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CocoCay vs Great Stirrup Cay

Two private islands, side by side, from our port guides' data. Data last checked: Oct 2026

The short answer

Both are rated Easy for exploring on your own.
Getting ashore: CocoCay is dock, Great Stirrup Cay is dock or tender.

Perfect Day at CocoCay

📍 Bahamas (Berry Islands)

🚢 Royal Caribbean · Celebrity

Easy

Great Stirrup Cay

📍 Bahamas (Berry Islands)

🚢 Norwegian Cruise Line

Easy

Side by side

	Perfect Day at CocoCay	Great Stirrup Cay
Explore-on-your-own rating	Easy	Easy
Country	Bahamas (Berry Islands)	Bahamas (Berry Islands)
Dock or tender	Dock	Dock or tender
Where ships dock	CocoCay pier (Royal Caribbean private island; ships dock, no tender)	Great Stirrup Cay pier (opened Dec. 2025; a temporary pier is in use while a two-ship pier is built) Tender possible on some days; check the NCL app on the day
Getting ashore and around	There's no town. You walk off the ship onto the island. A free pier tram runs up and down the pier, and a free island tram links the main areas.	No town. When you dock, it's a long walk down the pier (bring a wheelchair or scooter if you use one). A tram links the island.
Cruise line	Royal Caribbean · Celebrity	Norwegian Cruise Line
Free	Chill Island, South Beach and Breezy Bay beaches; Oasis Lagoon pool; Splashaway Bay and Captain Jill's Galleon kids' water areas; loungers; several food spots; trams	Beaches; loungers and umbrellas; Great Life Lagoon pool; Splash Harbor splash pad; tram
Costs extra	Thrill Waterpark; Hideaway Beach (18+); Coco Beach Club; cabanas; Up, Up and Away balloon; most alcohol	Great Tides Waterpark; Vibe Shore Club (adults); Silver Cove; cabanas; Flighthouse zip line; snorkel and paddleboard rentals
Beaches	Chill Island (included) South Beach (included) Breezy Bay (included) Hideaway Beach (adults; paid day pass)	Main beaches with free loungers Vibe Shore Club (adults; day pass) Silver Cove private beach (villa or spa guests)
Top sights	Thrill Waterpark (extra; day pass) Oasis Lagoon pool and swim-up bar (included) Hideaway Beach (adults 18+; extra) Up, Up and Away tethered balloon (extra) Splashaway Bay and Captain Jill's Galleon (included)	Great Tides Waterpark (19 slides, cliff jumps; extra) Great Life Lagoon pool with swim-up bars Flighthouse zip line (extra) Silver Cove (premium; extra)
Currency	U.S. dollar; purchases go on your onboard account.	U.S. dollar; purchases go on your onboard account.
Entry for U.S. citizens	Bahamas: on a closed-loop cruise (starting and ending at the same U.S. port), U.S. citizens can sail with an original or certified birth certificate plus government photo ID, but a valid U.S. passport is strongly recommended in case you have to fly home. You stay inside the cruise line's area, so there's no separate immigration line for you.	Bahamas: on a closed-loop cruise (starting and ending at the same U.S. port), U.S. citizens can sail with an original or certified birth certificate plus government photo ID, but a valid U.S. passport is strongly recommended in case you have to fly home. You stay inside the cruise line's area, so there's no separate immigration line for you.
Back on time	The pier is long; use the pier tram on the way back. Be at the ship 30–45 minutes before all-aboard, and allow extra time when several ships are in.	Whether you walk or tender, start back 45–60 minutes before all-aboard.

Fares and times are as reported by the sources on each port page and change often. Always confirm with your cruise line.

Why the ratings differ

CocoCay: Can you do it on your own? Yes. Everything is on the island and run by Royal Caribbean, so there's nothing to arrange. The only planning is deciding which paid extras, if any, to book before they sell out.

Great Stirrup Cay: Can you do it on your own? Yes. Everything is on the 270-acre island.

Quick answers

Is CocoCay or Great Stirrup Cay easier to explore on your own?

Both are rated Easy for exploring on your own. Can you do it on your own? Yes. Can you do it on your own? Yes.

Do you tender or dock in CocoCay and Great Stirrup Cay?

CocoCay: Dock (Dock (pier; free pier tram)). Great Stirrup Cay: Dock or tender (Dock (temporary pier; tender on some days)).

What's free at CocoCay vs Great Stirrup Cay?

CocoCay: Chill Island, South Beach and Breezy Bay beaches; Oasis Lagoon pool; Splashaway Bay and Captain Jill's Galleon kids' water areas; loungers; several food spots; trams. Great Stirrup Cay: Beaches; loungers and umbrellas; Great Life Lagoon pool; Splash Harbor splash pad; tram.

When should I head back to the ship?

CocoCay: The pier is long; use the pier tram on the way back. Great Stirrup Cay: Whether you walk or tender, start back 45–60 minutes before all-aboard.

CocoCay port guide → Great Stirrup Cay port guide → More comparisons