Norwegian Cruise Line Previews Great Tides Waterpark

The ribbon-cutting ceremony and VIP preview of Norwegian Cruise Line’s Great Tides Waterpark took place Sept. 1 on Great Stirrup Cay in The Bahamas for media, content creators, and special guests, including NHL player Taylor Hall of the Carolina Hurricanes and actor, podcaster and author Josh Peck (both dads who could be seen with their kids at Splash Cay). 

The six-acre waterpark, which took 15 months to complete start to finish, is the newest addition to NCL’s private island, the 270-acre Great Stirrup Cay. Great Tides officially opens to the public on Friday, Sept. 4 with a call from Norwegian Luna.

The waterpark features an impressive, 170-foot tidal tower; 19 waterslides; a cliff-jumping attraction called Cliffside Cove; Splash Cay splash park for the littlest cruisers; and a one-of-a-kind Wandering River, affectionately referred to as the “not-so-lazy river,” as it carries a current of 6 mph.

“In 1977, NCL became the first cruise line in the industry to offer guests a private island experience at Great Stirrup Cay. It’s an important part of who we are and a reflection of our commitment to delivering unforgettable vacations,” said Marc Kauslauskas, president of Norwegian Cruise Line, following a blessing of the new attraction. “For decades, NCL has been driven by a simple belief: vacations should be built around freedom, choice and hospitality…Our goal is to create experiences that offer something for everyone, so no one has to compromise their perfect vacation. Great Tides Waterpark brings that vision to life in an extraordinary way.”

While the waterpark can accommodate up to 1,800 guests, current capacity has been set at 1,200 guests to significantly reduce any wait times or congestion. Accompanying the development of the waterpark is a brand-new concrete pier able to accommodate two ships at Great Stirrup Cay.

Food and beverage offerings include two swim-up bars and a complimentary buffet, as well as three themed food trucks selling seafood (Catch of the Day), barbecue (Low Tide Smoke) and frozen desserts (Tidal Treats) — like the popular taiyaki-inspired waffle cone ice cream — for a fee (most items were $10 or $15).

Remarks at the ribbon-cutting ceremony centered around the large scale of the project and its importance for The Bahamas and its continued relationship with Norwegian Cruise Line.

“The Bahamas is one of the most important destinations to us and an invaluable partner, said Kauslauskas. “Great Stirrup Cay plays a central role in our Bahamas and Caribbean deployment, and we’re proud of the longstanding relationship we’ve built together.”

“This is a testament to this brand when we work together — what we can create,” said John Chidsy, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Ltd. “We greatly value our partnership with The Bahamas; not only will this create a lot of jobs, but it will bring a lot of tourists to the wonderful islands of The Bahamas.”

“Because of this incredible waterpark, you can see that this partnership [between the U.S. and The Bahamas] is growing and even better,” said Herschel Walker, United States ambassador to The Bahamas. “So, I want to thank Norwegian…because you’re not just building a park, you’re building a family; you’re building a community; you’re building an island.”

Randy Rolle, a member of parliament of Bimini and the Berry Islands, spoke on behalf of the government of The Bahamas, noting that this opening marks nearly five decades of partnership with Norwegian Cruise Line and that there are third-generation vendors at Great Stirrup Cay’s straw market.

According to John Chernesky, NCL’s senior vice president and chief sales officer of NCL, future sailings to Great Stirrup Cay should be able to fetch premium pricing, considering Great Tides as a major value add to the overall private island experience. While shore excursion pricing has yet to be set by the cruise line, one guest booked on a future cruise to Great Stirrup Cay quoted their Great Tides ticket price as $99 per adult.

More than 60% of Great Stirrup Cay remains undeveloped, leaving opportunities for future developments from the cruise line. Cruisers will be able to visit the island year-round from seasonal homeports including New York, Philadelphia, Miami, Tampa, Port Canaveral and Jacksonville.