The Bahamas · Cruise port guide
Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas
Norwegian Cruise Line’s private island in the Berry Islands — the industry’s first, tender-served, with a quiet beach and a lagoon.
Port basics
Getting ashore
Tender port
Berth to town
There is no town. The beach and facilities are a short walk from the tender landing.
Time in port
Typically 6–8 hours, shortened at both ends by tendering
Cruise season
Calls year-round
Currency
Purchases run on the onboard account; no cash needed
Language
English
Time zone
Eastern Time (UTC−5, UTC−4 in summer)
Nearest airport
Lynden Pindling International, Nassau (NAS) — About 90 km south — not reachable on a port call
These are the patterns Great Stirrup Cay normally operates on. Berth assignments, tender arrangements and time in port vary by ship, line and day, and we confirm the specifics for your sailing once we know the dates.
About Great Stirrup Cay
Great Stirrup Cay was bought by Norwegian Caribbean Line in 1977 and was the first private island in the cruise industry — every other line’s version descends from it. It sits in the Berry Islands, a few kilometres from Royal Caribbean’s CocoCay.
It has been redeveloped in stages rather than all at once, most visibly with the addition of Silver Cove, a separate beach club area with overwater cabanas and a dedicated restaurant. The main beach, buffet and swimming areas remain included in the fare.
Tendering still governs the day. Unlike CocoCay a few kilometres away, there is no pier, so a full ship moves ashore by boat. Plan the group’s meeting time around that, and expect the last tender back to be earlier than a docked port would require.
The island is quieter and less built than CocoCay, which some groups prefer. There is no water park and no headline attraction — it is a beach day with a buffet, and it works on those terms.
Going ashore in Great Stirrup Cay
Within reach on foot
- The main beach and swimming area
- A complimentary buffet lunch pavilion
- A straw market and bar areas
- Bertram’s Bar and the lagoon area
What the port is known for
- Silver Cove, a separate beach club with overwater cabanas
- Snorkelling over the inshore reef
- Kayaks, paddleboards and floating mats
- Zip line over the beach on some sailings
How ships berth here
Ships anchor offshore and tender passengers to the island. A pier has been discussed as part of ongoing development, but tendering should be assumed when planning a group’s morning.
Access and mobility
The tender is the main constraint. Ashore, paths are largely flat with some sand sections, and beach wheelchairs are usually available.
Weather and when ships call
Warm year-round, 22–27°C in winter and 28–32°C in summer. Limited natural shade on the beach.
Cruise season
Calls year-round
Typical itinerary length
Great Stirrup Cay usually appears on 3–5 nights The Bahamas itineraries. Sails year-round.
Ports often paired with Great Stirrup Cay
Itineraries that call here usually call at these too, so it is worth reading them together when you are comparing weeks.
CocoCay
Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Berry Islands, with a pier, the Caribbean’s tallest waterslide and a very large freshwater pool.
Nassau
The Bahamian capital and the most-called port in the world, with a rebuilt terminal that opens directly onto the historic town.
Castaway Cay
Disney’s private island in the Abacos — the only major private island where ships dock rather than tender, with a separate adults-only beach.
Explore further
The Bahamas cruises
Short sailings from Florida to Nassau, Freeport and the cruise lines’ private islands — the easiest first cruise for a group.
Cruise ports in Bahamas
Every Bahamas port we cover, with seasons, berthing and shore access.
All cruise ports
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Bringing a group to Great Stirrup Cay?
We hold five cabins or more together as a single block, quote it once, and let each household book and pay separately. Tell us roughly when and how many.