Will the cruise ship wait for you if you're late at a port? What did you think of the island? The second zip-line is 600 feet long, starting 100 feet above the ground. A shopping area and child areas, as well as restricted-access beaches are also included in your Caribbean holiday in the Bahamas. The sculpture garden is located just in front of the large rock formations youll notice rising out of the water. Dont worry, its not accessible to other cruise lines not owned by Norwegian! The cruise port destination sits in the middle of the Berry Islands, about 140 miles from Miami. Traveling with a guest who has celiac and want to know what choices might be available that are safe to eat. Keep this in mind when you ask crew members if you or your group member will be allowed to tender. 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. The staff youll meet during the day on Great Stirrup Cay come over from the ship. Check out beautiful paintings, wooden carvings, clothing, woven items, jewelry and sculptures to take home. You can pre-book this exciting experience from the Excursion Desk onboard the ship or at the islands Information Booth. CRUISES TO GREAT STIRRUP CAY ISLAND - Norwegian Cruise Line With that in mind, Ive been updating this Ultimate Guide to Great Stirrup Cay about every six months. Get ready to have a blast. That means you can enjoy a relaxing day with no worriesabout aggressive vendors or sharing the sand with a bunch of strangers. We will also mention that Great Stirrup Cay didnt feel particularly accessible otherwise as there are lots of spots that require walking through sand. If you have mobility issues, you can still enjoy the island. I noticed people kayaking there, but that was an excursion. My husband and I are snorkelers. Great Stirrup Cay. Silver Cove Restaurant and Bar offers an upscale buffet with elevated choices such as grilled lobster tail and jumbo shrimp ceviche. The cruise line might ask passengers to make a reservation for a tender if you want to go right when they start running. You wont have to deal with crowds, and it could be a perfect day of relaxation when the pool deck, restaurants, and bars are almost empty. 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. Great Stirrup Cay is the northernmost island in the Berry Islands and is 250 acres of paradise. 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. The islands are about 140 miles east of Miami, making it a close port of call for cruises departing the Florida port. 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. About to head to Norwegian Cruise Lines Great Stirrup Cay? Great Stirupp Cay - The Berry Islands in The Bahamas This 1 hour course includes a series of six ziplines, net bridges, and other challenge obstacles. The tiny cemetery is located in a grassy area across from the main beach. Amenities are the same. Owned by Norwegian Cruise Line, the 250-acre Great Stirrup Cay is an exclusive destination for NCL passengers. Or am I missing something? Youll be paddling in clear shallow waters spotting a range of marine creatures including turtles and dolphins if youre lucky in this fun adventure. Great Stirrup Cay happens to be located adjacent toLittle Stirrup Cay,home to RCCs private island CocoCay. All you have to do is look for the teal buildings. Most of Norwegians ships sail to Great Stirrup Cay at some point in their careers, usually as part of Bahamas or Caribbean cruises. 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! The middle beach, known as Cabana Beach, has private cabanas for rent on a raised, hilly area on the beach. Souvenirs are available at the Berried Treasures Bazaar, a straw market run by local Bahamians. You can rent an open-air cabana on the island, starting at $449 for a Classic Cabana that will accommodate six people. On the flip side, staying on the ship during a port day at Great Stirrup Cay can be incredibly fun. If you dont anticipate buying any souvenirs then you can leave your money on the ship. Thankfully, most of the action on the island is centrally located by the main beach at Bertrams Cove. This area is equivalent to The Haven on the ship. Catching up with Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection - What's it Like On Board Evrima? Heres everything you need to know before your GSC visit. 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. When the stingrays approach, you will have an opportunity to pet, feed and have a photo taken with these majestic creatures. 