Great Stirrup Cay vs. CocoCay: Our Quick Verdict

If you don’t have time to read the entire comparison, here’s our quick answer.

🏆 Best Overall Experience: CocoCay

For us, Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay offers the more complete private island experience.

We particularly prefer it because of:

• Easy access directly from the cruise ship
• Multiple beaches
• Excellent availability of umbrellas and shade
• Beautiful water
• More developed infrastructure
• A spectacular complimentary pool
• More variety in different areas of the island

However, Great Stirrup Cay has some significant advantages.

It offers:

• A more relaxed atmosphere
• Beautiful beaches
• A large new oceanfront pool
• A less crowded feeling during our visit
• A more laid-back island experience

So our overall conclusion is:

CocoCay is better for variety and amenities, while Great Stirrup Cay may be better if you prefer a quieter, more relaxed beach day.

Our First Impressions of Great Stirrup Cay

Our experience at Great Stirrup Cay began differently from what many future Norwegian cruisers may experience.

When we visited, we had to tender from the ship to the island.

That immediately influenced our first impression.

Tendering can sometimes make a private island visit feel a little more complicated because you can’t simply walk directly from your ship onto the island.

However, Great Stirrup Cay is undergoing changes, and the island is in the process of developing its dock area.

When we visited the dock area, we were impressed by what we saw.

It was:

• Large
• Open
• Modern-looking
• Well organized

There was also a welcome center and tram transportation available.

We could easily imagine the arrival experience becoming much more impressive once ships are able to dock directly at the island.

The Downside of Great Stirrup Cay: You May Need a Tram

One thing we noticed almost immediately is that Great Stirrup Cay is spread out.

Technically, you can walk around the island.

However, getting from the arrival area to the main beach and activity areas involves a significant walk.

There is a bridge over the lagoon area, but reaching the more popular sections of the island requires walking up and down.

For many visitors, the easiest option will be taking a tram.

This isn’t necessarily a major problem.

But it does mean that your experience may involve:

1. Getting off the ship or tender
2. Finding the tram
3. Waiting for transportation
4. Riding to your chosen area

For some people, that’s perfectly fine.

Others may prefer simply walking off the ship and immediately arriving at a beach.

How Does CocoCay Compare?

CocoCay has a different arrival experience.

When your Royal Caribbean ship docks, you can simply walk directly from the ship onto the island.

The dock itself is relatively long, but the route is straightforward.

As you enter the island, the atmosphere is often immediately energetic.

Depending on the day, you may find:

• Live music
• Singers
• Dancers
• Tropical music
• Colorful decorations

The overall first impression is more festive than Great Stirrup Cay.

Great Stirrup Cay felt more relaxed.

CocoCay felt more like a celebration had already started before you even reached the beach.

Great Stirrup Cay vs. CocoCay: Which Has the Better Beach?

This is one of the most important comparisons.

After all, most people visiting a private island want one thing:

A beautiful beach day.

The good news is that both islands have beautiful beaches.

The water at both destinations was:

• Clear
• Warm
• Beautifully colored
• Excellent for swimming

The sand was also enjoyable at both islands.

In fact, the beaches themselves were more similar than different.

If you placed us on either island without telling us where we were, we would probably be happy with the beach.

The bigger differences came from everything surrounding the beach.

The Biggest Difference: Shade

For us, this was one of the most important differences between the two islands.

At CocoCay, umbrellas and shaded loungers are widely available throughout many of the beach areas.

You can often find an umbrella providing shade over approximately every couple of loungers.

That gives you a choice.

You can spend time in the sun.

You can move into the shade.

Or you can alternate between the two.

For us, that flexibility matters.

Maybe twenty years ago, we would have been perfectly happy spending eight straight hours in the sun.

Today?

We would prefer having options.

Shade at Great Stirrup Cay

At Great Stirrup Cay, shade felt more limited.

In some areas, you may need to look for shade beneath palm trees or choose a location farther back from the water.

There are also areas where umbrellas may require an additional charge.

That was a significant disadvantage for us.

We prefer having the option to sit directly on the beach while also being able to escape the sun without paying extra for an umbrella.

In our experience, CocoCay did a better job of providing shade as part of the general beach experience.

