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Daily Tribune
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Norwegian Cruise Line Unveils Massive Waterpark at Its Private Island in the Bahamas
Norwegian Cruise Line® (NCL) is transforming its private island, Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas, with exciting new experiences for guests. The highlight is the Great Tides Waterpark, set to open in summer 2026, covering nearly six acres and packed with adventures for the whole family. The expanded island offerings include cliff jumps, jet karts, swim-up bars, splash zones, and more, designed to give both kids and adults more freedom to explore and enjoy 'The Great Life!' at Great Stirrup Cay. 'Great Stirrup Cay has always been a standout part of the Norwegian Cruise Line experience,' said David J. Herrera, president of NCL. 'At 270 acres, our private island gives us the perfect space to reinvent what guests can do and enjoy. Whether you're relaxing by the new heated pool, racing down waterslides with your kids, or enjoying a hammock by the ocean, we're bringing more of what our guests love ashore. I can't wait to welcome everyone to the ultimate private island in the Caribbean.' A Waterpark Like No Other Great Tides Waterpark will feature 19 waterslides, a nearly 800-foot dynamic river, a 9,000-square-foot kids' splash zone, and the cruise industry's first cliffside jumps. The centerpiece, the Tidal Tower, rises 170 feet and includes eight thrilling slides, including two tall inner-tube slides for heart-pumping excitement. Other attractions include racing slides, spiraling tube slides, and convenient conveyer belts to carry rafts to the top. Families and thrill-seekers can also enjoy Cliffside Cove, with racer slides, 10- and 15-foot cliff jumps, and the Caribbean's only family slide where four guests can ride together. For a more relaxed experience, guests can sip cocktails at The Grotto Bar, tucked under the family slide. Kids will love the 9,000-square-foot splash zone, featuring a 40-foot tipping bucket, mini slides, and interactive water features. The dynamic river offers a faster, more exciting experience than a typical lazy river, complete with an illuminated grotto tunnel for a magical, multi-sensory journey. Well-placed cabanas provide premium access to the waterpark's family-friendly areas. With these new attractions, Great Stirrup Cay is set to offer more adventure, more relaxation, and unforgettable memories for everyone visiting NCL's private island.
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Norwegian Cruise Line to build 19-slide water park on private Bahamas island
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.
