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Norwegian Makes First Overnight Visit to Great Stirrup Cay

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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.

Costa World Cruise Departs from Trieste on Deliziosa

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Costa World Cruise Departs from Trieste on Deliziosa

Costa Cruises announced that its 142-day World Cruise sailing departed on Friday from Trieste (Italy) aboard the Costa Deliziosa. The sailing will conclude on April 11, 2026, in Trieste.

The company said in a press release that the sailing will offer guests its most extensive world cruise ever, featuring over four and a half months of sailing to discover 51 destinations in 33 countries. The voyage will cross five continents and three oceans.

In 142 days, the Costa Deliziosa will complete a circumnavigation of the globe, sailing westward. From Italy, the ship will cross the Mediterranean and Atlantic to the Caribbean, visiting France, Spain, Morocco and the Canary Islands before reaching Barbados.

After transiting the Panama Canal, the ship will explore the heart of Latin America, including Peru, Chile and Easter Island.

The itinerary continues across the vast Pacific Ocean to the Pitcairn Islands, French Polynesia, the Samoan Islands, Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu and New Caledonia, as well as Australia.

From there, the route heads north to Papua New Guinea and Japan, including Tokyo, Kobe and Nagasaki, then onward to South Korea.

Sailing west again, guests will visit Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia.

The ship then sails to Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Mauritius, and then heads to Southern Africa.

Costa added that it will offer a rich program of land experiences, with over 200 shore excursions. Iconic highlights include Machu Picchu, Angkor Wat and Victoria Falls.

Guests will celebrate Christmas and New Year on the festively decorated ship, with dedicated shows and musical parties, and the ship will offer an international culinary offering created exclusively for the World Cruise.

Each week, Costa’s Michelin-starred chef partners will serve a signature dish. There will also be entertainment inspired by the cultures of visited countries, themed lectures and wellness spaces.

Costa will offer two world cruises departing in 2026: In October, the Costa Serena will depart from Tokyo to Buenos Aires for a 66-day world cruise across Asia, Oceania and South America.

In November, the Costa Deliziosa will return with an exclusive 139-day itinerary featuring destinations in North America, Hawaii and the private island of Half Moon Cay.

Norwegian to Stop Honouring Drink Packages on Great Stirrup Cay

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Norwegian to Stop Honouring Drink Packages on Great Stirrup Cay

Norwegian Cruise Line has announced that shipboard beverage packages will no longer be honoured for drinks on its private island of Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas starting next March.

According to a statement sent to travel agents, the change is part of a major enhancement project for the destination announced earlier this year.

“As we look to transform the on-island experience, we have evaluated our policies and made the decision that shipboard beverage packages will no longer be applicable for drinks on Great Stirrup Cay beginning March 1, 2026,” Norwegian stated.

The company noted that complimentary beverages, including water, iced teas and juices, will continue to be readily available on the island.

For alcoholic beverages, guests will be able to purchase a new beverage package created exclusively for Great Stirrup Cay.

While further details will be released at a later date, the company noted that the change aims to provide guests with “the flexibility to curate how they experience” the destination.

“Norwegian Cruise Line is committed to providing the best vacation experiences, both onboard our ships and at the destinations we visit,” the statement added.

The company noted that Great Stirrup Cay is undergoing a major upgrade with the debut of a new pier, an expansive pool area featuring complimentary lounges, and a splash pad area for children.

In 2026, the destination will also be home to a large waterpark featuring 19 waterslides and a nearly 800-foot dynamic river.

A similar policy was introduced by Carnival Cruise Line earlier this year, which does not honour shipboard beverage packages at its new private destination of Celebration Key.

Instead, guests are asked to buy alcoholic and other beverages on an à la carte basis using either their shipboard cards or their regular credit cards.

In related news, Norwegian recently introduced charges for additional entrees at its main dining rooms, as well as no-show fees for speciality dining reservations.

The company also recently cancelled 55 cruises that were scheduled to take place on board four ships in 2026-27.