Beach Chairs: Another Difference

We also noticed a difference in the condition of some of the beach loungers.

At CocoCay, the loungers we encountered generally appeared to be in good condition.

At Great Stirrup Cay, some of the chairs appeared more worn.

This wasn’t necessarily a dealbreaker.

We simply chose chairs that appeared to be in better condition and found shaded areas farther from the water.

Still, when you’re spending an entire day at a beach destination, comfortable and well-maintained loungers make a difference.

The Water Is Beautiful at Both Islands

One thing we don’t think either destination can really claim superiority over is the water.

The water was spectacular at both CocoCay and Great Stirrup Cay.

Both offered:

• Clear Caribbean water
• Beautiful blue-green colors
• Warm swimming temperatures
• Attractive beaches

In fact, the islands are close enough geographically that it shouldn’t be surprising that the water quality is similar.

If you’re choosing between the two based only on the color and quality of the ocean, we think it’s essentially a tie.

Does CocoCay Feel More Crowded?

This is where the comparison becomes more complicated.

CocoCay can feel significantly more crowded depending on how many ships are visiting.

Royal Caribbean has been introducing larger and larger cruise ships into its fleet.

When a very large ship visits CocoCay—and another large ship is there at the same time—the number of people on the island can become enormous.

You could potentially have thousands of passengers arriving at once.

That can dramatically change the experience.

A quiet beach area may suddenly feel very busy.

Ship Size Makes a Big Difference

If you prefer a quieter experience at CocoCay, the ship you choose can matter.

A smaller Royal Caribbean ship will naturally bring fewer passengers to the island.

However, even if you’re sailing on a smaller ship, another large ship could still be visiting at the same time.

That means the total number of people on CocoCay depends not only on your ship but also on the other ships scheduled to visit that day.

During our visit to Great Stirrup Cay, only one ship was present.

That made a noticeable difference.

The island did not feel empty.

But it also did not feel overwhelmingly crowded.

We could find our own section of the island and enjoy a relatively peaceful beach day.

Our Overall Beach Verdict

If we were judging only the beach itself, we would call it a tie.

Both islands have beautiful water and enjoyable beaches.

But when we include:

• Availability of shade
• Condition of loungers
• Ease of access
• Crowding
• Overall beach infrastructure

We give the advantage to CocoCay.

However, if your priority is a quieter and less crowded atmosphere, Great Stirrup Cay may be the better choice on the right sailing.

The Pool Comparison Gets Interesting

The pool comparison was one of the biggest surprises of our entire visit.

We expected CocoCay to have the obvious advantage.

After all, Royal Caribbean has invested heavily in creating a major private island destination.

But Great Stirrup Cay surprised us.

In fact, when it comes to the complimentary pool, Great Stirrup Cay may actually win.

The Biggest Surprise: Great Stirrup Cay’s New Pool

One of the biggest surprises of our visit to Great Stirrup Cay was the pool.

Before visiting, we expected CocoCay to have the clear advantage when it came to pools.

After all, Royal Caribbean has invested heavily in creating a major destination with numerous attractions.

But Great Stirrup Cay’s new pool completely changed our expectations.

The pool is large, modern, and positioned directly beside the ocean.

That location makes a huge difference.

You can sit in the pool and look out toward the beautiful Bahamian water.

In some ways, it feels like the best of both worlds.

You get:

• A large swimming pool
• Comfortable lounge areas
• Ocean views
• A relaxed atmosphere
• Easy access to the beach

Great Stirrup Cay’s Oceanfront Pool

The pool area is especially appealing for people who enjoy swimming but don’t necessarily want to spend the entire day in the ocean.

Some people prefer the controlled environment of a pool.

Others like being able to go back and forth between the pool and beach.

Great Stirrup Cay makes that very easy.

We were particularly impressed by how new and attractive the pool area looked.

It felt like a significant improvement to the island experience.

And unlike some attractions on private islands, the pool is included with your cruise.

That makes it even more appealing.

CocoCay’s Pools

Royal Caribbean offers several different pool experiences at CocoCay.

The most recognizable is the large complimentary pool located near the main beach areas.

It is a popular place to spend the day, especially for passengers who prefer a pool to the ocean.

There are also additional pool experiences available depending on the area of the island you visit.

