Norwegian To Revamp Great Stirrup Cay Private Island in Bahamas

A lagoon view at Great Stirrup Cay.

Norwegian Cruise Line, as part of its $400 million Norwegian Edge fleet upgrade program, is revamping its private island in the Bahamas.

The upgrades to Great Stirrup Cay will include a new family recreation area, a 1,000-foot-long zip line, more dining options, and a luxury lagoon retreat with air-conditioned villas. The refurbished island will open in summer 2017.

Norwegian was the first cruise line to buy its own private island, acquiring the 250-acre Great Stirrup Cay in 1977. It subsequently has invested in several major updates throughout the years, but now it is completely renovating the island as part of its Norwegian Edge program. Also as part of that program, Norwegian in March announced a new private destination in Belize called Harvest Caye.

New island experiences
As part of the renovation of Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian will feature new and larger restaurants and additional amenities. The island’s 10-acre beach will get a half-mile-long boardwalk that will span the length of the shore, with more than 100,000 square feet of pathway, offering access to new shaded areas with benches for relaxation.

Just adjacent to the beach, will be a new half-acre entertainment and activity complex featuring a stage for live music, games, and entertainers; basketball and volleyball courts and ping-pong tables; and a new shaded picnic area where families can dine. A new air-conditioned reception area will serve as the central hub where guests can plan their day, reserve activities, rent board games, and have access to changing rooms.

Guests also will be able to ride on a new zip line course with more than 1,000 feet of parallel zip lines, or snorkel through a new underwater sculpture garden using a waterproof map as a guide.

Norwegian also is investing more than $1 million in new restrooms and lockers at the tender marina and new landscaping throughout the island.

Upgraded dining venues
All dining and bar venues will be updated, adding new resort-style decking, shaded areas, high-top seating at all bars, and family-style seating that will increase seating capacity at all dining outlets by 50%.

A new free taco bar, Abaco Taco, will be added where guests can create their own favorites. The island’s 8,500-square-foot buffet will be redesigned to provide faster and more efficient service, and the deck surrounding it will be expanded and get new seating areas. The center of the island will feature a shaded lounge area with stylish furniture and bar service.

There will also be a LandShark Bar & Grill beach bar from Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, offering casual dining and drinks with panoramic ocean views. Menu items will be available à la carte.

Exclusive lagoon retreat
Perhaps one of the most elaborate new features on Great Stirrup Cay will be an exclusive lagoon enclave. This private area will feature a secluded beach, oceanview restaurant, a Mandara Spa with four treatment rooms, a sheltered family area, and 22 air-conditioned private villas available for reservation, ranging from a studio to a two-bedroom unit. The lagoon will be available for guests of The Haven and suites at no extra charge, as well as guests who purchase an on-island Mandara Spa treatment. A limited number of passes to the Lagoon also will available for purchase on each sailing.

Guests visiting the lagoon will be welcomed in an air-conditioned reception area with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the private beaches. There they can reserve activities, rent equipment, or relax in the shade on the outdoor terrace. The lagoon will sport a floating swim-up bar; a shallow, partitioned family beach area; and grassy areas for active play, swing sets, and picnic tables. Guests celebrating a special occasion or traveling in a large group can reserve a private function room for up to 75 guests, with food and beverage service available.

Studio villas will feature outdoor terraces, private bathrooms, and living/dining areas, for two to four guests. One-bedroom villas accommodating four to six guests feature a bedroom, private bathroom, living and dining areas, and outdoor terrace with a hot tub. Two-bedroom villas can accommodate up to 10 guests and feature two bedrooms, two private bathrooms, living and dining areas, and an outdoor terrace with a dining area and hot tub.

Also at the lagoon retreat, the two-story Silver Palm restaurant will offer free dining with both indoor and outdoor seating, as well as a rooftop terrace with ocean views. All luxury beach villas will include food and beverage service for guests who wish to enjoy refreshments in the privacy of their villas.