While planning activities and shore excursions for our Norwegian Breakaway cruise to NCL’s private island in the Bahamas, we discovered Great Stirrup Cay’s Lagoon Villas. These luxury villas are set around a private lagoon in the exclusive Silver Cove Private Retreat of the island. Since we were traveling as a family of four, we booked a 1-bedroom Lagoon Villa for our day there, which was the highlight of our week.
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In this article, we will discuss our experience, what to expect, whether you get priority tender, what the Silver Cove buffet is like, and whether we think it was worth it.
Our Experience Spending a Day at Great Stirrup Cay’s Lagoon Villa (1-Bedroom)
During our 7-day Caribbean cruise, our day at Great Stirrup Cay was one of our favorites, thanks to our wonderful experience in our private 1-bedroom Lagoon Villa and its amenities. It wasn’t just the villa itself but also the premium service, the beautiful secluded lagoon, and the feeling of being in our private oasis that made it so special.
VIP Treatment at Silver Cove
Booking at Silver Cove means you can expect to be treated like a VIP. It was like being in the Haven but on an island with a private beach. And yes, the Haven is that wonderful.
Arrival and First Impressions
From the moment we checked in and were escorted to Silver Cove reception, we knew this day would be one for the books. We saw the beautiful lagoon with only a few people swimming around. Then, we were given a tour of our luxury villa for the day, which also had a view of the lagoon, and we were floored. We were surely in paradise. That’s exactly how we felt the rest of the day.
Comfort and Amenities
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This was a beach day with the comforts of home and, for others, maybe even better. The villa was super comfortable with modern furniture; it was air-conditioned and had a fridge, a Nespresso, and a big TV with unlimited movies. And a bartender came by to take your drink orders. What more could you want?
There was also a full restroom with a shower, which was perfect for the end of the day. I highly recommend bringing fresh clothes so you can shower and then head back ready for the rest of the night on the ship.
Our favorite part of the villa was the terrace, which had two lounge chairs and a patio dining set for four people. We spent plenty of time lounging in this area when we weren’t at the beach.
We didn’t use the bedroom area and are unsure why NCL built them with bedrooms. But I can see a family with toddlers or a baby using it during the day for nap time. Or anyone who needs their mid-day snooze after a few too many.
The Lagoon
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While the lagoon in this part of Silver Cove was manmade, we couldn’t spend enough time in it. It was clean, peaceful, and warm. We rarely left this area of Great Stirrup Cay because it was so serene and comfortable. The beach lagoon included eight beach lounge chairs, complete with sun umbrellas. We took full advantage of the mat floats and spent plenty of time floating in the lagoon. We never even made it to the infinity pool.
Hubby did go snorkeling in the sculpture garden in another part of the island, which he thought was worth it because of all the fish he saw. Of course, he said it was crowded and noisy compared to where we were in Silver Cove.
Silver Cove Buffet
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The Silver Cove buffet was the only part of our experience that we didn’t think was spectacular. It was your standard BBQ with burgers, hot dogs, and some added options. There were some tasty shrimp ceviche, salads, fruit, and dessert options. It was an okay buffet, and we ate well, but I wouldn’t call it “upscale,” as NCL describes it.
You do have to go to the buffet to eat, as they will not bring food from the buffet to your villa for you. You can enjoy your meal at the buffet area with lovely shaded outdoor seating and a bar, or bring it back to your villa. We brought some fruit back to snack on later in the afternoon.
The buffet was not far from reception by the Lagoon.
What is Silver Cove in Great Stirrup Cay?
Silver Cove is an exclusive area of Great Stirrup Cay featuring its own pool, beaches, buffet, bar, and various amenities. In terms of luxury and exclusivity, it’s comparable to the Haven on Norwegian Cruise Line ships. However, even Haven guests do not automatically have access to Silver Cove unless they have booked a private villa.
What is the cost of the Villas at Silver Cove in Great Stirrup Cay?
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The Villas start at $899. That’s not per person; it’s for a group. Depending on the villa’s size, the group maximum varies from 6 to 16. There may be room for 2 to 4 more guests at $49 per person.
