The island has several bars spread throughout the beach areas. She passed away during the journey, and her husband hoped to make it to Key West for burial. Thankfully restrooms arent hard to find on Great Stirrup Cay, as they are dotted around the island. 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 . Inside, there's a ceiling fan, a cushioned sectional-style couch, a mini-refrigerator and a table. Keep this in mind when you ask crew members if you or your group member will be allowed to tender. However, if you want more space to stretch out and relax, the minimal upcharge to the larger cabana offers a great value. Cabanas on the Cay book up fairly quickly, several months in advance of a cruise, so early booking is strongly recommended. GitHub export from English Wikipedia. So what can you expect from your visit? During our visit the open water had a slight chop, but the water near the beach was perfectly flat and calm. Its open to all, but its a bit of a walk from the main beach area. You'll have your choice of 22 Cabanas on the Cay: 10 large cabanas situated on Cabana Beach, next to the main beach area, and which can fit up to eight people; and 12 small cabanas, accommodating up to six people each on Fiesta Beach. All cabanas feature a sofa and several chairs, and a small patio. If you have a beverage package for your cruise, it will work on the island as well. U.S. dollars are accepted. Dont forget to check out these resources before your Caribbean cruise on Norwegian Cruise Line: Have you visited Great Stirrup Cay on a Norwegian cruise? Guide to Norwegian Cruise Line suites: What's included? 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). Beach wheelchairs are available on request. We actually just booked a cruise with NCL with a stop in GSC. Most chairs arent shaded, so you might consider renting a clamshell to keep out of the sun. These grant you access to a private beach, bars, and restaurant, and come with fresh fruit, snacks, chilled drinks, and food and beverage service. The cost of the guided kayaking tour is US $55 for adults and $40 for children aged 8 and above. . A staunch advocate of cruising as an ideal family vacation, she has, on occasion, banned her own children from cruising with her. Also located here is the grave of Elizabeth Hixson (1813-1838), a young woman from Virginia who was traveling by sea with her husband and daughter. The tiny cemetery is located in a grassy area across from the main beach. Is Great Stirrup Cay an island designated to NCL? On CocoCay, you'll find Captain Jack's, the Oasis. If youre looking for even more luxury, Great Stirrup Cays exclusive new Silver Cove area offers private villas for the day. Hurricane season runs from the beginning of June through the end of November. The signal usually works on board the ship when its anchored offshore as well. Unwind on white-sand beaches and enjoy the many ways to explore paradise. Hope you have a fantastic cruise! 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. The final zip is 600 feet long and carries you from a height of 75 feet back to ground level. If you have mobility issues, you can still enjoy the island. There are a number of things you can do. I'd like to know more about life on the island for the employees who stay there, too! Welcome to Great Stirrup Cay, an idyllic private island paradise exclusive to Norwegian guests. There is a large cove where you can snorkel, but it may not be as secluded as you want. The northern part of the island has a sandy beach surrounded by rocks with snorkeling areas. Expect lively dancing from the ships entertainment staff, especially at the Bacardi Bar! Let us know in the comments below. It has a large seating area and a raised stage for the DJs booth who churns out some cool island tunes. These visits are part of longer Caribbean sailings or even around-the-world cruises. until the early 19th century. At that time, when youre ready to go to Great Stirrup Cay, just walk down to the gangway deck and climb aboard the tender. The cruise port destination sits in the middle of the Berry Islands, about 140 miles from Miami. 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. That means you can enjoy a relaxing day with no worriesabout aggressive vendors or sharing the sand with a bunch of strangers. Ultimate Guide to Great Stirrup Cay (2023) - Should Be Cruising 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. You can read more about me and about Should Be Cruising here. Great Stirrup Cay: Everything you need to know about Norwegians private island. Tucked away at the northern end of the Berry Islands is Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas. Rent a Cabana Great Stirrup Cay Shore Excursions 4. Other activities to look forward to include renting a stand-up paddle-board at US$25 for an hour. Norwegian Cruise Line is the first cruise line to offer an uninhabited tropical island experience exclusively for its passengers. Both beaches are available to the public and offer beach chairs closer to the water. 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! You can add up to two extra guests to either size cabana, with a $35 charge per person. Millions of travelers rely on Cruise Hive in the United States, Europe, Australia, and around the world. Happy Cruising!! We will also mention that Great Stirrup Cay didnt feel particularly accessible otherwise as there are lots of spots that require walking through sand. Ive never heard of this place before! 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. Did you notice if they made folks who brought their own snorkel gear rent a vest? 