CocoCay also has some of the most elaborate paid water attractions in the private-island market.

The most obvious example is the water park.

CocoCay’s Water Park

If you’re traveling with children—or you’re simply a big kid at heart—CocoCay has a major advantage.

The island’s water park includes:

• Large water slides
• High-speed attractions
• Family water areas
• Pools
• Multiple water experiences

However, there’s an important distinction.

The water park is an additional-cost experience.

The price can vary depending on your sailing, the date, and demand.

So if you want access to the water park, you’ll need to factor that into the total cost of your cruise vacation.

For families who love water slides, it may be worth the extra expense.

For couples looking for a relaxing beach day, it may not be necessary at all.

Which Island Is Better for Families?

This is one category where we think the answer is fairly clear.

CocoCay Is Better for Families Seeking Activities

Royal Caribbean’s private island offers more options for families who want to stay active.

Children and teenagers can enjoy:

• Water slides
• Pools
• Water attractions
• Sports
• Beach activities
• Organized entertainment

There is simply more to do.

Great Stirrup Cay is more focused on the traditional private island experience.

That means:

• Beach
• Pool
• Ocean
• Relaxation
• Casual activities

For families who want a full day of nonstop activities, CocoCay is probably the better choice.

Which Island Is Better for Couples?

For couples, the answer becomes more complicated.

If you want:

• A quiet beach
• A relaxed pool
• Ocean views
• A slower pace

Great Stirrup Cay may be the better fit.

If you want:

• More restaurants
• More areas to explore
• Multiple pools
• More entertainment
• A livelier atmosphere

CocoCay may be more appealing.

For us, both islands worked well as couples destinations.

We simply enjoyed them in different ways.

The Overall Atmosphere

This may be the biggest difference between the two private islands.

Great Stirrup Cay Feels More Relaxed

Great Stirrup Cay felt like a traditional private island getaway.

The pace was slower.

The atmosphere was more peaceful.

There were fewer large-scale attractions competing for your attention.

You could easily spend most of the day:

1. Finding a beach chair
2. Going for a swim
3. Relaxing in the pool
4. Getting something to eat
5. Returning to the beach

It felt simple.

And sometimes simple is exactly what you want from a cruise vacation.

CocoCay Feels More Like a Destination

CocoCay feels more developed.

It has more distinct areas.

As you walk around the island, you discover:

• Different beaches
• Pools
• Restaurants
• Bars
• Activity areas
• Shopping
• Water attractions

You can spend an entire day exploring and still not see everything.

That variety is one of CocoCay’s biggest strengths.

Food: Great Stirrup Cay vs. CocoCay

Food is another important part of the private island experience.

After all, nobody wants to leave the beach to return to the ship just because they’re hungry.

Fortunately, both islands offer complimentary food.

Great Stirrup Cay Food

During our visit, Great Stirrup Cay offered buffet-style dining.

The food included familiar cruise favorites such as:

• Burgers
• Hot dogs
• Chicken
• Salads
• Fruit
• Desserts
• Other casual options

The food was convenient and satisfying.

We wouldn’t necessarily visit Great Stirrup Cay specifically for the cuisine.

But it served exactly the purpose it needed to serve.

You could grab lunch, return to the beach, and continue enjoying your day.

CocoCay Food

CocoCay also offers complimentary food in several areas of the island.

Depending on where you are, you may find options such as:

• Burgers
• Chicken
• Salads
• Pizza
• Fresh fruit
• Casual snacks
• Desserts

One thing we appreciate about CocoCay is that the island is large enough that you can often find different dining areas throughout the destination.

That helps prevent everyone from having to eat in one single location.

Which Island Has Better Food?

Honestly, we think this category is fairly close.

Neither destination is primarily a culinary destination.

You’re visiting for the beach, the water, and the overall experience.

The food at both islands is good enough to keep you happy throughout the day.

If you want an exceptional dining experience, you may prefer returning to the ship for dinner.

But for a casual lunch on the beach, both islands do a good job.

Bars and Drinks

Both destinations offer bars where you can purchase alcoholic beverages and other drinks.

If you have a beverage package with your cruise line, the rules regarding what is included can vary.

This is something worth checking before your cruise.

