14 Best Cruise Line Private Islands Ranked

Above, Mitch Geriminsky and I about to jet ski at Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas.

It seems like yesterday that a friend and I took a cruise to the Bahamas aboard the Norwegian Sky. But it actually was two years ago.

It was with Norwegian Cruise Line and one of the stops of the cruise was their private island, Great Stirrup Cay. While there, we went on jet skis for about an hour or so. We had a good time.

Afterwards, I found a beach cocktail bar and had myself a screwdriver (vodka and orange juice). 

MSN has posted a slideshow article (from The Travel Blog) on 14 best cruise line private islands ranked.

They start it with:

Picture this: you’ve been at sea for days, and suddenly the ship drops anchor at a pristine island that exists solely for your enjoyment. No crowds from other cruise lines, no local vendors pushing trinkets, no competing for beach chairs with strangers who booked through different companies.

This is cruise line territory — a private playground carved out of paradise and designed around one simple promise: everything here is yours for the day.

To read and see more, go here. 

U.S. Citizens Warned of Bahamas "Rogue" Jet Ski Vendors

Above, yours truly jet skiing at Great Stirrup Cay in 2024.

Two years ago, a friend and I rode jet skis at Great Stirrup Cay, an island owned and operated by Norwegian Cruise Line.

Our activity on the jet skis went without incident and we had a good time. 

Unfortunately, others haven't had good experiences with jet ski operators as reports of injuries, deaths and sexual assaults. Many of the operators involved are rogue vendors who are unlicensed and uninsured.

According to Fox 11 News:

Americans are being urged to steer clear of jet ski rentals in the Bahamas as U.S. officials warn of sketchy operators linked to deaths, injuries and reported sexual assaults.

In a Monday statement, the U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas said that "rogue operators" are soliciting tourists on Nassau's most popular beaches, including Cabbage Beach, Junkanoo Beach and Saunders Beach.

The rogue operators are often "unlicensed, uninsured, and operating unsafe watercraft," the embassy said — and officials noted that law enforcement oversight is "sporadic at best."

 To read more, go here.

Norwegian Confirms Return of Beverage Packages to Private Island

Above, yours truly having a drink aboard the Norwegian Sky in 2024.

After "holy hell" was raised by cruise passengers and travel partners, Norwegian Cruise Lines is dropping their planned additional drink package for Great Stirrup Cay.

According to Cruise Industry News:

Norwegian Cruise Line confirmed that it will continue to honor all of its beverage packages in its private island destination of Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas.

In statements sent to booked guests, the company announced that it will not implement a new policy requiring passengers to purchase an additional package to order alcoholic drinks at Great Stirrup Cay.

“After receiving feedback from our guests and travel partners, guests with Free at Sea or More at Sea beverage packages will continue to enjoy the same beverage package inclusions as they do onboard,” the company said.

“This means your beverage experience flows effortlessly from ship to shore,” Norwegian added, noting that packages can be acquired up to 24 hours before cruises.

As reported by Cruise Industry News, the company had previously advised travel agents of the change in plans.

The company first revealed that it would stop honoring its beverage packages in Great Stirrup Cay in October 2025.

When Mitch Geriminsky and I took a Bahamas cruise in 2024 with Norwegian, I didn't bother buying a drink package. I just confined myself to have one to two drinks per day out-of-pocket. Following some jet skiing, I bought one cocktail while in Great Stirrup Cay. 

To read more, go here.

Winter Storm Damages New Pier At Great Stirrup Cay

Above, the Norwegian Sky and tender boat docked off Great Stirrup Cay in 2024. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A severe winter storm damaged Norwegian Cruise Line's Great Stirrup Cay's new pier and a swimming pool.

Arriving ships have to tender passengers to the Cay until repairs to the pier can be completed. When I visited Great Stirrup Cay two years ago, we were tendered to it from the Norwegian Sky.

According to Cruise Hive:

The winter storms blasting North America and the Bahamas in 2026 continue to bring disappointment to cruise passengers trying to escape the chill.

