Complete Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) Drink Package Guide, Full Ships! Day 3 - Great Stirrup Cay. 2023 Cruzely.com | Laisman Publishing, LLC, 17 Tips, Answers, and Things to Know About Great Stirrup Cay, Complete Guide to Sailing Norwegian Cruise Line (What Its Like), Royal Caribbean vs. Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL): 10 Major Differences Between The Lines, 17 tips and things to know for the island, 39 Useful Things to Pack (17 You Wouldn't Think Of), Park & Cruise Hotels for Every Port in America, 107 Best Cruise Tips, Secrets, Tricks, and Freebies, Worth It? Everything to Know About Norwegians Free At Sea Sale, What to Do on a Cruise? Lagoon One-Bedroom Villas start at $899 and accommodate 10 guests, with up to two additional guests charged at $49 each. Inside vs outside cabin: What's the best cruise room choice? Whats neat is that aquatic life also takes up residence here so you can see some wildlife in addition to the artwork. Here, you can swim with pigs or stingrays, nap on the beach, or sip on a mojito at the Bacardi Bar. While my wife and I enjoy zoos and aquariums, we avoid excursions that involve swimming with dolphins, sting rays, pigs, or attractions that extort animals. If you want there is a small market with several local vendors selling all sorts of merchandise, from sundresses to sunscreen. Bars on GSC that are open to all guests include the Patrn Bar, Bertrams Bar, Bacardi Bar, and the Lighthouse Beach Bar. Dont worry, its not accessible to other cruise lines not owned by Norwegian! 6. Norwegian has a small staff that stays on the island, but there are no permanent residents. Both locations are equi-distant (30 minute flights), from Nassau the capital of the Bahamas and transportation hub for travellers by air or sea. When you're ready to come up for air, soak up the local flavour at one of the . Both cabana styles offer complimentary bottled water as well as up to four free-floating mats. If you have your heart set on a day on this private island, you might want to consider booking your cruise outside of this season. The two bedroom family suites hold up to 16 guests. It's much more private and luxurious, and you'll have the added benefit of access to the Silver Cove amenities. Tip: If you dont want to spring for a clamshell, get to the island as early as possible. Great tip about not having wifi outside of international cell service. Kayaking is one of several things to do at Great Stirrup Cay (Photo: Norwegian Cruise Line) Because Norwegian Cruise Line's entire private island is family-friendly, Great Stirrup Cay makes no distinction between family beaches and adult beaches. If youd like to buy drinks, you use your cruise card to make your purchases just as you do on the ship. Take a Photo on the Swingsets Prices are based on availability and subject to change. SUP rentals come with a lesson on how to float/ride a paddleboard by a Great Stirrup Cay crew member. Leased from Belcher Oil Company in 1977 and later purchased outright in 1986, Great Stirrup Cay is a private 268-acre island oasis. Fortunately, one of us decided he wasn't interested in getting in the water and was able to take pictures from the patio. Bring a swimsuit and towel. GSC doesnt offer WiFi, but there is a cell tower. Its a fun way to get a little exercise while also being out on the water. If you want to relax in style, then check out one of the open-air cabanas. But yeah, it's not Rose Island, that's nowhere near GSC. Available for purchase through Norwegian, this shore excursion starts at the small marina at Great Stirrup Cay. It will list times and the location where you can pick up tender tickets. Since its so easily accessible, its always the most crowded beach as well. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'shouldbecruising_com-leader-4','ezslot_18',606,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-leader-4-0');If youd prefer to relax ON the water, you can rent a floating mat for $16 a day. Youll no doubt see the new replica lighthouse that NCL uses for ziplining, since its in a very central location. By continuing to browse the site you agree to our use of cookies. Its actually Treasure Island NOT Rose Island. Posted September 19, 2018. These two spots make a great stop if you dont want to eat the buffet thats served or if you simply want to grab a snack. Soar Across Great Stirrup Cay. If you are into Instagram, you wont find a better place for a snapshot. Just started showing up last week in the cruise planners. If you want the best photo of yourself, then Norwegian has you covered. Age and weight restrictions do apply, and cruisers need to wear closed-toe shoes to participate. Photographer will be on site and photos will be available for purchase! Although these smaller beaches are generally where cabana guests go, theyre also open to anyone. They made a . One of the most popular excursions at Great Stirrup Cay is swimming with pigs. The most disappointing instruction? By Cruise Critic makes no endorsements, representations or warranties with respect to the products, organizations or websites referenced in the above article, nor is any warranty created or extended by providing such information, and Cruise Critic shall not be liable for any damages arising therefrom. Located just a short 10-minute boat ride from Norwegian's private island, Great Stirrup Cay, are the Swimming Pigs of Treasure