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. Drinks at this bar start at $25, so none are covered by the Premium Beverage Package. You can also visit a still-functional lighthouse dating to 1863 or look for locations for fun . 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. The temperature averages a very pleasant 77F all year round. They can represent good value for money and ensure the ultimate beach day experience in the Bahamas on Great Stirrup Cay. Inside the exclusive (and expensive) new beach retreat on this cruise Youll need to pick up a complimentary ticket with a specific time to board the tender, or you can wait until Open Tender is called. 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. The alternate package is the "Premium Plus Beverage Package." Bertrams Cove Beach, the main beach on the island, is the largest and closest to the tender dock. It is dry and sunny in the winter season. You pay for drinks with your cruise card as you would onboard. 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. On Great Stirrup Cay, the equivalent is the Silver Cove area of the island. That said, depending on when you go you may not want to swim much. Are there an abundance of beach chairs and umbrellas to rent? Great Stirrup Cay. Head to the Stirrup Cay Marketplace and youll find a great choice of beachwear, Bahamian crafts and souvenirs. Great Stirrup Cay. While tenders run back and forth all day, youll need to wait in line on either end for boats to arrive and disembark passengers before you can board. 15 Things to do on Great Stirrup Cay (Norwegian's Private Island) 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. There are bars near all three beaches including the Bacardi Bar and Patrons Bar. When you leave the ship you will scan your card so that crew knows who is on and off the ship. 2023 Cruzely.com | Laisman Publishing, LLC, 20+ Norwegian Cruise Tips, Tricks, and Things to Know, Worth It? If you want to pay for an excursion or get a drink at the bar, just hand over your card to pay. 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. And unless you have premium tastes, your favorite liquors will be included. 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. Norwegian Cruise Linestarted leasing Great Stirrup Cay in 1977, to develop it into aprivate island exclusivelyfor NCL cruise ship passengers. If you dont anticipate buying any souvenirs then you can leave your money on the ship. Great Stirrup Cay, Your Own Private Island Set sail for the Bahamas and get ready for some fun in the sun! Theyll encourage guests to come up and dance with them. All you have to do is look for the teal buildings. Prices start from $599 to over $1100 for up to 8 guests (and $49 for each additional guest, up to 10 in total). 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. Every major cruise line has (at least) one, and while each is different, they are all desirable places to spend a day. Starting from the 110-foot (33.5 m) replica lighthouse, the new course features 2935 feet (895 m) of zipline! Buffet: Starting at 11:30, there is a large buffet serving up a number of dishes, including burgers, dogs, pizza, salads, chicken, fruits, and a few other dishes. There are some areas, but not sure if they are off-limits or not to just snorkel on your own. There are so many things to do on Great Stirrup Cay, whether you want an active day or just some relaxation! 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. On the flip side, staying on the ship during a port day at Great Stirrup Cay can be incredibly fun. 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. 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. For thrill seekers, one of the newest attractions on Great Stirrup Cay is the zip-line. Again, no specific details were mentioned, but it gave the impression that there could be some big changes to the island in the coming years. Most of this has to do with supply and demand. Chairs are free. Enjoy a hearty serving of tasty food including burgers, pizza, hot dogs and grilled chicken or steak. Everything to Know About Norwegians Free At Sea Sale, What to Do on a Cruise? Instead, the ship docks offshore and you use a tender to get the shore. Does anyone know if the food choices on Great Stirrup Cay include gluten-free items? For dessert, feast on rum cake and coconut fudge bars! 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. Great Stirrup Cay is the northernmost island in the Berry Islands and is 250 acres of paradise. 5 big changes you should know about coming to Norwegian Cruise Line in 2023, Comparing Norwegian Cruise Line sailings to Alaska in 2023, 17 kinds of cruises you didnt know Norwegian Cruise Lines offered. Abaco Taco is a fun taco bar where you can load up your own taco with fish, chicken beef and all the toppings. 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. Everything Great Stirrup Cay - Silver Cove (Villa's, Lagoon, Spa Worth It? Complete Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) Drink Package Guide 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. 16 Secrets To Know About Great Stirrup Cay - Cruise Mummy Ocean Villas start at $699 and accommodate six guests, with up to two additional guests charged at $49 each. I think I'd volunteer for that job if I worked for the cruise line :D Next time I go I'll see if I can get the scoop. This includes beers, wines, cocktails, and sodas plus juices. There are also a number of covered areas with picnic tables for you to sit and eat. 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. All we can add to this is a few tips such as: Dont forget to carry and reapply sunscreen as often as possible.
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