I Visited Nice Stirrup Cay Mid-Makeover and This is My Trustworthy Take

The very first thing I seen after I pulled again the curtains of my balcony stateroom to get my first glimpse at Nice Stirrup Cay wasn’t a seashore or vibrant welcome heart. It was building tools and a pier that have been in a lot want of labor.

Norwegian Cruise Line is in the course of a large redevelopment of its longtime non-public island within the Bahamas, and through my go to on March 29, 2026, whereas on the brand new Norwegian Luna, it was clear the undertaking remains to be very a lot in progress.

The new cruise pier that may ultimately permit ships to dock immediately on the island isn’t completed but, however not like current arrivals that needed to tender to the vacation spot, we have been capable of pull alongside the construction so company might stroll ashore.

Stepping onto the island, the development automobiles and work crews have been seen throughout a number of areas as improvement continues. And, until you’re enjoyable round one of many lagoons and tucked into the extra completed corners of the island, Nice Stirrup Cay doesn’t fairly really feel prepared but.

In truth, cruise line officers have been very obscure about when it is going to be prepared, saying the waterpark, trying like in its preliminary phases of building, ought to be prepared by the tip of summer time. Different rumblings mentioned your complete undertaking ought to be full in 18 months, which might be September 2027.

And but, regardless of the cranes, tools, lack of retailers, and partially constructed arrival areas, it’s already potential to see what Norwegian Cruise Line is aiming for.

Learn Additionally: Nice Stirrup Cay: A Full Overview of NCL’s Personal Island

Nice Stirrup Cay has been a part of Norwegian’s story since 1977, making it one of many first non-public islands owned by a cruise line.

For many years, the expertise right here was easy: tender ashore, seize a BBQ lunch, swim within the vibrant Bahamian water, and spend the afternoon on the seashore earlier than heading again to the ship.

However with rival and literal next-door non-public island neighbor Royal Caribbean revamping Good Day at CocoCay, NCL is constructing one thing much more bold.

A Personal Island with Room to Unfold Out

One of many first issues that turns into apparent when you begin strolling the island is its dimension. Nice Stirrup Cay covers roughly 270 acres, making it considerably bigger than Good Day at CocoCay, which occupies about 125 acres.

The 2 islands sit just a few miles aside within the Berry Islands of the Bahamas, and from elements of Nice Stirrup Cay, you possibly can really see CocoCay throughout the water.

NCL’s pitch is that its island will really feel larger, extra unfold out, and extra refined as soon as the redevelopment is completed.

Throughout my go to, that sense of house was already noticeable. As an alternative of concentrating all the pieces on one central seashore space, the island unfolds in sections: arrival plaza, lagoons, seashores, seashore golf equipment, and personal coves located on lengthy stretches of sand and shallow turquoise water.

Most of the swimming areas are naturally protected, creating calm situations that make it straightforward to spend hours within the water.

Welcome Plaza and the Nice Life Lagoon

The Welcome Plaza will function the principle arrival hub as soon as the pier is absolutely accomplished. Right here, company will discover tram stops designed to attach totally different elements of the island. From the plaza, a walkway leads throughout the Panoramic Bridge, which supplies a view of the ship anchored.

For many passengers, the Nice Life Lagoon will probably be their resting place, as it’s the first entry level and probably the most energetic. Right here, a brand new 1.4-acre pool space has been added, surrounded by a set of cabanas starting from commonplace leases to bigger Grand Cabanas and extra intimate {Couples} Cabanas providing shaded seating and personal house.

Foods and drinks choices are clustered close by, together with Waves Bar, Reef Bar, and Abaco Taco, which serves fast Mexican-style seashore fare.

The world additionally features a children’ Splash Harbor and Splash Harbor Bar, together with Tweed’s Tenders, a playful nod to NCL’s lengthy historical past with the island. It’s additionally the place company are arriving till the piers are formally prepared.

A retail and eating idea known as Harborside Market can also be deliberate, though the market was not stocked or open throughout my go to.

Seashores and Snorkeling

Past the lagoon complicated, the island transitions into its conventional seashore space. This part feels extra just like the basic model of Nice Stirrup Cay with broad sandy seashores going through vibrant turquoise water.

Right here, company will discover Cabanas on the Cay, in addition to a set of overwater swings that will probably be one of many island’s most photographed spots. There’s additionally an underwater snorkel backyard, designed to draw marine life and provides company a straightforward snorkeling expertise near shore.

This part additionally homes Ocean Water Tools Leases, the place company can decide up kayaks and different gear, in addition to the Shore Excursions check-in space.

