earlier in the week.
Disney Destiny’s Fort Lauderdale season and ship details
Disney Destiny debuted in November 2025 and is sailing its inaugural season from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. The Wish-class ship is a sister ship to Disney Wish (entered service in 2022) and Disney Treasure (entered service in 2024), and it was built at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany.
Disney Destiny is LNG-powered and measures 144,000 gross tons. The Christmas-week cruise is scheduled to carry up to 4,000 guests, and the ship’s Fort Lauderdale program includes four- and five-night itineraries to the Bahamas and the Caribbean.
What guests can expect next
Disney Cruise Line has already notified booked guests about the revised schedule and said additional onboard and pre-cruise communications may clarify arrival times and operational details as updated forecasts become available.
The holiday week is also set to be a notable one for Disney’s Fort Lauderdale operations: Disney Destiny and Disney Dream are scheduled to meet at their homeport on Dec. 26. Separately, Disney Cruise Line is preparing to debut its largest-ever vessel, Disney Adventure, with an inaugural voyage scheduled for March 2026 and year-round operations from Singapore.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Disney Destiny still visiting both Castaway Cay and Disney Lookout Cay?
Yes. The revised plan keeps both private-island destinations on the itinerary. Castaway Cay remains scheduled for Dec. 22, and Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point was moved later in the sailing.
When is Disney Destiny now scheduled to visit Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point?
Disney Destiny is now scheduled to call at Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025 (Christmas Day), instead of Tuesday, Dec. 23.
Why did Disney Cruise Line change the timing of the Lookout Cay visit?
Disney Cruise Line cited forecasted “strong winds and adverse sea conditions” that could make docking operations more difficult early in the week. The company said it has been tracking “an approaching weather system” expected to bring “challenging wind and sea conditions” in parts of The Bahamas.
What makes Disney Destiny different within Disney Cruise Line’s fleet?
Disney Destiny is a Wish-class ship, built at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany, and it is LNG-powered. The 144,000-gross-ton vessel can accommodate up to 4,000 guests and is sailing its inaugural season from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale.
