An Inside Look at Norwegian Cruise Line’s Evolving Great Stirrup Cay

On Norwegian Luna’s inaugural sailing, Travel Market Report experienced first-hand Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Bahamas private island that is still evolving. 

The brand-new NCL ship docked at a temporary pier on a cloudy Sunday, which meant a decent walk to the entrance under skies that threatened rain, but the pier prevents the need for tendering during this transitional period. By the end of the summer, NCL will complete a new two-berth pier that will cut down the walk from ship to island. 

“We are well on our way to developing the premier and most premium private island in the cruise industry,” Mark Kansley, NCL’s chief experience officer, told media during a panel discussion, “and it’s really going to be a game is a game changer, and will continue to be a game changer, for our brand.” 

Though the weather cut our time on the island short, we still had a few hours to see what it’s all about – especially to experience the new Vibe Shore Club and see the beginnings of Great Tides Water Park.  

Here’s more about those newest additions that travel advisors will want to be aware of when selling to Norwegian Cruise Line clients. 

Vibe Shore Club and Silver Cove 

Before arriving at Vibe Shore Club, a tram ride took us past Harborside Market, a street vendor concept, and to a walking path where the Lagoon and Beach areas meet. Closer to the ship is the Great Life Lagoon, a lively pool area with bars, food trucks, cabanas, and plenty of loungers, and the Splash Harbor children’s splash pad.  

Beyond that, there’s a large stretch of beach where you’ll find the buffet, more bars and cabanas, and a shore excursion desk where you can book kayak tours, ziplining, swimming with the pigs, and more. 

Finally, we walked over to Vibe Shore Club, which is a bit more removed from the action – and that’s purposeful. Vibes Shore Club is an extension of the Vibes Beach Club found on board NCL’s Prima Plus class ships. It opened in December and features several cabanas for rent, its own buffet and food trucks, and plenty of beach loungers. Access to this area is an additional charge that can be purchased before the cruise. 

This area was quiet and comfortable. The cabanas were spacious, and the extra-cozy loungers were perfect for a seaside nap. Plus, it was well-staffed so we could sit back for a relaxing experience by the beautiful clear Bahamas waters.  

The restaurant terrace was also recently reconfigured, which made for a laid-back and uncrowded atmosphere with great views. Chris Doval, senior director, development strategy & program management, told us that the key concept was “to try to get everyone to be able to hang out here – grabbing food, sitting down, enjoying the views.” 

“This used to be sand runoff; now it’s an actual terrace that you can take advantage of the elevation,” he said. “We have great elevation here at Great Stirrup Cay, so we’re able to take advantage of the elevation and have unobstructed views of the ocean. So that was the intent of bringing this all together, and it’s quite beautiful.” 

Though we didn’t see Silver Cove in person, the concept is similar but with more amenities and positioned even further away for more exclusivity. Silver Cove not only has villas, restaurants, and bars, but also its own pools, overwater swings, and a spa. 

Great Tides Water Park Coming Soon 

TMR joined a media tour of Great Tides Water Park led by Doval and Cynthia Pintado, senior manager of product strategy. Currently an active construction site that broke ground summer 2025, the mounds of dirt are set to transform into a six-acre water park with five distinct areas for a range of chill-to-thrill family fun. 

So far, we were able to see the beginnings of concrete laid out for the not-so-lazy river, piping for a children’s splash pad that will be much larger than the one near the Lagoon pool, and a structure that will become the world’s second Fiesta slide.  

The dynamic Wandering River will be 828 feet long with the only immersive tunnel in the Caribbean, a journey lasting about four to six minutes. Doval said there will be “a little miniature pool that bumps out that you can go and grab a drink at, or just hang out for a little bit, take a break before you get back on the tunnel.” 

The water park will also have 10 cabanas, including three along the river, food trucks, and additional bars. The main fixture, 170-foot Tidal Tower, will be home to eight of the 19 total slides at the park. 

Cliffside Cove will include the Fiesta slide, dual racing slides, shotgun slides, and two cliffs to jump from – one 10 feet from the water and the other 15 feet high. Doval noted that the layout will allow guests to watch as their friends and family take on these thrills. 

The new kids’ splash pad will be 10,000 square feet and stand 42 feet tall, whereas the other Lagoon splash pad is 3,000 square feet and 23 feet tall. 

Great Tides Water Park will have a total of 19 slides, with 16 slides’ rider heights at 42 or 36 inches – lower than the standard 48 inches, which in this park, is reserved for the slides at Cliffside Cove. 

“We did this purposely, making sure that we can broaden our guest capacity, so we can get more ages involved and make it more of a family, family experience,” Doval said. 

NCL is aiming for completion – and to open the water park in its entirety – sometime in summer 2026. Pricing structure has not yet been finalized.