Inside the exclusive (and expensive) new beach retreat on this cruise line's private island
Would you pay more than $1,000 for access to a private villa on a beach for the day?
Norwegian Cruise Line is betting that at least a few people will.
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This month, the line finally unveiled the long-awaited, super-swanky villa area that’s it’s been building at Great Stirrup Cay, its private island in the Bahamas. It features beachside accommodations that cost as much as $1,100 per day.
Dubbed Silver Cove and located at a secluded corner of the island, the exclusive, gated hideaway is open only to cruise ship passengers who book one of the 38 private villas within the compound.
In addition to the villas, Silver Cove is home to a private Mandara Spa, a Moët & Chandon Champagne bar, and an exclusive restaurant called the Silver Cove Restaurant and Bar.
As I saw over the weekend during a tour of the complex, this just may be the most over-the-top cruise line island area ever built.
The 38 villas include two insanely large “family suite villas” overlooking a picture-perfect beach that each have two bedrooms, including a giant master bedroom with a spa tub and shower; a private dining area; and plenty of space for entertainment.
There also are six one-bedroom villas that each have sizeable living areas with a wet bar and a separate, private bedroom with king-sized bed.
The rest of the villas are studios with sitting areas and bathrooms with a shower but no bedrooms. Depending on their location, they either are called Ocean Villas or Lagoon Villas.
Related: How to plan a cruise with points and miles
I only was able to see the two-bedroom villas from a distance, but a Norwegian representative took me on a walk through of a one-bedroom villa and a studio. My initial impression was one of wow. The technical term might be “blown away.”
I’ve seen a lot of private island cabanas over the years, and these beachside accommodations are something in a whole different league. The villas are sleek and stylish, air-conditioned throughout, and loaded with upscale touches such as large televisions with on-demand entertainment.
Each of the villas has an outdoor patio area with lounge seating and sweeping views down to a beach.
In addition to being blown away by the villas, I also was a bit blown away by their pricing. The studios are the most reasonable option, at $299 to $799 per day, depending on demand. The one-bedroom villas are going for $449 to $899, while the two-bedroom versions are listed from $599 to $1,100.
Keep in mind that this is for a stay that, at most, will last about eight hours. Norwegian ships typically arrive at Great Stirrup Cay around 8:30 a.m. and depart by 5 p.m.
One thing to note about the pricing is that it's per villa, not per person. If you book a studio, you can bring up to six people (including yourself) into the Silver Cove area at no extra charge. One-bedroom villas come with access for eight to 10 people. Two-bedroom villas allow for groups of up to 16 people.
Still, the cheapskate in me says that paying up to $1,100 for what basically amounts to a place to dump your bags while you’re out snorkeling is a bit steep. But, of course, not everyone is a cheapskate like me.
For those with money to burn, the villas certainly bring privacy and exclusivity. Silver Cove’s main beach area, the Silver Cove Lagoon, is a crescent of pristine, powdery sand that's blissfully uncrowded, compared to the open-to-everyone parts of Great Stirrup Cay. It has the feel of the beach at a luxury resort.
The Moët & Chandon Bar, which serves Moët Ice Imperial, also has an air of exclusivity, as it’s only open to Silver Cove guests. Alas, you’ll still pay up for the privilege of a midday bubbly run. The Champagne goes for a hefty $25 per glass.
I couldn’t tour Silver Cove’s Mandara Spa, which has four treatment rooms with walls open to the ocean and two outdoor hot tubs. As with the beverages at the Moët & Chandon Bar, treatments at the spa come with an extra cost.
Of note, any passenger on a Norwegian ship visiting Great Stirrup Cay can sign up for a spa treatment at Silver Cove’s Mandara Spa — you don’t have to be renting one of the villas. In that respect, it’s sort of a backdoor into Silver Cove.
Related: The best credit cards for booking cruises
A final piece of Silver Cove is its ritzy reception building, which has a decidedly South Beach Miami vibe with wispy white curtains, white walls and creamy-white furniture. Passengers who have booked a Silver Cove villa check in at a dedicated desk at the entrance to Great Stirrup Cay and are whisked to the reception building on a private shuttle.
Acquired by Norwegian Cruise Line in 1977, Great Stirrup Cay is located about 62 miles from Nassau, the Bahamian capital on the island of New Providence. It’s included as a day stop on many Norwegian sailings in the region and gets occasional visits from Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises ships. All three lines are owned by the same parent company, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.
Want to learn more about Norwegian? Make sure to subscribe to TPG’s flagship podcast, Talking Points, for an exclusive interview with the CEO and president of Norwegian Cruise Line, Andy Stuart. The episode releases on Wednesday, Dec. 4.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.