Norwegian Cruise Line has confirmed a policy change that affects how you order drinks on its private Bahamian island, Great Stirrup Cay. From 01 March, standard shipboard beverage packages will no longer apply ashore, and a new, island-exclusive option will take their place. Complimentary refreshments remain available, and this shift is part of a broader refresh of guest amenities on the cay.
Beginning 01 March, NCL’s shipboard beverage packages will not cover drinks on Great Stirrup Cay. A new island-exclusive beverage package will be sold from next year, while complimentary water, iced tea, juices, and select soft drinks remain available. The change sits within upgrades rolling out later this year, including a new pier, a large pool with complimentary lounges, and a kids’ splash pad, improving capacity and guest flow.
What Is Changing and Why It Matters
This update is straightforward; shipboard inclusions are not automatically mirrored on the island. If you typically rely on a package for your G&Ts, spritzes, cold beers, or mocktails, you will now decide whether to purchase the island’s own package or simply use the complimentary stations and pay as you go for other beverages. The upside is that NCL is using the change to reshape the overall day experience on Great Stirrup Cay, with infrastructure improvements designed to make arrivals smoother and spaces more comfortable.
The End of Automatic Coverage on the Island
From 01 March, your shipboard drinks package will not cover bar purchases on Great Stirrup Cay. Practically, this means tapping your key card for island drinks will incur charges unless you have bought the new island-exclusive beverage package. The core promise onboard is unchanged; it is the island bar network and service model that are being redesigned to support higher volumes and a different pacing ashore.
Complimentary Options Continue
Free hydration still matters, particularly in Bahamian heat. NCL has stated that complimentary beverages will remain available on the island, including water, iced tea, and juices, with additional no-cost options at select stations. For many travellers, this will cover most of the day, especially families managing kids between the beach and the splash area, or anyone who prefers to save their cocktail time for the ship sail-away.
An Island Package You Can Choose
NCL will introduce a dedicated island beverage package, available for purchase from next year. Details will be published closer to launch, yet the logic is clear: a self-contained offer suited to a single shore day. If you are the type who settles into a lounger and enjoys a few rounds over four or five hours, this option may prove both simpler and better value than à-la-carte pricing.
The Bigger Picture at Great Stirrup Cay
The decision is part of a wider transformation of the island experience. NCL is layering in capacity upgrades, more shade and seating, and family-friendly play zones that give different age groups their own spaces. All up, this should reduce bottlenecks and make a day on the cay feel less like a rush and more like a beach club.
A New Pier for Smoother Arrivals
A new pier is a practical win. Weather-affected tendering has always been the swing factor on some private-island calls, and a pier improves reliability, boarding comfort, and timing. Faster off-and-on means more beach hours and fewer queues, plus a calmer return to the ship when the sun drops and everyone is sandy and ready for a shower.
A Larger Pool With Complimentary Lounges
Alongside the beach, the island is adding a large pool area with complimentary lounges. This spreads guests between the lagoon, pool, and beach, balancing demand on bars and food outlets and opening pockets of quiet for readers and nappers. Families can park themselves between the pool and the splash pad, while couples might gravitate to a quieter corner with easy access to bar service.
A Kids’ Splash Pad and Family Flow
The splash pad gives younger travellers a dedicated spot to burn energy, which in turn lowers the pressure on shoreline shallows. Parents will appreciate sightlines and nearby shade, and the island package decision becomes easier when you know where you will base the family for most of the day.
How to Plan Your Day Under the New Rules
When a line adjusts packages, the best response is to plan lightly, not overthink. A few choices made on the ship the night before will keep your day relaxed and your spending tidy. Think about where you like to sit, how much you usually drink in the heat, and whether your group prefers variety or simplicity.
Decide if You Need the Island Package
Ask yourself two questions. First, how many paid drinks will I realistically have during four to six hours ashore? Second, how valuable is the convenience of not tracking individual charges? If you expect more than a couple of rounds, the island package will likely make sense. If you prefer a swim-heavy day with a celebratory drink back on board, complimentary stations plus one paid cocktail may be perfect.
