One thing thats great about Great Stirrup Cay is that the land forms coves around the swimming area. However, you should bring anything you might want for a day at the beach, including things like your swimsuit, sunglasses, sunscreen, and a hat. For the ultimate in relaxation, the new luxury Silver Cove area features villas and a private lagoon. The more adventurous can try out parasailing, hit the water on a WaveRunner, or . Great Stirrup Cay Bahamas is owned by Norwegian Cruise Line and can only be visited as a port of call from a NCL cruise. If you want an exclusive hangout with even more amenities, youll want to reserve one of the Silver Cove villas. Norwegian's website currently offers 22 shore excursions to choose from, including cabana and equipment rentals. Worth Reading: Disneys Castaway Cay, Bahamas: What You Need to Know. Thanks for stopping by! The water there is about waist height. So there you have it! Once everyones back on board, enjoy a slow cruise back to Great Stirrup Cay while enjoying island music and light refreshments, snacks and alcoholic beverages. These include: Great Stirrup Cay - Norwegian Cruise Line; Perfect Day at Cococay - RCI; Castaway Cay - Disney and RCI; Ocean Cay Marine Reserve - MSC; Labadee, Haiti - RCI; You will have to bring your room card and photo ID. Great Stirrup Cay: Norwegian Cruise Line's private island gets a makeover Room service is included if youd prefer to dine in the villa. Lounge on the sparkling beaches or go for a walk and wade into the warm turquoise sea. The advantage of this location is your proximity to the main dining venue, Jumbey Beach Grill, as well as live music from the main stage. Choose a beef, chicken, or fish soft taco, and load it up! The first and largest cove is by far the most popular with people as its right by the landing for the tender boats. The island has two courses featuring six zips and a ropes course of cargo nets, chimney climbs, and V net bridges. Take a Catamaran and Snorkel Tour at Great Stirrup Cay, Disneys Castaway Cay, Bahamas: What You Need to Know, Best Beaches in Nassau, Bahamas for Cruise Visitors, https://www.cruisehive.com/author/gillian, UK Cruise Line to Remove Requirements on Sailings From May, Worlds Largest Cruise Ship Oversold for Spring Break, Carnival Cruise Ship Will Offer Transatlantic Voyage After Dry Dock. The island is a little unique in that you dont have a big pier (just yet) that the ship docks at to let passengers off. Tour guides provide a basic orientation on how to use your kayak. However, anyone can relax on the sand or use the free beach chairs available. Stand-up paddle boarding (or SUP) is a fun way to get out on the water, and its a great workout, too! Currently, there are three dining options available to all guests on the island. However, you cant pre-order a wheelchair, and the staff issues them on a first-come, first-served basis. In 1979, Norwegian Cruise Line installed a stone marker and plaque on the location of his grave. Norwegian Cruise Line Internet Packages and Prices, Club Orange, Holland America's Priority Program, 10 Things You Should Never Do on a Cruise Line Private Island, 6 Cruise Memories That Will Warm Your Heart, Cabanas on Great Stirrup Cay (Photo: Norwegian Cruise Line), Large Cabanas on Great Stirrup Cay (Photo: Norwegian Cruise Line), Private Cabanas on Great Stirrup Cay (Photo: Norwegian Cruise Line), P&O Cruises Reveals Nicole Sherzinger as Godmother of New Ship Arvia, Carnival Miracle Set to Become Fourth Carnival Ship to Sail From Galveston, Life at Sea Cruises Opens Sales for World's First Three-Year Cruise, Oceania Reveals Giada de Laurentiis as Godmother of New Ship Vista. Welcome to Great Stirrup Cay, an idyllic private island paradise exclusive to Norwegian guests. Food Truck/Abaco Taco: There are two other spots on the island Abaco Taco (a build your own taco bar) and a food truck called Tropic Like Its Hot (pictured above) serving up some dishes that you wont find anywhere else on Great Stirrup Cay. Its a fantastic destination and port of call for lucky cruisers with NCL. This actually is a big benefit to buying the package for cruises that visit the island. The truck serves a limited menu of sandwiches and Caribbean-themed lunch items, plus dessert. She uses her personal journals and memories to write about her many cruise experiences around the Caribbean, Mediterranean, trans-Atlantic, Norwegian Fjords, Panama Canal and South America including Cape Horn. Share Great Stirrup Cay, Your Own Private Island Set sail for the Bahamas and get ready for some fun in the sun! The cabanas are not air-conditioned and do not include private restrooms. The ships dining venues are open while the ship is anchored off the island, so if youre highly allergic or concerned about dietary restrictions, youll have better luck eating on the ship. Youll be able to reach speeds of up to 30 mph (48 kph) while enjoying a birds-eye view of the island and