Norwegian Cruise Line beverage packages will apply to private island Great Stirrup Cay, reversing a previous announcement that beverage packages would be limited to usage aboard the ships.
While beverage packages can currently be used on Great Stirrup Cay, NCL had planned to end that policy this month, requiring guests with packages to pay for individual drinks on the island.
Now, guests who buy the Free at Sea or More at Sea beverage package will be able to order drinks on Great Stirrup Cay and not pay extra. The decision was made "in response to feedback and to further enhance the island experience," said an NCL spokesperson.
Ships will return to tendering rather than docking at the island beginning April 1 while construction on the new two-ship pier enters its final phase. Tendering will continue through the summer, the spokesperson said.
Ships had begun docking at the pier on Dec. 28, allowing passengers to disembark at the island without tendering.
In addition to the ongoing pier work, the Great Tides Waterpark is also under construction and on track to open this summer.
New amenities now open at the island, meanwhile, include the adults-only Vibe Shore Club, a splash pad for children called Splash Harbor, a new welcome center and tram system and the 1.4-acre Great Life Lagoon pool area.