For us, the biggest difference was less about the drinks themselves and more about the atmosphere.

Great Stirrup Cay’s bars felt more casual and relaxed.

CocoCay has a larger selection of areas where you can enjoy a drink, including locations near pools and beaches.

Can You Use Your Cruise Drink Package?

This is a question many cruisers ask.

The answer can depend on the specific cruise line, beverage package, and current policies.

Generally, cruise lines may allow certain beverage packages to be used at their private destinations, but the exact terms can vary.

Before your cruise, check the current details of your specific package.

Don’t assume that every drink included onboard will automatically be included on the island.

Transportation Around the Island

Transportation is another area where the two destinations feel different.

At Great Stirrup Cay, the island’s layout means that many passengers may want to use the tram.

The tram can be especially useful if:

• You have mobility concerns
• You’re traveling with small children
• You’re carrying beach equipment
• You don’t want to walk a significant distance

At CocoCay, the island is also large, but the main areas are connected by walkways.

Depending on where you want to go, you may still do a considerable amount of walking.

However, the layout generally feels more intuitive to us.

Which Island Is Easier to Explore?

For us, CocoCay had the advantage.

The island felt more like a connected destination.

You could walk from one area to another and continue discovering new spaces.

Great Stirrup Cay felt somewhat more spread out.

The tram helped solve that problem, but it added an extra step to getting where you wanted to go.

That said, the island’s layout may change as new developments are completed.

The Importance of Your Ship’s Location

One factor that can dramatically change your experience at either destination is where you choose to spend your day.

You don’t necessarily have to settle in the first beach area you see.

In fact, we recommend exploring before choosing your location.

Walk around.

Look at the beach.

Check the available shade.

See how crowded each area is.

Then choose the spot that best fits what you want from your day.

Our Favorite Type of Private Island Day

For us, the ideal private island day looks something like this:

Morning

We get off the ship relatively early and find a comfortable location with shade.

Midday

We spend time swimming, exploring, and enjoying lunch.

Afternoon

We move between the beach and pool, depending on the weather and how much sun we’ve had.

Late Afternoon

We find a quieter place to relax before returning to the ship.

Both Great Stirrup Cay and CocoCay can provide this kind of experience.

The difference is that CocoCay gives you more alternatives if you decide you want to do something completely different.

Our Part 2 Verdict

After comparing the pools, activities, food, and overall atmosphere, here’s how we see it:

Great Stirrup Cay Wins For:

• Relaxed atmosphere
• Large new oceanfront pool
• Traditional private-island feel
• Less overwhelming experience
• A quieter beach day

CocoCay Wins For:

• Variety of activities
• Water park
• More developed infrastructure
• Multiple distinct areas
• More choices for families
• More things to explore

At this point, we still preferred CocoCay overall.

But Great Stirrup Cay was much better than we expected.

The new pool in particular made a major difference.

Great Stirrup Cay vs. CocoCay: Our Overall Winner

If we had to choose just one overall winner, we would give the advantage to:

🏆 Perfect Day at CocoCay

For us, CocoCay offers the more complete private island experience.

The biggest reasons are:

• Easier access from the cruise ship
• More variety
• More developed infrastructure
• More areas to explore
• Better availability of shade
• More activities
• Excellent pools
• More options for families and active travelers

CocoCay feels like a full destination.

You can visit the beach, relax by the pool, eat lunch, enjoy a drink, explore the island, or spend the day at the water park.

There are simply more choices.

But Great Stirrup Cay Has One Major Advantage

While CocoCay is our overall winner, we don’t want to give the impression that Great Stirrup Cay is inferior.

It isn’t.

In some ways, Great Stirrup Cay may actually provide a better experience.

Great Stirrup Cay Wins for Relaxation

If your ideal private island day is:

Find a beautiful beach, get a comfortable chair, enjoy the water, have lunch, and relax…

Great Stirrup Cay may be exactly what you’re looking for.

It felt less overwhelming.

There were fewer attractions competing for our attention.

The atmosphere was more peaceful.

And the new oceanfront pool was a major highlight.

Sometimes a private island doesn’t need to be a theme park.

Sometimes you just want a beautiful place to relax.

Great Stirrup Cay vs. CocoCay for Couples

For couples, we think this comparison is especially close.

