NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE® CELEBRATES THE OPENING OF ITS ALL-NEW GREAT TIDES WATERPARK ON ITS PRIVATE ISLAND, GREAT STIRRUP CAY, WITH AN EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW EVENT
– NCL Ushers in a New Era for Its Private Island with a Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony Featuring Bahamian Officials, Followed by an Exclusive Preview of the Waterpark's New Attractions and Culinary Offerings –
– The Official Grand Opening for Guests will Take Place on Sept. 4, 2026, When Norwegian Luna™ Calls to NCL's Private Island –
MIAMI, Sept. 2, 2026 /CNW/ -- Norwegian Cruise Line® (NCL), the industry leader in delivering freedom and choice in experiences with uncompromising hospitality, yesterday hosted government officials, travel partners, media, more than 100 content creators and special guests for an exclusive preview of Great Tides Waterpark on Great Stirrup Cay, the company's 270-acre private island destination in The Bahamas.
Norwegian Cruise Line®’s all-new Great Tides Waterpark brings fun for the whole family with 19 slides, the industry’s first cliff jumps and The Wandering River complete with an immersive tunnel.
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Norwegian Cruise Line® hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for the all-new Great Tides Waterpark on the Company’s private island in the Bahamas, Great Stirrup Cay. From Left to Right: Froggy of Elvis Duran and the Morning Show; Randy Rolle, Member of Parliament of Bimini and the Berry Islands; Marc Kazlauskas, President of Norwegian Cruise Line®; John Chidsey, CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.; Herschel Walker, United States Ambassador to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas; and Dan Farkas, Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.
Guests enjoyed fun games, photo opportunities, refreshing cocktails, giveaways and more sponsored by brand partner Aperol®.
Great Tides Waterpark’s opening celebration featured special activations from NCL beverage partners including Coca-Cola®, who gave out branded Coke-onuts.
Hampton Water®, an official beverage partner of Norwegian Cruise Line, joined the opening celebration for the all-new Great Tides Waterpark, offering their signature rosé.
The opening of Great Tides Waterpark represents one of the most significant enhancements in Norwegian Cruise Line®'s ongoing investment to Great Stirrup Cay.
Norwegian Cruise Line®’s 270-acre private island destination in the Bahamas, Great Stirrup Cay, features the expansive new Great Tides Waterpark.
Great Tides Waterpark features the industry’s first cliff jumps at Cliffside Cove with jumps as high as 10 and 15 feet—the tallest in the Caribbean.
The dynamic Wandering River at Great Tides Waterpark features an immersive tunnel for a unique experience.
Guests at Great Tides Waterpark can float down the 800-feet-long Wandering River and enjoy a pit stop at the swim-up Floataway Bar.
The 9,000-square-foot Splash Cay at Great Tides Waterpark provides fun for little ones with eight mini slides and a 300-gallon tipping bucket.
Cliffside Cove at Norwegian Cruise Line®’s Great Tides Waterpark boasts The Great Slide, the Caribbean’s only family slide where four guests can slide down together.
The 170-foot-tall Tidal Tower boasts eight thrilling slides and stands as the centerpiece of Norwegian Cruise Line®’s all-new Great Tides Waterpark.
Norwegian Cruise Line®’s Great Tides Waterpark offers fun for the whole family to enjoy together with 19 waterslides from dueling tube slides to racing body slides and more.
Private cabana rentals are perfect for poolside lounging and include park admission for up to six guests.
Norwegian Cruise Line®’s Great Tides Waterpark was designed with the whole family in mind, so everyone can enjoy the island without compromising on their own experience.
Norwegian Cruise Line®’s private island, Great Stirrup Cay features a new pier allowing two of the company’s ships to dock simultaneously, providing easier access to the island.
Ahead of its Sept. 4, 2026 grand opening, the exclusive event gave attendees a first look at the destination's newest landmark, including thrilling attractions, new culinary offerings and special activations from NCL's beverage partners – Aperol®, Coca-Cola®, Casamigos™ and Hampton Water®.
"Great Tides Waterpark represents an exciting new chapter for Great Stirrup Cay and a defining moment for Norwegian Cruise Line," said Marc Kazlauskas, president of Norwegian Cruise Line. "With our official grand opening just days away on Sept. 4, this event offered a preview of the adventure, flexibility and family fun that awaits our guests. From the 170-foot Tidal Tower and first-of-its-kind slides to the immersive Wandering River, industry-first cliff jumps and interactive splash zones, every element has been thoughtfully designed to create an unforgettable island day for guests of all ages. Combined with the incredible experiences across Great Stirrup Cay, the destination offers families the freedom to enjoy the ultimate vacation day, where no one has to compromise and everyone gets the adventure or relaxation they want."
Beginning with the ceremonial ribbon cutting, invitees heard from John Chidsey, President and Chief Executive Officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.; Marc Kazlauskas, President of Norwegian Cruise Line; Herschel Walker, United States Ambassador to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and Randy Rolle Member of Parliament of Bimini and the Berry Islands.
Following the ceremony, the gates opened for invited guests, including NHL star Taylor Hall of the Carolina Hurricanes and Josh Peck, multi-talented actor, bestselling author and podcast host and creator, to explore the nearly six-acre Great Tides Waterpark and experience many of its signature, and industry-first, attractions firsthand. Throughout the day, attendees enjoyed a variety of curated experiences across Great Tides Waterpark, including partner-hosted hospitality experiences and opportunities to discover the island's newest offerings.
