Great Stirrup Cay Bahamas NCL private island

600 Cruises availables At departure or passage at this port

Norwegian Cruise Line (596 Cruises)

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156 tons
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Norwegian Cruise Line Breakaway Ship

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Norwegian Dawn

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Norwegian Line Epic cruise Ship

Norwegian Epic

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norwegian cruise line escape ship

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Norwegian Getaway Cruise Ship

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Norwegian Jewel Cruise Ship

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Cruise NCL Norwegian Cruise Line Joy Ship

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Cruise NCL Norwegian Cruise Line Luna Ship

Norwegian Luna

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Cruise NCL Norwegian Cruise Line Viva Ship

Norwegian Viva

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Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas | Guide des escales de croisière

In 1977, Norwegian Cruise Line purchased an islet north of the Berry Islands and invented, without knowing it, a concept the entire industry would copy: the private island reserved for passengers. Nearly half a century later, Great Stirrup Cay remains the dean of these exclusive destinations, and it has just changed scale: a deep-water dock now allows ships to moor directly, where generations of cruisers have known the shuttle queues.

Disembarking Dry

The new dock, inaugurated late in 2025, welcomes two ships at once. You descend the gangway and find yourself already on the island: this detail changes the entire day, since comings and goings become unrestricted. Those wanting to dine in the cool aboard or retrieve a forgotten sweater do so without constraint. The landing gives directly onto the shaded paths of the central sector, where you collect towels and information before choosing your spot for the day. A tram circles the entire site to spare some the walk and others the sunburn.

Three Coves, Three Atmospheres

The main shore, facing the historic anchorage, concentrates lounge chairs, umbrellas and food pavilions, all included in the cruise. Moving eastward, the coves become quieter; palmettos replace loudspeakers and you hear the waves again. Hammocks swing between the trunks—first come, first served. Swimmers comfortable with mask and snorkel find their fortune along the reefs close offshore, frequented by parrotfish and sergeant-majors. Equipment rents on-site, as do kayaks and paddleboards. The less athletic will wade to their knees: the slope is so gentle one walks long before losing footing.

The Lagoon and Optional Pleasures

The Great Life Lagoon, a vast fresh-water pool opened in 2025, lines its bars where you order without leaving the water, its splash area for children and rows of shaded chairs. Around it, the optional offerings have grown: private cabanas, zip-line over the shore, encounters with rays. A friendly tip: Bahamas sun offers no mercy, and free shaded zones fill early. Arriving early remains the day's best strategy. As for food, the midday barbecue—burgers, grilled chicken, salads and fruits—is served under several pavilions to avoid long lines.

The Forgotten Lighthouse of 1863

Few passengers know the islet bears a stone tower raised by the British in 1863 to guide imperial steamers through Providence Passage. The path climbing to it crosses a scrub of salt-tolerant shrubs where terns nest; from the hilltop, the view embraces the turquoise of the Bahamas bank on one side and ink-blue open sea on the other. Ten minutes' walk suffices to touch a piece of history most visitors never learn, punch glass in hand.

Pacing Your Day

Great Stirrup Cay suits both extremes: doing nothing at all or filling every hour. Between morning swimming, midday barbecue served under the pavilions and an afternoon nap in a hammock, time flies faster than one thinks. As the ship weighs anchor, the islet empties of its thousands of guests and returns to terns and hermit crabs. That may be the particular charm of this call: an entire day where the only difficult decision is choosing between turquoise water and a hammock—and where one can, without remorse, choose both.

Frequently Asked Questions

Alongside. A deep-water pier opened at the end of 2025 now takes two ships at a time, where generations of cruisers queued for tenders. You walk down the gangway and you are already on the island.
The oldest of the cruise private islands. In 1977 Norwegian Cruise Line bought this cay at the north of the Berry Islands and, without realising it, invented a concept the whole industry would copy.
The main beach and its food pavilions, the Great Life Lagoon, snorkelling on the reefs close to shore, or the walk up to the 1863 lighthouse. A tram runs from one end of the site to the other to save the walking.
A large freshwater pool opened in 2025, with swim-up bars, a splash area for children and rows of shaded chairs.
The main beach with loungers and umbrellas, and the midday barbecue of burgers, grilled chicken, salads and fruit, served under several pavilions to avoid long lines. Private cabanas, the zip line and stingray encounters cost extra.
A stone tower raised by the British in 1863 to guide imperial steamers through the Providence Channel. Ten minutes' walk gets you there; from the top of the rise, the view takes in the turquoise of the Bahama Bank on one side and the inky blue of the open sea on the other.
Yes. The reefs close to shore are frequented by parrotfish and sergeant majors, and gear rents on site, as do kayaks and paddleboards. The bottom shelves so gently that you can wade a long way before losing your footing.
Yes, heading east. The coves grow calmer, palms replace loudspeakers and you can hear the waves again. Hammocks swing between the trunks, first come first served.
The Bahamian dollar, at par with the US dollar, and English. On the island everything is settled with the ship's card.
Yes. The lagoon splash area, the shallow water at the main beach and the freedom to go back aboard whenever you like, thanks to the pier, make the day much easier with young children. One tip: arrive early, as the free shaded areas go fast.