This applies even at Tender ports. The first and largest cove is by far the most popular with people as its right by the landing for the tender boats. 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. 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. Theres plenty more to do on Great Stirrup Cay. Cruise week report: NCL suites, tours you want to skip, the best accessory for your next cruise, and more! Find out everything you need to know about Norwegian Cruise Line's private island Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas with things to do and tips. For the ultimate in relaxation, the new luxury Silver Cove area features villas and a private lagoon. 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 . A shopping area and child areas, as well as restricted-access beaches are also included in your Caribbean holiday in the Bahamas. The ride takes about 10 minutes to get between the island and where the ship is anchored offshore. 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 cost of the guided kayaking tour is US $55 for adults and $40 for children aged 8 and above. Room service is included if youd prefer to dine in the villa. However, there are beautiful calms shallow waters right off the beach that provide a safe environment for swimming and snorkeling in the clear warm water. Heres everything you need to know before your GSC visit. 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. You can go parasailing in tandem, sailing 400 feet high in the air above Stirrup Cay while being towed by a motor boat. Guide to Norwegian Cruise Line suites: What's included? For even more beach bliss, book a massage or other spa treatment at the Mandara Spa at Silver Cove. Umbrellas can be rented. Norwegian Cruise Linestarted leasing Great Stirrup Cay in 1977, to develop it into aprivate island exclusivelyfor NCL cruise ship passengers. Great Stirrup Cay is in the Bahamas archipelago. Owned by Norwegian Cruise Line, Great Stirrup Cay is a 268-acre private cruise island in the Berry Islands, Bahamas. If youre not sure exactly where to go, just ask the staff at Susans Rock Snorkel Center. This is for laid-back folks looking for a relaxing tour around the beautiful island waters of the Berry Islands aboard a modern double-decker catamaran. The main beach area is the easternmost section of the islands developed area and closest to the tender pier. Bertrams Cove Beach, the main beach on the island, is the largest and closest to the tender dock. You pay for drinks with your cruise card as you would onboard. Youll have to pay extra to do them, but the views you get are second-to-none. There are so many things to do on Great Stirrup Cay, whether you want an active day or just some relaxation! Great Stirrup Cay Bahamas was the first private island to be purchased by a cruise line in the 1970's, however, it has come a long way in becoming a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the exclusivity of Norwegian cruise line passengers. 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. So what can you expect from your visit? 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. If you have a WiFi package on board the ship, you wont be able to use it on Great Stirrup Cay. GSC was a pirate hideout (!) That means you can enjoy a relaxing day with no worriesabout aggressive vendors or sharing the sand with a bunch of strangers. Villa guests also have access to complimentary floats and beach umbrellas. Since Norwegian Cruise Line doesnt run the bazaar, you wont be able to use your cruise card here. Lounge on the sparkling beaches or go for a walk and wade into the warm turquoise sea. However, you cant pre-order a wheelchair, and the staff issues them on a first-come, first-served basis. 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. However, Norwegian is always updating the island and expanding its attractions, so perhaps a pool will make an appearance someday in the future. With that in mind, Ive been updating this Ultimate Guide to Great Stirrup Cay about every six months. Great Stirrup Cay is not Coco Cay. Welcome to Great Stirrup Cay, an idyllic private island paradise exclusive to Norwegian guests. 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. Pre-order a cheese board, sushi or tacos and find them waiting for you in the cabana. I'd like to know more about life on the island for the employees who stay there, too! Continue with Recommended Cookies. Prices for this trip are US $65 for adults and $45 for children aged 8+. In 2015, commissioned by Norwegian Cruise Line for innovative work on their private island in Bahamas. You can also rent wave runners, standup paddleboards, and floating mats. If you want to buy a drink at the bar, for instance, you just scan your card just like the bars on the ship. This is actually not a lighthouse, but the peak of the zipline course that runs throughout the island. Unlike the Carnival Cheers Program which limits you to 15 alcoholic drinks a day, NCL's drink packages are truly unlimited. Were here to share some insider information about Great Stirrup Cay Bahamas including what you can expect from this port of call. You'll have a view here of the cove, since these cabanas are perched on top of a small hill. On Great Stirrup Cay, the equivalent is the Silver Cove area of the island. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Hurricane season runs from the beginning of June through the end of November. There are also electrical outlets for charging your electronics. 12 Things to Do at Great Stirrup Cay 1. On Great Stirrup Cay youll have three options for ziplining: the Osprey Zipline, the Seahawk Zipline, or a combo package that lets you ride both. However, I think that is for only guests renting the cabana. Finally, the Tropic Like Its Hot Food Truck has tasty Bahamian-style sandwiches including Mahi Mahi and BBQ pulled Pork as well as ceviche and spicy chicken. There are also a number of covered areas with picnic tables for you to sit and eat. A former flight attendant, she now prefers cruise ships over airplanes and spends several months each year cruising and exploring cruise ports. (which we all need to do more! Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. If you want to have smaller crowds, head down the beach some, following the path to the other coves. Complete Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) Drink Package Guide, Everything about Norwegian Cruise Internet: Speed Test, Cost, and More, 39 Useful Things to Pack (17 You Wouldn't Think Of), Park & Cruise Hotels for Every Port in America, 107 Best Cruise Tips, Secrets, Tricks, and Freebies, Full Ships! The northern part of the island has a sandy beach surrounded by rocks with snorkeling areas. This actually is a big benefit to buying the package for cruises that visit the island. If a Silver Cove Villa for your family is in your budget in 2023, jump on it before prices go up again. However, anyone can relax on the sand or use the free beach chairs available. Only one person from your party should make the reservation. Check onboard with the shore excursions desk to see if there are any cancellations. Dont worry, its not accessible to other cruise lines not owned by Norwegian! Age and weight restrictions do apply, and cruisers need to wear closed-toe shoes to participate. However, drink packages do not work at Harvest Caye, Belize. Im so glad youre here! 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. Traveling with a guest who has celiac and want to know what choices might be available that are safe to eat. We were considering getting a small cabana and splitting the cost between us and a friend who is also going. If you have a shore excursion that departs from the dock on the south side of the island, shuttles will take you to and from that location. If a soothing spa treatment is more your style, be sure to book a facial or massage at Mandara Spa in Silver Cove. She passed away during the journey, and her husband hoped to make it to Key West for burial. Lagoon Villas start at $799 and accommodate eight guests, with up to two additional guests charged at $49 each. Its cash-only (US or Bahamian dollars) so be sure to bring cash for the market if you think you might want to do some shopping. Tip: If your Bahamas cruise also stops in Freeport, I recommend the Swim With The Pigs excursion that NCL offers thereyou can take unlimited photos and video at no additional charge. Package can be used in onboard restaurants, lounges, bars and Great Stirrup Cay. Classic Cabanas are located on Fiesta Beach, closest to the Silver Cove villas. Great Stirrup Cay is situated in the Bahamas and is included in a number of itineraries for Norwegian Cruise Line. The great news is that you dont need to bring much to the island, but you do HAVE to bring a couple of things. Great Stirrup Cay is an . Additionally, shouldbecruising.com participates in various other affiliate programs, and we sometimes receive a commission from purchases made through our links. It has a large seating area and a raised stage for the DJs booth who churns out some cool island tunes. Or take a turn parasailing high above the islands shores. You wont have to deal with crowds, and it could be a perfect day of relaxation when the pool deck, restaurants, and bars are almost empty. Do you have a specific ship you love or would like to try? Worth Reading: Disneys Castaway Cay, Bahamas: What You Need to Know. There are very limited complimentary beverages available with meals: coffee and ice water. 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. Perched on a raised area of the beach they catch gentle breezes and offer stunning sea views. Pick them up at Mat and Float Rentals, across from Bertrams Cove Beach. Is there a community of people who lived on the island before it was purchased? Pricing is per cabana (not per person) and can vary based on your individual ship and itinerary, but daily rates start at $445 for the small cabanas and $495 for the large cabanas; fee includes a $50 credit for use toward food and beverages. Bring cash (US dollars) as many local traders do not accept credit cards or stateroom passes. These visits are part of longer Caribbean sailings or even around-the-world cruises. If you get the Internet package on the ship, unfortunately it wont extend to the island. Theyll encourage guests to come up and dance with them. Alternatively, head out to the rocks in the water for a climb and more sunbathing. Or upgrade to a Premier Cabana with room for eight guests. Additional food and drinks, beyond bottled water, fresh fruit and chips and salsa, will incur an extra charge, though you will receive a $50 credit to use toward beverages and food. Yes, but only a little bit. Great Stirrup Cay, just like most cruise stops in the Caribbean, enjoys a warm tropical temperature throughout the year. What all is there to do? 9. However, once it is open tender, you dont need a reservation. Enjoy the view of the islands coastline and the beautiful blue sea before the boat lands right on the beach where you can walk ashore. Yes, since Great Stirrup Cay is run by the cruise line, almost everything is run just like on the cruise ship. Snorkel with sea turtles and colorful fish in warm turquoise waters. Below, weve included the listing of activities and rentals from a recent cruise, along with prices: We mentioned above that Great Stirrup Cay is right next to CocoCay. In short, if youve ever wanted to visit a picturesque private island without having to pay a fortune, this is it. GSC doesnt offer WiFi, but there is a cell tower. Theyve destroyed the beauty of the island and cheapened in with PAY for items they didnt have earlier. You can pull the curtains closed for privacy. If you dont mind being a little farther away from most amenities, keep walking and youll find Cabana Beach and then Fiesta Beach. The first zip-line is 100 feet long, but its also the highest and scariest. Choose a beef, chicken, or fish soft taco, and load it up! This such a rip off from NCL. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. What Is a Cabana on a Cruise Ship or Private Island? Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. I never knew cruise lines could own private islands.