Classic Cabanas are located on Fiesta Beach, closest to the Silver Cove villas. Travel to a private isle nestled among the northern Berry Islands. Most of Norwegians ships sail to Great Stirrup Cay at some point in their careers, usually as part of Bahamas or Caribbean cruises. Starting about an hour before the buffet opens, youll see open grills where the staff cooks up the jerk chicken fresh. Travel to a private isle nestled among the northern Berry Islands. Take the Skyride to Paradise Point for awe-inspiring views. Speaking only for the "original" swimming pigs at Big Majors Cay in the Exumas, it is not an "organized" pig swim. Prices have been skyrocked. Photographer will be on site and photos will be available for purchase! After the hair-whipping ride over to the island on a 15-person speedboat, we arrived at the tiny Treasure Island. Weve mentioned the food trucks. You're even able to purchase photos to remember your time with them. The beach is completely free to enjoy, including thousands of lounge chairs available for you to use. What did you think of the island? if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'shouldbecruising_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_10',602,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0');Food is complimentary on Great Stirrup Cay! Im seeing 10 to 15% jumps in pricing for shore excursions in just the past six monthsand thats after the usual annual increases. It was an amazing experience to see this sort of wildlife up close and completely unexpected. Como parte de la excursin, se distribuyen palitos y manzanas entre los visitantes. HomeBlogCruise Tips Cruise News Cruise DestinationsAboutContactResourcesFeatured PressPrivacy PolicyCookie PolicyDisclosure PolicyTerms of Use. If you want to know one of the most popular activities on the island, look to the lighthouse. Its neighbors with Royal Caribbeans private island, Perfect Day at Cococay you can see that island from your ship and the largest Berry Island, Great Harbour Cay. Sin embargo, lo que realmente atrae a estos cerdos es la comida! Or go for a snorkel beneath the sea and discover tropical fish of every colours. Of course, when you take a Bahamas cruise with Norwegian, it becomes that much easier to do! Both locations are equi-distant (30 minute flights), from Nassau the capital of the Bahamas and transportation hub for travellers by air or sea. It is a region known as the Exuma Cays. GSC doesnt offer WiFi, but there is a cell tower. The truck serves a limited menu of sandwiches and Caribbean-themed lunch items, plus dessert. were changing far more frequently. Prices vary depending on which villa you choose: Rent a Floating Mat You don't actually swim with pigs. 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. Hogs & kisses from Great Stirrup Cay! When your heart is as full as a pigs belly, its time to head back to Great Stirrup Cay and induce some serious swine envy amongst your friends and family! 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Special Event: Q&A with Rudi Schreiner, President, Co-Founder & Co-Owner - AmaWaterways River Cruises, Q&A with Avoya Travel: Learn How to Turn Your Passion into Success by Becoming an Independent Travel Advisor. Hidden beneath the calm ocean is an underwater snorkel garden. We know that pigs can't fly, but who knew that pigs swim? Be sure to bring some cash with you. You'll need at least five hours in port. If you have a WiFi package on board the ship, you wont be able to use it on Great Stirrup Cay. It has been updated to show related itineraries. Whats a cruise without eating? I love the idea of a private island. Top Excursions & Tours At Great Stirrup Cay - Bahamas. The island has several bars spread throughout the beach areas. Leased from Belcher Oil Company in 1977 and later purchased outright in 1986, Great Stirrup Cay is a private 268-acre island oasis. Fun fact: The island used to be a pirate hideout; however, weve heard no rumors of buried treasure or pirates curses. You can pick up Bahamian souvenirs at the small straw market, close to the main beach. It lasts approximately 2 hours. The signal usually works on board the ship when its anchored offshore as well. Your journey begins on the turquoise sea, sailing past uninhabited islands and cays. Water shoes to protect your feet from rocks and coral, Book, magazine, music-playing device and headphones, or other entertainment, Sand toys, beach balls, and other beach-day sports gear. Having food included is one of my favorite parts about cruising :D, Private islands are always the highlight of a cruise for me - they're just so relaxing and a reminder to take things a bit slower. Another option is to purchase a swimming with the pigs shore excursion while on a Bahamas cruise. Non-meat options including nachos, mixed veggies, and french fries were also available. Unfortunately, the distance between the two was great enough that a cellphone camera was going to be hard-pressed to take good photos. Home / Norwegian Cruise Line (Great Stirrup Cay) / 2023 / 4. What is this island, which is a staple on the line's Bahamas and Caribbean cruises? The second zip-line was longer at 600 feet and the final zip at 600 feet long took you back to ground . 