Norwegian Makes First Overnight Visit to Great Stirrup Cay

Norwegian Makes First Overnight Visit to Great Stirrup Cay

Norwegian Cruise Line recently made its first overnight visit to Great Stirrup Cay as part of a last-minute itinerary change.

According to a statement sent to guests, the Norwegian Encore became the first ship to spend the night docked at the private island destination on Jan. 22, 2026.

The two-day visit replaced a previously scheduled call to Costa Maya, Mexico, which had to be cancelled due to port availability.

“We’re thrilled to introduce an extraordinary, first-of-a-kind experience: an overnight stay at our private island in the Bahamas, Great Stirrup Cay,” Norwegian said in its statement.

“This will mark the first overnight visit offered to Norwegian Cruise Line guests. This moment gives you a rare opportunity to be among the first guests to experience Great Stirrup Cay after dark, truly making cruise history,” the company added.

Initially scheduled to arrive at the island at 4:00 p.m., the Norwegian Encore docked at the destination’s new pier at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, due to a medical emergency.

The 4,200-passenger ship remained at the port through 5:00 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, when it departed for Miami.

Norwegian said that guests were able to enjoy the island until midnight, which served as an all-onboard time.

The company said bars onshore opened shortly after arrival at the island, while light bites and convenient grab-and-go favorites were served at Abaco Taco.

“As the sun sets, the energy shifts to an unforgettable evening celebration, with all nighttime activities focused on the vibrant Great Life Lagoon, the all-new pool area,” Norwegian continued.

While the beach was closed at sundown for guests’ safety, the company also offered a “Glow Party under the Stars” from 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

In addition to an overnight visit to Great Stirrup Cay, the seven-night cruise onboard the Norwegian Encore also included visits to Roatán in Honduras and Harvest Caye in Belize.

A Look at the 13 Charter Cruises on Norwegian Pearl

A Look at the 13 Charter Cruises on Norwegian Pearl

With Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings rolling out its “Experiences at Sea” division, the company also announced the Norwegian Pearl will sail 13 back-to-back theme/charter cruises starting later this month.

The 13 back-to-back cruises from Jan. 20, 2023 – Mar. 27, 2023, include:

• Cruise Perfect (Jan. 20 –23) Miami to Nassau, Bahamas – The five dudes from Dude Perfect host an action-packed three-day cruise full of trick shots, challenges and fun for the whole family.
• The Rock Boat XXII (Jan 23. – 28) Miami to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic and Nassau, Bahamas – Guests will enjoy a five-day cruise hosted by Sister Hazel and featuring over 30 acts from Need to Breathe, Neon Trees, American Authors, Lit and so much more.
• On the Blue (Jan. 28 – Feb. 2) Miami to Harvest Caye, Belize to Costa Maya, Mexico – Hosted by Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues, guests will enjoy a five-day classic rock cruise featuring an array of musical performances.
• Chris Jericho’s Rock N Wrestling Rager at Sea (Feb. 2 – 6) Miami to Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas – Chris Jericho hosts a four-day cruise featuring the perfect blend of rock and world-class wrestling.
• Nursecon at Sea (Feb. 6 – 10) Miami to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic – The Ultimate Nursing Conference created by Nurse Blake will provide attendees with the perfect balance of vacation, entertainment, fun with professional learning (including accredited CNE courses) and networking.
• Cayamo 15 (Feb. 10 – 17) Miami to Philipsburg, St. Maarten and Tortola, British Virgin Islands – Guests will celebrate the 15th anniversary of this Americana journey through song with over 40 artists, featuring Jeff Tweedy, Andrew Bird, Trampled by Turtles, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Patty Griffin, Neko Case, Shovels & Rope and many more.
• Sail Across the Sun (Feb. 17 – 21) Miami to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic – Guests will embark on a four-day cruise hosted by Train with performances from over 20 artists including Fitz and the Tantrums, G. Love & Special, plus comedy from Nick Swardson, wine tastings and more.
• Outlaw Country Cruise 7 (Feb. 21 – 27) Miami to Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas to Cozumel, Mexico – Celebrating the seventh edition, guests will enjoy performances from over 40 artists including once-in-a-lifetime collaborations, featuring The Mavericks, John Anderson, Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle & The Dukes and more.
• The Friendship (Feb. 27- March 3) Miami to Nassau, Bahamas to Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas – Hosted by All My Friends and Gary Richards, DESTRUCTO, the music festival returns for its third year hosting a soon-to-be-announced line-up of artists and schedule of events for electric dance music (EDM) aficionados.
• The Beach Boys Cruise (March 3 – 8) Miami to Harvest Caye, Belize to Costa Maya, Mexico – The Beach Boys are not only bringing their good vibrations, but also performances by The Isley Brothers, The Temptations, The Righteous Brothers, Mark McGrath and so many more on this five-day cruise.
• 311 Caribbean Cruise 7 (March 8 – 13) Miami to Harvest Caye, Belize to Roatan, Honduras – 311 host 3/11 Day at Sea with featured performances by Arrested Development, G. Love & Special Sauce, Less Than Jake, and more, plus shows from comedians still to be announced.
• Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea VIII (March 13 – 17) Miami to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic – Joe Bonamassa hosts a celebration of blues with over 20 artists, featuring Little Feat, Dion, Bobby Rush, Robert Randolph Band and more.
• Atlantis (March 17 – 27) Miami to Key West to Cozumel, Mexico to Harvest Caye, Belize to Colon, Panama to Cartagena, Colombia to Georgetown, Grand Cayman – Each Atlantis cruise offers a carefree experience for the gay community based around friendship, camaraderie, relaxation, indulgence, adventure and pure uninhibited fun.
• Plus: The Broadway Cruise (March 31 – April 5) New York City to Bermuda on Norwegian Gem – Guests can immerse themselves in the world of Broadway with special performances from Tony-Award winners Laura Benanti, Kristin Chenoweth, Alan Cumming and more, plus panels and activities from the best creators in the business.

