Norwegian Cruise Line to build 19-slide water park on private Bahamas island

Miami Herald

6 days ago

Norwegian Cruise Line announced Tuesday it will build a water park on its private Bahamas island Great Stirrup Cay, set to open in summer 2026.
The nearly 6-acre attraction, called the Great Tides Waterpark, will feature 19 slides, a 9,000-square-foot splash pad for kids, an 800-foot-long 'dynamic river' and a first-in-industry cliff-diving feature, the line stated.
In addition, the line announced it would set up a mini aquatic racecourse that uses 'jet karts,' which the line says combines elements of go-karts and personal watercraft. That attraction would be a shore excursion experience not tied to the water park.
'At 270 acres, our private island provides us with an incredible blueprint to reinvent what guests can experience when they escape to 'The Great Life' with us,' said NCL President David Herrera in a press release. 'This new water park is an outstanding addition to our recent announcement about other amazing new amenities on the island soon to debut.'
The park's centerpiece will be the 170-foot-tall Tidal Tower that will provide access to eight slides including drop slides, tube runs and mat racers. A conveyor belt will run some of the tubes back up the tower so parkgoers don't have to carry them while climbing the stairs.
Cliffside Coves, another space that has its own racer slides, will also feature 10- and 15-foot cliff-jump attractions. It will be home to a four-person family slide as well. Those who like to drink and watch can go to the Grotto Bar.
The splash zone has an oversize tipping bucket 40 feet above the ground, eight mini slides and interactive water features.
The line also has skipped doing a lazy river in favor of a 'dynamic river,' which has an accelerated current and runs for 800 feet with multiple entry points, including a wading pool with its own swim-up bar. Riders will get to flow through an illuminated tunnel with a 'dreamlike bioluminescent' theme.
The island additions come on the heels of already-announced features debuting later this year, including a 1,500-foot-long pier that will allow for the line's cruise ships to end the tedious practice of having to tender passengers by smaller boats to get onshore.
Also coming is a massive 28,476-square-foot heated pool with an 1,898-person capacity that will be available just a short walk away once passengers get off the ship. That 1.4-acre pool, called the Great Life Lagoon, has complimentary loungers and two swim-up bars, although cabanas and villas are available for an extra cost.
Also free will be the adjacent 3,400-square-foot Splash Harbor area for kids, with interactive water fountains and its own shaded bar for parents to keep an eye on their children. Another previously announced revamped space on the island will be the complimentary Horizon Park, a family-oriented socialization area with lawn style games, pickleball courts, a nine-hole mini golf course and sports court.
Also free will be a sea of 50 hammocks within Hammock Bay that has its own dedicated bar and will be near the existing barbecue buffet.
For an extra-cost day pass, passengers can get access to the adults-only Vibe Shore Club, with a private bar, villas, hanging day beds and loungers.
The line is also creating a new welcome plaza and expanding tram service for easy access to all the new spaces.
The newly announced water park will be an extra-cost feature similar to Royal Caribbean's water park found one island over at Perfect Day on Coco Cay, which is Royal's rebranded name for what was called Little Stirrup Cay. Prices for the water park and other extra-cost amenities have not been announced.
For NCL, the enhancements of the pier, pool and water park bring the larger Great Stirrup Cay up to speed with Royal's offerings on the 125-acre Coco Cay, which has had a pier in place amid $250 million in new features since 2019.
NCL was the first to open a private stop in the Bahamas nearly 50 years ago, and has in the last several years made additions to Great Stirrup Cay including its highest-end area, Silver Cove, which features modern villas around a pristine private lagoon, infinity pool, upscale buffet and spa.
The addition of the pier, though, will avoid the headache of missed calls to the highly rated port of call because of high seas.
NCL's revamp of its Bahamas destination comes amid recent openings of new private cruise line ports of call, including Carnival Cruise Line's Celebration Key this summer and Disney Cruise Line's Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point last year. Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean is nearing the opening of its mini resort at Nassau, Royal Beach Club on Paradise Island, expected to welcome guests this December.