At about 2 long by a half-mile wide, its decently sized but only a portion of the island is developed for cruise passengers. I noticed people kayaking there, but that was an excursion. Is there a private or designated section for Haven passengers? (which we all need to do more! Do you have a specific ship you love or would like to try? There are also a number of amenities, including a spa, restaurant, and a shuttle to take you back and forth from the tender ship dock. On Great Stirrup Cay, the equivalent is the Silver Cove area of the island. One thing thats great about Great Stirrup Cay is that the land forms coves around the swimming area. One other great spot is the tender that takes you back and forth from the ship. A shopping area and child areas, as well as restricted-access beaches are also included in your Caribbean holiday in the Bahamas. If youve never seen it in person, you will from the cruise ship. Swim with dolphins, snorkel with exotic fish, or just stroll the white sand beaches. Let me know in the comments below! The island features a sweeping shoreline that features several different coves with white sand and gorgeous blue water. What all is there to do? The climate in Great Stirrup Cay is rainy and more humid in the summer (May to October) with 3.5 inches of rainfall per month. The more adventurous can try out parasailing, hit the water on a WaveRunner, or . Worth Reading: Best Beaches in Nassau, Bahamas for Cruise Visitors. Read more: Everything You Need to Know About Tender Ports on a Cruise. 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. (There are public facilities within walking distance.) Board and paddle rentals are $39 per hour, and theres no minimum age requirement, so the whole family can join in. Then I noticed that offerings (and prices!) A visit to the Bahamas is never complete without a souvenir. Paolo, I hope you're able to visit GSC - it's so nice to just relax there and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Spa therapists will work their magic while you relax to the song of the oceans waves. 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. This helps them stand out from the rest of the island. Big cabanas are well-suited to large groups or families traveling together. Along with all the natural features there are $25 million of facilities and amenities that NCL has built on the island. Great Stirrup Cay is an . 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. Even our most recent cruise this fall to Disneys Castaway Cay left us a bit disappointed by comparison. Any details would be appreciated. Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. She passed away during the journey, and her husband hoped to make it to Key West for burial. And because of the island's shape, the shore is naturally protected, meaning that the water is almost always calm. Instead, the ship docks offshore and you use a tender to get the shore. The island is truly a Caribbean paradise with lots of tropical palm trees, colorful flowers and lush plants in this protected marine sanctuary. If you want to have smaller crowds, head down the beach some, following the path to the other coves. 23K views 6 months ago Join the legend and molly as they show you around great stirrup cay which is norwegian cruise line's private island in the bahamas. Each cabana includes a deck in the front with landscaping surrounding it; each comes with a ramp entrance (though the cruise line notes that cabanas are not wheelchair accessible). When you return, you will show the security guard your room card and ID to get back on the tender to the ship. It's much more private and luxurious, and you'll have the added benefit of access to the Silver Cove amenities. Currently, GSC doesnt have a swimming pool. The nearly 80-foot (24 m) lighthouses beam is visible for over 20 miles! They helped him find the spot next to Captain Bertrand's grave. The best beach on Great Stirrup Cay will depend on your preferences because they're all beautiful. Smaller boats, known as tenders, ferry passengers to and from the island. Free expert cruise tips and news from Cruise Hive! If you dont mind being a little farther away from most amenities, keep walking and youll find Cabana Beach and then Fiesta Beach. Check out beautiful paintings, wooden carvings, clothing, woven items, jewelry and sculptures to take home. Below, we have outlined your possibilities for a day on this NCL private island: Prices are as of 2022, so expect about a 10-15% increase from last years pricing: Kayak Tour ($59/$39 kids): Away from the crowds, youll join a group to paddle your two-person kayak in the waters south of Great Stirrup Cay. Souvenirs are available at the Berried Treasures Bazaar, a straw market run by local Bahamians. But what have I noticed with my first 2023 update? Even if youre not a dancer, its fun to watch the high-energy staff interact with guests (who may or may not have had a couple of rum cocktails). 