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The first thing I noticed when I pulled back the curtains of my balcony stateroom to get my first glimpse at Great Stirrup Cay wasn’t a beach or vibrant welcome center. It was construction equipment and a pier that were in much need of work.

Norwegian Cruise Line is in the middle of a massive redevelopment of its longtime private island in the Bahamas, and during my visit on March 29, 2026, while on the new Norwegian Luna, it was clear the project is still very much in progress.

The new cruise pier that will eventually allow ships to dock directly at the island isn’t finished yet, but unlike recent arrivals that had to tender to the destination, we were able to pull alongside the structure so guests could walk ashore.

Stepping onto the island, the construction vehicles and work crews were visible across several areas as development continues. And, unless you’re relaxing around one of the lagoons and tucked into the more finished corners of the island, Great Stirrup Cay doesn’t quite feel ready yet.

In fact, cruise line officials were very vague about when it will be ready, saying the waterpark, looking like in its initial phases of construction, should be ready by the end of summer. Other rumblings said the entire project should be complete in 18 months, which would be September 2027.

And yet, despite the cranes, equipment, lack of shops, and partially built arrival areas, it’s already possible to see what Norwegian Cruise Line is aiming for.

Read Also: Great Stirrup Cay: A Full Overview of NCL’s Private Island

Great Stirrup Cay has been part of Norwegian’s story since 1977, making it one of the first private islands owned by a cruise line.

For decades, the experience here was simple: tender ashore, grab a BBQ lunch, swim in the bright Bahamian water, and spend the afternoon on the beach before heading back to the ship.

But with rival and literal next-door private island neighbor Royal Caribbean revamping Perfect Day at CocoCay, NCL is building something far more ambitious.

A Private Island with Room to Spread Out

One of the first things that becomes obvious once you start walking the island is its size. Great Stirrup Cay covers roughly 270 acres, making it significantly larger than Perfect Day at CocoCay, which occupies about 125 acres.

The two islands sit only a few miles apart in the Berry Islands of the Bahamas, and from parts of Great Stirrup Cay, you can actually see CocoCay across the water.

NCL’s pitch is that its island will feel bigger, more spread out, and more refined once the redevelopment is finished.

During my visit, that sense of space was already noticeable. Instead of concentrating everything on one central beach area, the island unfolds in sections: arrival plaza, lagoons, beaches, beach clubs, and private coves situated on long stretches of sand and shallow turquoise water.

Many of the swimming areas are naturally protected, creating calm conditions that make it easy to spend hours in the water.

Welcome Plaza and the Great Life Lagoon

The Welcome Plaza will serve as the main arrival hub once the pier is fully completed. Here, guests will find tram stops designed to connect different parts of the island. From the plaza, a walkway leads across the Panoramic Bridge, which provides a view of the ship anchored.

For most passengers, the Great Life Lagoon will be their resting place, as it is the first access point and the most active. Here, a new 1.4-acre pool area has been added, surrounded by a collection of cabanas ranging from standard rentals to larger Grand Cabanas and more intimate Couples Cabanas offering shaded seating and private space.

Food and drink options are clustered nearby, including Waves Bar, Reef Bar, and Abaco Taco, which serves quick Mexican-style beach fare.

The area also includes a kids’ Splash Harbor and Splash Harbor Bar, along with Tweed’s Tenders, a playful nod to NCL’s long history with the island. It’s also where guests are arriving until the piers are officially ready.

A retail and dining concept called Harborside Market is also planned, although the market was not stocked or open during my visit.

Beaches and Snorkeling

Beyond the lagoon complex, the island transitions into its traditional beach area. This section feels more like the classic version of Great Stirrup Cay with wide sandy beaches facing bright turquoise water.

Here, guests will find Cabanas on the Cay, as well as a set of overwater swings that will be one of the island’s most photographed spots. There’s also an underwater snorkel garden, designed to attract marine life and give guests an easy snorkeling experience close to shore.

This section also houses Ocean Water Equipment Rentals, where guests can pick up kayaks and other gear, as well as the Shore Excursions check-in area.

Dining is centered around Jumbey Beach Grill, continuing the island’s long-standing BBQ beach lunch tradition. Several beach bars are scattered throughout the area as well, ensuring guests rarely have to walk far to find a drink.

