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. 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. As part of their Norwegian Edge program, NCL has spent about $250 million renovating and improving 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. Wander westward, and youll get to Cabana and Fiesta Beaches, which are flanked by rental cabanasand can be a bit quieter. One note: You CANT bring any food with you between the ship and the island. 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. Acquired by Norwegian Cruise Line in 1977, Great Stirrup Cay is located about 62 miles from Nassau, the Bahamian capital on the island of New Providence. 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. Norwegian Cruise Line is the first cruise line to offer an uninhabited tropical island experience exclusively for its passengers. Great Stirrup Cay is a 268-acre (108 ha) [1] island that is part of the Berry Islands in the Bahamas. 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. 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. Head to any bar on the island and you can get a drink just like you would on the ship. Thanks in advance for any ideas/guidance! These grant you access to a private beach, bars, and restaurant, and come with fresh fruit, snacks, chilled drinks, and food and beverage service. Ocean Villas start at $699 and accommodate six guests, with up to two additional guests charged at $49 each. This 90-minute guided tour will take you to the home of huge southern stingrays. Lagoon Villas start at $799 and accommodate eight guests, with up to two additional guests charged at $49 each. There are bars near all three beaches including the Bacardi Bar and Patrons Bar. It's also about 60 miles north of Nassau. That said, depending on when you go you may not want to swim much. Looks like a wonderful place to relax, Yes, the food on Great Stirrup Cay is included with your cruise fare! Here there arent as many people, and its a bit slower paced. 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. In simple terms, you can get almost anything on the ship that's priced less than $15 per glass. Traveling with a guest who has celiac and want to know what choices might be available that are safe to eat. There are so many things to do on Great Stirrup Cay, whether you want an active day or just some relaxation! And if you'd like to be closer to the buffet, the large cabanas are best. Soar Across Great Stirrup Cay. Snorkel with sea turtles and colorful fish in warm turquoise waters. Lounge on the sparkling beaches or go for a walk and wade into the warm turquoise sea. The front of each structure is open to the outside, but you can draw the curtains for privacy. 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. Finally, if youve rented a Silver Cove villa for the day or have a spa treatment booked at the on-island Mandara Spa, you can enjoy a more upscale buffet experience at the Silver Cove Restaurant, located within the restricted-access area of the island. The great news is that you dont need to bring much to the island, but you do HAVE to bring a couple of things. The swimming area is the most protected of all the coves, and the beach is stunning, with overwater swings for a photo op and a gazebo overlooking the sea. . Does anyone know if the food choices on Great Stirrup Cay include gluten-free items? On the second flight, youll soar 850 feet out to the next landing, then 900 feet out to return to the starting point. Even walking among the palm trees and the vegetation of the Great Stirrup Cay is a fun and interesting experience. 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. 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. You hop on this smaller boat to motor to the island. Read more: Everything You Need to Know About Tender Ports on a Cruise. 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. Luxury cabana rentals are ideal for small groups and families of 8-10 guests. The island looks beautiful! if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'shouldbecruising_com-leader-3','ezslot_16',605,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-leader-3-0');Cruisers visiting Great Stirrup Cay for the day have a range of activities to choose from, and the island offers something for every activity level and budget. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. Villa guests can also enjoy complimentary fresh fruit, chilled water, and a menu of on-demand movies. were changing far more frequently. To make your experience even more serene, book one of the small or large beachside cabanas, stocked with plenty of extras to make it a worthwhile splurge. A Premier Cabana is priced from $449. Hamburgers, hot dogs, ribs, and jerk chicken are popular, along with pizza, salads, and corn-on-the-cob. Villas also come with a full bathroom with shower and a private patio decked out with padded loungers. The tour offers both single as well as two-person wave runners. Beach wheelchairs are available on request. 