Island!Available for purchase through Norwegian, this shore excursion starts at the small marina at Great Stirrup Cay. A former flight attendant, she now prefers cruise ships over airplanes and spends several months each year cruising and exploring cruise ports. Paddle your way in a kayak through a protected mangrove forest. These boats give you a great unobstructed view of the ship for photos, but there are also photo opportunities on the island. Unlike other private islands, Great Stirrup Cay does not have any kid play areas. When it comes to cruising, it's hard to beat a port-of-call that's a private island. Si crees que nadar entre la fauna de las Bahamas implica la presencia de rayas y delfines, pinsalo otra vez! Villa guests also have access to complimentary floats and beach umbrellas. It doesnt get much more relaxing than to float in the water, drink in hand, on your own private mat. Speaking only for the "original" swimming pigs at Big Majors Cay in the Exumas, it is not an "organized" pig swim. Bonus: Your spa appointment gets you access to the Silver Cove beach, restaurant, and bars, typically reserved for villa guests. The closest inhabited island to Big Mayor Cay is Staniel Cay - a tiny island with a population of around 110 people, but luckily it has an airport. Si bien los cerdos son tan mansos como simpticos, exigen un nivel adecuado de conciencia y respeto por parte de los visitantes. Water Gear: For swimming in The Bahamas in general, bring along 2 - 3 swimsuits, water shoes, a quick-dry towel, a rash guard/sun shirt, and a sun hat. Thankfully, most of the action on the island is centrally located by the main beach at Bertrams Cove. The Bahamas is famous for its swimming pigs, and you can have that experience from Great Stirrup Cay. Most bars and restaurants are in this area, and restrooms are just a quick walk from the beach. Along the way, you'll meet the endangered rock iguana in its natural habitat and explore a thriving reef teeming with vibrant marine life. Im so glad youre here! I'll have my 8 year old son with me and I want to be sure this is something he'd do, especially if I'm going to spend the money on it TIA They love their stomachs to be scratched. Erica Silverstein is a cruise and family travel expert, who has been covering the industry for more than 15 years. Voted "The Caribbean's Leading Cruise Line" 2013-2022 by World Travel Awards, This website uses cookies. Life can be so hectic that it's important to take some time to just relax and enjoy :D, Learning that an island is owned by a Cruise line is surprising. Aguas cristalinas, playas de arena suave, sabrosos brebajes congelados y cerdos adorables? Our Cash Bar offers Beer, Soft Drinks and More! Flexibility to modify or cancel excursions without penalty up to 48 hours prior to arrival into port. The journey is about a mile each way, and you might even spot some local wildlife, including iguanas and hummingbirds on your walk. 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. Hit the Beach. The ships dining venues are open while the ship is anchored off the island, so if youre highly allergic or concerned about dietary restrictions, youll have better luck eating on the ship. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Be warned that on NCL ships, Open Tender generally doesnt start until the afternoon. Swimming with the pigs excursion through Norwegian Cruise Line. However, Norwegian is always updating the island and expanding its attractions, so perhaps a pool will make an appearance someday in the future. Check out the latest web stories from Should Be Cruising! The very first cruise line private island, Great Stirrup Cayis a 268-acre piece of paradise in theBerry Islandsin theBahamas. This excursion actually takes place on a small island off the shore of Great Stirrup Cay, around a 10-minute journey away by speedboat. Norwegian anchors the ship offshore and smaller boats take guests into shore. Today, Norwegian Cruise Line actually operates a couple, including Harvest Caye in the Caribbean and . We're here to answer them. The same excursion can be booked through Royal Caribbean for cruisers stopping at that line's . Was looking though and wondering if the studio villa would be better. Norwegian purchased the island outright in 1986. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'shouldbecruising_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_6',199,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-medrectangle-4-0');You may notice some Royal Caribbean ships as you approach the island. Foot Viewing Deck and also enjoy a refreshing swim in the beautiful blue Bahamian waters. Hamburgers, hot dogs, ribs, and jerk chicken are popular, along with pizza, salads, and corn-on-the-cob. Come swim and interact with the World Famous Swimming Pigs of The Bahamas. Any reviews would be appreciated. Peak hurricane period in the Bahamas lasts from early August until late October. Even the people working at the straw market dont live herethey take the ferry over from nearby Great Harbour Cay. If its been a few years since youve visited the private island, youll be amazed at how much its changed while still retaining its charm. They are slightly larger than the Ocean Villas and are located on the lagoon. The island has two courses featuring six zips and a ropes course of cargo nets, chimney climbs, and V net bridges. By that time, many (if not all) of the restaurants