Passengers scheduled to visit Norwegian Cruise Line’s private island in the Bahamas have been warned they will encounter changes to their day ashore after a bomb cyclone and rough weather damaged key infrastructure at its private destination.

In a notice dated February 2, 2026, the cruise line informed guests that both the pier and the main pool, which had recently opened at Great Stirrup Cay, are temporarily unavailable due to severe weather in the region.

As a result, Norwegian Cruise Line ships will not be able to dock at the pier, and guests will instead be tendered ashore. 

To read more, go here. 

New Great Stirrup Cay Pier Receives First Ship

Above, the Norwegian Sky with a tender boat alongside at Great Stirrup Cay. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last year, a friend and I took a cruise to the Bahamas.

One of the stops for the cruise was Great Stirrup Cay, a resort island owned by the cruise line, Norwegian Cruise Line. There, we did some jet skiing.

Upon arrival, the ship, the Norwegian Sky, docked offshore and we were tendered to the island. A pier was in the planning stages at the time. The pier is now completed and had the first ship to dock there.

According to Cruise Hive:

On December 28, 2025, Norwegian Getaway made history as the first NCL ship to dock at the newly completed multi-ship pier at Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas.

The 268-acre resort, which is located in the Berry Islands, is the one and only port call on a 3-night sailing from Miami that embarked on December 26, 2025.

“Today marks a historic moment for Norwegian Getaway and in the history of Norwegian Cruise Line to be the first ship to dock at Great Stirrup Cay with the opening of our brand-new pier,” NCL wrote in the Freestyle Daily Newsletter, which was shared in Cruise Hive’s NCL Facebook group.

To read more, go here. 

Norwegian Cruise Line Beverage Package Change

Above, beverage carts at Great Stirrup Cay last summer. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last summer, I took a cruise to the Bahamas with Norwegian Cruise Line.

One of the stops was at their Great Stirrup Cay island. While there, a friend and I jet skied for about an hour. Later, I strolled down to the beach area and found a bar. I had a cocktail there. I didn't buy any beverage package they offered. I just had one cocktail and paid out of pocket.

There are going to be some changes next year for beverage packages at Great Stirrup Cay. People who have already booked a cruise for next year aren't too happy about it.

Travelhost reported:

Norwegian Cruise Line’s unlimited open bar drink package is very popular with passengers for the value it offers, especially for cruises to the cruise line’s private island in The Bahamas, Great Stirrup Cay.

Passengers have long been able to use their beverage packages on the island, but that’s about to change as the cruise line rolls out major upgrades to its private island experience.   

In late 2025, Great Stirrup Cay will debut a brand-new pier, a massive heated pool with swim-up bars, and a splash pad for kids, followed by a huge waterpark boasting 19 waterslides and a dynamic river that will open in summer 2026.

But as passengers sailing to Great Stirrup Cay enjoy its new features, they won’t be able to enjoy the perks of their onboard beverage package on the island if they’re sailing after February 2026. 

To read more, go here. 

Norwegian Cruise Line To Build Waterpark At Great Stirrup Cay

Above, yours truly at Great Stirrup Cay aboard a tinder boat. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

Last summer, a friend and I took a Norwegian Cruise Line cruise to the Bahamas aboard the Norwegian Sky.

One stop on the cruise has us at Great Stirrup Cay, a private island owned by Norwegian. We spent the day there jet skiing. They have other activities available for cruise passenger (such as swimming with pigs).

Next year, a new waterpark will open on Great Stirrup Cay.

According to Cruise Industry News:

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) today announced details for its private island transformation on Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas, highlighted by a massive new waterpark that will be ready in time for the summer 2026 cruise season.

“Great Stirrup Cay has always been an amazing part of the Norwegian Cruise Line guest experience and continues to be one of our highest rated destinations,” said David J. Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line.

“This new waterpark is an outstanding addition to our recent announcement about other amazing new amenities on the island, soon to debut. With each phase of our enhancements, we’re bringing ashore more of what our guests love about sailing with NCL,” added Herrera.