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. From there, you can head out into the water and paddle around the beach no matter if you want to stand (paddle boarding) or sit (kayaking). The British Navy captain, commander of HMS Tweed, asked to be buried here facing the beach that he loved. Dont worry, its not accessible to other cruise lines not owned by Norwegian! Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian Cruise Lines private island in the Bahamas, offers gorgeous white sand beaches, water sports and activities, and a variety of restaurants and bars. Fotografas: todas las imgenes, excepto la del encabezado, son cortesa de Tom Roesser. Cruisers heading to the Bahamas can go hog wild by getting in the water with swimming pigs on a ship-sponsored shore excursion from a private island or an independent tour from Freeport. Soar Across Great Stirrup Cay. The list of ships cruising to Great Stirrup Cay continues to grow. If you have an international plan on your phone, you should be able to access cellular data. 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. GREAT STIRRUP CAY & COZUMEL 7 NIGHT CARIBBEAN. After boarding a speedboat, youre quickly whisked away to Treasure Island, a small speck of land within eyesight of Norwegians private island. Taking a cruise to the Bahamas aboard Norwegian? Hi Ronald, if you're on the fence about cabana vs. villa (and don't mind spending a bit more), I'd say go with the villa. Norwegian employs staff members that resides on the island to prepare for ship visits. The pigs arent on GSC itself, but on nearby Treasure Island. It appears that they acquired a few pigs, not feral pigs found on Exuma. . Unlike some other cruise line private islands, GSC doesnt have a regular shuttle or tram to transport guests around. Is Norwegians go-kart racing on a cruise ship worth $15? The expansive outdoor patio features several padded lounge chairs, outdoor couch, and a dining table for eight. Or maybe you forgot something like your hat or sunglasses? Great story from Channel 8 news just in time for EARTH DAY! 2. If you have a beverage package for your cruise, it will work on the island as well. What about a jet ski tour? Not only do you get your own villa, complete with air conditioning, a private bathroom, fridge, a bedroom, and private porch, but you also get access to the entire Silver Cove area. Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features. 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. Norwegian anchors the ship offshore and smaller boats take guests into shore. Just started showing up last week in the cruise planners. If swimming with the pigs is the highlight of your visit, ask for one that goes to Big Major Cay in the morning, when they're more active. To save your favorites, you'll need to either create a new account or login. Ver a un cerdo mostrarte una gran sonrisa cuando le masajeas la pancita es una experiencia sorprendentemente reconfortante! There are limited loungers in a shady area under the trees, but they go fast! None of the pigs seemed interested in being scratched, and the pigs that had enough to eat headed to the beach to lounge and didn't want to be approached. Is kayaking or paddle boarding not quite exciting enough? (which we all need to do more! Peak hurricane period in the Bahamas lasts from early August until late October. If you want to visit Great Stirrup Cay in addition to other islands, look for a . This is entirely for the safety of guests as well as the safety of crew members who assist people entering and exiting tenders. One exception is transportation to Silver Cove, since its a bit of a hike from where youll exit your tender. Prices vary depending on which cabana you choose: Pamper Yourself with a Villa at Silver Cove The Ocean Villas are adjacent to the cabana area and front Fiesta Beach, not the Silver Cove Lagoon. Erica Silverstein is a cruise and family travel expert, who has been covering the industry for more than 15 years. STORMY SEAS: 5 Tips for Traveling to Mexico and . Here are the Great Stirrup Cay shore excursions for 2023: Wave Runner Tour (from $139): This 45-minute personal watercraft tour through the Berry Islands will let you see area highlights like the Lighthouse at Great Stirrup Cay, Slaughter Harbor, and the abandoned island community of Cistern Cay. Get your photo taken with the swimming pigs and then head to the observation deck for sweeping views of the ocean. Visit the swimming pigs of Exuma on a luxury tour boat as we see all of the cays along the way. No cameras permitted. Stand-up paddle boarding (or SUP) is a trend that doesnt show signs of stopping and for good reason. Im Carrie Ann, the writer behind Should Be Cruising. Great Stirrup Cay offers paddle boarding around the island. Be warned that on NCL ships, Open Tender generally doesnt start until the afternoon. Ships sailing to the private island include: Ships from Norwegians sister cruise lines, Oceania and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, make the occasional stop at Great Stirrup Cay, as well. Its actually Treasure Island NOT Rose Island. Get ready to have a blast. Explore the Eastern Caribbean for seven days, roundtrip from Miami and experience the picturesque island of St. Thomas.