COVID Cases Found on Norwegian Cruise Ship Returning to New Orleans

A cruise ship set to dock in New Orleans with over 3,000 passengers has detected 10 cases of COVID-19 among its crew and guests, the Louisiana Department of Health said late on Saturday.

The cruise ship Norwegian Breakaway, owned by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd, departed New Orleans on a weeklong cruise on Nov. 28 and had stops in Belize, Honduras and Mexico, the health agency said.

"NCL has been adhering to appropriate quarantine and isolation protocols," the department said in a tweet.

The ship is set to reach New Orleans on Sunday morning, according to its itinerary.

Everyone on board will be tested for COVID-19 before leaving and will be provided with post-exposure and quarantine public health guidance by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

People who test positive for COVID-19 will either travel to their homes or self-isolate according to CDC guidelines, the health agency said.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside regular business hours.

(Reporting by Ann Maria Shibu in Bengaluru; Editing by Frances Kerry)

MSC Meraviglia Becomes Biggest Ship to Call in Manhattan

The MSC Meraviglia made history in the early hours of Monday morning, October 7, as she became the largest cruise ship to dock in New York City as she berthed at the north end of Pier 88 at Manhattan Cruise Terminal. 

"We are so thrilled to welcome MSC Meraviglia, a truly beautiful ship, to the U.S. as she marks another major milestone for MSC Cruises in the North American market,” said Ken Muskat, EVP & Chief Operating Officer of MSC Cruises (USA). “Due to significant demand, for the first time in MSC Cruises history, we now have four distinct ships sailing in the region as MSC Meraviglia joins MSC Seaside, MSC Armonia and MSC Divina. With each ship offering its own unique design and guest experience inspired by our European heritage, we look forward to providing travellers with even more choice and variety to best fit their vacation needs.” 

Designed to sail in all seasons and climates, the MSC Meraviglia will begin her North America program with three cruises from New York, including two itineraries to New England and Canada and one repositioning to her new homeport in Miami.

On her first Caribbean sailing, departing from NYC on October 28, the MSC Meraviglia will be the first ship to call on Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, MSC Cruises’ new g private island destination in the Bahamas opening November 9, 2019.

From November 10, 2019, through April 5, 2020, MSC Meraviglia will sail two different seven-night western Caribbean itineraries visiting ports in Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, Mexico, Belize, Honduras and The Bahamas. 

Following her inaugural season in Miami, MSC Meraviglia will then return to Northern Europe for summer 2020, from April to September.

Upon returning to the U.S. on October 2020, the MSC Meraviglia will once again do three 10-night sailings from New York to Canada & New England before then homeporting back in Miami for seven-night Caribbean sailings.

Norwegian Sun to Offer Cuba Cruises from PortMiami

Norwegian Cruise Line put new cruises on sale to Cuba and the Caribbean aboard the Norwegian Sun round-trip from Miami, Florida.

“We are thrilled to reveal Norwegian Sun’s new fall 2018 itineraries, which will be the first time our brand has featured a call in Havana, Cuba on seven-day and longer cruises,” said Andy Stuart, president and chief executive officer for Norwegian Cruise Line. “These new itineraries offer a remarkable breadth of experiences for guests with a culturally immersive full day and evening in Havana, complemented by several visits to world-class destinations across the Caribbean and beyond.”