Hydration, Shade, and Pacing
Beach days are about hydration and shade as much as anything else. Start with water and iced tea, rotate in a juice, and watch the sun. Aim for shade in the middle of the day and save your long stretch in direct sun for late afternoon when the light is softer and the photos are prettier. Good pacing beats any package.
Where to Base Yourself
With a new pool complex and more loungers, you can choose the vibe that suits you, lively near the music, family-centric by the splash pad, or quieter edges for reading and naps. If you plan to try the island package, pick a spot with easy access to a bar kiosk so you are not walking back and forth.
Budgeting and Value Across Your Cruise
The change at Great Stirrup Cay is just one day in your sailing, so zoom out and look at your week. You can keep your overall drinks spend steady by rebalancing towards shipboard moments, where your package still applies, and leaning on the island’s complimentary options.
Use Shipboard Rituals to Your Advantage
If you have a shipboard package, take advantage of sail-away cocktails, pre-dinner apéritifs, and coffee or fresh juices with breakfast on sea days. Those rituals feel festive, they happen in cooler parts of the day, and they are already included. Your island time can then focus on swimming, resting, and keeping cool, with one or two purchased drinks if you like.
Families and Groups Can Split Strategies
Not everyone in a group needs the same plan. Some may buy the island package, others can happily rotate between water, iced tea, and paid mocktails. Agree on a base camp and a meet-up time so people can set their own rhythm. You will finish the day with happy kids, relaxed adults, and no surprises on your folio.
Cabin Location and Quick Turnarounds
If your stateroom is a quick lift ride from the gangway, consider ducking back to the ship for a cool-down and an included beverage, then returning ashore. With a pier in place, movements should feel faster and easier. A 30-minute reset can turn a hot midday slump into a fresh afternoon.
What This Means for the NCL Beverage Package Overall
Importantly, nothing changes about how your package works on the ship. Bars, lounges, and restaurants continue to honour the inclusions you purchased. The adjustment is localised to Great Stirrup Cay, which NCL is reshaping into a fuller beach-club style experience. For most guests, the package keeps delivering its value across the rest of the itinerary.
Expect Clearer Communication Before You Sail
NCL has indicated that more details are coming on the island package. Look for specifics in your pre-cruise documents and on the app, including what is included, pricing, and how to buy. The clarity will help you set expectations with your travelling party and decide early if the island add-on suits your day.
Compare With Other Private Islands Thoughtfully
Different cruise brands handle private-island drinks in different ways. What matters is not identical policies, but whether the setup matches how you like to spend time ashore. If pool seating, kid-friendly water play, and smoother arrivals are priorities, the coming upgrades may trump the inconvenience of a separate package.
Keep the Big Picture in Mind
This is a one-day tweak inside a week-long holiday. Focus on the benefits: faster access thanks to a pier, more seating and shade, easier family flow, and complimentary hydration that keeps everyone comfortable. Then decide if the island package brings you joy or if you would rather keep purchases casual.
Turn Today’s Update Into a Simple Plan
If your sailing includes Great Stirrup Cay, build a shortlist of island-day preferences and make a calm decision about drinks. Start with the free hydration, then layer in a purchased beverage or the island package, depending on your style. Setting this plan before you step off the gangway removes friction and keeps the day focused on clear water and soft sand.
Before you book your next NCL voyage, it helps to compare itineraries that call at Great Stirrup Cay with those that do not, so you know exactly where a separate island package might come into play. Our Cruise Finder lets you filter for private-island stops, pool your favourite dates, and see how sea days and port days balance across the week.
If you cruise with family or friends, use Cruise Finder to create a shared shortlist. Decide who would buy the island package, who is happy with complimentary options, and how you would stage the day around the new pool and splash pad. Seeing real dates side by side makes it much easier to lock in a plan that suits everyone.
Plan Your NCL Island Day With an Adviser
A small tweak to inclusions, a big set of improvements to the island, and plenty of complementary hydration, the pieces are easy to put together. If you want help aligning your itinerary with Great Stirrup Cay call dates, choosing staterooms near preferred lifts, and making sense of the NCL beverage package in light of this change, talk to an adviser or chat with our cruise specialist. We will map out your shore day rhythm, suggest simple planning habits for the heat, and keep the admin light so you can focus on the fun.
Comments