The company said in a press release that the nearly six-acre Great Tides Waterpark will open in summer 2026, featuring cliff jumps, jet karts, swim-up bars and splash zones.

To read more, go here. 

Cruise Giants Are Building Their Own Private Paradise Islands

Above, yours truly about to jet ski at Norwegian's Great Stirrup Cay.

Last summer, a friend and I went on a cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line and one of the stops was the company's private island, Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas. We spend the day jet skiing and shopping while there.

Cruise lines having their own private islands is a growing trend for cruises. Carnival and Royal Caribbean are also betting on private island stops. 

Fox Business took a look at this growing trend.

They begin with:

Cruise lines have been betting big on their private destinations. 

Later this month, Carnival will open Celebration Key, a private destination the cruise line operator has been developing on the island of Grand Bahama for its guests.

CEO Josh Weinstein told "The Claman Countdown" host Liz Claman on June 24 that it was "already one of the most searched-out cruise destinations on Google" ahead of its debut.

"We are talking about over a mile of white sand beach, 275,000 square feet of man-made built lagoon, the world’s largest swim-up bar, the world’s largest sand castle, and we’ve built five portals all over this destination so that we can accommodate different needs for different guests," he said. "We have a family zone, we have an adult zone, we have a private beach club and more."  

Celebration Key will add to the private destinations and islands that Carnival already has in its portfolio.

To read more, go here. 

Cruise Lines: PrIvate Islands Instead of Showing The World

Above, the Norwegian Sky and tender boat off Great Stirrup Cay. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last year's cruise to the Bahamas with Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Sky included a day at their private island, Great Stirrup Cay. 

We had a good time shopping and doing some jet skiing there, this was the first time I have been to a cruise line's private island resort. Norwegian is building a dock at Great Stirrup Cay to accommodate their ships. Currently, they dock off-shore and ferry passengers on tender boats. 

It appears that this practice of taking customers to private islands instead of showing the world is not sitting well with some cruise customers. 

Business Insider sees this as a growing trend with cruise lines. There are reasons why cruise lines are doing so and they discuss this in a new article.

They begin with:

Cruises have always been a vessel for exploration — a way for travelers to see the world. But over the last few years, these floating resorts have increasingly narrowed their focus to just one type of destination: theme parks in the middle of the ocean.

Cruise ships touch virtually every corner of the earth, from Antarctica to Albania, Madagascar to the Mediterranean. They're often the most convenient and affordable way to see several countries in one trip, which is why bookings have remained buoyant despite uncertain economic tides foundering the rest of the travel industry.

However, these exploratory roots are quickly becoming overshadowed by more lucrative, purpose-built beach resorts that not all travel traditionalists may be happy about.

To read more, go here. 

11 Best Things To Do In The Bahamas

Above, yours truly during a boat tour in Nassau. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

For years, I have always wanted to visit the Bahamas. 

Last summer, I did so when friend Mitch Geriminsky and I took a cruise there from Miami, Florida. During the cruise, we visited Freeport, Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay (a private island owned by the cruise company, Norwegian Cruise Line). I have a cousin vacationing there as I write this.

Above, a view of Nassau just before our ship docked. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Our visit was limited, but enjoyable. I can easily see why the late Sean Connery chose to live there.

AOL has posted an article of the 11 best things to do in the Bahamas. 

It begins with:

The Bahamas, as a surprise to many, isn’t just one island. It’s an archipelago comprised of over 700 islands (although only 30 are inhabited) and nearly 2,400 cays spread over miles of pristine turquoise and deep cobalt waters. Although they’re most famous for their white (and sometimes pink) sandy beaches and the island’s capital hub of Nassau, the Bahamas offers an incredibly diverse variety of things to do and see.

“There's so much more to The Bahamas than what you would find as a cruise ship passenger in Nassau for the day. You truly haven't experienced the real, authentic, wild Bahamas until you've been to Abaco, Eleuthera, Exuma, or any one of the others,” Angie Orth told us. Orth is an award-winning travel writer, blogger and novelist, author of the acclaimed novel Flirting with Disaster, who spent over 5 years as an integral member of the public relations firm representing the Bahamas.