The Norwegian Sun will sail six new seven-day cruises from Miami departing on Sundays from September 9 through October 14.

Port calls include Havana, Cuba, Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian’s private island in the Bahamas; Costa Maya, Mexico and Harvest Caye, Belize. The ship’s nine-day Cuba and the Caribbean cruises will expand upon her seven-day sailings and also include additional visits to Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras and Cozumel, Mexico.

There's also a 13-day Cuba, Caribbean and Panama Canal sailing on Oct. 30, with calls in Puerto Limon, Costa Rica; Cartagena and Santa Marta, Colombia and Oranjestad, Aruba, among others.

Norwegian Cruise Line has also added a new five-day cruise to Cuba and the Bahamas from Port Canaveral on September 3. The new cruise will round out the ship’s season sailing from the Space Coast with an afternoon visit to Key West, Florida then heads to Havana for an overnight visit, followed a call in Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas.

Belizean bliss at Norwegian's Harvest Caye

Norwegian Cruise Line’s private island, Harvest Caye, just off the coast of Belize, contains 11 mahogany-trimmed villas that can be rented for the day for $499. Photo Credit: Tom Stieghorst

Harvest Caye, a 78-acre island a mile offshore from southern Belize, might be the best in class in the cruise industry's growing portfolio of privately built destinations in the Bahamas and the Caribbean.

Completed by Norwegian Cruise Line over the course of 31 months, the island has a combination of standout features. 

To start with, it has a dock big enough to accommodate a megaship such as the 4,000-passenger Norwegian Getaway, the result of dredging more than a million cubic meters of sea bottom to make a channel.

Not having to tender to a private port makes everything safer, faster and more convenient for guests. 

Also, while it feels like an island experience, Harvest Caye is only a 15-minute boat ride from mainland Belize, where available tours include the Mayan archaeological ruins, a tropical spice farm, a savannah ecotour by boat and a rainforest river tubing and rafting excursion. Prices for these experiences top out at $109.

On the island, a nature center displays boa constrictors, scarlet macaws and toucans, the national bird of Belize. Run by Tony Garel, an award-winning naturalist recruited from the Belize Zoo, it is the only such center in a port owned by a cruise line.

One popular zoo feature is a screened butterfly house filled with bobbing, iridescent blue morphos.

A branded restaurant adds another dimension to Harvest Caye. The tropically themed, two-story LandShark Bar & Grill was designed by Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Holdings and is operated by local food purveyor Provisions Belize. The restaurant overlooks a 15,000-square-foot pool that, unlike those on most cruise ships, comes with lifeguard supervision.

Harvest Caye's most visible feature is a 136-foot-tall lighthouse-like structure called the Flighthouse, an anchor for two ziplines, including the 1,300-foot Superman, in which riders fly prone, swooping low over the beach like a jet coming in for a landing at the airport. When both ziplines are running, guest services director Dan Drahozal said they can serve up to 192 people a day.

When a ship arrives around 8 a.m., guests will be greeted by a band playing drums and singing songs from the Afro-Caribbean Garifuna subculture in Belize. On the beach, 2,500 blue-cushioned loungers await.

To beat the brutal summer heat in Belize, Harvest Caye is outfitted with an abundance of fans, misters and shade umbrellas. A low canopy also protects the pier walk from the ship to the entrance. 

Several free-standing locker towers provide storage around the island for $5 a day. Harvest Caye's shopping village is lushly landscaped with a variety of tropical plants and mostly local vendors, rather than the chains that crowd other ports of call.

Finally, it's worth noting that many of the Harvest Caye buildings, including the 11 villas that rent out for $499 a day, are trimmed in tropical hardwood milled by a Mennonite community in Belize. It gives a richer-than-expected look to the beach architecture.

"Mahogany is widely used in this country because it's so abundant," said Dustin Bowen, CEO of Provisions Belize, "whereas in the [U.S.] it's scarce and expensive."

Norwegian Cruise Line taking the wraps off Harvest Caye

The Landshark Bar & Grill at Harvest Caye. 

Harvest Caye, Norwegian Cruise Line's destination island in Belize, is set to open on Nov. 17, with the first call being made by the Norwegian Dawn.

The project has been at least three years in the making and will be the most elaborate island destination Norwegian Cruise Line has developed to date.

About seven acres have been groomed for guests who can choose between a long white-sand beach, a water sports lagoon or a 300,000 gallon tropical pool to start their recreation ashore.

The venue serves as the first landside outpost of Norwegian's partnership with Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville franchise, with the debut a Landshark Bar & Grill in Belize. (There are Margaritaville restaurants on three Norwegian Cruise Line ships.)

