Great Stirrup Cay Photo Tour and Commentary page 1

Its all about ships
and more

GREAT
STIRRUP
CAY

PHOTO TOUR AND
COMMENTARY

OVERVIEW
(Page 1)

Great Stirrup Cay is an island owned by Norwegian
Cruise Line (NCL), which it has developed as a port of
call for Norwegian ships on Bahamian and Caribbean
cruises. Ships anchor off shore and guests are taken to
the island by tender to enjoy the beaches, facilities and
water sports available on the island. A barbecue lunch
is provided and bar service is available. It is a very
popular stop with the vast majority of the passengers
going ashore for some part of the day.
       The island is located in the Berry Island chain of
the Bahamas and is about 120 miles east of Fort
Lauderdale and 50 miles northwest of Nassau. It is next
to Royal Caribbean’s private island Coco Cay (see
photo tour).
       Altogether Great Stirrup Cay is 250 acres,
although most of it is undeveloped. Besides the NCL
facilities, there is an unmanned automated lighthouse on
the island. Great Stirrup Cay is uninhabited except for
people working for Norwegian.
     Consistent with Norwegian's Freestyle cruising
philosophy, guests are free to structure their own day on
the island. The line does offer some organized shore
excursions, however. (See shore excursions from one
cruise)
     Guests can make use of the beaches, the deck chairs,
hammocks, volleyball court, ping pong tables, and the
nature trail for free. There also is no charge for the
barbecue lunch. There is a charge for bar service,
snorkeling equipment, party rafts and mats, beach
massages, the Hippo Slide, clam shell shelters and the
Eco Tour boat.
     All charges except for purchases made at the island’
s Bahamian Straw Market, are placed on the guest’s
onboard account. Purchases at the Straw Market are
made in cash using U.S. dollars.
     The bulk of the island’s facilities surround a
sheltered cove. There is plenty of white sand and shade
from tall palm trees. It has the feel of a casual island
beach front rather than a developed structured resort.
     Great Stirrup Cay has a lengthy history. There is
evidence that it was inhabited by the Lucayan Indians
around 600 AD who attempted to farm its rocky soil.
Spanish explorers arrived in the late 15th century
followed by the British in the 1600s. Because of its
sheltered cove, the island was also used as a base by
pirates. They were displaced in the 19th century by
slave traders and there are still structures from this
period hidden in the jungle.
     During the American Civil War, the island was used
by Federal forces seeking to intercept Confederate
blockade runners.   Similarly, in World War II, the
island was used as an American base combating
German submarines that were active in the Caribbean..
     Following World War II, Great Stirrup was used by
the United States Air Force as a satellite tracking
station. Some remains of those facilities can still be
seen on the island.
      In 1977, Norwegian purchased the island from the
Belcher Oil Company and became the first cruise line to
offer its own private island experience. The line made
extensive improvements to the island in 1988.
     Norwegian announced in March 2010, that it plans
to make in excess of $20 million in improvements to
Great Stirrup Cay. These improvements are to be done
in two phases and will be completed by late 2011.
     In the first phase a new channel was dug and a new
landing area for the tenders created along with a
marina. In the second phase, a string of new
infrastructure and landscaping enhancements are being
made. Already completed are: new dining facilities; a
new straw market; and a larger sports area. Under
constructions are: a new children’s area; a cruise
program activity area; private beach front cabanas; and
other enhancements. The line has implemented wave
runner and kayak tours and has plans for an aqua park
and a sting ray encounter experience.

BEACHES, SPORTS FACILITIES
AND ACTIVITIES IS NEXT

CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE THE TOUR

The shoreline around Great Stirrup Cay is a mixture of sandy
beaches and rocky coast.

The Straw Market is a Bahamian style market that sells souvenirs and
clothing.

The part of the island
which has been developed
and which is currently in
use by passengers is
sheltered by tall coconut
palm trees. These trees
are not native to the
Bahamas but rather stem
from 19th century
attempts to cultivate and
manufacture palm oil in
the islands.

The great bulk of supplies and the manpower for
a day at Great Stirrup Cay is provided by the
ship that is calling at the island. Long before
any passenger goes ashore, the supplies are
marshaled next to the shell doors in the side of
the ship. They are then loaded by hand onto
large tenders (- - some of which used to be
onboard the legendary SS Norway). The crew
members and supplies are then taken to the
developed area of the island.

As part, of the 2010-2011 improvements, NCL
cut a channel into a second sheltered cove and
created a marina. This improvement enables
passengers to step from the tenders onto a dock
rather than land on the beach John Wayne-style.