From the iconic pink sand beach to secluded coves, caves and underwater grottos, here are the 11 best things to do in the Bahamas—no matter who you’re traveling with.

To read more, go here. 

NCL Set To Enhance Great Stirrup Cay

Above, Great Stirrup Cay last summer. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Norwegian Cruise Line is planning some extensive enhancements to their privately-owned Great Stirrup Cay.

The Bahamas cruise I took last summer made a stop there and we had to be tendered in. That is one of things to change when a new multi-ship pier is built.

Above, yours truly on board a tender boat at Great Stirrup Cay. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

According to Cruise Critic:

(April 13, 2025) -- Great changes are coming to Great Stirrup Cay.

Norwegian Cruise Line unveiled plans to reimagine its 268-acre private island destination in the Bahamas, with new experiences debuting by the end of this year.

Among the list of upgrades, the cruise line will launch an expansive pool area with a dedicated bar, a new welcome center, a new tram service, and a kids splash zone with water fountains and other age-appropriate features. The arrival of these new amenities will coincide with the completion of a multi-ship pier at Great Stirrup Cay, eliminating the need to tender to shore.

To read more, go here. 

Why Cruise Lines Are Buying Up Private Caribbean Islands

Last summer, a friend and I took a cruise to the Bahamas. As part of the cruise, we spent a day at Great Stirrup Cay and did some jet skiing.

The cruise was with Norwegian Cruise Line. Great Stirrup Cay is a private island owned by Norwegian Cruise Line. 

Above, the Norwegian Sky docked off Great Stirrup Cay. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Personally, I have no problem with that. We had a good time there. More cruise lines are buying up islands. If cruise lines are up front about it, I think it's okay.

But, some are voicing concerns over cruise lines owning islands and having their passengers go there to spend money.

Here's a video on the subject by The Wall Street Journal:

Cruise Passenger Dies After Fatal Jet Ski Accident

Above, yours truly on a jet ski at Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas last summer.

A female jet-skier was killed at a private island owned by the Carnival Corporation. She was part of a Carnival cruise to Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas.

A friend and I jet-skied last August at a similar Bahamas cay owned by Norwegian Cruise Line. 

According to Cruise Blog:

According to Eyewitness News, an investigation is underway following the tragic accident that took place on March 22, 2025. 

Police in Eleuthra were contacted by the island's manager shortly after 1:00pm. Once they arrived on Half Moon Cay, the officers conducted an initial investigation that revealed the British/Czechoslovakia national allegedly lost control of her jet ski and collided with a rock. 

Though medical personnel were on the scene, they weren't able to revive the passenger. She was pronounced deceased by the local medical doctor. 

If the jet ski she was riding was like the ones we used, it is easy to see how she lost control of it. Those are more powerful machines compared to one I rode in Lake Havasu several years ago.  

To read more, go here.

Sharks Attack 2 Florida Women In Bahamas

Above, yours truly on a jet ski at Great Stirrup Cay.

Last August, a friend and I went on a cruise to the Bahamas. While there, we went on a jet ski excursion in Grand Stirrup Cay, a private island owned by Norwegian Cruise Line.

This was the first time I have jet skied on ocean waters. The jet skis we used were more powerful than the ones at Lake Havasu, most likely for dealing with ocean waves. I held back on speed as I didn't want to be pitched off the jet ski due to an errant wave. Plus, I wasn't out to impress anybody. My friend did get thrown off his jet ski due to a wave.

As I am not that strong a swimmer, even with a life vest, I didn't want to fight ocean waves to get back on the jet ski. That was one consideration. The other: sharks. Jet skiing on a lake is one thing, doing so on the ocean is quite another since there are predatory critters in the ocean. 

Two Florida women were attacked by sharks last week in the Bahamas. 

