Great Stirrup Cay

[Cindyscruising]

I heard NCL added a new area for Haven guests- has anyone who's been here give any details or pics?

 

 

Also, I was thinking of renting a cabana; does anyone have any comments on the location of the small vs the large cabana's? I read in another post that the Large ones are in a noisy area and the Small ones are set further away?

Thanks in advance!

[CruisingNole]

I was there in June and there's a lot of construction going on. No idea if it's a new area for Haven guests, but I'm sure someone can answer.

[PelicanBill]

When you walk the path past the big food pavilion you pass a construction site where they are building a tower. You pass the large cabanas on the hill overlooking a smaller beach. Then you pass the small cabanas, some in a grove area and some facing another small beach. Further than that you reach the beach that surrounds a protected inlet, that used to be for everyone but is being redeveloped in the new Havens area. I have not see if it is open yet. They will probably run a tram to that area when open, as they did before.

[dexddd]

They were building an area at the far end. It has been going on for years. How far are they - haven't heard much.

[PelicanBill]

I was there in December. It wasn't very far along. Surely at least 6 months to go back then...

[BirdTravels]

I heard NCL added a new area for Haven guests- has anyone who's been here give any details or pics?

 

Also, I was thinking of renting a cabana; does anyone have any comments on the location of the small vs the large cabana's? I read in another post that the Large ones are in a noisy area and the Small ones are set further away?

Thanks in advance!

 

This area was suppose to be complete in October 2016. Progress has been slow. See link https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=53964188&postcount=19

[brookie848]

We had a small cabana in March. It was pretty quiet, but we thought it was a bit of a far walk. The issue wasn't the distance -- it was the terrain. A lot of the walk was in sand up or down a small incline. When we were there, the sand was rutted and it was difficult for my husband to see where the drop-offs were (he is color-blind and has issues with depth perception in situations like that).

 

The beach in front of the small cabanas is very, very rocky and it was not fun to get in and out of the water there.

Honestly, we probably won't go again even once the Haven area is finished. While the island was nice and could be enjoyable, the tendering situation for us coming back to the ship was a nightmare. We waited almost 30 minutes in the hot sun. Others had been waiting 45. We talked to others on our ship that had waited even longer.

If we can't avoid a ship that stops at GSC, we will just consider that an extra sea day.

[adjensen]

The tower looks like it's going to be a zipline station. It's unfortunate that NCL doesn't put that investment into a pier (maybe physically impossible) or a decent kitchen/BBQ pit. We usually skip GSC because of the tendering, the terrible food and all the seagulls.

[mking8288]

Frankly, just wait till the 2018 hurricane season is over & ask/see ... nobody is going to resume or continue construction over the next 3 or 4 months.

 

It's so easy for mother nature to sweep thru & blown things away.

 

 

 

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[Peachypooh]

The large cabanas are first along your walk then the small ones. We were assigned the second small cabana and I was glad. If you get the ones near the end of the line it is near the Haven construction. There was machinery moving around at the beginning of the day and end of the day blowing exhaust and making noise. In the middle of the day it was an eyesore.

[CruisingNole]

We usually skip GSC because of the tendering, the terrible food and all the seagulls.

 

The large, central buffet is disgusting. Have you tried the taco place? It was actually pretty good.

 

I've been to RC's Labadee and of course NCL's GSC. Most recently I went to GSC on Sun, obviously small ship. Tendering wasn't a very long process since there's weren't a lot of people. However, on the larger ships, I can image it'd be a nightmare. I was also very concerned that a slight weather disturbance could cause the entire stop to be cancelled.

 

For the dock alone, this gives RC's Labadee a leg up. I actually like the atmosphere/beach on GSC more than Labadee, but lack of a dock really stinks.

 

I've never been to RC's Coco Cay, but dock is under construction and on track to be completed in November of this year. I'll probably check it out next year.

 

Not sure why NCL doesn't build a dock. Maybe logistically it's not possible? Environmental reasons? Or maybe they just don't want to pay for it? I have no clue.

 

And to the person that said no construction will begin during hurricane season, that apparently doesn't deter RC as they are building their dock right in the heart of hurricane season.

[Cindyscruising]

Wow thanks so much for all the replies - lots of super helpful information and pics

 

 

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[adjensen]

The large, central buffet is disgusting. Have you tried the taco place? It was actually pretty good.

No, I wasn't even aware of the taco place until we were back aboard the last time I was there. I was complaining about the food over there and someone said that the tacos were much better.

