great stirrup cay what is included

Bring cash (US dollars) as many local traders do not accept credit cards or stateroom passes. What is included there? Cruising The Haven & Suites: Perks and Details (Part 2) - NCL Silver Cove Restaurant and Bar offers an upscale buffet with elevated choices such as grilled lobster tail and jumbo shrimp ceviche. The first burial was Captain Allan Bertram (1790-1834), the namesake of Bertrams Cove. We actually just booked a cruise with NCL with a stop in GSC. The cost of the guided kayaking tour is US $55 for adults and $40 for children aged 8 and above. Tenders run continually throughout the day so you can come and go from the island whenever you want. 12 Things to Do at Great Stirrup Cay 1. Thanks in advance for any ideas/guidance! Cabanas on the Cay book up fairly quickly, several months in advance of a cruise, so early booking is strongly recommended. It is dry and sunny in the winter season. 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! And lastly, remember to wear good water shoes. Visiting the Key West Lighthouse and Museum. 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. Rent a Cabana Great Stirrup Cay Shore Excursions 4. CRUISE HIVE LTD 2008-2023. After a brief orientation your guide will help you into a 2-person kayak. The island looks beautiful! Youll return via a 105-foot V-net bridge, a 25-foot chimney climb, and two more long zipline rides. Snorkeling equipment is also provided. Yes, but only a little bit. Theres plenty more to do on Great Stirrup Cay. Catching up with Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection - What's it Like On Board Evrima? Unwind on white-sand beaches and enjoy the many ways to explore paradise. Located at Bertrams Cove, this garden offers snorkelers something to keep them busy with underwater statues of mermaids, sea creatures, fountains and urns. Its completely run by Norwegian Cruise Lines for the enjoyment of its guests. From a distance, the first thing you will notice on the island is the massive lighthouse that towers over everything. Along with all the natural features there are $25 million of facilities and amenities that NCL has built on the island. Pricing for most of their excursions falls within the range of $75-$140/adult and $55-$99/child. 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. This unforgettable stingray encounter will cost $69 for an adult and $49 for a child.. Take a 2 hour Kayaking Tour around Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas. Rentals of beach gear and private cabanas are also handled by the shore excursions desk. All excursions are booked through NCL. The reviews of CocoCay have been phenomenal from visitors, including us. This video shows off the various. However, drink packages do not work at Harvest Caye, Belize. Great Stirrup Cay is a 268-acre (108 ha) [1] island that is part of the Berry Islands in the Bahamas. When it comes to cruising, its hard to beat a port-of-call thats a private island. Prices have been skyrocked. It is named after the British naval commander who settled on Great Stirrup Cay in the 18th century. Bonus: Your spa appointment gets you access to the Silver Cove beach, restaurant, and bars, typically reserved for villa guests. The island features a sweeping shoreline that features several different coves with white sand and gorgeous blue water. 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. Prices for this trip are US $65 for adults and $45 for children aged 8+. Each fully-furnished villa features air conditioning, private bathrooms, and a patio. You can also rent wave runners, standup paddleboards, and floating mats. Elizabeth had been ill and hoped that the climate in Florida, where her brother lived, would help her condition. First and foremost, Great Stirrup Cay is a gem for its beaches. GSC was a pirate hideout (!) Head to the Stirrup Cay Marketplace and youll find a great choice of beachwear, Bahamian crafts and souvenirs. You can read more about me and about Should Be Cruising here. Youll be paddling in clear shallow waters spotting a range of marine creatures including turtles and dolphins if youre lucky in this fun adventure. GitHub export from English Wikipedia. However, if you want more space to stretch out and relax, the minimal upcharge to the larger cabana offers a great value. Dont worry, its not accessible to other cruise lines not owned by Norwegian! Great Stirrup Cay Information Please! - Cruise Critic Community 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. With that in mind, Ive been updating this Ultimate Guide to Great Stirrup Cay about every six months. If you have a WiFi package on board the ship, you wont be able to use it on Great Stirrup Cay. Weve put together everything to know about the island. 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. 