The "Flighthouse" will serve as the anchor for a pair of ziplines and a freefall jump. 

There is a shopping village with Belizean products, art, food and drinks. Guests wanting to explore more of Belize can board two 275-person catamarans or 60-seat motorboats for the short ride to the mainland.

Towering above the action is the 130-foot tall "Flighthouse" that serves as the anchor for a pair of ziplines and an apparatus that drops guest from heights of 40, 60 or 100 feet before easing them gently to the sand at the end of the drop.

Unlike some private cruise destinations, Harvest Caye has a built-in dock so tenders aren't needed. Guests walk through a ceremonial set of gates with the Harvest Caye name displayed in a wrought-iron arch.

The island's buildings are made of rustic stone trimmed with mahogany and other native hardwoods. Landscaping includes 15,000 newly planted mangroves.

Eleven air-conditioned beach villas are available for rent, at $475 per villa. They accommodate six adults and feature a bathroom with a shower, a deck and Bluetooth connections for concierge services and music.

Also, there are 15 pool cabanas for rent at $199 for the day. The cabanas accommodate two adults. A beach clamshell with a pair of loungers is priced at $29.

Norwegian will offer a variety of watersports and toys. Mini speedboats are available for $69 for adults, $49 for children, and eco-friendly electric boats rent for $40. Kayaks rent for $25 and stand-up paddleboards for $20. The zipline attraction has packages starting at $59 for adults and $49 for children. There is a river float feature for $79/$59.

Air-conditioned beach villas will rent for $475 per day. 

In the lagoon, Norwegian runs a wildlife boat tour for spotting manatees that costs $49/$39.  Tours to see Mayan ruins run $89/69, or $109/$79 with an add-on visit to a spice plantation.

While the name Harvest Caye doesn't sound particularly indigenous, Norwegian said it was the name used by Belize for the island before Norwegian arrived. "We choose not to change it," a spokeswoman said.

After the initial call by the Norwegian Dawn sailing from New Orleans, Harvest Caye is scheduled to host the Norwegian Jade on Nov. 18, and then the Norwegian Getaway on Nov. 23.  A call by Regent Seven Seas Cruises, a cruise line owned by Norwegian Cruise Line's parent company, is slated for January.

There'll be booze in the blender on Norwegian Escape

By Tom Stieghorst

Singer Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville restaurant will make its cruise debut on Norwegian Escape as part of an exclusive deal, Norwegian Cruise Line said.

Norwegian Cruise Line CEO Kevin Sheehan made the announcement at a company rally in Miami where Buffet entertained employees.

In a news release, Norwegian said its exclusive partnership with Margaritaville Holdings extends to Norwegian’s island destinations, including the new Harvest Caye in Belize and Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas, as well as other ships in the fleet.

There are currently over a dozen Margaritaville locations in the U.S., Mexico and the Caribbean, including one at the Grand Turk Cruise Center developed by Carnival Corp.

Belize close ports to cruise ship

Ebola scare on the high seas: Mexico and Belize close ports to cruise ship carrying health worker who handled samples from 'patient zero' who died of virus

• The female passenger works at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, Dallas
• Took a trip on the Carnival Magic trip - due to stop in Belize and Mexico 
• She handled clinical samples from Duncan - who died of Ebola on October 8
• The woman, who is with her husband, had no symptoms but went into voluntary isolation
• Hospital has now issued tighter guidelines to stop staff traveling 
• Belize is refusing to let the passenger ashore because of Ebola fears 
• The ship will be skipping its final stop in Cozumel, Mexico, Friday and will return to Texas on Sunday

A cruise ship which launched from Texas has been barred from entering Belize and Mexico because it may be carrying an Ebola victim.

The ship is carrying a health worker from Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas - the epicenter of the Ebola crisis, where the first patient to die of the disease in America was treated.

The woman - who is now in voluntary isolation to protect fellow passengers - had handled samples from Thomas Eric Duncan, who died of the virulent disease on October 8.

Officials had wanted to move her off the ship so she could fly home. But the governments of Belize and Mexico both denied permission for the ship to dock in order to protect its own citizens.  

Scroll down for video  

 

A female healthcare worker from Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital is reportedly quarantined on board Carnival Cruise ship Magic (pictured) in the Caribbean over an Ebola scare

 

Tourists enjoy a ride on a catamaran as cruise ship Carnival Magic is seen near the shores of Cozumel October 17

The health worker has so far not shown any signs of the disease since she handled the material 19 days ago, the White House said.

