Thread: Great Stirrup Cay improvements

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE TO SIGNFICANTLY ENHANCE ITS PRIVATE ISLAND GREAT STIRRUP CAY


Company plans in excess of $20 million in improvements with completion by late 2011

MIAMI – March 17, 2010 – Norwegian Cruise Line announced today at Cruise Shipping Miami that it will make major enhancements to its private island, Great Stirrup Cay, located 120 miles east of Ft. Lauderdale in the Berry Island chain of the Bahamas. The 250-acre island will undergo a two-phase renovation, totaling in excess of $20 million, spanning 22 months and scheduled to be completed by the end of 2011.

“We have one of the best private islands, particularly for swimming and snorkeling. With these improvements, we can provide an even more enjoyable island experience for the more than 9,000 guests who visit Great Stirrup Cay weekly during the height of the season,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s chief executive officer. “Highlights of the enhancements include an expanded beach front, exciting island excursions, additional dining facilities, private beachside cabanas and a new kid’s area.”

The first phase of improvements to Great Stirrup Cay is already underway. This includes the excavation and formation of a new entrance channel for tenders, marina basin and arrival area with welcome pavilion that will be the site for new tender landings and docks. Once this is complete, the island’s current beach front will be expanded significantly to accommodate more guests.

New infrastructure and landscaping to enhance the guest experience is planned in the second phase including new dining and bar facilities; several comfort stations; a band stand; cruise program activity area; private beachfront cabanas; a kid’s play area; straw market; and beach volleyball courts. Several new island activities and shore excursions will be added including wave runners, a floating Aqua Park with a variety of water toys, kayak tours through man-made rivers within the island, an eco-cruise, and a stingray encounter experience. These are in addition to the existing snorkeling; floats; inflatable hippo slide; and parasailing that are currently offered.

Norwegian has owned the island since 1977 when it became the first cruise line to offer an uninhabited tropical island experience exclusively for its guests. Great Stirrup Cay offers magnificent white sand beaches, majestic palms and calm, pristine waters where an abundance of colorful marine life inhabits the surrounding coral reefs.

Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Pearl regularly call on Great Stirrup Cay throughout the year.

For more information on Norwegian or to book a cruise, call 866-234-7350, click Norwegian Cruise Line - Cruises, Cruise Deals & Specials, Cruise Ship Vacations, Weekend Getaways or phone a travel professional.

Thanks for posting this update, John. A great development announced to day by NCL.

These kinds of investments are nearly always good for the cruise lines, shows concern for the guests preception of the product.

Always good to see cruise lines improving their facilities.

Sounds really nice!

Hopefully they can get some of those rocks out of the water.

The water makes a good refuge from the sand fleas.

Here is slideshow capture, from NCL's webcast, of some of the improvements.

PE

Originally Posted by GreatEscapes

The water makes a good refuge from the sand fleas.

Hmmm!

I have never had a problems with sand fleas here. The only place they have bothered me was on Roatan.

PE

Originally Posted by Planersedge

Hmmm!

I have never had a problems with sand fleas here. The only place they have bothered me was on Roatan.

PE

The Capt on my last trip there actually warned people about them. They have tried to get rid of them but of course that is next to impossible to do.

In the improvments they will have a new/improved kids/family Aqua park area. It will carry a as yet to be determined fee. They are also adding a jet ski attraction and cutting a new cove into the island to act as a new docking area for the tenders.