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. As a result, in 1863, the British Imperial Lighthouse Service erected the lighthouse on Great Stirrup Cay. The first zip-line is 100 feet long, but its also the highest and scariest. Unlike the Carnival Cheers Program which limits you to 15 alcoholic drinks a day, NCL's drink packages are truly unlimited. If youre looking for even more luxury, Great Stirrup Cays exclusive new Silver Cove area offers private villas for the day. Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian Cruise Line's private island in the Bahamas, offers gorgeous white sand beaches, water sports and activities, and a variety of restaurants and bars. Theyve destroyed the beauty of the island and cheapened in with PAY for items they didnt have earlier. Whichever beach you find yourself at, you are sure to have fun soaking in the sun and playing in the water. Expect lively dancing from the ships entertainment staff, especially at the Bacardi Bar! Additional food and drinks, beyond bottled water, fresh fruit and chips and salsa, will incur an extra charge, though you will receive a $50 credit to use toward beverages and food. There were two early-nineteenth-century burials on the island, and you can visit the tiny cemetery with their memorials. 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. Ships planning to visit Great Stirrup Cay often will cancel during rough sea conditions because its a tender port. Norwegian has a small staff that stays on the island, but there are no permanent residents. When we visited in late November and found the water cool. Tip: If you dont want to spring for a clamshell, get to the island as early as possible. Everything Great Stirrup Cay - Silver Cove (Villa's, Lagoon, Spa Fun fact: The island used to be a pirate hideout; however, weve heard no rumors of buried treasure or pirates curses. Drinks at this bar start at $25, so none are covered by the Premium Beverage Package. Didnt notice. Norwegian Cruise Line is the first cruise line to offer an uninhabited tropical island experience exclusively for its passengers. It's also about 60 miles north of Nassau. On the second flight, youll soar 850 feet out to the next landing, then 900 feet out to return to the starting point. One other great spot is the tender that takes you back and forth from the ship. Great Stirrup Cay Bahamas is owned by Norwegian Cruise Line and can only be visited as a port of call from a NCL cruise. Today, Norwegian Cruise Line actually operates a couple, including Harvest Caye in the Caribbean and Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas. However, part of NCLs improvement plan for the future includes a swimming pool complex and water features including a lazy river. Since its so easily accessible, its always the most crowded beach as well. Other activities to look forward to include renting a stand-up paddle-board at US$25 for an hour. Check out beautiful paintings, wooden carvings, clothing, woven items, jewelry and sculptures to take home. . Or upgrade to a Premier Cabana with room for eight guests. Grill: Right near the buffet is a spot where staff cooks up jerk chicken and other goodies that you can get fresh off the grill. 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. 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 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. But the biggest price hikes have been with the luxury experiences in Silver Cove. It is a series of three flights starting 130 feet above ground from a replica lighthouse (not the historic real lighthouse on the island!) Lagoon Villas start at $799 and accommodate eight guests, with up to two additional guests charged at $49 each. 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. On Great Stirrup Cay, the main bars include Bacardi Bar, Bertram's Bar and Patron Bar, specializing in various frozen beachy concoctions. Happy Cruising!! Great Stirrup Cay (pronounced "key") is Norwegian Cruise Line's private island in the Bahamas. Currently there is no pier or quay on Stirrup Cay so tenders (small motor boats) are used to transport cruisers ashore. Theyll encourage guests to come up and dance with them. Treatment rooms open to the secluded beach on the north side of the lagoon. Two lounge chairs with a beach umbrella will be reserved for you at the beach. Cabanas have a front porch and include comfortable furnishings, side tables and bottled water. Erica Silverstein is a cruise and family travel expert, who has been covering the industry for more than 15 years. Great Stirrup Cay is in the Bahamas archipelago. Its also about 60 miles north of Nassau. The water there is about waist height. Thanks for stopping by! Although the station was manned for many years, the light is currently fully-automated and solar-powered. If you want to have smaller crowds, head down the beach some, following the path to the other coves. 