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. Located by the Silver Cove lagoon, these villas have two bedrooms flanking a central indoor living space. This lighthouse was originally constructed in 1863 by theBritish Imperial Lighthouse Service. We'll send you a weekly newsletter to your inbox. Soar Across Great Stirrup Cay. What all is there to do? Other bars in Great Stirrup Cay include the Lighthouse Bar and the Patrons Bar along with two private bars (Moet Bar and Silver Cove Bar) at the exclusive Silver Cove. There are limited loungers in a shady area under the trees, but they go fast! Disclaimer: I may receive a small commission when you make a purchase from a link on this site, at no added charge to you. Villas also come with a full bathroom with shower and a private patio decked out with padded loungers. There are also shuttles that will take you right to Silver Cove and back. One exception is transportation to Silver Cove, since its a bit of a hike from where youll exit your tender. Cabanas on the Cay book up fairly quickly, several months in advance of a cruise, so early booking is strongly recommended. Happy Cruising!! But did you know theres a real lighthouse on the island as well? GSC doesnt offer WiFi, but there is a cell tower. Since Norwegian Cruise Line doesnt run the bazaar, you wont be able to use your cruise card here. They are two different islands. This video shows off the various. Inside, there's a ceiling fan, a cushioned sectional-style couch, a mini-refrigerator and a table. For thrill seekers, one of the newest attractions on Great Stirrup Cay is the zip-line. 11 is a highly requested small cabana for its ideal location near the bar, beach and bathroom. Currently there is no pier or quay on Stirrup Cay so tenders (small motor boats) are used to transport cruisers ashore. A Premier Cabana is priced from $449. Spa therapists will work their magic while you relax to the song of the oceans waves. Peacefully glide along the coastline in a kayak, or soar high into the sky as you zipline across the island. The island has no pier, so you must take a tender boat from the ship to the island. Prices have been skyrocked. At about 2 long by a half-mile wide, its decently sized but only a portion of the island is developed for cruise passengers. Lagoon Two-Bedroom Villas start at $1,100 and accommodate 16 guests, with up to four additional guests charged at $49 each. HomeBlogCruise Tips Cruise News Cruise DestinationsAboutContactResourcesFeatured PressPrivacy PolicyCookie PolicyDisclosure PolicyTerms of Use. 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. Its close to the snorkeling areas of Bertrams Cove, rentals, tour info, food, drinks, and music, so it's the most action-packed. Yes, you can use your Norwegian drink package from the ship on Great Stirrup Cay. Great Stirrup Cay is situated in the Bahamas and is included in a number of itineraries for Norwegian Cruise Line. Have your underwater camera ready to take water selfies with the shoals of fish that hang out at the garden You may also spot lobsters, crabs and shrimps, peering out from the holes and cracks in the statues. You wont find splash pads, playgrounds, kid pools, or water slides. Get expert advice, insider tips and more. Im seeing 10 to 15% jumps in pricing for shore excursions in just the past six monthsand thats after the usual annual increases. This applies even at Tender ports. Youll be able to reach speeds of up to 30 mph (48 kph) while enjoying a birds-eye view of the island and the sparkling waters surrounding it. Located at Bertrams Cove, this garden offers snorkelers something to keep them busy with underwater statues of mermaids, sea creatures, fountains and urns. 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. Millions of travelers rely on Cruise Hive in the United States, Europe, Australia, and around the world. Unwind on white-sand beaches and enjoy the many ways to explore paradise. The good news is that food is free on Great Stirrup Cay, and you have several options to choose from. The beach is certainly family-friendly, and older kids can enjoy the various activities and shore excursions. A visit to the Bahamas is never complete without a souvenir. The colorful open-air market offers clothing and accessories, as well as a variety of local crafts. Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Packages Guide - Cruise Maven Were here to share some insider information about Great Stirrup Cay Bahamas including what you can expect from this port of call. During our visit we were given a tour and told that there were bigger plans in the works for Great Stirrup Cay. Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. Great Stirrup Cay is not Coco Cay. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'shouldbecruising_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_10',602,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0');Food is complimentary on Great Stirrup Cay! The best beach on Great Stirrup Cay will depend on your preferences because they're all beautiful. Bertrams Beach is the main beach where tenders arrive and depart. Have more questions about visiting Great Stirrup Cay? We were considering getting a small cabana and splitting the cost between us and a friend who is also going. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'shouldbecruising_com-leader-2','ezslot_14',603,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-leader-2-0');Tropic Like Its Hot Food Trucks small menu features sandwiches including Mahi Mahi and BBQ pulled pork, ceviche, and grilled spiced chicken breast. Snorkel with sea turtles and colorful fish in warm turquoise waters. Youll also see local fish and plenty of colorful marine-life. Gillian Birch is a full-time travel writer and author of 12 travel books. Read more: Why You Need a Full Face Snorkel Mask for Your Next Cruise. What is your opinion on the cabana vs villa? The advantage of this location is your proximity to the main dining venue, Jumbey Beach Grill, as well as live music from the main stage.