Enjoy a Boat Ride 2. Peacefully glide along the coastline in a kayak, or soar high into the sky as you zipline across the island. January is the coldest month, with highs of 79F (26C). Highlights at Great Stirrup Cay include two lighthouses . The only people allowed on the island are Norwegian passengers and staff. What is your opinion on the cabana vs villa? Bertram Beach does gets crowded, especially if there is more than one cruise ship at the island. It has barbecue food, salads, ribs, chicken and corn-on-the-cob. Just like the cabanas on the island, NCL allows two extra guests over the stated capacity, with an upcharge of $35 per person for the smaller villas, and $49 per person for the one- and two-bedroom villas. Everything to Know About Norwegians Free At Sea Sale, What to Do on a Cruise? For dessert, feast on rum cake and coconut fudge bars! and the experience lasts about an hour. Stand-up paddle boarding (or SUP) is a fun way to get out on the water, and its a great workout, too! 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. There arent any lockers available on the island for passengers to secure their valuables. Here there arent as many people, and its a bit slower paced. 11 is a highly requested small cabana for its ideal location near the bar, beach and bathroom. Cruise ships visiting Great Stirrup Cay drop their anchor some distance away from the island as the waters are too shallow for large ships to come ashore. Villas also come with a full bathroom with shower and a private patio decked out with padded loungers. Its neighbors with Royal Caribbeans private island, Perfect Day at Cococay you can see that island from your ship and the largest Berry Island, Great Harbour Cay. There, visitors can swim with the pigs and feed them, or watch them from the observation deck. Will the cruise ship wait for you if you're late at a port? A shopping area and child areas, as well as restricted-access beaches are also included in your Caribbean holiday in the Bahamas. Visit the coral reefs of the Bahamas in this unique 90-minute cruise excursion swimming with pigs. (As with all Great Stirrup Cay visitors, you can help yourself to food from the island's complimentary buffet while it is running.) Great Stirrup Cay - Norwegian Cruise Line - Cruise Critic Community The second zip-line is 600 feet long, starting 100 feet above the ground. 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. 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. You can pre-book this exciting experience from the Excursion Desk onboard the ship or at the islands Information Booth. Since its so easily accessible, its always the most crowded beach as well. Still, you can go out and be away from other people. What is this island, which is a staple on the line's Bahamas and Caribbean cruises? Relax on Great Stirrup Cay Beaches 3. 2023 Cruzely.com | Laisman Publishing, LLC, 20+ Norwegian Cruise Tips, Tricks, and Things to Know, Worth It? If a Silver Cove Villa for your family is in your budget in 2023, jump on it before prices go up again. Prices start from $599 to over $1100 for up to 8 guests (and $49 for each additional guest, up to 10 in total). Pre-order a cheese board, sushi or tacos and find them waiting for you in the cabana. Why a cruise lanyard is the best travel accessory, Why you should always use a travel agent to book a cruise, Water shoes to protect your feet from rocks and coral, Book, magazine, music-playing device and headphones, or other entertainment, Sand toys, beach balls, and other beach-day sports gear. Drinks are charged to your stateroom pass unless you have a drinks package in which case, just like onboard ship, your drinks are free. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Each fully-furnished villa features air conditioning, private bathrooms, and a patio. If you want to have smaller crowds, head down the beach some, following the path to the other coves. Winds were too calm, so they were forced to stop at the nearest island, Great Stirrup Cay. Osprey Zipline ($79/$59 kids) Three easy flights: the first flight south is the tallest at 120 feet above the ground. Great Stirrup Cay is situated in the Bahamas and is included in a number of itineraries for Norwegian Cruise Line. 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. The expansive outdoor patio features several padded lounge chairs, outdoor couch, and a dining table for eight. Best of all, they are free. The water there is about waist height. With any villa rental, youll also have access to the exclusive Silver Cove Restaurant and Bar, the Mot Bar, as well as the private beach at Silver Cove Lagoon (with its new overwater swings). Cabanas on the Cay book up fairly quickly, several months in advance of a cruise, so early booking is strongly recommended. Step up and get a dog as a snack to hold you over, or as your meal. 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. The Premier Cabanas are located on Cabana Beach, right next to the Main Beach. Great Stirrup Cay has several coves that run across the length of the island. However, Norwegian is always updating the island and expanding its attractions, so perhaps a pool will make an appearance someday in the future. Jumbey Beach Grill is the largest dining venue, offering barbecue-style food in a buffet setting. These villas have a separate bedroom with king-size bed in addition to the living area, with a dining table on the patio. 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. 