12 Amazing Cruise Line Private Islands to Visit in 2023 and Beyond, 7 Best Beaches in Nassau Bahamas for Cruisers, Giada De Laurentiis Named Godmother of Oceania Cruises New Ship Vista, Norwegian Cruise Line Announces 2023 Meet the Winemaker Series, P&O Arvia Naming Ceremony Will Feature Olly Murs, Carnival Now Offering Guy Fieri and Sammy Hagars Santo Tequila Fleetwide, Princess Cruises Introduces Welcome Home Program, https://shouldbecruising.com/privacy-policy/, Everything You Need to Know About Tender Ports on a Cruise, Why You Need a Full Face Snorkel Mask for Your Next Cruise, Great Stirrup Cay Two Bedroom Family Suite Villa (https://youtu.be/PUDp-RaXOO0), 25 Norwegian Cruise Tips You Need to Know, Norwegians Free at Sea: The Ultimate Guide, 2020 Guide to Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Packages, A photo ID (needs to be a valid drivers license if youre doing the wave runner tour), Tennis shoes for visiting the lighthouse or ziplining. Glide smoothly along the coastline enjoying the scenery and spotting fish and marine life beneath the water, while maintaining your balance on this fitness ride. Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. If you have mobility issues, you can still enjoy the island. 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. 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. To get to the lighthouse, walk back and to the left of the tenders and look for the Lighthouse Trail. Visitors should note that current construction underway at the far end of the island near the lagoon is creating some noise and dust, so keep that in mind when selecting your cabana. 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. This idyllic island is owned by Norwegian Cruise Line and was the first uninhabited island ever to be turned into a private cruise port. Two lounge chairs with a beach umbrella will be reserved for you at the beach. If you're planning a sailing here and want to know more, then here are 16 useful things to know about the island. Chairs are free. Later the island was a military installation, until it was claimed by the oil company that later leased the island to NCL. Winds were too calm, so they were forced to stop at the nearest island, Great Stirrup Cay. Age and weight restrictions do apply, and cruisers need to wear closed-toe shoes to participate. Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian Cruise Line's private island in the Bahamas, offers gorgeous white sand beaches, water sports and activities, and a variety of restaurants and bars. To make your experience even more serene, book one of the small or large. This video shows off the various. 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. Here are the Great Stirrup Cay shore excursions for 2023: Wave Runner Tour (from $139): This 45-minute personal watercraft tour through the Berry Islands will let you see area highlights like the Lighthouse at Great Stirrup Cay, Slaughter Harbor, and the abandoned island community of Cistern Cay. CocoCay Bahamas is a great choice for RCI's beach day experience, thanks to its natural beauty, proximity to several major cruise ports, and its sunny year-round climate . They can still enjoy the rest of the ship but also have their own little spot. Animals: Variety of lizards, land crabs, iguanas,. 11 is a highly requested small cabana for its ideal location near the bar, beach and bathroom. Remember to wear good water shoes, however. Even walking among the palm trees and the vegetation of the Great Stirrup Cay is a fun and interesting experience. Save an average of 15% on thousands of hotels with Expedia Rewards. These include a snorkel excursion on a catamaran boat, zip lining, wave runner tours, a stingray encounter, and a guided kayak tour in two-person kayaks. 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 smaller-sized Cabanas on the Cay are located just west of their larger counterparts on Fiesta Beach, considered by some to be quieter and more laid-back than Cabana Beach, which is closer to the action and the crowds. Find hotels in Great Stirrup Cay from $220. In simple terms, you can get almost anything on the ship that's priced less than $15 per glass. Let us know in the comments below. They are two different islands. By that time, many (if not all) of the restaurants and bars on the island will be closed. The cost of the guided kayaking tour is US $55 for adults and $40 for children aged 8 and above. Millions of travelers rely on Cruise Hive in the United States, Europe, Australia, and around the world. No, there is currently not a pool on Great Stirrup Cay, just sheltered swimming coves. You pay for drinks with your cruise card as you would onboard. The cabanas are not air-conditioned and do not include private restrooms. That reduces