Great Stirrup Cay (Cruise Line Private Island), Bahamas Port Reviews

Got a clamshell, they are in multiple rows and we were near the back, so it was a waste. Couldn't sit and watch kids at same time. Otherwise, beach was beautiful

Visited: Mar 24, 2019

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It would be great if accommodations could be arranged for scooters on the island to enable persons with mobility impairments to be able to go there. My wife was unable to go because of her disability, but probably could have gone if there were scooters available for the stay there.

Visited: Mar 08, 2017

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Have been stopping here for 25 years and not much done to it in all that time. Long lines at the bars, Beach so rocky that at low tide you get all banged up trying to get out to deeper water. and not much to do and always waiting for tenders. I would rather pass this up for a stop somewhere else.

Visited: Nov 23, 2019

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Great island, best part of the trip. So glade we got to visit the island. Plenty of food, sun, and chairs. Water was clear and refreshing. Can not wait to visit again.

I wasn’t able to get to this port because the waters were too choppy when we got there and the risk was not worth it. There were a group of people at the island but had to come back to the ship because it wasn’t safe to stay there. The waters were really rough. The scenery was still pleasant and it didn’t bother me that we didn’t stop because it was never a garuantee that you’ll get to the island. What I do think Norwegian should do is have a different route for the winter months. Because during the winter months I can see the waters being more choppy versus during the summer. So maybe having a different route for the winter months can be something to look into.

Only did an hour here. The seas changed quickly so we had to be emergently evacuated. Based on our ride back to the ship on the tender and the difficulty the crew had making it safe for us to get off the tender, I can understand why the had to do that even on a beautiful sunny day. We had rented a large cabana. For the few minutes we spent there I believe we would have loved it. The only problem we encountered was an untreated nest of fire ants by the shower. 2 of us were attacked and bitten. I have read other posts mentioning the fire ants by the cabanas. Not sure about the solution there but I hope NCL is looking into one. The construction on the island was disappointing/distracting but not a deal breaker. Everyone was refunded their excursion money plus $18 each for missing the port.

Kayaking tour was really fun, despite the high winds. Quiet day otherwise. Tendering was quick on the way to the island. A little patience needed on the way back, as the tender won’t leave the island until it’s full.

My first cruise! It was amazing. Beautiful and not too crowded. Some people stayed on ship, others went to a lagoon while we went to the main snorkeling area. Free food was offered on the island. It was like going to a barbecue. We really enjoyed this port!!

Sadly, I rate this island a 3! It was a huge disappointment considering it is owned by NCL and they’ve owned it for 30+ years!! First thing we saw while approaching the island by water tender was tons of construction, equipment & just an unattractive mess! There was absolutely no beauty to this island to it to give it a tropical feel. It was pretty much all sand, rock and hardly any green grass! NCL is really slacking with the look of this island, it doesn’t even begin to compare with Cocoa Cay private island that the other cruise lines use. There’s hardly any grass area or palm trees to lounge under let alone hammocks to lay out in under the trees like Cocoa Cay island has. Let’s not forget it was so overly crowded (2 NCL ships in at once) that you couldn’t even find beach chairs or enjoy the water since it was so crowded. They even ran out of the water mats to rent for out in the water. The only thing NCL may have going for them with the island is the restaurants they offer if you don’t want food from the meal lines & of course the ample amount of covered pavilions with tables for eating. We even walked through and looked at the meal lines and even they were unimpressive, nothing compared to what the other cruise lines serve at there islands. We opted to eat when we got back on the ship for a better variety of food. Over all our experience lasted an hour before we had enough and went back to the ship to enjoy our time instead of the crowded island. It was definitely not like we expected and a very big disappointment!!

What can you really say that already hasn't been said. This is the place that made me fall in love with the Caribbean. The views are just spectacular. Perfectly clear water, sunshine and soft sand. Love, love, love.