Eating is centered round Jumbey Seaside Grill, persevering with the island’s long-standing BBQ seashore lunch custom. A number of seashore bars are scattered all through the world as nicely, making certain company hardly ever need to stroll far to discover a drink.

Towering above a part of the shoreline is the Lighthouse Zipline, which sends riders gliding above the seashore with sweeping views throughout the water. Company can select to do a few fast ziplines, or the extra prolonged 10-line possibility, and each are very moderately priced underneath $20.

Vibe Shore Membership

I spent the vast majority of my time on the Vibe Shore Membership, which presents an adults-focused seashore membership impressed by the Vibe Seaside Membership discovered on a number of NCL ships, together with the brand-new Norwegian Luna.

The membership presents day-pass loungers and personal cabanas, and the seating right here stands out instantly. The loungers are thickly cushioned and noticeably extra comfy than the usual seashore chairs discovered elsewhere on the island.

Loads of umbrellas present shade, and the spacing between chairs creates a calmer, extra resort-like environment. It’s value it to pay for the splurge, though there may be restricted seating, so this offered out for a lot of on my voyage.

A devoted Vibe restaurant and bar serves meals and drinks completely for company having fun with the membership.

The Unique Silver Cove

Essentially the most secluded nook of Nice Stirrup Cay is Silver Cove, a personal enclave accessible solely to company who buy Silver Cove entry for a reasonably penny, or those that guide therapies on the Silver Cove Spa.

Apparently, the spa itself is sort of small – only a handful of ocean-view remedy rooms – making a spa appointment a little bit of a backdoor solution to take pleasure in entry to the in any other case restricted space. However with simply these few rooms, bookings will probably be in excessive demand.

Silver Cove is constructed round a peaceable stretch of shoreline and contains the Silver Cove Lagoon, Silver Cove Pool, and Silver Cove Gazebo, together with a number of bars tucked all through the world, like a Moet & Chandon champagne bar.

The island’s most upscale cabanas are situated right here as nicely. These are a set or non-public villas starting from studio models to two-bedroom villas, priced from $999 to $1500 for a every day rental. (The 2-bedrooms are a discount if touring with a bunch.)

These villas might be booked two years upfront, so make your transfer now if you wish to land these air-conditioned areas with bedrooms, showers, kitchens, and residing areas, together with massive deck areas with loungers.

What the Island Will Change into

Even with a number of completed areas already open, probably the most important elements of Nice Stirrup Cay’s redevelopment are nonetheless to return.

The brand new cruise pier will ultimately permit two ships to name on the port on the identical time. It will likely be closed till the tip of summer time, based on NCL executives, which means arrivals till then will probably be dealt with by tender.

Maybe probably the most anticipated improvement would be the massive Nice Tides waterpark complicated, which is able to add slides and household points of interest the island has by no means provided earlier than.

The park will function each a thrill and a chill house, and the cruise line remains to be engaged on what pricing packages will appear to be for the park that may span six acres.

Early renderings present the huge waterpark will function 19 waterslides, together with a 170-foot-tall Tidal Tower with eight slides that embrace racers and tube slides.

Reasonably than a lazy river, the world will residence an 800-foot “Dynamic River,” which will probably be a quicker river experience that options an illuminated, bioluminescent grotto tunnel. 

Cliffside Cove would be the first cliff jumps provided at a personal cruise vacation spot, with 10-foot and 15-foot leap choices. This space may also function a four-person household slide – one other first within the Caribbean.

Lastly, the principle space of the waterpark would be the 9,000-square-foot Youngsters’ Splash Zone, that includes eight mini slides and a 40-foot tipping bucket.

In fact, there will probably be cabanas out there for leases, and drinks will probably be out there within the waterpark, significantly on the hidden Grotto Bar that executives say will probably be a part of the enjoyable for adults.

Excursions at Nice Stirrup Cay

Whereas passengers crusing with NCL might want to pre-book entry to a lot of Nice Stirrup Cay’s highlights, there are additionally just a few extra shore excursions offered. Company can be a part of Wave Runner or kayak excursions, or select a swim with the pigs and snorkel with stingrays possibility.

My daughter determined to swim with the pigs, which ended up being extra of a “pet the pigs” as swimming required company to carry onto the again of the pigs as they swam, which regularly meant swimming within the wake of the animals’ poop.

She declined to get within the water with them, though employees have been readily available with nets to fish poo out of the water. As an alternative, she most well-liked the sting ray encounter, which was a possibility to considerably maintain and pet an enormous stingray, and zip lining.

We have been most excited in regards to the upcoming waterpark, as these slides and points of interest will definitely provide a full day of enjoyable, however for now Nice Stirrup Cays is an element seashore escape, half building web site.