The 1-bedroom Lagoon Villa we booked for the day could accommodate 10 people, with the option of an additional 2 people at an extra cost. We were a party of 4, so it was more than comfortable for us.
Note: The first guest’s $50 Shore Excursion credit will apply when booking, as will any Lattitude discounts.
Booking a Villa
Booking a villa at Silver Cove is easy. They are available online under the shore excursions category via NCL’s app or website. You can also call NCL’s shore excursion desk to book. I suggest booking months in advance, as they do sell out quickly. We ended up booking the 1-bedroom Lagoon Villa because it was one of the few left available a few months before the cruise.
If you want to choose a particular villa location, wait until you’re on the ship to speak to the shore excursions desk.
What is included in the cost of the Silver Cove Villa at Great Stirrup Cay?
Each villa comes equipped with and includes:
- With full air-conditioning
- In-villa TV with complimentary on-demand movies
- Nespresso machine with full set up
- Mini fridge
- Full private restroom with a shower
- Retractable glass wall providing unobstructed views and access to the private beach.
- Beach chairs with umbrellas
- Float mats
- “Luxury” buffet
- Access to Silver Cove pool
- Access to Mandara Spa (services cost extra)
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What to Expect When You Book a Villa
While we were super excited about our day in the Lagoon Villa at Great Stirrup Cay, we did not know what to expect regarding the process. Booking a villa isn’t as simple as just showing up on the day. Without proper instructions from NCL, we almost missed priority tendering. Here’s what you need to know:
- On the day you embark on the ship, you’ll receive forms to fill out and return to the shore excursions desk by a certain date.
- One form confirms the number of people in your group joining you in the villa.
- The second is a catering order form for items like shrimp cocktails or fruits you want delivered to the villa.
- You’ll receive your Shore Excursion tickets the day before Great Stirrup Cay. Check for instructions about the priority tender; if they are not included, find out where you should meet.
- Set a place and time for your entire group to meet as you’ll need to all tender together to NCL’s private island.
- Once you arrive on the island, pass the entrance and the Great Stirrup Cay sign and look for a booth with a Villa sign to check-in for your Villa. Bracelets will be provided for everyone in your party.
- You’ll be driven to the Silver Cove reception area in a golf cart, and then, depending on the distance, you can either walk or drive to your villa.
- A host at your assigned villa will greet you, give you a tour of the villa and beach or lagoon amenities, and check in with you throughout the day.
- Bar service is available, and a bartender will take your drink orders. If you have an NCL Beverage Package, it will work on the island.
- The Silver Cove Buffet is open from 11 am to 2:30 pm.
- You can leave the area and explore other parts of the island by golf cart, which you can pick up in front of the Silver Cove reception.
- You can enjoy your villa until 15 minutes before the last tender back to the ship. Keep in mind that it is a short golf cart ride.
Is the priority tender included with a Silver Cove Villa?
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Yes. Your entire party will receive a Priority Tender from the ship to Great Stirrup Caye. Our shore excursion tickets never had instructions on where to meet or about priority, so you may have to ask the shore excursions desk at guest services for instructions. We were told to go with our full group and meet at The Manhattan room for the priority tender. Double-check the protocol for the ship you’re cruising on.
Is booking a Silver Cove Villa worth it?
Yes, the cost of a Silver Cove villa is worth it. When you compare it to the cost of cabanas on other private islands owned by different cruise lines, which don’t match the quality of these villas, you realize it’s actually a pretty good deal. It is a hefty expense, but with that cost, you gain access to a VIP area with premium service and amenities. When divided among a group, the value becomes even more apparent.
Does the zipline go over Silver Cove’s Lagoon?
No, not the Lagoon. The zipline goes over the beach area where the Ocean Villas are located.
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Meet Kathy Ava, a food, travel, and cruise writer based in Los Angeles/Pasadena, and the owner and main writer of Tasty Itinerary. With over 20 years of experience planning trips and logistics at her full-time job and for herself, she’s become a pro at crafting unforgettable tasty itineraries. She’s always on the hunt for delicious, fun travel destinations and cruise itineraries. She firmly believes that life is short and we must make the most of it, so always say yes to dessert.
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