and bars on the island will be closed. It appears that they acquired a few pigs, not feral pigs found on Exuma. Later the island was a military installation, until it was claimed by the oil company that later leased the island to NCL. Wander westward, and youll get to Cabana and Fiesta Beaches, which are flanked by rental cabanasand can be a bit quieter. The ocean swing sets provide a fantastic photo-op if you've been waiting for that picture perfect moment to share on Instagram. If you have a shore excursion that departs from the dock on the south side of the island, shuttles will take you to and from that location. The expansive outdoor patio features several padded lounge chairs, outdoor couch, and a dining table for eight. Currently, GSC doesnt have a swimming pool. We actually just booked a cruise with NCL with a stop in GSC. These villas have a separate bedroom with king-size bed in addition to the living area, with a dining table on the patio. If you want to know one of the most popular activities on the island, look to the lighthouse. Rentals of beach gear and private cabanas are also handled by the shore excursions desk. Each group of cabanas is located close to small beaches that are often far less crowded than the main beach. Whats a cruise without eating? Sabas que los cerdos son ms inteligentes que los perros? Thanks for stopping by! Youre in for a pleasant surprise because Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian's private island, is the ideal place foran idyllic beach getaway, with plenty to do and little hassle. Este sitio web usa cookies. Dont miss our 17 tips and things to know for the island. Dont forget to check out these resources before your Caribbean cruise on Norwegian Cruise Line: Have you visited Great Stirrup Cay on a Norwegian cruise? The pigs arent on GSC itself, but on nearby Treasure Island. This lighthouse was originally constructed in 1863 by theBritish Imperial Lighthouse Service. Jumbey Beach Grill is the largest dining venue, offering barbecue-style food in a buffet setting. While tenders run back and forth all day, youll need to wait in line on either end for boats to arrive and disembark passengers before you can board. 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. Hope you have a fantastic cruise! All Norwegian Bahamas cruises in 2023 include a day at Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian's private island reserved for our cruise passengers. If you want to visit the swimming pigs, you have two options: you can base yourself on Staniel Cay (from where you can get to the pigs in only ten minutes! A Premier Cabana is priced from $449. Norwegian Cruise Line lists a Swim with the Pigs excursion departing from its Bahamas Great Stirrup Cay private island, an experience described on the cruise line's blog. By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critics, Swimming Pigs Excursion on a Bahamas Cruise, The Bahamas As You've Never Seen It, From A Luxury Crystal Cruise, 8 Perfect Cruise Line Private Islands for Every Type of Traveler, Whale Watching and Other Natural Shore Excursions in the Mexican Riviera: Just Back From Majestic Princess, Havana Cabanas on Carnival Vista and Horizon, Family Cruise Tips from a Disney Mediterranean Cruise, How to Rent Camera Equipment for Your Cruise of a Lifetime. Cruise Overview Cruise Itinerary Cabins & Prices Ship Information. What is your opinion on the cabana vs villa? Do Some Souvenir Shopping Really interesting. After your lesson, paddle around beautiful Bertram's Cove. If youre looking for even more luxury, Great Stirrup Cays exclusive new Silver Cove area offers private villas for the day. It quickly became apparent that the pigs are most interested in the apples. Read more: Everything You Need to Know About Tender Ports on a Cruise. And theyre usually a lot less crowded! First and foremost, Great Stirrup Cay is a gem for its beaches. This 1.5-hour adventure brings you up-close with swimming pigs as you watch them swim at a private island. Breathe in the salty air as you ride in a boat across electric-blue waters surrounded by wide-open ocean scenery. The island features a sweeping shoreline that features several different coves with white sand and gorgeous blue water. Great Stirrup Cay offers paddle boarding around the island. Im Carrie Ann, the writer behind Should Be Cruising. After disembarking, you're taken up to an expansive wooden deck, complete with ample tables & seating, for an introduction and safety briefing. Now, people flock to these beaches to see and feed the pigs. There, visitors can swim with the pigs and feed them, or watch them from the observation deck. The menu at Abaco Taco is obviously taco-centric. Bahamas: Exumas_Big Majors Cay_Swimming Pigs (anchor) Bahamas: Galliot Cut WP_On Exumas Banks; Bahamas: Conch Cay Cut WP Exit; Thu 8 Mar 10:30 . Bahamas: Travel by boat across crystal-clear blue waters, delighting in the beautiful scenery among the Berry Islands. A staff member handed us a skewer and two apple pieces, and even as we put an apple onto the skewer a pig spotted the juicy morsel and quickly swam over. The list of ships cruising to Great Stirrup Cay continues to grow. A staunch advocate of cruising as an ideal family vacation, she has, on occasion, banned her own children from cruising with her. Powered by Invision Community. Want a souvenir magnet? To get to the lighthouse, walk back and to the left of