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Cruising's first private island, mid–glow-up — heated pool's free, the slides are coming, pack your flexibility.
Great Stirrup Cay was the original — the first private island in cruising, going back to the 1970s — and right now it's in the middle of the biggest glow-up of its life. A giant heated lagoon pool (bigger than two Olympic pools) opened in late 2025, a full waterpark with 19 slides opens in late summer 2026, and a permanent pier is being finished so ships can dock instead of tendering.
Tell your kids this: the island next door, visible right across the water, belongs to a rival cruise line — the two islands are basically neighbors having a friendly competition.
For now, expect a little construction in the background and a lot of new stuff in the foreground. The island is mid-transformation, and it's already better than it's ever been.
Timing matters more here than almost any port, so check what's true for YOUR sail date. The pier situation has flip-flopped through 2026 — some sailings dock, some tender while construction finishes — and this island is famously windy, which means tender days can occasionally get shortened or scrubbed. Go in flexible. The waterpark is the other date-check: it opens September 2026 as a paid add-on with height minimums starting around 36 inches, so don't promise the kids slides if you're sailing before then or they're under the bar.
The great news: the free stuff is now legitimately great. The new lagoon pool is heated, zero-entry (toddlers walk right in), and free. The splash pad next to it is free. Food's included, and — in a change parents cheered — your drink package now works on the island. Safety's a non-issue; it's contained, staffed, and lifeguarded. Grab the tram when little legs quit.
Do you want a set-and-forget day, or are you winging it?
Either way — we've got you covered.
This is the easy button. Every excursion below is built for cruisers — pickup at the pier, drop-off at the pier, timing that respects your all-aboard, and a day where the logistics are somebody else's job.
Pick one, click, done. Want more options than our three favorites? Everything at this port is one tap away 👇
The free day here just got a massive upgrade — you can skip every paid add-on and still have the best day of the cruise.
**The lagoon pool** is the new heart of the island: heated, huge, beach-style entry for the little ones, and steps from where you arrive. **The splash pad** sits right beside it, which means the toddler rotation (pool → splash → snack → repeat) happens in a fifty-foot radius — logistical gold. **The main beach** is the classic: soft sand, overwater swings for the photo, and calm swimming.
Everything connects by free tram, food's included, and your drink package travels with you. The one decision to make in advance: if you're sailing after the waterpark opens and your kids are slide people, that's a paid ticket worth pricing early — it'll sell out.