the waves and the choppy water and makes things perfect for playing in the water, even for small kids. However, part of NCLs improvement plan for the future includes a swimming pool complex and water features including a lazy river. Age and weight restrictions apply to this tour, so read carefully before booking. Great Stirrup Cay, Your Own Private Island Set sail for the Bahamas and get ready for some fun in the sun! Visiting the Key West Lighthouse and Museum. Vegetarian main dishes are limited on the island, and cross-contamination cannot be guaranteed if youre concerned about gluten, nuts, or other allergens. It is dry and sunny in the winter season. The island currently does not have have Wi-Fi, so it will definitely be a day to disconnect. The warmest months are July and August, where highs average 91F (33C). The pigs arent on GSC itself, but on nearby Treasure Island. 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. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Both beaches are available to the public and offer beach chairs closer to the water. 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.. Its also about 60 miles north of Nassau. And unless you have premium tastes, your favorite liquors will be included. Find a Cruise. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'shouldbecruising_com-leader-4','ezslot_17',606,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-leader-4-0');If youd prefer to relax ON the water, you can rent a floating mat for $16 a day. Guests who book a villa or a Mandara Spa treatment on the island have access to an additional complimentary restaurant. Bars on GSC that are open to all guests include the Patrn Bar, Bertrams Bar, Bacardi Bar, and the Lighthouse Beach Bar. There, guests can interact with and feed tame stingrays in an enclosed area offshore. Share Definitely take some closed-toe walking shoes if you want to do this short hike. Norwegian Cruise Line purchased the island from the Belcher Oil Company in 1977 and developed it into a private island for their cruise ship passengers. It was still nice and warm to lay on the beach, but we didnt do much swimming. 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. That means you can enjoy a relaxing day with no worriesabout aggressive vendors or sharing the sand with a bunch of strangers. Visit the coral reefs of the Bahamas in this unique 90-minute cruise excursion swimming with pigs. Was looking though and wondering if the studio villa would be better. The main attraction at Great Stirrup Cay is the beach, with plentiful lounge chairs and protected coves for swimming and snorkeling. Rentals of beach gear and private cabanas are also handled by the shore excursions desk. Explore Bahamas itineraries, find available cabins and book with GoToSea. 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. Returning to the ship and tendering back to the island likely wont be practical. About to head to Norwegian Cruise Lines Great Stirrup Cay? Norwegian Cruise Line uses very large tendering boats, and the trip only lasts 10 minutes long. On most ports of call the drink package does not work when off the ship. Royal Caribbean recently spent about $250 million renovating their island, putting in everything from the Caribbeans largest pool to a waterpark with the tallest waterslide in North America. By superdavexox, June 21, 2017 in Ask a Cruise Question. Youll be paddling in clear shallow waters spotting a range of marine creatures including turtles and dolphins if youre lucky in this fun adventure. I recommend taking an inexpensive waterproof pouch that you can hang around your neck. Theres plenty more to do on Great Stirrup Cay. Yes! Prices for this trip are US $65 for adults and $45 for children aged 8+. Expect lively dancing from the ships entertainment staff, especially at the Bacardi Bar! Guests who sign up for a spa treatment have an added perkaccess to the private lagoon and Silver Coves restaurant and bars, normally reserved for those renting a villa. Although these smaller beaches are generally where cabana guests go, theyre also open to anyone. We saw a couple of hot dog carts roaming around the island during our stay. These cabanas offer all the same amenities as the larger ones, just in a smaller format. If you or one of your cruising group is unable to walk at all, tendering to the island might not be possible. In fact, its very likely youll see a Royal Caribbean ship right next door when you visit Great Stirrup Cay. Enjoy a Boat Ride 2. We were considering getting a small cabana and splitting the cost between us and a friend who is also going. Great tip about not having wifi outside of international cell service. This area is equivalent to The Haven on the ship. If youre really looking to relax in comfort on your Great Stirrup Cay beach day, you can rent a private cabana or villa for the day.