[PelicanBill]

We had a small cabana in March. It was pretty quiet, but we thought it was a bit of a far walk. The issue wasn't the distance -- it was the terrain. A lot of the walk was in sand up or down a small incline. When we were there, the sand was rutted and it was difficult for my husband to see where the drop-offs were (he is color-blind and has issues with depth perception in situations like that).

 

The beach in front of the small cabanas is very, very rocky and it was not fun to get in and out of the water there.

Honestly, we probably won't go again even once the Haven area is finished. While the island was nice and could be enjoyable, the tendering situation for us coming back to the ship was a nightmare. We waited almost 30 minutes in the hot sun. Others had been waiting 45. We talked to others on our ship that had waited even longer.

If we can't avoid a ship that stops at GSC, we will just consider that an extra sea day.

 

Agree about the beach in front of the Cabanas. We snorkeled from there and it was difficult to get in and out. The walk was a little difficult for mobility challenged. First there is a long walk on the hard packed sand past from the dock past the food area. There is a soft sandy transition and short incline to get onto the cement walkway. Then it's easy to walk along in front of the large cabanas, then the small cabanas. To get in and out of the large cabanas there are somewhat steep ramps. But once you get there you can ask your butler to get your food and drink so you only need to leave to get in the water!

[beachys]

We've had both large and small cabanas. I prefer the large. There is a walkway in front of the cabanas. The small ones sit level and closer to the walkway and people walking by had a great view right into your cabana. At times it was unnerving. The larger cabanas sit up higher and seemed more private. I felt less like a side show.

[CruisingNole]

No, I wasn't even aware of the taco place until we were back aboard the last time I was there. I was complaining about the food over there and someone said that the tacos were much better.

 

It certainly is off the beaten path and not easy to find. Unless you inspected the map in detail, you'd have no idea it was there. Had it not have been for learning about it on Cruise Critic, I doubt I would have noticed it on the map.

[jessicak76]

We were just there last week. We had cabana #1 - the first cabana and the large one. For anyone with mobility issues, I felt it was a LONG walk from the tender. They do have large wheeled wheelchairs to assist, but then you are stuck at the cabana. They do not leave the wheelchairs for your use. The ramp going up to the cabana is super steep and hot to the touch. The cabana itself is wonderful. The beach down below is also a little walk--nothing for an able bodied person - but if you have difficulty --it's a long, sandy walk. I did not hear any construction going on, but again we were in Cabana 1.

[candydane]

Isn't there a tram from the dock to the cabanas?

[PelicanBill]

Isn't there a tram from the dock to the cabanas?

Old map linked below showint tram stops T1, T2, T3, T4.

 

There is no tram operating right now. When the new Havens area is complete I would assume they will start running it again. If they stop at "T3" that would be a good way to get to all the cabanas.

 

If they only go to the Havens areas at stop "T4", That would be a way to get to the small Cabanas, but the walk to the tram + the walk from the far stop back to the large cabanas... might be just as long as walking to them in the first place.

 

When it was running, the tram boarded at T1. Many people did not realize it is there - you must walk through a small sandy passage in the dune and it was not obvious!

 

http://www.cruiseportinsider.com/GSC%20Photos/gsc_map_v3%20500x333.jpg

[jessicak76]

No tram in site last week. Would have been nice.

[dalmoradie]

There is no tram, but if you ask the people that check you in to the cabanas, they can take you to your cabana on a golfcart (the ones they use to deliver stuff all over the place).

[PelicanBill]

Good point, youi'll have to ask for the golf cart. They had only one and we did not know till it passed us going the other way. Nobody seemed to notice my wife with a cane.

 

Perhaps my only complaint about GSC was cabana check in. For the price of these things there should have been a team of people waiting to check you in and get you there. There was no sign. We asked at one booth, they did not know. Asked at another after waiting in line and they said "that guy over there.... hey where did he go. Well, he will be over there." 5 minutes later he showed up and there were 8 cabana groups wanted to check in and get going. It took 15 minutes. He checked in a group on his list. Put a wristband on each person. Then went looking for someone to escort the group to their cabana. Then he did the next group. And so on. Finally, a second person showed up or it would have been a half hour.

 

I hope they have improved this or it was an unusual situation in our case.

[April42749]

I used to like GSC....when the "area under construction" was open for everyone. It was quiet with lots of chairs always available....and no rocks or objects to jump over when you entered the water. In addition, there was a smaller, but fully stocked, bbq area. It was like a private island. Jokingly I told DH that they could sell this as "an excursion"....that's how nice it was.

 

 

The last time we went, on the BA, we waited until late, in order to avoid the long lines. Got there...found seats after a hunt...went to get lunch. It was something like a 30 minute wait. So, back to the ship we went.

 

 

Now...it's just a good day to enjoy the empty ship.