Choose Great Stirrup Cay If You Prefer:

• A slower pace
• A more relaxed atmosphere
• A quieter beach day
• A beautiful oceanfront pool
• Fewer crowds
• A more traditional private-island experience

Choose CocoCay If You Prefer:

• More areas to explore
• More dining choices
• More activities
• Multiple pool experiences
• A livelier atmosphere
• The ability to do something different every hour

For us, either island would be an enjoyable couples destination.

But if we were specifically looking for a quiet and relaxing beach day, Great Stirrup Cay might have the edge.

Great Stirrup Cay vs. CocoCay for Families

For families with children and teenagers, we think CocoCay is the clear winner.

The biggest reason is the number of activities.

Families can choose from:

• Water slides
• Pools
• Beach activities
• Water sports
• Sports areas
• Organized activities
• Different sections of the island

The water park is especially appealing to families with children who don’t want to spend the entire day sitting on the beach.

However, the water park is an additional-cost experience.

That means families should factor the price into their overall vacation budget.

Great Stirrup Cay is better for families who simply want to spend time together at the beach or pool without needing a long list of paid attractions.

Which Island Is Better for a Relaxing Beach Day?

This is where we give the advantage to:

Great Stirrup Cay

During our visit, the island felt less crowded and more peaceful.

We were able to find a comfortable area and enjoy the beach without feeling like we were surrounded by thousands of people.

The large oceanfront pool also offered another relaxing option.

You could spend part of the day in the ocean, part of the day in the pool, and the rest simply enjoying the view.

CocoCay can certainly offer a relaxing beach day.

But the experience can vary dramatically depending on how many ships are visiting.

Crowds Can Change Everything

One of the most important things to understand about both destinations is that your experience can vary depending on the day.

At CocoCay, the number of people on the island can be dramatically affected by:

• The size of your ship
• Whether another ship is visiting
• The number of passengers on those ships
• The popularity of the sailing

A quiet day at CocoCay can be wonderful.

A day with multiple large ships can feel very busy.

Great Stirrup Cay can also become crowded, especially as Norwegian continues developing the destination.

However, during our visit, the island felt relatively uncrowded.

That significantly improved our experience.

Which Island Has Better Shade?

For us, this is an easy win for:

CocoCay

We appreciated having more readily available shaded areas throughout the beach experience.

We could enjoy the beach without having to spend the entire day in direct sunlight.

At Great Stirrup Cay, finding shade was more challenging in some areas.

There were shaded spots available, but you may need to look for them.

Some umbrella options may also involve an additional charge.

For us, having access to shade is important enough that this gave CocoCay a significant advantage.

Which Island Has the Better Pool?

This is one category where Great Stirrup Cay surprised us.

Great Stirrup Cay May Have the Better Complimentary Pool

The new pool is large, attractive, and positioned right beside the ocean.

That combination is hard to beat.

You can enjoy the pool while still having beautiful ocean views.

CocoCay has excellent pools as well, and the island offers more total water experiences.

But if we’re comparing the primary complimentary pool experience, Great Stirrup Cay impressed us more than we expected.

Which Island Has Better Food?

For us, this is essentially a tie.

Both destinations offer complimentary casual food such as:

• Burgers
• Chicken
• Salads
• Fruit
• Desserts
• Other casual options

Neither island is primarily a culinary destination.

The food is designed to be convenient and satisfying while you’re enjoying the beach.

We found both destinations perfectly adequate for lunch.

If you want an exceptional meal, you’ll probably find more elaborate dining options back onboard your cruise ship.

Which Island Is Easier to Get Around?

We give the advantage to:

CocoCay

The layout felt easier for us to understand.

You can walk from the ship into the main areas of the destination and continue exploring.

Great Stirrup Cay is more spread out.

The tram system helps, but it adds an extra step to your day.

For visitors with mobility concerns, the transportation options at Great Stirrup Cay may be especially important to consider.

Which Island Has Better Infrastructure?

This is another category where CocoCay wins.

Royal Caribbean has invested heavily in developing the island.

The result is a destination with:

• Clearly defined areas
• Multiple attractions
• Extensive walkways
• Numerous dining locations
• Pools
• Bars
• Activity areas
• Water attractions

Great Stirrup Cay is continuing to develop.