the sparkling waters surrounding it. CRUISE HIVE LTD 2008-2023. Vegetarian main dishes are limited on the island, and cross-contamination cannot be guaranteed if youre concerned about gluten, nuts, or other allergens. However, I think that is for only guests renting the cabana. We make sure cruisers are fully prepared for their cruise vacation with tips on ships and ports. Explore Bahamas itineraries, find available cabins and book with GoToSea. If youre looking for even more luxury, Great Stirrup Cays exclusive new Silver Cove area offers private villas for the day. Youll take an elevator to the 110-foot platform to zip out 1429 feet to a landing near Silver Cove Lagoon. Didn't book early enough? Great Stirrup Cay (pronounced "key") is Norwegian Cruise Line's private island in the Bahamas. Great Stirrup Cay happens to be located adjacent toLittle Stirrup Cay,home to RCCs private island CocoCay. 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. The only exception is that there is a small straw market of local vendors selling souvenirs. The Premier Cabanas are located on Cabana Beach, right next to the Main Beach. Many visitors choose to just relax on the beach during their visit to the private island, and theres plenty of beautiful sand for everyone! 17 Tips, Tricks and Things to Know About Great Stirrup Cay (Norwegian's You may add up to two additional people for an additional $30 per-person charge, for a maximum of eight people in the small cabanas and 10 in the large cabanas. 15 Things to do on Great Stirrup Cay (Norwegian's Private Island) Also, if you need a shower to wash off the sand and the salt, there are showers on the sides of the restrooms that are free to use. One of the newest attractions at GSC is the ziplining course. Your Great Stirrup Cay cabana will be stocked with towels, fresh fruit, chips and salsa, and bottled water, and you can order additional food and drinks to be delivered directly to your doorstep by a cabana attendant. It's included as a day stop on many Norwegian sailings in the region and gets occasional visits from Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises ships. If youre looking for some beachy thrills, sign up for a zip-line adventure. Unlike the Carnival Cheers Program which limits you to 15 alcoholic drinks a day, NCL's drink packages are truly unlimited. Its simply a larger version of the Classic Cabana, accommodating eight guests, with up to two additional guests charged at $25 each. Tip: Check your Freestyle Daily the day before you arrive at Great Stirrup Cay. The ocean swing sets provide a fantastic photo-op if you've been waiting for that picture perfect moment to share on Instagram. As of 2023, there are 14 ships featuring itineraries that include Great Stirrup Cay: When I first published this post about Great Stirrup Cay in 2020 (yup, I actually cruised to GSC in mid-February 2020 right before the world shut down) I planned to update the info about Great Stirrup Cay I had gathered for my readers about once a year. Tickets with early tender times go fast, so be sure to get your tickets as soon as possible. If youd like to buy drinks, you use your cruise card to make your purchases just as you do on the ship. Owned by Norwegian Cruise Line, the 250-acre Great Stirrup Cay is an exclusive destination for NCL passengers. Since Norwegian Cruise Line doesnt run the bazaar, you wont be able to use your cruise card here. Norwegian Cruise Line uses very large tendering boats, and the trip only lasts 10 minutes long. If youre simply trying to avoid bread or dairy because its your preference (rather than a medical condition), youll find plenty of meat, fruit, and vegetable dishes that should meet your needs. Let us know in the comments below. With any villa rental, youll also have access to the exclusive Silver Cove Restaurant and Bar, the Mot Bar, as well as the private beach at Silver Cove Lagoon (with its new overwater swings). Yes! You can also rent wave runners, standup paddleboards, and floating mats. There are lounge chairs and patio chairs on the deck for enjoying the sun. CRUISES TO GREAT STIRRUP CAY ISLAND - Norwegian Cruise Line Having recently been to Coco Cay in 2019, and seeing what is on Great Stirrup Cay, I have no desire whatsoever to visit it at this point. During our visit the open water had a slight chop, but the water near the beach was perfectly flat and calm. Ocean Villas start at $699 and accommodate six guests, with up to two additional guests charged at $49 each. 