miami

 Friday November 9, 2007
Norwegian Cruise Line's Private Island in the Bahamas

The weather held for our last port on the cruise- NCL's private island called Great Stirrup Cay which is about 63 nautical miles from Freeport, Bahamas.  NCL bought the island twenty years ago; the first cruise line to do so and now all the other lines have their own islands.  While we were anchored at Great Stirrup Cay, the Princess ship was anchored at the next island.  The island has shopping, sports, food, drinks, nature trails and great snorkeling.  We even got to see 'Bert' of Ernie and Bert who are the island's resident sting rays and Bruce saw a moray eel up close and personal- along with some gorgeous fish who inhabit the reef.  It was too rough for extended snorkeling but both Bruce and I were able to go several times and stayed reasonably close to shore.