Cruises to Great Stirrup Cay

1,424 Reviews
Great Stirrup Cay (Photo:Roman Stetsyk/Shutterstock)

About Cruising to Great Stirrup Cay

Perhaps the most famous occupant of Great Stirrup Cay -- located in the Bahamas' Berry Islands chain, 130 nautical miles due east of Fort Lauderdale -- was Captain Bertram of the British Navy. Native Americans, pirates and members of the Spanish and American armed forces have also inhabited the cay throughout its history.

Norwegian Cruise Line purchased the 250-acre island in 1977 and has invested in several significant updates throughout the years, including the introduction of a zipline and exclusive villa area in 2019. The sun, the food, the vibe (lots of rum cocktails are served) and the snorkeling make this a perfect day off the ship.

The ship anchors outside of port and uses tenders to transfer passengers to and from shore. The tender journey lasts approximately 10 minutes and once ashore, it's less than a two-minute walk from the dock to the information kiosk, where excursions can also be booked. Restrooms and beach wheelchairs are located nearby.

  • More about Great Stirrup Cay

  • Why Cruise to Great Stirrup Cay?

  • Good to Know?

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Norwegian Encore
Norwegian Encore (Photo: Norwegian Cruise Line)

7 Night
Eastern Caribbean - Miami

424 Reviews
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Norwegian Epic
Norwegian Epic

7 Night
Eastern Caribbean - Port Canaveral

4,409 Reviews
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Norwegian Joy
Norwegian Joy (Photo: Norwegian Cruise Line)

2 Night
Bahamas - Short

495 Reviews
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Oceania Vista
Oceania's new Vista docked alongside in Valletta, Malta on May 8, 2023 (Photo: Aaron Saunders)

12 Night
Bermuda Cruise

82 Reviews
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7 Night
Eastern Caribbean - Port Canaveral

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7 Night
Eastern Caribbean - Port Canaveral

4,409 Reviews
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9 Night
Eastern Caribbean - Miami

2,154 Reviews
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7 Night
Eastern Caribbean - Port Canaveral

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2 Night
Bahamas - Short

2,042 Reviews
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14 Night
Caribbean - Other Product

330 Reviews
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7 Night
Western Caribbean - Port Canaveral

4,409 Reviews
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Cruise Critic Favorite

14 Night
Repo - Transatlantic

2,401 Reviews
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4 Night
Bahamas & Florida - Tampa

2,355 Reviews
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Cruise Critic Favorite

14 Night
Transpacific Cruise

3,046 Reviews
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10 Night
Eastern Caribbean - Miami

3,879 Reviews
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More about Great Stirrup Cay

Why Cruise to Great Stirrup Cay?

Pros:

Norwegian's privately owned Bahamian island features an underwater snorkel garden, massive zipline, taco bar and upscale villas

Cons:

Having to share the island with thousands; no dedicated kids play areas

Bottom Line:

Its white-sand beaches and turquoise sea are heaven for a day of R&R in the sun

Good to Know?

There are plans to install lockers on the island, but for the moment it's best to leave valuables on the ship. A medical center is centrally located, not far from the buffet.

To avoid nasty cuts and scrapes underfoot, it's worth packing some water shoes in your luggage. Great Stirrup Cay is famed for its coral and while it's pretty to look at, if you go swimming or snorkeling, it's dangerous to stand on.

Your room key is needed to buy drinks and shore excursions during your stay on the island. However, the local straw market is cash only. If you'd like to shop, make sure to bring small denominations of Bahamian or U.S. dollars. Credit cards won't be accepted on the island and there are no ATMs.

What Sets It Apart?

With the addition of swanky Silver Cove and a lack of dedicated kids areas, Great Stirrup Cay is decidedly more teen- and adult-focused than private islands from other cruise lines. (It presents quite a contrast to the towering brightly colored water slides visible at Royal Caribbean's Perfect Day at CocoCay next door.) The overwater swings found throughout the island are clearly intended for playful adults taking selfies than frolicking children -- and bars are plentiful.

Amenities?

Rentals:

Beach loungers are available to all, but if you want shade, you can rent an umbrella or clam shell.

Snorkel gear, foam floats and stand-up paddle-boards are available to rent at the Rental Center, close to the tender piers. Towels are not available on the island; you must bring them from the ship.

Transportation:

Terrain is largely sandy, but a concrete boardwalk runs across most of the island. No shuttles are available unless you need have booked a villa at Silver Cove or a spa treatment at the Mandara Spa.

Kids Club:

There is no kids club area or babysitting on Great Stirrup Cay, but children will enjoy playing on the beach, making use of water toys and racing down the zipline. There are kid-friendly activities and shore excursions, but no water slides, kid pools or playgrounds.

Wedding Packages:

At this time, passengers cannot get married on Great Stirrup Cay.

Wi-Fi:

Wi-Fi is not available on Great Stirrup Cay.

Accessibility:

Passengers with mobility issues can be met at the tender dock with a beach wheelchair by request.


Great Stirrup Cay Cruise Reviews
Great Stirrup Cay was good. Lots of chairs. Plenty of free food. The ride from the ship to Great Stirrup Cay was about ten minutes and not twenty. It was clean and there were activities.Read More
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VillageAuthor
Great Stirrup Cay turned out to be a delightful surprise. From the moment we set foot on its soft, beautiful sand until our return to the ship, the experience was thoroughly enjoyable. We chose to explore the far sidRead More
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Gone Cruisin
I absolutely LOVED Great Stirrup Cay! The water was clear and cool, and calm, and I loved the fact that there were plenty of beach chairs there. I only wish we had had more time to enjoy the island!Read More
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britterin329
Great Stirrup Cay, the NCL private island, was nice, but the water was full of seaweed. DON'T follow the crowd! If you turn left and walk a little way, there are many more chairs, and the water is much cleaner.Read More
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JMS52

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