great stirrup cay what is included
Want to really get away from the crowds? Peacefully glide along the coastline in a kayak, or soar high into the sky as you zipline across the island. 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. Cabanas on the Cay book up fairly quickly, several months in advance of a cruise, so early booking is strongly recommended. Whether you love social media of just want a nice snapshot, there are a ton of photo opportunities around Great Stirrup Cay. Hugely disappointed with this line. A former flight attendant, she now prefers cruise ships over airplanes and spends several months each year cruising and exploring cruise ports. A visit to the Bahamas is never complete without a souvenir. Copyright Cruise Blog Media LLC 2023. Snorkel with sea turtles and colorful fish in warm turquoise waters. However, if you want more space to stretch out and relax, the minimal upcharge to the larger cabana offers a great value. There are limited loungers in a shady area under the trees, but they go fast! 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. Its open to all, but its a bit of a walk from the main beach area. The back story is that Great Stirrup Cay was bought from Belcher Oil Company in 1977 and was the first island ever to be transformed into a private island cruise port for a cruise line. The Premier Cabanas are located on Cabana Beach, right next to the Main Beach. Relax on Great Stirrup Cay Beaches 3. Great Stirrup Cay doesnt yet have a pier for ships to dock at, so your ship will anchor offshore. When you return, you will show the security guard your room card and ID to get back on the tender to the ship. One other great spot is the tender that takes you back and forth from the ship. Beach access is free, and complimentary loungers are available. The signal usually works on board the ship when its anchored offshore as well. There are a few sets around the island and you can get a pic with your toes dangling in the water. Let us know in the comments below. Check onboard with the shore excursions desk to see if there are any cancellations. 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. Best of all, they are free. Lagoon Villas start at $799 and accommodate eight guests, with up to two additional guests charged at $49 each. Welcome to Great Stirrup Cay, an idyllic private island paradise exclusive to Norwegian guests. 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. If you want to pay for an excursion or get a drink at the bar, just hand over your card to pay. However, you should bring anything you might want for a day at the beach, including things like your swimsuit, sunglasses, sunscreen, and a hat. Great Stirrup Cay, Your Own Private Island Set sail for the Bahamas and get ready for some fun in the sun! Villa guests also have access to complimentary floats and beach umbrellas. This gives you fantastic views of the ship up close from the water with no obstructed views. 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. Do you have a specific ship you love or would like to try? Head to any bar on the island and you can get a drink just like you would on the ship. It was still nice and warm to lay on the beach, but we didnt do much swimming. 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. 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. Check out beautiful paintings, wooden carvings, clothing, woven items, jewelry and sculptures to take home. There were two early-nineteenth-century burials on the island, and you can visit the tiny cemetery with their memorials. We actually just booked a cruise with NCL with a stop in GSC. Definitely take some closed-toe walking shoes if you want to do this short hike. When we visited in late November and found the water cool. Silver Cove Restaurant and Bar offers an upscale buffet with elevated choices such as grilled lobster tail and jumbo shrimp ceviche. To get to the lighthouse, walk back and to the left of the tenders and look for the Lighthouse Trail. Big cabanas are well-suited to large groups or families traveling together. Millions of travelers rely on Cruise Hive in the United States, Europe, Australia, and around the world. This area is equivalent to The Haven on the ship. Yes! Great Stirrup Cay happens to be located adjacent toLittle Stirrup Cay,home to RCCs private island CocoCay. If you want to be sure of the best spots in shady areas, you need to arrive early or rent a clamshell (around $30 per day) to keep out of the sun. When it comes to cruising, its hard to beat a port-of-call thats a private island. And because of the island's shape, the shore is naturally protected, meaning that the water is almost always calm. During our visit we were given a tour and told that there were bigger plans in the works for Great Stirrup Cay. The island looks beautiful! 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. 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. (There are public facilities within walking distance.) 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. Classic Cabanas are near Fiesta Beach, and Premier Cabanas are located close to Cabana Beach. Enjoy a Boat Ride 2. The only reason to bring cash is to go shopping at the islands straw market. 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. Each cabana now has. However, drink packages do not work at Harvest Caye, Belize. Drink charges on Great Stirrup Cay work much as they do on board the ship. Below, weve included the listing of activities and rentals from a recent cruise, along with prices: We mentioned above that Great Stirrup Cay is right next to CocoCay. In fact, its very likely youll see a Royal Caribbean ship right next door when you visit Great Stirrup Cay. 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. Hope you have a fantastic cruise! There, guests can interact with and feed tame stingrays in an enclosed area offshore. A Premier Cabana is priced from $449. 