MSN reported:

ORLANDO, Fla. - What was meant to be a carefree weekend getaway turned into a harrowing ordeal for two young women from Melbourne, Florida, after they were attacked by bull sharks while vacationing in Bimini Bay, Bahamas.

Summer Layman and Rileigh Decker were enjoying a boat trip when they decided to jump into the water Friday evening, unaware that bull sharks were nearby.

Moments after entering the water, a friend on the boat spotted the sharks and shouted a warning.

"We were holding hands the entire time — we never let go of each other," said Layman, who survived the attack along with Decker. Layman sustained severe injuries to her foot, while Decker suffered devastating leg injuries.

To read more, go here. 

Norwegian Cruise Line's One-and-Only Private Island In The Bahamas

Above, vendors at Great Stirrup Cay. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last September, a friend and I took a cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line to the Bahamas.

One stop on the cruise's itinerary was Great Stirrup Cay, an island that Norwegian owns. While there, we did some jet skiing.

Matador Network has posted an article on Great Stirrup Cay which begins with:

The 268-acre Bahamian island of Great Stirrup Cay is owned by Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), and is exclusive to NCL guests sailing on Bahamian itineraries, as well as guests on some MSC voyages. Great Stirrup Cay was purchased by NCL from the Belcher Oil Company in 1977 and was the first-ever private island owned by a cruise line.

Great Stirrup Cay’s main attraction is its gorgeous, 1,500-foot-long, white-sand beach furnished with 3,000 sun loungers to accommodate guests. Around the beach is a multitude of bars and restaurants, beachfront cabanas, a spa with ocean views, and attractions to entertain cruisers, including a zip line, an overwater swing, and even an underwater sculpture garden. The island is also home to luxurious, air-conditioned, beachfront villas that cruisers can rent for the day. Shore excursions are available and include kayak and Jet Ski tours, and a visit to nearby Treasure Island where visitors can swim with pigs and stingrays. At the time of writing, ships cannot dock directly at Great Stirrup Cay and guests must be transported from the ship to the island via tender boats. However, a multi-ship pier will be completed by the end of 2025. 

To read more, go here. 

Man Goes Overboard A Norwegian Cruise Ship

Above, Norwegian Sky docked off Great Stirrup Cay. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This is a strange story.

A man aboard the Norwegian Epic went overboard and a search ensued. Unfortunately, he had not been found and the search was called off.

It seems weird that someone would go overboard a cruise ship, given that it has railings. Either he was doing something incredibly stupid and accidentally went overboard or he intentionally did so.

The ship was en route to Great Stirrup Cay when the incident occurred. I had been on the Norwegian cruise ship, Norwegian Sky, in August and Great Stirrup Cay was one of our stops.

From Fox News:

The frantic search for a Norwegian Cruise Line passenger who went overboard has been called off.

A spokesperson for the cruise line confirmed to Fox News Digital that the 51-year-old went overboard from Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Epic late Thursday afternoon. 

The incident was first noted at approximately 3 p.m. as Norwegian Epic was sailing from Ocho Rios, Jamaica en route to Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas. 

The passenger was on the cruise with his family, the spokesperson said. The cruise left from Port Canaveral, Florida on Saturday, Dec. 21 and was a seven-night Western Caribbean voyage.

 To read more, go here.

Cruise Line Private Islands and Destinations

Above, at the jet ski dock at Great Stirrup Cay.

Until a friend and I took a cruise to the Bahamas last August, I was unaware that our cruise company, Norwegian Cruise Lines, had their own private island. It is called Great Stirrup Cay.

It was one of our stops and we went jet skiing while there. But they have available other activities for cruise passengers such as swimming with pigs. 

Above, the Norwegian Sky with a tender boat at Great Stirrup Cay. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Cruise Hive posted an article on these private islands and destinations. Great Stirrup Cay is mentioned in it. 

It begins with:

There are some destinations and islands that are nearly synonymous with the cruising industry. Hundreds or even more than a thousand cruise ships can visit places like the Bahamas or the US Virgin Islands each year.