Highlights from the preview event included:
Signature partner activations featuring specialty cocktails, beverage tastings, branded giveaways and photo opportunities from Aperol at the Grotto Bar, Casamigos at Floataway Bar along the Wandering River, Coca-Cola by Splash Cay and Hampton Water near Tidal Tower. These experiences will also be available to guests during the official grand opening celebration on Sept. 4, 2026.
A culinary showcase of Great Tides Waterpark's newest dining venues featured samples from three new food trucks: barbecue at Low Tide Smoke, seafood favorites at Catch of the Cay and handcrafted ice cream and soft serve at Tidal Treats.
A vibrant Junkanoo performance celebrated the culture, music and spirit of The Bahamas, bringing colorful energy to the day's festivities.
At Great Tides Waterpark, one-of-a-kind experiences are available throughout four main areas:
Tidal Tower, the iconic centerpiece standing at 170 feet tall, featuring eight exhilarating slides including the Tropic Spiral – the first Nautilus slide in the world with large spirals that spin guests into thrilling different directions; the Breakwater Blasters, the industry-first dueling Master Blaster slides in the Caribbean which propel inner-tubes uphill and through steep drops and twists with high-pressure water jets, and many more.
Cliffside Cove, featuring Cliffside Leap, the industry's first-ever, and the Caribbean's tallest cliff jumps, at 10 and 15 feet high; The Great Slide, the Caribbean's only family slide where four guests can slide down together for an adrenaline rush; and The Fearless Falls slides dropping riders down from five feet above the water.
Wandering River, a dynamic river over 800 feet long, features the industry's first immersive tunnel and swim-up bar, Floataway Bar, alongside the river.
Splash Cay, offering over 9,000 square feet of family fun with an oversized tipping bucket holding 300 gallons of water, eight mini-slides and interactive water features.
The opening of Great Tides Waterpark represents one of the most significant enhancements in Norwegian Cruise Line's ongoing investment in Great Stirrup Cay. With the recent additions, the new waterpark expands the breadth of experiences available to guests while further strengthening Great Stirrup Cay's position as a leading private island destination in the Caribbean.
Apart from the new waterpark attraction, the grand 270-acre Great Stirrup Cay offers a breadth of amenities for families, couples, solo travelers and everyone in between for their dream island day. The new Great Life Lagoon, an expansive pool area, offers two swim-up bars, private cabanas and an abundance of complimentary loungers and umbrellas, while Splash Harbor provides families with a fun and complimentary splash pad just steps away from the pool and nearby refreshments. Guests searching for elevated experiences can choose to purchase a day pass for the adults-only Vibe Shore Club featuring premium loungers, cabanas and a dedicated bar; or they can opt to enjoy the great life at Silver Cove by renting a premium air-conditioned villa, booking a day pass or reserving a spa treatment at the Silver Cove Spa. The spacious island invites guests to create their ideal day in paradise, whether relaxing on pristine white-sand beaches with complimentary loungers, diving into adventure with snorkeling gear and paddle boards available to rent, or booking an excursion to zipline from the island's iconic Flighthouse.
Guests may purchase a pass to Great Tides Waterpark by logging into their myNCL account after completing their cruise reservation.
For images and b-roll of Great Stirrup Cay, click here.
For more information about the Company's award-winning fleet and worldwide itineraries, or to book a cruise, please contact a travel professional, call 888-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784) or visit www.ncl.com.
About Norwegian Cruise Line
As the innovator in global cruise travel, Norwegian Cruise Line® has been breaking the boundaries of traditional cruising for 59 years. Its tagline, "It's Different Out Here™" reflects the emotional connection guests experience aboard and pays tribute to the company's history of pioneering the cruise experience. Most notably, NCL revolutionized the industry by offering guests the freedom and flexibility to design their ideal vacation on their preferred schedule with no assigned dining and entertainment times and no formal dress codes. Today, the company continues to deliver curated, effortless experiences that cater to every type of traveler – from seasoned cruisers to families of every size. With award-winning entertainment, globally inspired dining and thoughtfully designed accommodations, including solo staterooms, Club Balcony Suites and The Haven by Norwegian®, the company's exclusive ship-within-a-ship concept, NCL ensures every guest enjoys a seamless and personalized journey that allows them to enjoy the moment and connect with those who matter most. To further deliver guests with more value, the company's signature Free at Sea™ package provides added benefits and inclusions such as unlimited open bar; specialty dining credits; high-speed Wi-Fi; shore excursions credits; and with select sailings guests can enjoy free airfare as well as third and fourth guests sail free (terms and conditions apply). NCL guests sailing to the Caribbean can also enjoy exclusive experiences at Harvest Caye, the company's resort destination in Belize, along with new and enhanced experiences at Great Stirrup Cay, NCL's expanded private island in the Bahamas. NCL sails to nearly 350 of the world's most desirable destinations with its fleet of 21 contemporary ships.
For additional information or to book a cruise, contact a travel professional, call 888-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784) or visit www.ncl.com. For the latest news and exclusive content, visit the NCL Newsroom and follow Norwegian Cruise Line on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube @NorwegianCruiseLine; and Twitter @CruiseNorwegian.
Norwegian Cruise Line is a wholly owned subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. To learn more, visit www.nclhltd.com.
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