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). were changing far more frequently. On Norwegian cruise ships, guests looking for luxury have The Haven an exclusive part of the ship that separate from the rest of their guests. Great Stirrup Cay is Norwegian Cruise Line's private island in the Bahamas. Best Things to Do in Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas 2020 - EatSleepCruise.com You can go parasailing in tandem, sailing 400 feet high in the air above Stirrup Cay while being towed by a motor boat. These villas offers the same amenities as the one-bedroom versions. Was looking though and wondering if the studio villa would be better. Silver Cove Restaurant and Bar offers an upscale buffet with elevated choices such as grilled lobster tail and jumbo shrimp ceviche. Book snorkel equipment from Susans Rock Snorkel Center for the day ($30 for adults and $15 for children) and snorkel at this beautiful spot as much as you want. Drinks at this bar start at $25, so none are covered by the Premium Beverage Package. We actually just booked a cruise with NCL with a stop in GSC. This includes all bars, lounges, restaurants, and the brand's private island of Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas. Great Stirrup Cay - Ask a Cruise Question - Cruise Critic Community if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'shouldbecruising_com-mobile-leaderboard-2','ezslot_21',609,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-mobile-leaderboard-2-0');Island Zipline Adventure ($119/$85 kids) A combination of the Osprey Zipline plus the Seahawk Zipline for a total of six zips plus a series of V-net bridges, chimney climbs, and cargo nets. There were two early-nineteenth-century burials on the island, and you can visit the tiny cemetery with their memorials. With the beach wheelchair, however, it should be much easier to navigate. Check them out: NCL went the extra mile and created a concrete underwater sculpture garden as part of their upgrades. From a distance, the first thing you will notice on the island is the massive lighthouse that towers over everything. Find hotels in Great Stirrup Cay from $220. Owned by Norwegian Cruise Line, the 250-acre Great Stirrup Cay is an exclusive destination for NCL passengers. Catamaran & Snorkel ($79/$59 kids): A double-decker, covered snorkel boat will take you to a live coral reef where you can swim with native fish and marine life. Cabana rentals start at $249 for 8 guests with additional fees for more guests. To get to the lighthouse, walk back and to the left of the tenders and look for the Lighthouse Trail. This unforgettable stingray encounter will cost $69 for an adult and $49 for a child.. Take a 2 hour Kayaking Tour around Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas. This body of work consisted of twenty-seven artificia. This area is equivalent to The Haven on the ship. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Ive never heard of this place before! The Ocean Villas are adjacent to the cabana area and front Fiesta Beach, not the Silver Cove Lagoon. Try. NCL, like many other cruise lines, reserves the right to deny boarding of their tenders to guests who cant enter or exit the boat on foot. 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. 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! Were here to share some insider information about Great Stirrup Cay Bahamas including what you can expect from this port of call. If you have your heart set on a day on this private island, you might want to consider booking your cruise outside of this season. Most bars and restaurants are in this area, and restrooms are just a quick walk from the beach. Great Stirrup Cay has several coves that run across the length of the island. Swim With the Pigs ($149/$109 kids): Yes, you can swim with pigs during your visit to Great Stirrup Cay! and the experience lasts about an hour. The island has no pier, so you must take a tender boat from the ship to the island. Read more: Why You Need a Full Face Snorkel Mask for Your Next Cruise. Great Stirrup Cay doesnt yet have a pier for ships to dock at, so your ship will anchor offshore. Enjoy a Boat Ride 2. A visit to the Bahamas is never complete without a souvenir. And I really dont care all that much for Cruising now, after been doing so since the early 90s and watching the food quality deteriorate over the years and even more so recently. The staff youll meet during the day on Great Stirrup Cay come over from the ship. Prices have been skyrocked. 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. Great Stirrup Cay - NCL's Private Island in the Bahamas with respect to the mortgage by Great Stirrup Cay Limited over Great Stirrup Cay Island, (x) use commercially reasonable efforts to, as soon as practicable after receipt of the Great Stirrup Cay Mortgage Central Bank Approval with respect to Great Stirrup Cay Limited and the Supplemental Security Agent Central Bank Approval, with respect . Classic Cabanas are near Fiesta Beach, and Premier Cabanas are located close to Cabana Beach. The first zip-line is 100 feet long, but its also the highest and scariest. Entertainment on the private island focuses on music and dancing, centered around the bars and the bandstand. I love the idea of a private island. Since its an extension of Bertrams Beach, you can expect the same features and facilities. You'll