Norwegian Cruise Line has announced it is developing a brand new, nearly six-acre waterpark, Great Tides Waterpark, opening in summer 2026. The waterpark will offer everything from cliff jumps and jet karts to swim-up bars and splash zones–something for everyone.
“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,” said David J. Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line. “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. This new waterpark is an outstanding addition to our recent announcement about other amazing new amenities on the island soon to debut. With each phase of our enhancements, we’re bringing ashore more of what our guests love about sailing with NCL. 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 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. I am thrilled to welcome our guests to the greatest private island in the Caribbean!”
The “Great Life” will include various industry firsts. Guests will immediately notice the 170-foot Tidal Tower. The structure will include eight waterslides including racing slides, tube slides, and more. Cliffside Cove will feature racer slides and, in an industry first, two cliff jumps standing 10 and 15 feet tall. Also featured is the Caribbean’s only family slide which allows four guests to slide down together. The Grotto Bar is hidden under the family slide allowing for some of the best people watching in the Caribbean.
At the center of the waterpark is a 9,000-square-foot splash zone. Kids will love the eight mini slides and the oversized tipping bucket suspended 40 feet above the ground. The waterpark will also feature a “dynamic river.” The experience has an accelerated current, more thrilling than a typical lazy river. Guests can enter the river from multiple entry points and will not want to miss the multi-sensory grotto tunnel featuring a bioluminescent scene. One of the top shore excursions will be a brand new aquatic racecourse. The course will combine elements of go-karting and jet-skiing into the first-ever jet karts.
While the waterpark will not open until next summer, guests can start enjoying some of Great Stirrup Cay’s new enhancements later this year. The private destination’s new mulit-ship pier will open in the next few months allowing ships to dock rather than guests needing to tender. The destination will feature a new scenic welcome plaza, an island-wide tram service, and a new heated pool,
The Great Life Lagoon, the expansive 1.4-acre pool area, is opening soon complete with private cabanas and villas, complimentary loungers and two swim-up bars–the Reef Bar and the Waves Bar–which feature both kid-friendly and adult beverages.
Also opening is the family-friendly Splash Harbor. The 3,400-square-foot splash pad features interactive water fountains for the kids and a shaded bar and lounge for parents. The Horizon Park will feature pickleball courts, a miniature golf course, sports courts, lawn style games and more. Hammock Bay will provide over 50 relaxing hammocks, a bar and the guest-favorite BBQ buffet nearby. Adults will enjoy the exclusive Vibe Shore Club offering a private bar, day beds and premium lounge seating.
Norwegian Cruise Line is expected to welcome one million guests to Great Stirrup Cay in 2026 including calls from its newest ships, Norwegian Aqua and Norwegian Luna.