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. Thankfully, most of the action on the island is centrally located by the main beach at Bertrams Cove. The middle beach, known as Cabana Beach, has private cabanas for rent on a raised, hilly area on the beach. Is there a private or designated section for Haven passengers? Did you notice if they made folks who brought their own snorkel gear rent a vest? NCL appears to be going more for a "luxury resort feel" plus great beach options - when the additions of a pool and actual resort features plus the pier do (hopefully) materialize, it will be interesting to compare the two islands and their 180 degree different approach to private island excursions. Are there places on the back side of the island that are an out of the way place for snorkeling? Great Stirrup Cay, just like most cruise stops in the Caribbean, enjoys a warm tropical temperature throughout the year. Define Great Stirrup Cay Mortgage Central Bank Approval. You pay for drinks with your cruise card as you would onboard. Tucked away at the northern end of the Berry Islands is Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas. Great Stirrup Cay happens to be located adjacent toLittle Stirrup Cay,home to RCCs private island CocoCay. Amenities are the same. This guided trip will start with a boat ride out to Treasure Island, where guests get a full safety briefing before entering the water. Note that the operators of this shore excursion dont allow guests to take their own photos (but you can purchase pictures). Only one person from your party should make the reservation. Vegetarian main dishes are limited on the island, and cross-contamination cannot be guaranteed if youre concerned about gluten, nuts, or other allergens. 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. Really interesting. 70 Fun Things to Do on the Ship, Norwegian Cruise Line Sharply Raises Service Charges Again (Up to 25%), 25+ Fun Must-Do Things on a Norwegian Cruise, 29 Must-Have Things to Pack for an Alaskan Cruise (11 Youd Never Think Of), Carnival Is Fixing a MAJOR Issue With Sailing from Galveston, Princess Cruise Gratuity (Tips) Full Guide: How Much, How They Work, and More, Hotels With Cruise Shuttles For Every Major Port in America, 107 Best Cruise Tips, Tricks, Secrets, and Freebies, 39 Useful Things to Pack For Your Cruise (Including 17 Youd Never Think Of). Great Stirrup Cay Bahamas is owned by Norwegian Cruise Line and can only be visited as a port of call from a NCL cruise. Norwegian Cruise Line uses very large tendering boats, and the trip only lasts 10 minutes long. The colorful open-air market offers clothing and accessories, as well as a variety of local crafts. For more info, please read myDisclosure Policy. First things first an overview of exactly what Great Stirrup Cay is all about. Worth Reading: Best Beaches in Nassau, Bahamas for Cruise Visitors. 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! Try. Tour guides provide a basic orientation on how to use your kayak. Get expert advice, insider tips and more. 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. But did you know theres a real lighthouse on the island as well? Unlike some other cruise line private islands, GSC doesnt have a regular shuttle or tram to transport guests around. Or am I missing something? Big cabanas are well-suited to large groups or families traveling together. With all this information, you are all geared up for the best time possible at Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas. They also offer desserts: rum cake and coconut fudge bars. I recommend taking an inexpensive waterproof pouch that you can hang around your neck. Most chairs arent shaded, so you might consider renting a clamshell to keep out of the sun. The only reason to bring cash is to go shopping at the islands straw market. Want to really get away from the crowds? Read more: Why You Need a Full Face Snorkel Mask for Your Next Cruise. The improvements at Great Stirrup Cay also included the rebuilding of the island's 22 private cabanas, which are available for rent starting at $299 for a group of six. Great tip about not having wifi outside of international cell service. If you have a beverage package for your cruise, it will work on the island as well. Norwegian Cruise Line is the first cruise line to offer an uninhabited tropical island experience exclusively for its passengers. (See our suggest cruise packing items here.) If you have an international plan on your phone, you should be able to access cellular data. 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. When it comes to cruising, its hard to beat a port-of-call thats a private island. It is located between Great Harbour Cay and Little Stirrup Cay (now renamed CocoCay at Perfect Cay) about 140 miles east of Miami. Enjoy a good swim or just float around on a float-pad (available for $16 for the day) from one of the shacks offering equipment rentals. 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. Rent a Cabana Great Stirrup Cay Shore Excursions 4. Yes! It's included as a day stop on many Norwegian sailings in the region and gets occasional visits from Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises ships. The waters around Great Stirrup Cay are crystal clear, and there are plenty of opportunities to snorkel right from the beach. Cruising The Haven & Suites: Perks and Details (Part 2) - NCL Its simply a larger version of the Classic Cabana, accommodating eight guests, with up to two additional guests charged at $25 each. Theres no service while youre on the beach so if you want to get in touch at home or post to social media about your day at the beach, youll need to wait until you go back aboard. 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. Everything You Need to Know about Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas 2020 Just watch out for rocks and coral on the oceans floor when you go into the water. 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. 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. Or upgrade to a Premier Cabana with room for eight guests.
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