also discover that sometimes there will be a separate line for Suite or Haven guests to board the tenders when returning to the ship. Even walking among the palm trees and the vegetation of the Great Stirrup Cay is a fun and interesting experience. If youre not sure exactly where to go, just ask the staff at Susans Rock Snorkel Center. The Berry Islands are warm enough for swimming year-round, making Great Stirrup Cay a wonderful place to visit any time of year. Although the station was manned for many years, the light is currently fully-automated and solar-powered. The island is truly a Caribbean paradise with lots of tropical palm trees, colorful flowers and lush plants in this protected marine sanctuary. All you have to do is look for the teal buildings. Norwegian Cruise Linestarted leasing Great Stirrup Cay in 1977, to develop it into aprivate island exclusivelyfor NCL cruise ship passengers. (which we all need to do more! Or am I missing something? It is a series of three flights starting 130 feet above ground from a replica lighthouse (not the historic real lighthouse on the island!) (Though why youd spend a day on a beautiful beach watching movies is beyond us!). The very first cruise line private island, Great Stirrup Cay is a 268-acre piece of paradise in the Berry Islands in the Bahamas. 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. Treatment rooms open onto the lagoon, so the island breezes can waft in while you zone out. Peacefully glide along the coastline in a kayak, or soar high into the sky as you zipline across the island. Additionally, shouldbecruising.com participates in various other affiliate programs, and we sometimes receive a commission from purchases made through our links. The tour takes around 2 hours and includes the chance to snorkel in the crystal clear waters and enjoy the stunning underwater corals and reefs. That reduces the waves and the choppy water and makes things perfect for playing in the water, even for small kids. 11 is a highly requested small cabana for its ideal location near the bar, beach and bathroom. There is a large cove where you can snorkel, but it may not be as secluded as you want. Pre-order a cheese board, sushi or tacos and find them waiting for you in the cabana. Keep this in mind when you ask crew members if you or your group member will be allowed to tender. Package can be used in onboard restaurants, lounges, bars and Great Stirrup Cay. Have more questions about visiting Great Stirrup Cay? On Great Stirrup Cay, the equivalent is the Silver Cove area of the island. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Its a great way to start your visit to Great Stirrup Cay so get a pre-booked timed ticket to board or just wait for Open Tender when you can just turn up and hop aboard! If you want to be sure of the best spots in shady areas, you need to arrive early or rent a clamshell (around $30 per day) to keep out of the sun. At that time, when youre ready to go to Great Stirrup Cay, just walk down to the gangway deck and climb aboard the tender. Just like the cabanas on the island, NCL allows two extra guests over the stated capacity, with an upcharge of $35 per person for the smaller villas, and $49 per person for the one- and two-bedroom villas. Hamburgers, hot dogs, ribs, and jerk chicken are popular, along with pizza, salads, and corn-on-the-cob. Ziplining is a big draw and youll see the lines criss-crossing the entire island. The new Silver Cove gated area is secluded at the far end of the cay, away from the main beach. So what can you expect from your visit? Find a Cruise. While not many details were mentioned, the guide did mention plans for a pier so that passengers can come and go as they please, and it was also mentioned that Great Stirrup Cay is much larger than CocoCay, giving them more options. When I was researching the little cemetery, I learned that when Elizabeth's husband buried her on the island he met two men of African descent, assumed to be former slaves, living on the island. In the exclusive Silver Cove area, theres also the Silver Cove Bar and the Mot Bar. This guided trip will start with a boat ride out to Treasure Island, where guests get a full safety briefing before entering the water. There, guests can interact with and feed tame stingrays in an enclosed area offshore. You cant miss itthe mats are a seriously bright shade of yellow! If you have mobility issues, you can still enjoy the island. Everything Great Stirrup Cay - Silver Cove (Villa's, Lagoon, Spa If you get the Internet package on the ship, unfortunately it wont extend to the island. On Great Stirrup Cay, the main bars include Bacardi Bar, Bertram's Bar and Patron Bar, specializing in various frozen beachy concoctions. Big cabanas are well-suited to large groups or families traveling together. The nearly 80-foot (24 m) lighthouses beam is visible for over 20 miles!

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