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). However, you should bring anything you might want for a day at the beach, including things like your swimsuit, sunglasses, sunscreen, and a hat. 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 islands are about 140 miles east of Miami, making it a close port of call for cruises departing the Florida port. These grant you access to a private beach, bars, and restaurant, and come with fresh fruit, snacks, chilled drinks, and food and beverage service. Best Things to Do in Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas 2020 - EatSleepCruise.com 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 staff youll meet during the day on Great Stirrup Cay come over from the ship. Beach wheelchairs with massive inflatable tires are available for you to use for free. Most of this has to do with supply and demand. The same $15 per drink limit applies. 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. Looks like a wonderful place to relax, Yes, the food on Great Stirrup Cay is included with your cruise fare! Board and paddle rentals are $39 per hour, and theres no minimum age requirement, so the whole family can join in. Lagoon One-Bedroom Villas start at $899 and accommodate 10 guests, with up to two additional guests charged at $49 each. As part of their Norwegian Edge program, NCL has spent about $250 million renovating and improving Great Stirrup Cay. The northern part of the island has a sandy beach surrounded by rocks with snorkeling areas. Leased from Belcher Oil Company in 1977 and later purchased outright in 1986, Great Stirrup Cay is a private 268-acre island oasis. The island has no pier, so you must take a tender boat from the ship to the island. It could be, however, they also let Haven passengers in as well. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. If you have a beverage package onboard the ship, it is valid for use on the island. 17 Tips, Tricks and Things to Know About Great Stirrup Cay (Norwegian's One exception is transportation to Silver Cove, since its a bit of a hike from where youll exit your tender. 23K views 6 months ago Join the legend and molly as they show you around great stirrup cay which is norwegian cruise line's private island in the bahamas. Jumbey Beach Grill is the largest dining venue, offering barbecue-style food in a buffet setting. Yes, you can use your Norwegian drink package from the ship on Great Stirrup Cay. The waters around Great Stirrup Cay are crystal clear, and there are plenty of opportunities to snorkel right from the beach. Search over 2.9 million properties and 550 airlines worldwide. Welcome to Great Stirrup Cay, an idyllic private island paradise exclusive to Norwegian guests. You will have to bring your room card and photo ID. Its no wonder the cruise port has so many fun activities to engage in! For a more exclusive experience, Silver Cove offers private furnished villa rentals for 10 with one or 2 bedrooms and on-demand movies. This lighthouse was originally constructed in 1863 by theBritish Imperial Lighthouse Service. You have entered an incorrect email address! Choose a beef, chicken, or fish soft taco, and load it up! Norwegian Expects 103% Occupancy Rate in 2023, Norwegian Cruise Line Gratuities (Tips): Full Guide to Cost & How They Work, Good Deal? Check out the latest web stories from Should Be Cruising! The colorful open-air market offers clothing and accessories, as well as a variety of local crafts. 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. 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. Bertram Beach does gets crowded, especially if there is more than one cruise ship at the island. Note that the operators of this shore excursion dont allow guests to take their own photos (but you can purchase pictures). Keep this in mind when you ask crew members if you or your group member will be allowed to tender. That reduces the waves and the choppy water and makes things perfect for playing in the water, even for small kids. It has a large seating area and a raised stage for the DJs booth who churns out some cool island tunes. Great Stirrup Cay has several coves that run across the length of the island. Peacefully glide along the coastline in a kayak, or soar high into the sky as you zipline across the island. This includes beers, wines, cocktails, and sodas plus juices. Great Stirrup Cay, just like most cruise stops in the Caribbean, enjoys a warm tropical temperature throughout the year. This 90-minute guided tour will take you to the home of huge southern stingrays. The best beach on Great Stirrup Cay will depend on your preferences because they're all beautiful. Behind the cabana, you'll find four floating mats for complimentary all-day use in the ocean and a private shower to rinse off, as well as your very own hammock.