the tenders and look for the Lighthouse Trail. We booked it for cruise on the Escape in November. These include a snorkel excursion on a catamaran boat, zip lining, wave runner tours, a stingray encounter, and a guided kayak tour in two-person kayaks. Additionally, there's concern that tourists are hurting the feral population, which in 2017 lost seven pigs to unknown causes. Rentals run for $39/hr per person. Home / Norwegian Cruise Line (Great Stirrup Cay) / 2023 / 4. Head to the beach closest to the ship and youll find a viewing platform that you can climb to take a photo. Hit the Beach As well, the Bacardi Bar in the middle of Great Stirrup Cay has an area that can give you a great view of the ship and the islands coastline. Snorkeling equipment is also provided. Whats your favorite excursion on Great Stirrup Cay? It's easy to get caught up in chasing after a pig, but you don't want to go too fast -- unseen rocks can easily cause an injury. For something different, belly up to the Abaco Taco bar for Mexican food made to order. Classic Cabanas are located on Fiesta Beach, closest to the Silver Cove villas. SUP is easy to learn, and the staff will give you pointers before sending you out to paddle around Bertrams Cove. The nearly 80-foot (24 m) lighthouses beam is visible for over 20 miles! During these shore excursions, cruisers get into the water with the pigs, feed them apples and scratch their backs and tummies. That means you can enjoy a relaxing day with no worriesabout aggressive vendors or sharing the sand with a bunch of strangers. Explore the waters of Great Stirrup Cay by stand-up paddle board (SUP) or kayak. These are at Pig Beach (Big Major Cay) on Exuma Island or at Piggyville (No-Name Cay) on Abaco Island. Quin lo dira! They make the perfect spot to grab a photo for Instagram. The best snorkeling spots in Bertrams Cove are easily accessible from the main beach. I would love to learn more about life on the island for the people employed by the cruise line. If youre not sure exactly where to go, just ask the staff at Susans Rock Snorkel Center. What did you think of the island? And because of the islands shape, the shore is naturally protected, meaning that the water is almost always calm. here in Kentucky, we can swim with the pigs and get a mud bath at the same time! Definitely take some closed-toe walking shoes if you want to do this short hike. I thought that is what I was doing at the pool when I was on the Scape last year Im not above doing something touristy, but pigs on beach in Exuma is not the same as some pigs NCL put on a beach. Visit the swimming pigs of Exuma on a luxury tour boat as we see all of the cays along the way. You can rent an open-air cabana on the island, starting at $449 for a Classic Cabana that will accommodate six people. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. .css-18jw8gc{-webkit-appearance:none;-moz-appearance:none;-ms-appearance:none;appearance:none;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;-webkit-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;user-select:none;position:relative;white-space:nowrap;vertical-align:middle;outline:2px solid transparent;outline-offset:2px;line-height:1.2;border-radius:var(--chakra-radii-md);transition-property:var(--chakra-transition-property-common);transition-duration:var(--chakra-transition-duration-normal);height:auto;min-width:var(--chakra-sizes-10);font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);background:none;border:0;color:black;display:inline;margin:0px;padding:0!important;font-family:var(--chakra-fonts-Roboto);font-weight:500;padding-top:0.625rem;padding-bottom:0.625rem;-webkit-padding-start:1rem;padding-inline-start:1rem;-webkit-padding-end:1rem;padding-inline-end:1rem;}.css-18jw8gc:focus-visible,.css-18jw8gc[data-focus-visible]{box-shadow:var(--chakra-shadows-outline);}.css-18jw8gc:disabled,.css-18jw8gc[disabled],.css-18jw8gc[aria-disabled=true],.css-18jw8gc[data-disabled]{opacity:0.4;cursor:not-allowed;box-shadow:var(--chakra-shadows-none);}.css-18jw8gc:active,.css-18jw8gc[data-active]{border:var(--chakra-borders-none);background:none;}.css-18jw8gc:hover,.css-18jw8gc[data-hover]{border:var(--chakra-borders-none);background:none;}.css-18jw8gc:focus,.css-18jw8gc[data-focus]{border:var(--chakra-borders-none);outline:2px solid transparent;outline-offset:2px;box-shadow:var(--chakra-shadows-none);}Cookie Consent, Cruise Itinerary Changes: 5 Stages of Grief, 10 Ways to Relax on a Port-Intensive Cruise, 4 Underwater Alternatives to Snorkelling and Diving, Can I Cruise While Pregnant? Youll be able to fit a cell phone, cash, and your license inside while you enjoy the water. The main beach area is the easternmost section of the islands developed area and closest to the tender pier. Its an open-air shelter with comfortable indoor/outdoor seating and comes with four complimentary floating mats. Travel to a private isle nestled among the northern Berry Islands. The island has several bars spread throughout the beach areas. Great Stirrup Cay isn't Norwegian Cruise Line's only island venture. Cabana and villa guests have a food truck option close to them called Tropic Like Its Hot. We enjoyed the shore excursion overall despite some of the disappointments, but found the price (nearly $100) too high for what the actual experience was. 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.
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