Norwegian Cruise Line's New Great Tides Waterpark Debuts—Here’s What It’s Like

by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 1:35 PM ET, Wed September 2, 2026

GREAT STIRRUP CAY, The Bahamas—Shrieks and laughter filled the air as guests twisted, splashed and raced their way down the slides at Norwegian Cruise Line’s new Great Tides Waterpark.

The cruise line hosted an exclusive preview event this week, giving journalists, travel advisors, government officials and other partners a chance to explore the nearly six-acre waterpark ahead of its official grand opening on September 4.

For John Chernesky, the brand’s senior vice president and chief sales officer, the real thing was even better—and more fun—than he’d imagined.

“We’ve been looking at renderings and concepts for over a year, talking about it as a theoretical, and to actually stand there and be in the moment and be experiencing it, it blew my expectations away,” said Chernesky. “It was so much fun.”

Splash Cay is the family-friendly area of the new Great Tides Waterpark

Great Tides Waterpark is the latest addition to Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian Cruise Line’s 270-acre private island in the Bahamas. The company has been bringing guests to Great Stirrup Cay for nearly 50 years, and it remains one of its highest-rated destinations in the Bahamas and the Caribbean.

In recent years, the brand has invested heavily in Great Stirrup Cay, building out experiences designed to appeal to a wide range of ages and interests.

“Families vacation together, but everyone enjoys time differently,” said Marc Kazlauskas, president of Norwegian Cruise Line, during the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Great Tides Waterpark. “Some seek relaxation, others seek adventure. 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.”

The centerpiece of the new Great Tides Waterpark is the 170-foot-tall Tidal Tower, which features eight waterslides

Great Tides Waterpark has four main areas. The most visible is Tidal Tower, a towering 170-foot-tall skyscraper featuring eight waterslides. Based on the queue that formed during the preview, many guests were excited to try the Tropic Spiral, which features large spirals that spin guests in different directions—and may even send them and their two-person inner tube careening down backwards. Other popular options were the Breakwater Blasters, which propel two-person inner tubes uphill and through steep drops and twists with high-pressure water jets.

Guests can keep their adrenaline pumping at Cliffside Cove, featuring 10- and 15-foot tall cliff jumps, as well as a four-person family slide and two side-by-side slides that drop riders down from five feet above the water.

Cliffside Cove features 10- and 15-foot tall cliff jumps

For a mellower moment, there’s the Wandering River, an 800-foot-long lazy river with an immersive tunnel and an adjoining swim-up bar. Little ones can splash and frolic to their hearts’ content at Splash Cay, which features a 300-gallon tipping bucket, eight mini-slides and interactive water features.

Guests can float along the Wandering River at the new Great Tides Waterpark

Great Tides Waterpark also brings several new food and beverage options to Great Stirrup Cay. In addition to complimentary buffet-style options, there’s a food truck park with three different cuisines: Low Tide Smoke, which serves slow-smoked barbecue dishes like St. Louis-style riblets and buffalo cauliflower; Catch of the Cay, which offers cold-water seafood dishes like crispy shrimp rolls and golden fried shrimp baskets; and Tidal Treats, specializing in handcrafted desserts.

Tidal Treats was the hands-down fan-favorite during the preview event, serving highly Instagrammable tropical fish-shaped bubble waffle cones filled with ice cream and toppings.

“Oh my gosh that was fantastic,” said Chernesky.

“I have to second that thought,” added Joel Garcia, vice president of construction and engineering for Norwegian Cruise Line. “It is simply amazing. It’s delightful.”

Tidal Treats serves delicious ice cream creations at the new Great Tides Waterpark

Drinks are available at the Grotto Bar, which offers a front-row seat to the guests braving the cliff jumps, and at the Floataway Bar, a swim-up bar located next to the Wandering River.

Great Tides Waterpark was completed in just 15 months—a timeline that includes four months of design work. That rapid pace, coupled with the island’s remoteness and unpredictable weather, made building Great Tides Waterpark a Herculean feat.

At the peak of construction, more than 625 people were working on the waterpark, according to Garcia. Norwegian Cruise Line also built two on-site concrete plants to produce some of the materials needed for construction, but everything else required careful foresight and planning to ensure crews had what they needed, when they needed it.

“Logistically it was very difficult to make sure we had everything in place to build the waterpark,” said Garcia. “With my experience in construction, we take a lot of small things for granted. I mentioned concrete, but [also] steel and just raw material… it was very difficult.”

The waterpark was built to be able to accommodate up to 1,800 guests at a time. But, for now, capacity is being limited to 1,200. That might change depending on the demand, according to the cruise line’s leaders.

Pricing for Great Tides Waterpark is also still a work in progress. It’s available for purchase as a shore excursion up to a year in advance, and visits to Great Stirrup Cay will be included on numerous itineraries from a variety of different homeports.

“We’re still testing,” said Chernesky. “We’re not announcing even a range today. But I heard an example of someone in the room who is sailing later in the year and the price was $99 per person. The next question is, ‘What about kids’ pricing?’ I would just say it’s all under development and review and we’ll see what the market bears and what people are obviously willing to pay.… We’ll see some evolution of this. A family of four, it adds up pretty quick. But from a value proposition, I would say you could spend your whole day there and you really get a good bang for your buck.”

The Floataway Bar is adjacent to the Wandering River at the new Great Tides Waterpark

Great Tides Waterpark is just the latest enhancement at Great Stirrup Cay. Norwegian Cruise Line also recently debuted a new two-berth pier that allows two vessels to dock at Great Stirrup Cay at once, eliminating the need to tender guests from ship to shore. Other recent upgrades include a new welcome plaza, new tram service, a new adults-only area called Vibe Shore Club and a massive 1.4-acre heated pool area called the Great Life Lagoon featuring cabanas, villas, loungers and two swim-up bars.

Private islands have become a major battleground for the cruise industry, with lines opening new destinations and investing in ever-more elaborate experiences beyond the ship. Great Tides Waterpark was a strategic move for Norwegian Cruise Line, one that will continue to serve the brand for decades to come, said Chernesky.

“We have not just caught up but hopefully leapfrogged the competition to position ourselves with the best of the best,” said Chernesky. “We’re positioned really well for the future.”

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