Towering above part of the shoreline is the Lighthouse Zipline, which sends riders gliding above the beach with sweeping views across the water. Guests can choose to do a couple of quick ziplines, or the more extended 10-line option, and both are very reasonably priced under $20.

Vibe Shore Club

I spent the majority of my time at the Vibe Shore Club, which offers an adults-focused beach club inspired by the Vibe Beach Club found on several NCL ships, including the brand-new Norwegian Luna.

The club offers day-pass loungers and private cabanas, and the seating here stands out immediately. The loungers are thickly cushioned and noticeably more comfortable than the standard beach chairs found elsewhere on the island.

Plenty of umbrellas provide shade, and the spacing between chairs creates a calmer, more resort-like atmosphere. It’s worth it to pay for the splurge, although there is limited seating, so this sold out for many on my voyage.

A dedicated Vibe restaurant and bar serves food and drinks exclusively for guests enjoying the club.

The Exclusive Silver Cove

The most secluded corner of Great Stirrup Cay is Silver Cove, a private enclave accessible only to guests who purchase Silver Cove access for a pretty penny, or those who book treatments at the Silver Cove Spa.

Interestingly, the spa itself is quite small – just a handful of ocean-view treatment rooms – making a spa appointment a bit of a backdoor way to enjoy access to the otherwise restricted area. But with just those few rooms, bookings will be in high demand.

Silver Cove is built around a peaceful stretch of shoreline and includes the Silver Cove Lagoon, Silver Cove Pool, and Silver Cove Gazebo, along with multiple bars tucked throughout the area, like a Moet & Chandon champagne bar.

The island’s most upscale cabanas are located here as well. These are a collection or private villas ranging from studio units to two-bedroom villas, priced from $999 to $1500 for a daily rental. (The two-bedrooms are a bargain if traveling with a group.)

These villas can be booked two years in advance, so make your move now if you want to land these air-conditioned spaces with bedrooms, showers, kitchens, and living areas, along with large deck spaces with loungers.

What the Island Will Become

Even with several finished areas already open, the most significant parts of Great Stirrup Cay’s redevelopment are still to come.

The new cruise pier will eventually allow two ships to call on the port at the same time. It will be closed until the end of summer, according to NCL executives, meaning arrivals until then will be handled by tender.

Perhaps the most anticipated development will be the large Great Tides waterpark complex, which will add slides and family attractions the island has never offered before.

The park will feature both a thrill and a chill space, and the cruise line is still working on what pricing packages will look like for the park that will span six acres.

Early renderings show the massive waterpark will feature 19 waterslides, including a 170-foot-tall Tidal Tower with eight slides that include racers and tube slides.

Rather than a lazy river, the area will home an 800-foot “Dynamic River,” which will be a faster river ride that features an illuminated, bioluminescent grotto tunnel. 

Cliffside Cove will be the first cliff jumps offered at a private cruise destination, with 10-foot and 15-foot jump options. This area will also feature a four-person family slide – another first in the Caribbean.

Finally, the main area of the waterpark will be the 9,000-square-foot Kids’ Splash Zone, featuring eight mini slides and a 40-foot tipping bucket.

Of course, there will be cabanas available for rentals, and drinks will be available in the waterpark, particularly at the hidden Grotto Bar that executives say will be part of the fun for adults.

Excursions at Great Stirrup Cay

While passengers sailing with NCL will need to pre-book access to much of Great Stirrup Cay’s highlights, there are also a few additional shore excursions provided. Guests can join Wave Runner or kayak tours, or choose a swim with the pigs and snorkel with stingrays option.

My daughter decided to swim with the pigs, which ended up being more of a “pet the pigs” as swimming required guests to hold onto the back of the pigs as they swam, which often meant swimming in the wake of the animals’ poop.

She declined to get in the water with them, although staff were on hand with nets to fish poo out of the water. Instead, she preferred the sting ray encounter, which was an opportunity to somewhat hold and pet a giant stingray, and zip lining.

We were most excited about the upcoming waterpark, as those slides and attractions will certainly offer a full day of fun, but for now Great Stirrup Cays is part beach escape, part construction site.

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