The new dock area and oceanfront pool suggest that Norwegian is investing in improving the destination.

As those improvements continue, the comparison may become much closer.

The Future of Great Stirrup Cay

One of the most interesting aspects of our visit was seeing the development taking place.

The dock area appeared modern and spacious.

The new pool significantly improved the island.

And the overall infrastructure seemed to be evolving.

That makes us curious about what Great Stirrup Cay will look like in the future.

The island may eventually offer a more developed experience while still maintaining its more relaxed atmosphere.

If Norwegian can add additional amenities without making the island feel overly crowded, it could become a very strong competitor to CocoCay.

Our Final Scorecard

Here’s how we would compare the two destinations based on our experience.

Our Personal Preference

If we were choosing a cruise based primarily on the private island destination, we would probably choose a sailing that visits:

CocoCay

The variety and infrastructure make it the more complete experience for us.

We enjoy having options.

We like being able to walk around and explore.

We appreciate the availability of shade.

And we enjoy the fact that every visit can feel a little different depending on which part of the island we choose to visit.

However, we would absolutely return to Great Stirrup Cay.

The island surprised us.

The new pool was excellent.

The beach was beautiful.

And the more relaxed atmosphere was appealing.

We wouldn’t hesitate to visit again.

The Bottom Line

If you want a private island with:

• More activities
• More variety
• More developed amenities
• More options for families
• More areas to explore

Choose CocoCay.

If you want:

• A relaxed beach day
• A quieter atmosphere
• A beautiful new pool
• A more traditional private island experience

Great Stirrup Cay may be the better choice.

Neither destination is a bad choice.

The real question is:

What kind of private island day do you want?

For us, CocoCay wins overall, but Great Stirrup Cay gave us a much better experience than we expected.

And if Norwegian continues investing in the island, this comparison could become much closer in the future.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Great Stirrup Cay better than CocoCay?

For us, CocoCay is the better overall private island destination because it offers more variety, activities, infrastructure, and shaded beach areas.

However, Great Stirrup Cay may be better for travelers who prefer a quieter and more relaxed beach experience.

Which has better beaches, Great Stirrup Cay or CocoCay?

We consider the beaches and water at both destinations very similar.

Both offer beautiful clear water and attractive sandy beaches.

The biggest differences are the surrounding amenities, shade, crowd levels, and activities.

Which private island is better for families?

CocoCay is generally the better choice for families because it offers more activities, pools, water attractions, and the option of visiting a large water park.

Which private island is better for couples?

Both are excellent for couples.

Great Stirrup Cay may be better for couples who want a quieter beach day, while CocoCay is better for couples who enjoy variety and exploring.

Is the water park at CocoCay included?

The water park is generally an additional-cost experience, although pricing and promotions can vary.

Check your cruise planner for the current pricing for your sailing.

Is Great Stirrup Cay a tender port?

Depending on the current status of the island’s dock and your specific sailing, guests may either tender to the island or use the dock.

Because the infrastructure is developing, check the current details for your cruise before sailing.

Does Great Stirrup Cay have a pool?

Yes. Great Stirrup Cay has a large oceanfront pool, which was one of the highlights of our visit.

Which island is less crowded?

Crowds vary depending on how many ships are visiting.

During our visit, Great Stirrup Cay felt less crowded than CocoCay.

However, the experience can change significantly depending on the ships scheduled to visit that day.

Final Verdict: Great Stirrup Cay vs. CocoCay

After experiencing both destinations, we understand why cruisers have strong opinions about each one.

CocoCay feels like a complete private island resort destination.

It offers more activities, more variety, and more ways to spend your day.

Great Stirrup Cay feels more relaxed and traditional.

It gives you a beautiful beach, clear water, a great new pool, and a less overwhelming atmosphere.

For us, CocoCay is the winner overall.

But Great Stirrup Cay is absolutely worth visiting—and we were genuinely surprised by how much we enjoyed it.

Our recommendation is simple:

If you want adventure and variety, choose CocoCay.

If you want relaxation and a slower pace, choose Great Stirrup Cay.

Either way, you’re likely to have a wonderful private island day.

And if you’re like us, you may find yourself enjoying both destinations for completely different reasons.