Latest news with #NCL
Daily Tribune
3 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
4 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.
Travel Weekly
07-08-2025
- Business
- Travel Weekly
Two more NCL ships are getting the Vibe Beach Club
Norwegian Cruise Line's adults-only Vibe Beach Club is coming to the Norwegian Jewel and the Norwegian Pearl. The Jewel's drydock will last from Sept. 25 to Oct. 15, and the Pearl's will follow from Nov. 3 to Nov. 23. The space on Deck 14, which is currently a sundeck, will include a hot tub, bar, 54 lounge chairs and seven private cabanas. The beach club includes amenities like chilled towels and fruit skewers. It is currently offered on nine other NCL ships. Guests pay an extra fee to access the space, and it is now open for booking on both the Jewel and the Pearl. Also, a Starbucks will be added to the Norwegian Jewel atrium during the ship's drydock.
Yahoo
05-08-2025
- Yahoo
Norwegian Cruise Line leaves passengers behind amid tsunami scare
Norwegian Cruise Line leaves passengers behind amid tsunami scare originally appeared on TravelHost. If you've ever wondered what cruise ships do when there's a tsunami, you can get your answer by looking at how cruise lines handled the alarming wave activity that radiated across the Pacific Ocean on July 29. A powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake occurred off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, sending a tsunami across the Pacific that triggered tsunami warnings for Japan, Hawaii, Alaska, and even the U.S. West Coast. Despite what many people may think, cruise ships are actually safest at sea during a tsunami. In deep ocean waters, tsunami wave effects are minimal because of their long wavelengths. When tsunamis reach shallow water close to shorelines, they slow down and their wavelengths decrease, which causes them to grow tall and of that, when a tsunami warning is issued, cruise ships that are docked must leave port to sail safely away from the threat of incoming monster waves that could damage the ship and put passenger and crew safety at risk. Tsunami waves move extremely quickly in deep oceans, so when a tsunami warning was issued for Hawaii while Norwegian Cruise Line's Pride of America was docked in Hilo and passengers were ashore, the captain faced a serious dilemma. The ship needed to leave port early to be out of harm's way before the tsunami arrived, but that would mean leaving behind passengers who couldn't make it back to the ship in time. Doug Parker shared more details on what happened as Norwegian's Pride of America set sail to steer clear of the tsunami's threat, and other cruise news, on the July 30 edition of Cruise News Cruise Line leaves passengers ashore amid Hawaii tsunami warning Cruise News Today Transcript: This is Cruise News Today with Doug Parker. Good morning, here's your cruise news for Wednesday, July 30th. A massive earthquake off of Russia's coast triggered tsunami warnings on Tuesday across the Pacific, forcing cruise ships in Hawaii to depart early. Norwegian Cruise Line's Pride of America left Hilo ahead of schedule, stranding guests like Jeffrey Booker of Orlando. Everyone back to the ship, fast as you can. The ship's leaving at 3:30, but we knew at that point we were going to make staff and passengers that were left behind were told to shelter onto higher ground and wait for more information from the cruise line. Oceania Cruises' Regatta also departed early from Kona. Hawaii's warnings were eventually downgraded early Wednesday morning. It should be noted that in an event of a tsunami, you're actually safer on a cruise ship than on land. We reached out to NCL for comment about guests that were left ashore. Be the first to see the best deals on cruises, special sailings, and more. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter. Norwegian Cruise Line to open private island waterpark And over here on the East Coast: big changes for NCL's private island. Norwegian Cruise Line just announced a brand-new Great Tides Waterpark coming to Great Stirrup Cay next summer. Now the six-acre water park will feature 19 water slides, a 170-foot slide tower, cliff jumps, a lazy river, and the Caribbean's only family raft slide. For younger guests, there's a massive splash zone, while adults can hang out at lagoon cabanas, swim-up bars, and an expanded Vibe Shore Club. Upgrades began this year with a new pier, tram system, and welcome Caribbean is now selling a $10,000 per day beach club cabana And Royal Caribbean is officially