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. Check out the latest web stories from Should Be Cruising! Wondering what more there is to do than hang out on the beach or zipline? The alternate package is the "Premium Plus Beverage Package." Starting from the 110-foot (33.5 m) replica lighthouse, the new course features 2935 feet (895 m) of zipline! This area is equivalent to The Haven on the ship. In addition, your drinks package includes beverages purchased on the island (subject to the same limits and restrictions as onboard), so you dont need to shell out extra for a beer or cocktail on the beach. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Ive never heard of this place before! The good news is that food is free on Great Stirrup Cay, and you have several options to choose from. The middle beach, known as Cabana Beach, has private cabanas for rent on a raised, hilly area on the beach. 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. Great Stirrup Cay is one of the ports of call on your Norwegian Cruise Line, but you can't find the island on a map. 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. 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. The first and largest cove is by far the most popular with people as its right by the landing for the tender boats. Unlike some other cruise line private islands, GSC doesnt have a regular shuttle or tram to transport guests around. Define Great Stirrup Cay Mortgage Central Bank Approval. Bertrams Beach is the main beach where tenders arrive and depart. Great Stirrup Cay: Everything you need to know about Norwegians private island. Search over 2.9 million properties and 550 airlines worldwide. 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). Get up to 35,000 rewards points when you book a Celebrity cruise from this new AmEx offer. Highlights at Great Stirrup Cay include two lighthouses . The island has several bars spread throughout the beach areas. On shore youll find a wide range of activities, from ziplining to parasailing to snorkeling, along with beautiful sand, electric blue water, food, bars, and even villas (more details below). Yes, you can use your Norwegian drink package from the ship on Great Stirrup Cay. The zip-lines provide birds eye views of the island and surrounding ocean so keep your eyes open if you dare! The coolest months are from December to February, with temperatures averaging 81-86F, occasionally dropping as low as 66F in a cold snap. Costs are from US$60-85 depending on the number of rides and which zip-lines you choose. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. It is a series of three flights starting 130 feet above ground from a replica lighthouse (not the historic real lighthouse on the island!) The same $15 per drink limit applies. If a Silver Cove Villa for your family is in your budget in 2023, jump on it before prices go up again. 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. All food for the day is sent over on tender boats with the ships kitchen staff in the morning. Entertainment on the private island focuses on music and dancing, centered around the bars and the bandstand. If you or one of your cruising group is unable to walk at all, tendering to the island might not be possible. 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! Yes, but only a little bit. Expect lively dancing from the ships entertainment staff, especially at the Bacardi Bar! Everything we know so far about NCLs newest ship: Norwegian Viva. But of course, just like with bigger and better cruise ships, there is also competition among private islands. These villas have a separate bedroom with king-size bed in addition to the living area, with a dining table on the patio. Hugely disappointed with this line. Ships sailing to the private island include: Ships from Norwegians sister cruise lines, Oceania and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, make the occasional stop at Great Stirrup Cay, as well. Where is Great Stirrup Cay Located? Just watch out for rocks and coral on the oceans floor when you go into the water. Villa guests also have access to complimentary floats and beach umbrellas. 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. 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. The main beach area is the easternmost section of the islands developed area and closest to the tender pier. If you have an international plan on your phone, you should be able to access cellular data. What is your opinion on the cabana vs villa? Norwegian's island sits in a chain of islands called the Berry Islands in the Bahamas. Should Be Cruising is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Hope you have a fantastic cruise! The waters around Great Stirrup Cay are crystal clear, and there are plenty of opportunities to snorkel right from the beach. Still, you can go out and be away from other people. Check out the new Silver Cove (more on this below). Does NCL own Great Stirrup Cay? Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. Food on Great Stirrup Cay is complimentary and there are three dining options to choose from: Jumbo Beach Grill is the largest and most popular buffet venue. I'd like to know more about life on the island for the employees who stay there, too! Those who have paid to enjoy the Silver Cove experience have their own exclusive Silver Cove Restaurant and Bar with an upscale buffet including lobster tail and jumbo shrimp. 