Ebola's incubation period is two to 21 days. In the wake of the scare on the seas, Texas Health Presbyterian shared news guidelines it had issued limiting staff's travel.

From now on workers will not be permitted to board planes, ships or trains for 21 days after entering a room with an infected patient.

The New York Post, which reported the memo, said that enhanced monitoring will also be put into place, and staff can volunteer to be taken into care at the hospital if they want. 

The government is working to return the woman and her husband to the US before the ship, the Carnival Magic, completes its cruise. The State Department was working to secure their transportation home. 

 

On board: Passengers on the Carnival Magic, pictured, have been separated from the health worker, who put herself in voluntary isolation

 

Keeping on: Vacations continued for passengers aboard the ship, who were given a $200 credit to their on-board accounts, but had to miss out on a stop in Mexico

An administration official said the cruise ship had stopped in Belize but officials there would not allow the passenger to leave the vessel so she could be flown home.

On Friday morning, passengers aboard the ship learned that they will not be making a planned stop in Cozumel, Mexico, due to 'a situation beyond the cruise ship's control.'

The captain of the Carnival vessel made the announcement at around 10am saying that they are being forced to skip the final port on the itinerary and return to Galveston, Texas, Sunday.

‘We greatly regret that this situation, which was completely beyond our control, precluded the ship from making its scheduled visit to Cozumel and the resulting disappointment it has caused our guests,’ the Carnival Cruise line said in a statement to Miami Herald.

A Mexican port authority official said the ship was denied clearance to avoid any possible risk from Ebola.

'It is the first time that this has happened, and it was decided the ship should not dock as a preventative measure against Ebola,' Erce Barron, port authority director in Quintana Roo, told Reuters 

The company is offering passengers a credit of $200 each to their shipboard account and a 50 per cent discount toward a future trip. 

 

Explanation: This note was handed out to passengers explaining how the spat with Belize meant the woman could not be taken off the ship 

Belize stops Ebola health care worker leaving cruise ship

 

 

 

 

The ship skipped a planned stop in Cozumel, Mexico, on Friday because of delays getting permission to dock from Mexican authorities over Ebola scare 

A government official said that when the Texas lab worker left the US on the cruise ship from Galveston October 12, health officials were requiring only self-monitoring.

One official said it's believed the woman poses no risk but health-care authorities want to get her off the cruise ship and back to the US out of an abundance of caution.

There have been no restrictions placed on other passengers aboard the ship.

Images from aboard the stricken vessel were published by The Denver Channel. 

Carnival Cruise Lines said in a statement that the woman, a lab supervisor, remained in isolation 'and is not deemed to be a risk to any guests or crew'.

'We are in close contact with the CDC and at this time it has been determined that the appropriate course of action is to simply keep the guest in isolation on board,' the statement said.  

The worker is being monitored for any signs of infection by the ship's doctor

Norwegian Cruise Line to develop destination in Belize

By Tom Stieghorst

Norwegian Cruise Line said it acquired a 75-acre property in southern Belize that it intends to develop into an eco-destination for its ships.

The line plans to spend $50 million on the project, which is still being designed.

The land, called Harvest Caye, is made up of two adjoining islands in the Stann Creek and Toledo districts that had previously been approved for a resort development with an airstrip.

Major components of the project would include a floating pier, an island village with open-air structures on raised platforms, a marina, a transportation hub for tours to the mainland, a lagoon for a variety of water sports and a beach area.

Hotel interests in Belize in the past have opposed the development of cruise tourism.

Norwegian said the development would increase the country's head tax revenue and create up to 1,000 local jobs. The company also said it would promote the goal of diversifying tourism away from Belize City, a goal in the government's sustainable tourism master plan.

Norwegian has also created a hiring program to employ Belizeans on its ships while the project is completed. They would have priority in hiring at the eco-facility.

A memo of understanding with Belize calls for strict adherence to environmental standards, Norwegian said.

Norwegian retained IDEA Inc. of Orlando to design the project and bring it to fruition. It did not say when the resort might open.

Carnival cancels Belize calls, says port is overcrowded

By Jerry Limone

Carnival Cruise Lines is forgoing port calls in Belize through the end of 2013 because the port has become too congested, Carnival said.

“Although we have a confirmed berth in Belize, local officials accepted calls for additional ships. Consequently, their tender capacity is not able to effectively handle the increased volume of guests without creating long delays and limiting your time ashore,” Carnival said in a letter to customers. “Despite our best efforts, we have been unable to come to an acceptable agreement with Belize Port Authority regarding this situation.”

The Carnival Glory and the Carnival Legend, the two ships that had scheduled calls in Belize this year, instead will call in Costa Maya, Mexico.