Norwegian Cruise Line Reverses Controversial Drink Package Policy at Great Stirrup Cay
Norwegian Cruise Line has announced two important updates for its private island in the Bahamas, Great Stirrup Cay — one that many cruisers will welcome and another that may be a bit less popular.
The cruise line confirmed it is reversing a controversial drink package policy that had sparked backlash among guests. At the same time, Norwegian also revealed that ships will temporarily return to tender operations at the island while construction continues on a permanent pier.
Together, the changes impact how guests will experience one of Norwegian’s most popular private destinations in the coming months.
Drink Packages Will Continue to Work on Great Stirrup Cay
Norwegian Cruise Line has now confirmed that its popular “Free at Sea” beverage package will continue to be honored at Great Stirrup Cay indefinitely.
The announcement reverses an earlier plan that would have removed the drink package from use on the island starting in 2026.
Under that previous proposal, guests visiting Great Stirrup Cay would no longer have been able to use the standard onboard drink package while ashore. Instead, the cruise line had planned to introduce a new island-specific beverage program.
In practice, however, many cruisers believed the change effectively pushed guests toward upgrading to the more expensive “Free at Sea Plus” (FAS+) package if they wanted drink privileges on the island.
That upgrade costs $49.99 per person per day, compared to $28.50 per person per day for the standard Free at Sea beverage package.
Over the course of a typical seven-night cruise, the difference would have added up to about $150 more per guest.
The proposal quickly drew criticism across cruise forums and social media, with many guests arguing that drink packages should apply everywhere within the cruise experience — especially at a cruise line’s own private destination.
Policy Reversal Comes After Backlash
The original rollout of the new policy had already been delayed once.
Norwegian initially planned to introduce the change on March 1, 2026, but later pushed the implementation date to March 31, 2026 after receiving strong feedback from guests.
Now the cruise line has decided to abandon the plan entirely, confirming that the existing beverage package will continue to work on the island going forward.
Travel advisors were informed of the decision, and the cruise line has also updated its website so that Great Stirrup Cay is no longer listed as an exclusion for drink package benefits.
Guests who previously upgraded to the Free at Sea Plus package solely to maintain drink privileges on the island still have the option to cancel or downgrade — as long as they are at least three days away from their cruise departure.
While beverage packages remain optional, Norwegian noted that basic drinks such as water, lemonade, tea, and coffee continue to be included in the cruise fare, with additional beverages available for purchase individually.
Temporary Return to Tendering at the Island
In a separate operational update, Norwegian Cruise Line also confirmed that ships will temporarily return to tendering at Great Stirrup Cay starting in April.
Tendering means ships anchor offshore while guests are transported to the island using smaller boats.
While Norwegian introduced a pier at Great Stirrup Cay in late 2025, the structure currently in place is only a temporary pier.
Construction is now set to begin on a permanent pier, which will require ships to once again anchor offshore while work is completed.
For some cruisers, tender ports can be frustrating. Rough weather can sometimes delay the process or even cause ships to cancel the stop entirely if conditions are unsafe.
However, Norwegian says the return to tendering will be temporary while the permanent pier is completed.
Major Upgrades Coming to Great Stirrup Cay
The construction project is part of a broader expansion of the private island.
Norwegian expects the pier project to be finished by July, just in time for the planned opening of Great Tides Waterpark, a major new attraction at the destination.
The waterpark will feature 19 slides and is expected to become one of the island’s biggest draws for cruise guests.
Great Stirrup Cay has long been a highlight of Norwegian Caribbean itineraries, offering beaches, beach bars, cabanas, water sports, and other shore activities.
Once construction is finished, the new pier and waterpark upgrades are expected to significantly enhance the overall guest experience on the island.
Bottom Line
For many cruisers, the biggest takeaway from the announcement is that drink packages will continue to work at Great Stirrup Cay, avoiding what many viewed as an unnecessary extra cost.
At the same time, guests sailing to the island in the coming months should be prepared for a temporary return to tendering while Norwegian completes construction on its permanent pier.
When finished later this year, the upgrades — including the new waterpark — are expected to make Norwegian’s private island experience bigger and better than ever.