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. One thing thats great about Great Stirrup Cay is that the land forms coves around the swimming area. Great Stirrup Cay is situated in the Bahamas and is included in a number of itineraries for Norwegian Cruise Line. About to head to Norwegian Cruise Lines Great Stirrup Cay? Erica Silverstein is a cruise and family travel expert, who has been covering the industry for more than 15 years. Cabana and villa guests have a food truck option close to them called Tropic Like Its Hot. Great Stirrup Cay is the northernmost island in the Berry Islands and is 250 acres of paradise. You can go parasailing in tandem, sailing 400 feet high in the air above Stirrup Cay while being towed by a motor boat. Thankfully, most of the action on the island is centrally located by the main beach at Bertrams Cove. You're even able to purchase photos to remember your time with them. 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. The island is truly a Caribbean paradise with lots of tropical palm trees, colorful flowers and lush plants in this protected marine sanctuary. Does not include: Room service, mini bar purchases, vending machines; Guest's check may reflect applicable VAT and/or taxes for certain ports or itineraries. Thats a day where you dont get the full potential of the package despite having to pay for the service. 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 new Silver Cove gated area is secluded at the far end of the cay, away from the main beach. until the early 19th century. CocoCay is literally the next island over and you can see it right from the ship. Inside, there's a ceiling fan, a cushioned sectional-style couch, a mini-refrigerator and a table. On the flip side, staying on the ship during a port day at Great Stirrup Cay can be incredibly fun. These villas offers the same amenities as the one-bedroom versions. Currently there is no pier or quay on Stirrup Cay so tenders (small motor boats) are used to transport cruisers ashore. Share (As with all Great Stirrup Cay visitors, you can help yourself to food from the island's complimentary buffet while it is running.) Drink charges on Great Stirrup Cay work much as they do on board the ship. Since this is a private cruise port, dont expect to go on excursions on your own, or to contract private tour operators, as there are none. Or take a turn parasailing high above the islands shores. Vegetarian main dishes are limited on the island, and cross-contamination cannot be guaranteed if youre concerned about gluten, nuts, or other allergens. Instead, the ship docks offshore and you use a tender to get the shore. Great Stirrup Cay doesnt yet have a pier for ships to dock at, so your ship will anchor offshore. Each fully-furnished villa features air conditioning, private bathrooms, and a patio. If you want to purchase something here, then bring a little bit of cash. Classic Cabanas are near Fiesta Beach, and Premier Cabanas are located close to Cabana Beach. The pigs arent on GSC itself, but on nearby Treasure Island. Great Stirrup Cay | Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Cruise Line 65.1K subscribers 58K views 1 year ago Welcome to Great Stirrup Cay, an idyllic private island paradise exclusive to. Find hotels in Great Stirrup Cay from $220. Currently, GSC doesnt have a swimming pool. Tip: If you dont want to spring for a clamshell, get to the island as early as possible. Peak hurricane period in the Bahamas lasts from early August until late October. 9. RCL has hit a home run with Coco Cay, and while it may be smaller, it doesnt seem so, and it feels like it was laid out to perfection. You can pull the curtains closed for privacy. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Manage Settings 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. Meanwhile, you have two choices of where to rent a villa oceanside or surrounding a massive lagoon of electric blue water. Let us know in the comments below. Norwegian Cruise Line uses very large tendering boats, and the trip only lasts 10 minutes long. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Its also smart to bring a towel from the ship. Was looking though and wondering if the studio villa would be better. If youre looking for some beachy thrills, sign up for a zip-line adventure. Norwegian Expects 103% Occupancy Rate in 2023, Norwegian Cruise Line Gratuities (Tips): Full Guide to Cost & How They Work, Good Deal? Didn't book early enough? If you get the Internet package on the ship, unfortunately it wont extend to the island. Every major cruise line has (at least) one, and while each is different, they are all desirable places to spend a day. 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. It has a large seating area and a raised stage for the DJs booth who churns out some cool island tunes. 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. If youre not sure exactly where to go, just ask the staff at Susans Rock Snorkel Center. Or upgrade to a Premier Cabana with room for eight guests. 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. Nibble on fresh fruit and enjoy the soft ocean breezes from the plush sectional inside your very own private cabana on Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas. One of the newest attractions at GSC is the ziplining course. If you want an exclusive hangout with even more amenities, youll want to reserve one of the Silver Cove villas.

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