When it comes to cruising, its hard to beat a port-of-call thats a private island. Snorkeling is a very popular activity for visitors to Great Stirrup Cay! Norwegian Expects 103% Occupancy Rate in 2023, Norwegian Cruise Line Gratuities (Tips): Full Guide to Cost & How They Work, Good Deal? You get the chance to feed and interact with these porkers and have a photo op before relaxing with a drink on the observation deck and watching the fun. Is Great Stirrup Cay an island designated to NCL? The guide will identify the marine life and tell you a bit about the island. You can rent clam shells or beach umbrellas for shade. Yes! Find out everything you need to know about Norwegian Cruise Line's private island Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas with things to do and tips. The tour offers both single as well as two-person wave runners. Its simply a larger version of the Classic Cabana, accommodating eight guests, with up to two additional guests charged at $25 each. You should also get priority tendering with a villa, which is great when everyone's trying to get to the island - it can take hours to get all the passengers tendered over. NCL appears to be going more for a "luxury resort feel" plus great beach options - when the additions of a pool and actual resort features plus the pier do (hopefully) materialize, it will be interesting to compare the two islands and their 180 degree different approach to private island excursions. You wont find splash pads, playgrounds, kid pools, or water slides. Also Read: IDEAL Things to Do in Bimini, Bahamas. 70 Fun Things to Do on the Ship, Norwegian Cruise Line Sharply Raises Service Charges Again (Up to 25%), 25+ Fun Must-Do Things on a Norwegian Cruise, 29 Must-Have Things to Pack for an Alaskan Cruise (11 Youd Never Think Of), Carnival Is Fixing a MAJOR Issue With Sailing from Galveston, Princess Cruise Gratuity (Tips) Full Guide: How Much, How They Work, and More, Hotels With Cruise Shuttles For Every Major Port in America, 107 Best Cruise Tips, Tricks, Secrets, and Freebies, 39 Useful Things to Pack For Your Cruise (Including 17 Youd Never Think Of). What all is there to do? There are no manmade swimming pools at Great Stirrup Cay. Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry. You can also visit a still-functional lighthouse dating to 1863 or look for locations for fun . Great Stirrup Cay was the first cruise line private island when it was acquired back in the 1970's, but it has come a long way since then. Its no wonder the cruise port has so many fun activities to engage in! Bring cash (US dollars) as many local traders do not accept credit cards or stateroom passes. Starting from the 110-foot (33.5 m) replica lighthouse, the new course features 2935 feet (895 m) of zipline! Great Stirrup Cay is in the Bahamas archipelago. By that time, many (if not all) of the restaurants and bars on the island will be closed. Its a great way to start your Great Stirrup Cay visit in style with a party mood. HomeBlogCruise Tips Cruise News Cruise DestinationsAboutContactResourcesFeatured PressPrivacy PolicyCookie PolicyDisclosure PolicyTerms of Use. Peacefully glide along the coastline in a kayak, or soar high into the sky as you zipline across the island. Does not include: Room service, mini bar purchases, vending machines; Guest's check may reflect applicable VAT and/or taxes for certain ports or itineraries. Located by the Silver Cove lagoon, these villas have two bedrooms flanking a central indoor living space. Having it work on Great Stirrup Cay means you are better able to get your moneys worth. Additionally, shouldbecruising.com participates in various other affiliate programs, and we sometimes receive a commission from purchases made through our links. We will also mention that Great Stirrup Cay didnt feel particularly accessible otherwise as there are lots of spots that require walking through sand. The island currently does not have have Wi-Fi, so it will definitely be a day to disconnect. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Guests who book a villa or a Mandara Spa treatment on the island have access to an additional complimentary restaurant. Tickets with early tender times go fast, so be sure to get your tickets as soon as possible. Your must-haves for Great Stirrup Cay are pretty basic: I also recommend a few extras to make your day on the island more fun and comfortable: Remember when youre packing your beach bag to double-check that youve packed everything youll need for the day. Unlike the cabanas, villas are fully enclosed, air-conditioned day rooms, with a sliding glass door to let in the breeze and a TV with complimentary on-demand movies. Prices for this trip are US $65 for adults and $45 for children aged 8+. It could be, however, they also let Haven passengers in as well. What is your opinion on the cabana vs villa? GSC Villas sell out early because people want that luxury experienceand there are lots of us with pandemic cruise credits looking for a way to redeem our missed vacations. Any food or drinks (we have UBP)? You hop on this smaller boat to motor to the island. Here is a complete map of the island, provided from NCL: Norwegians island sits in a chain of islands called the Berry Islands in the Bahamas. The journey is about a mile each way, and you might even spot some local wildlife, including iguanas and hummingbirds on your walk. A visit to the Bahamas is never complete without a souvenir. On most ports of call the drink package does not work when off the ship. But what have I noticed with my first 2023 update? And the free food definitely caught my attention. Since its so easily accessible, its always the most crowded beach as well. I never knew cruise lines could own private islands. These beautifully designed cabanas feature a large L-shaped couch, a mini-fridge, ceiling fan, four lounge chairs on the porch area, four floating pads, fresh towel supply, snacks, a bowl of fresh fruit, dedicated waiter service, an extra $50 credit for food and a private shower on the back. Pick them up at Mat and Float Rentals, across from Bertrams Cove Beach. Happy Cruising!! Prices start from $599 to over $1100 for up to 8 guests (and $49 for each additional guest, up to 10 in total). Great Stirrup Cay. Cabana rentals start at $249 for 8 guests with additional fees for more guests. Welcome to Great Stirrup Cay, an idyllic private island paradise exclusive to Norwegian guests. Elizabeth had been ill and hoped that the climate in Florida, where her brother lived, would help her condition. (which we all need to do more! Villa guests can also enjoy complimentary fresh fruit, chilled water, and a menu of on-demand movies. Its a fantastic destination and port of call for lucky cruisers with NCL. Great Stirrup Cay happens to be located adjacent toLittle Stirrup Cay,home to RCCs private island CocoCay. First things first an overview of exactly what Great Stirrup Cay is all about. There are also shuttles that will take you right to Silver Cove and back. Great Stirrup Cay is the northernmost island in the Berry Islands and is 250 acres of paradise. The final zip is 600 feet long and carries you from a height of 75 feet back to ground level. Thankfully, most of the action on the island is centrally located by the main beach at Bertrams Cove. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'shouldbecruising_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_10',602,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0');Food is complimentary on Great Stirrup Cay! This idyllic island is owned by Norwegian Cruise Line and was the first uninhabited island ever to be turned into a private cruise port. Both cabana styles offer complimentary bottled water as well as up to four free-floating mats. The menus include ceviche, pulled pork sandwiches, spicy chicken sandwiches and more. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'shouldbecruising_com-leader-2','ezslot_14',603,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-leader-2-0');Tropic Like Its Hot Food Trucks small menu features sandwiches including Mahi Mahi and BBQ pulled pork, ceviche, and grilled spiced chicken breast. That reduces the waves and the choppy water and makes things perfect for playing in the water, even for small kids. Since Norwegian Cruise Line doesnt run the bazaar, you wont be able to use your cruise card here. I love sharing my best cruise tips with you, along with reviews of cruise destinations, shore excursions, cruise ships and cruise lines. Tour guides provide a basic orientation on how to use your kayak. Pricing for most of their excursions falls within the range of $75-$140/adult and $55-$99/child. Youll be paddling in clear shallow waters spotting a range of marine creatures including turtles and dolphins if youre lucky in this fun adventure. However, once it is open tender, you dont need a reservation. It is part of the Berry Islands, 140 miles east of Miami, Florida and between Great Harbour Cay and RCIs private CocoCay, formerly Little Stirrup Cay. The cabanas are not air-conditioned and do not include private restrooms. Much of the island is undeveloped, but Norwegian has carved out a beachy paradise on the northern shore, with plenty of fun-in-the-sun options for cruisers. Free expert cruise tips and news from Cruise Hive! One other great spot is the tender that takes you back and forth from the ship. Unwind on white-sand beaches and enjoy the many ways to explore paradise. This is also the best place to shop for that perfect gift to take to your friend or family back at home that you wont find anywhere else. During our visit, the lines were running constantly with people zooming back and forth. Beach access is free, and complimentary loungers are available. With your cabana reservation, your party will receive priority tender tickets, which allow you to disembark the ship quickly so that you can maximize your beach time. In simple terms, you can get almost anything on the ship that's priced less than $15 per glass. Prices have been skyrocked. Best of all, they are free. You can enjoy some beach sports activities by engaging in a game of volleyball on the beach or listen to the DJ spinning some island music. Lagoon Villas start at $799 and accommodate eight guests, with up to two additional guests charged at $49 each. If youve never seen it in person, you will from the cruise ship. Cruise week report: NCL suites, tours you want to skip, the best accessory for your next cruise, and more! Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. Swim with dolphins, snorkel with exotic fish, or just stroll the white sand beaches. Its also the location of the Mandara Spa. Perched on a raised area of the beach they catch gentle breezes and offer stunning sea views. . until the early 19th century. For the most part any spending you do on the island can be done on your cruise room key, just like you were on the ship. Yes, you can use your Norwegian drink package from the ship on Great Stirrup Cay. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. The best snorkeling spots in Bertrams Cove are easily accessible from the main beach. The back story is that Great Stirrup Cay was bought from Belcher Oil Company in 1977 and was the first island ever to be transformed into a private island cruise port for a cruise line. Inside, there's a ceiling fan, a cushioned sectional-style couch, a mini-refrigerator and a table. For a less busy beach, try secluded Fiesta Beach, which is the furthest from the pier with less noise and activity. Keep in mind the only other people in this area will be those whove booked villas, so its a bit quieter than the rest of the island. If youre not sure exactly where to go, just ask the staff at Susans Rock Snorkel Center. Norwegian purchased the island outright in 1986. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'shouldbecruising_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_6',199,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-medrectangle-4-0');You may notice some Royal Caribbean ships as you approach the island. These are only accessible to Villa guests and those booking a treatment at the Mandara Spa. 2023 Cruzely.com | Laisman Publishing, LLC, 20+ Norwegian Cruise Tips, Tricks, and Things to Know, Worth It? Snorkeling equipment is also provided. Norwegians sister cruise lines, Oceania and Regent Seven Seas, also offer occasional itineraries that include a day at Great Stirrup Cay. But the biggest price hikes have been with the luxury experiences in Silver Cove. This reduces unnecessary delays. CocoCay is literally the next island over and you can see it right from the ship. The more adventurous can try out parasailing, hit the water on a WaveRunner, or . Let us know in the comments below. Norwegian employs staff members that resides on the island to prepare for ship visits. Keep this in mind when you ask crew members if you or your group member will be allowed to tender. (As with all Great Stirrup Cay visitors, you can help yourself to food from the island's complimentary buffet while it is running.) Life can be so hectic that it's important to take some time to just relax and enjoy :D, Learning that an island is owned by a Cruise line is surprising.