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. Ziplining is a big draw and youll see the lines criss-crossing the entire island. The new Silver Cove gated area is secluded at the far end of the cay, away from the main beach. These villas offers the same amenities as the one-bedroom versions. The pigs are actually located on nearby Treasure Island, a 10-minute boat ride from Great Stirrup Cay. 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. What is your opinion on the cabana vs villa? Read on to discover everything you need to know about Great Stirrup Cay. I'd like to know more about life on the island for the employees who stay there, too! There are so many things to do on Great Stirrup Cay, whether you want an active day or just some relaxation! There, visitors can swim with the pigs and feed them, or watch them from the observation deck. The truck serves a limited menu of sandwiches and Caribbean-themed lunch items, plus dessert. The island has two courses featuring six zips and a ropes course of cargo nets, chimney climbs, and V net bridges. That makes it extremely simple for passengers. Ive never heard of this place before! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Room service is included if youd prefer to dine in the villa. Most of Norwegians ships sail to Great Stirrup Cay at some point in their careers, usually as part of Bahamas or Caribbean cruises. 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. The final zip is 600 feet long and carries you from a height of 75 feet back to ground level. This is beneficial, as there can be up to two ships that visit per day, which is common during the summer months. On the drinks end, there are five bars on the island, starting with the very energetic Bacardi Bar where you can hang out and listen to music as well as enjoy a drink. For the ultimate in relaxation, the new luxury Silver Cove area features villas and a private lagoon. 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. Worth Reading: Best Beaches in Nassau, Bahamas for Cruise Visitors. Norwegian Cruise Line uses very large tendering boats, and the trip only lasts 10 minutes long. Rentals of beach gear and private cabanas are also handled by the shore excursions desk. Is there a community of people who lived on the island before it was purchased? The good news is that food is free on Great Stirrup Cay, and you have several options to choose from. Wait times can be long at peak transit times, so plan accordingly (for example, if youre trying to get back on board for an afternoon spa treatment). It has barbecue food, salads, ribs, chicken and corn-on-the-cob. All of our Bahamas cruises feature a whole day visit to Great Stirrup Cay, an idyllic island paradise reserved only for our guests. In 1979, Norwegian Cruise Line installed a stone marker and plaque on the location of his grave. The cabanas are not air-conditioned and do not include private restrooms. However, anyone can relax on the sand or use the free beach chairs available. Just watch out for rocks and coral on the oceans floor when you go into the water. Find a Cruise. Norwegian's website currently offers 22 shore excursions to choose from, including cabana and equipment rentals. As the busiest cruise season is from November through April, most cruises enjoy uninterrupted sunshine and very little rain. 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). 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. Even walking among the palm trees and the vegetation of the Great Stirrup Cay is a fun and interesting experience. 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. The island zipline adventure is a brand new shore excursion offered on Great Stirrup Cay. If you have a beverage package for your cruise, it will work on the island as well. Explore Bahamas itineraries, find available cabins and book with GoToSea. 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. Prices have been skyrocked. Yes, all of the food service on the private island is included in your cruise fare, so you can fill your tummy care free. The main attraction at Great Stirrup Cay is the beach, with plentiful lounge chairs and protected coves for swimming and snorkeling. It's much more private and luxurious, and you'll have the added benefit of access to the Silver Cove amenities. Book snorkel equipment from Susans Rock Snorkel Center for the day ($30 for adults and $15 for children) and snorkel at this beautiful spot as much as you want. Great questions, Courtney! Great Stirrup Cay (pronounced "key") is Norwegian Cruise Lines private island in the Bahamas. You can rent snorkel equipment for the day ($37/adult, $22/child) but we prefer to pack our own full-face snorkel masks. Disclaimer: I may receive a small commission when you make a purchase from a link on this site, at no added charge to you. First and foremost, Great Stirrup Cay is a gem for its beaches. NCL used to offer tram service for transporting cruisers from the tender point to their cabanas, but currently it is not offering that service. For dessert, feast on rum cake and coconut fudge bars! Try. Yes, since Great Stirrup Cay is run by the cruise line, almost everything is run just like on the cruise ship. Find out everything you need to know about Norwegian Cruise Line's private island Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas with things to do and tips. Pricing for most of their excursions falls within the range of $75-$140/adult and $55-$99/child. You can pull the curtains closed for privacy. Note: There are also several shore excursions from 2022 that arent currently offered, but may return in 2023. Let me know in the comments below! 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. Guide to Norwegian Cruise Line suites: What's included? The temperature averages a very pleasant 77F all year round. 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.
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