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. The tour offers both single as well as two-person wave runners. 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. The middle beach, known as Cabana Beach, has private cabanas for rent on a raised, hilly area on the beach. The nearly 80-foot (24 m) lighthouses beam is visible for over 20 miles! Let us know in the comments below. Average Temp: 75 degrees Fahrenheit Vegetation: Coconut Palm; Sea Grape, and the beautiful Bougainvillea are among the abundant regional foliage. You're even able to purchase photos to remember your time with them. Is there a private or designated section for Haven passengers? 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; Rentals of beach gear and private cabanas are also handled by the shore excursions desk. Behind the cabana, you'll find four floating mats for complimentary all-day use in the ocean and a private shower to rinse off, as well as your very own hammock. The main attraction at Great Stirrup Cay are three powder-soft white sandy beaches. Hope to visit it one day. Weve put together everything to know about the island. Located at Bertrams Cove, this garden offers snorkelers something to keep them busy with underwater statues of mermaids, sea creatures, fountains and urns. The menu still revolves around salads, grilled fare, and tropical fruits and desserts, but the options are fancier than at Jumbey and the presentation more sophisticated. 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. Bertram Beach is is the busiest beach and has complimentary beach loungers and hammocks under the scattered palm trees. Underwater Sculpture Garden 5. 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. Norwegian's website currently offers 22 shore excursions to choose from, including cabana and equipment rentals. I would love to learn more about life on the island for the people employed by the cruise line. About to head to Norwegian Cruise Lines Great Stirrup Cay? From a distance, the first thing you will notice on the island is the massive lighthouse that towers over everything. The only exception is that there is a small straw market of local vendors selling souvenirs. This lighthouse was originally constructed in 1863 by theBritish Imperial Lighthouse Service. Didnt notice. Meals are cooked to order. Both cabana styles offer complimentary bottled water as well as up to four free-floating mats. Treatment rooms open onto the lagoon, so the island breezes can waft in while you zone out. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Visit the coral reefs of the Bahamas in this unique 90-minute cruise excursion swimming with pigs. However, if you want more space to stretch out and relax, the minimal upcharge to the larger cabana offers a great value. At that time, when youre ready to go to Great Stirrup Cay, just walk down to the gangway deck and climb aboard the tender. You hop on this smaller boat to motor to the island. Villa guests also have access to complimentary floats and beach umbrellas. Guide to Norwegian Cruise Line suites: What's included? If youre looking for some out-of-the-ordinary things to do on Great Stirrup Cay, I have a couple of fun recommendations for you, especially if you enjoy history. Drinks at this bar start at $25, so none are covered by the Premium Beverage Package. Or take a turn parasailing high above the islands shores. 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. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. 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. The shallow ocean waters are warmest in the summer season, with temperatures reaching up to 86F in August. Cabanas have a front porch and include comfortable furnishings, side tables and bottled water. 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. Millions of travelers rely on Cruise Hive in the United States, Europe, Australia, and around the world. And the free food definitely caught my attention. 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. What did you think of the island? Be warned that on NCL ships, Open Tender generally doesnt start until the afternoon. If you want to buy a drink at the bar, for instance, you just scan your card just like the bars on the ship. By superdavexox, June 21, 2017 in Ask a Cruise Question. 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. The menus include ceviche, pulled pork sandwiches, spicy chicken sandwiches and more. The Ocean Villas are adjacent to the cabana area and front Fiesta Beach, not the Silver Cove Lagoon. Since its so easily accessible, its always the most crowded beach as well. These villas offers the same amenities as the one-bedroom versions. All of our Bahamas cruises feature a whole day visit to Great Stirrup Cay, an idyllic island paradise reserved only for our guests. Youll return via a 105-foot V-net bridge, a 25-foot chimney climb, and two more long zipline rides. Returning to the ship and tendering back to the island likely wont be practical. Ocean Villas start at $699 and accommodate six guests, with up to two additional guests charged at $49 each. Each cabana now has. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. In 2015, commissioned by Norwegian Cruise Line for innovative work on their private island in Bahamas. Currently there is no pier or quay on Stirrup Cay so tenders (small motor boats) are used to transport cruisers ashore. The cost of the guided kayaking tour is US $55 for adults and $40 for children aged 8 and above. Perched on a raised area of the beach they catch gentle breezes and offer stunning sea views. The island has several bars spread throughout the beach areas. The staff youll meet during the day on Great Stirrup Cay come over from the ship. And if you'd like to be closer to the buffet, the large cabanas are best. Does anyone know if the food choices on Great Stirrup Cay include gluten-free items? Find a Cruise. 