setting records and not just at sea. The cruise line's new Ultimate Family Cabana at its upcoming Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in The Bahamas is commanding a rate of $10,000 per day, making it the most expensive cabana in the cruise industry. Now the private cabana holds 12 and includes a private slide, heated plunge pool, minibar, swing, and its own bathroom. It's set to open December 21st. Inclusive day passes start around $139 per guest and go up from cruise stocks were down on Tuesday. Carnival Corporation: flat, 29.70, Royal Caribbean: down 5%, 334.37, Norwegian: down 2%, 23.41, and Viking: down a half, 58.50. If you have a lead on a story, let us know: tips@ Have yourself a great Wednesday. I'm Doug Parker with Cruise News Today. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) , or email Amy Post at or call or text her at 386-383-2472. This story was originally reported by TravelHost on Jul 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
The Independent
04-08-2025
- The Independent
First look at Norwegian Cruise Line's private Caribbean island upgrades, featuring giant waterslides and cliff drops
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has unveiled several upgrades to its private Bahamas private island Great Stirrup Cay, including a jet karting excursion, new bars and waterparks. The cruise line regularly visits the 270-acre private island during Caribbean itineraries and soon guests will have more features to enjoy, including an excursion that takes guests to a new mini aquatic racecourse with jet karts, combining elements of go-karting and jet skiing, and a new six-acre waterpark. There will also be a new heated pool, a multi-ship pier and an island-wide tram service that will make it easier to get around the island. David J. Herrera, president of NCL, said: "Great Stirrup Cay has always been an amazing part of the Norwegian Cruise Line guest experience and continues to be one of our highest rated destinations. 'With each phase of our enhancements, we're bringing ashore more of what our guests love about sailing with NCL.' Here is what NCL cruise passengers can expect. NCL has revealed plans for a Great Tides Waterpark to open in summer 2026. Guests can enjoy the 170-foot-high Tidal Tower featuring eight waterslides. Cliffside Cove will offer racer slides as well as two cliff jumps standing at 10 and 15 feet tall – a cruise industry first – as well as the Caribbean's only family slide, where four guests can slide down simultaneously. For those who prefer to enjoy from the sidelines, The Grotto Bar, a hidden cave bar tucked under the family slide, will offer the best people watching with a cocktail in hand. At the centre of Great Tides Waterpark will be a 9,000 square-foot kids splash zone featuring an oversized tipping bucket towering at more than 40 feet above the ground. The waterpark will also have an 800-foot-long immersive water experience with an accelerated current that is described as 'faster and more exciting than a typical lazy river.' New swimming pools A new 1.4-acre pool area will also debut later this year. It will include the Great Life Lagoon, which has its own private ocean and pool view cabanas and day villas (featuring their own bathrooms and facilities available to rent), as well as two swim-up bars, the Reef Bar and Waves Bar, offering kid-friendly drinks and adult-favourite cocktails. There will also be a 3,400 square foot complimentary Splash Harbor, with interactive water fountains, aquatic features and a shaded bar and lounge for the parents to relax in. A free-to-enter recreational area, Horizon Park, will feature activities such as lawn style games, pickleball courts, a nine-hole mini golf course and a sports court. Alternatively, there will be more than 50 hammocks at Hammock Bay, perfect for an afternoon nap and also close to the BBQ buffet. Adults can also escape to the kid-free Vibe Shore Club, which has a private bar, hanging day beds and premium lounge seating. Entrance to the adults-only area comes with the purchase of a day pass and includes an upgraded lounger and premium umbrella. Herrera added: 'Whether you want to relax by the huge new heated pool - complete with multiple swim up bars, are looking forward to racing down one of the 19 waterslides with your kids at Great Tides Waterpark, or you just want to enjoy the ocean breeze from one of the hammocks at Hammock Bay, Great Stirrup Cay will soon boast even more ways to escape to your 'great life' for a memorable vacation on and off the ship.'
