An elderly cruise passenger died while snorkeling at a cruise private island in The Bahamas on Sunday, May 3, 2026.
The 83-year-old man was visiting Great Strirrup Cay in the Berry Islands when he was discovered unresponsive by his son without his mask around 2:00 p.m., Eyewitness News reported.
A nearby lifeguard and medical personnel immediately responded and attempted to provide assistance on scene. Officers at the Bullocks Harbour Police Station were also alerted by the island's security team, who then accompanied a local doctor to examine the passenger.
No vital signs were detected, and he was pronounced dead. His body was then transported to Bullocks Harbour before being transferred to New Providence for an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
The only ship at Great Stirrup Cay on May 3 was Norwegian Getaway, according to Cruise Mapper. The 145,655 gross-ton ship was on a three-night cruise to The Bahamas.
Norwegian Breakaway previously called at Nassau, with Great Stirrup Cay being the second and final port of call before returning to Miami, Florida, on Monday, May 4.
Where is Great Stirrup Cay?
Great Stirrup Cay is located in the Berry Islands chain of The Bahamas and is around 140 miles east of Miami, Florida.
The 268-acre private island was partially leased by Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) in 1977, who then bought the entire island in 1986.
NCL was the first cruise line to pioneer the trend of cruise line-exclusive destinations, with Admiral Cruises following in 1985. Little Stirrup Cay, which is located directly adjacent to Great Stirrup Cay, was then acquired by Royal Caribbean when they purchased Admiral Cruises in 1988.
Most recently, Norwegian invested $150 million in upgrading the island, adding amenities like a brand-new pier, a 28,000-square-foot pool with a swim-up bar, an adult-only area, tram service, and more.
These additions ensure the cruise line's island stays competitive with destinations like Perfect Day at CocoCay and Carnival's Celebration Key.
"Great Stirrup Cay has long been a guest favorite," said David J. Herrera, President of Norwegian Cruise Line. "These new additions will take the private island experience to the next level by offering our guests even MORE and the continued freedom and flexibility to design their best vacation."
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
In addition to writing for Cruise.Blog, Elizabeth has bylines in Business Insider, Royal Caribbean Blog, and Cruiseshipfood.com.