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. A Classic Cabana is priced from $425 (all pricing is itinerary dependent) and accommodates up to six guests, with up to two additional guests charged at $25 each. 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. The close proximity means that any trip headed from Miami or going to The Bahamas will often have Great Stirrup Cay included as a port of call. Soar Across Great Stirrup Cay. The largest and most popular dining venue is the Jumbey Beach Grill, an open-air buffet venue serving grilled burgers and chicken and sides like corn on the cob, salad, fruit, and dessert. Great Stirrup Cay is an extension of the ship, so you can pay for drinks, tours, and rentals with your cruise card. Check out beautiful paintings, wooden carvings, clothing, woven items, jewelry and sculptures to take home. The temperature averages a very pleasant 77F all year round. Ziplining is a big draw and youll see the lines criss-crossing the entire island. Then I noticed that offerings (and prices!) As the busiest cruise season is from November through April, most cruises enjoy uninterrupted sunshine and very little rain. You can make your reservation online, booking it as a shore excursion. Drink charges on Great Stirrup Cay work much as they do on board the ship. 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. Visiting the Key West Lighthouse and Museum. There are so many things to do on Great Stirrup Cay, whether you want an active day or just some relaxation! It features 38 air-conditioned beachfront villas, a Mandara Spa, a Mot & Chandon Bar and the Silver Cove Restaurant and Bar. A shopping area and child areas, as well as restricted-access beaches are also included in your Caribbean holiday in the Bahamas. The front of each structure is open to the outside, but you can draw the curtains for privacy. If you're planning a sailing here and want to know more, then here are 16 useful things to know about the island. If youve been cruise shopping, then youve likely seen ads for Royal Caribbeans CocoCay. Theyve destroyed the beauty of the island and cheapened in with PAY for items they didnt have earlier. You can pre-book this exciting experience from the Excursion Desk onboard the ship or at the islands Information Booth. The island is truly a Caribbean paradise with lots of tropical palm trees, colorful flowers and lush plants in this protected marine sanctuary. Didn't book early enough? If youre not sure exactly where to go, just ask the staff at Susans Rock Snorkel Center. Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian Cruise Lines private island in the Bahamas, offers gorgeous white sand beaches, water sports and activities, and a variety of restaurants and bars. Age and weight restrictions do apply, and cruisers need to wear closed-toe shoes to participate. 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. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. What Is a Cabana on a Cruise Ship or Private Island? 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. Remember to wear good water shoes, however. Looks like a wonderful place to relax, Yes, the food on Great Stirrup Cay is included with your cruise fare! 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. The great news is that you dont need to bring much to the island, but you do HAVE to bring a couple of things. Explore Bahamas itineraries, find available cabins and book with GoToSea. Yes, all of the food service on the private island is included in your cruise fare, so you can fill your tummy care free. Norwegian Cruise Linestarted leasing Great Stirrup Cay in 1977, to develop it into aprivate island exclusivelyfor NCL cruise ship passengers. You can read more about me and about Should Be Cruising here. 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. On the flip side, staying on the ship during a port day at Great Stirrup Cay can be incredibly fun. Great Stirrup Cay Bahamas is owned by Norwegian Cruise Line and can only be visited as a port of call from a NCL cruise. Guests who book a villa or a Mandara Spa treatment on the island have access to an additional complimentary restaurant. Unwind on white-sand beaches and enjoy the many ways to explore paradise. Most of Norwegians ships sail to Great Stirrup Cay at some point in their careers, usually as part of Bahamas or Caribbean cruises. The journey is about a mile each way, and you might even spot some local wildlife, including iguanas and hummingbirds on your walk. Write a Review; Boards; Log In Log Out; Deals. There are many species of birds including gulls and sanderlings, lizards, crabs and small island creatures that you are bound to catch a glimpse of, once in a while. Age and weight restrictions apply to this tour, so read carefully before booking. The only people allowed on the island are Norwegian passengers and staff. The coolest months are from December to February, with temperatures averaging 81-86F, occasionally dropping as low as 66F in a cold snap. 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. Norwegian has a small staff that stays on the island, but there are no permanent residents. Prices start at $105 for adults and $85 for children aged 6 and above. Gillian Birch is a full-time travel writer and author of 12 travel books. This such a rip off from NCL. Great Stirrup Cay, Your Own Private Island Set sail for the Bahamas and get ready for some fun in the sun! All cabanas feature a sofa and several chairs, and a small patio. Welcome to Great Stirrup Cay, an idyllic private island paradise exclusive to Norwegian guests. At about 2 long by a half-mile wide, its decently sized but only a portion of the island is developed for cruise passengers. NCL used to offer tram service for transporting cruisers from the tender point to their cabanas, but currently it is not offering that service. 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.