However, these top spots aren’t the only cruise line favorites. Industry-wide, cruise lines have begun crafting their own private destinations, where cruisers can enjoy carefully curated experiences and amenities, matching the cruise line’s branding and overall vibes.

Here are the cruise line private islands and destinations that you need to know about.

To read more, go here. 

Tips For Booking The Best Cruise Excursions

Above, yours truly on the Nassau tour boat. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

While booking our August cruise to the Bahamas earlier this year, Mitch Geriminsky and I also looked into what was being offered in shore excursions at the different ports-of-call. 

We chose two. One was boat and bus tours of Nassau. The other was for jet skiing at Great Stirrup Cay, a private island owned by our cruise line, Norwegian Cruse Line. Other shore excursions were offered such as swimming with pigs, dolphin swim or sitting on the beach, all of which weren't appealing to either of us. We enjoyed the excursions that we picked.

AOL has posted an article with 5 tips for booking the best cruise excursions. 

It begins with: 

You’ve booked your cruise, selecting the perfect destination, dates, cruise line and cabin. Now the fun begins – deciding how you’ll spend your time in each port of call. Shore excursions can range from walking tours to cultural activities to exhilarating adventures to relaxing beach days, and so much more, depending on where you’re cruising. With all of the options, it can be a bit overwhelming, to say the least. We checked with Gary Bembridge for advice on booking the best cruise shore excursions, regardless of where you’re sailing.

To read more, go here. 

8 Best Places To Visit In The Bahamas

Above, a view of Nassau from our cruise ship. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After having been to the Bahamas last summer, I can easily see why Sean Connery chose to live (and eventually pass away) there. 

A friend and I took a cruise there with Norwegian Cruise Line and had a great time visiting Freeport, Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay (where we jet skied). It would have been nice to stay longer at each port-of-call in order to take more in what the island have to offer. 

Lonely Planet has posted an article on the 8 best places to visit in the Bahamas. 

It begins with:

If you're looking for beach-vacation bliss, few destinations beat the Bahamas.

Strewn like emeralds between Florida and the Caribbean, more than 3000 islands and cays – most uninhabited – compose this Atlantic archipelago. Lushly subtropical and fringed with teeming coral reefs and glorious beaches, these stunning islands offer as much to divers and hikers as they do to sunseekers in search of banging beachside bars.

Here’s our roundup of the best places to visit in the Bahamas.

To read more, go here. 

Cruise Companies Pouring Money Into Private Resorts

Above, Norwegian Cruise Line's Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last August, I took a cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line to the Bahamas. It was on the Norwegian Sky.

Part of the cruise's itinerary was a stop at Great Stirrup Cay, a private island resort owned operated by Norwegian Cruise Line. While there, a friend and I went jet skiing. 

Above, at the Great Stirrup Cay jet ski docks.

This was the first I've heard of any cruise line owning and operating private resorts. Other cruise lines have done the same. It is a lucrative business and the cruise lines are pouring money into them.

It appear there's a backlash against overtourism and the cruise lines are using these resorts as a destination for their customers. 

Financial Times has posted an article on these private resorts.

They begin it with:

The world’s biggest cruise groups are pouring money into private destinations for their customers as booming demand rubs up against a backlash against overtourism in many popular spots.

The biggest operator, Carnival, is in the midst of developing the $600mn Celebration Key on the island of Grand Bahama. The “first-ever exclusive destination to be purpose-built” for the company will open next year.

Meanwhile, rival Royal Caribbean is planning to spend a similar amount building the 200-acre Perfect Day Mexico resort on Mexico’s Caribbean coast in Mahahual. It will have beaches, water parks and other entertainments and is scheduled to open in 2027.

Another major operator, Norwegian Cruise Line, is building a two-ship pier to its own private island Great Stirrup Cay to allow it to double visitor numbers to 700,000 from 2026.

By 2025 passenger capacity at cruise company-owned private islands in the Caribbean will have more than doubled from 2019, according to Christian Savelli, cruise analytics director at Tourism Economics.

To read the full article, go here.