Norwegian cruise line announced Tuesday that it will build a water park in the private Bahamas Great Stirup Cay, which is scheduled to open in the summer of 2026.
The nearly six-acre attraction, called The Great Tides Waterpark, features 19 slides, a 9,000-square-foot Splashpad for kids, an 800-foot long “dynamic river” and industry’s first cliff diving feature.
Additionally, the line announced that it will set up a mini aquatic racetrack that will use “jet carts.” Its appeal is the coastal excursion experience that is not bound by a water park.
This rendering shows Cliffside Cove, part of Great Tise Water Park, which is part of a plan to improve the Great Stirlap Cay on the Norwegian Cruise Line’s private Bahamas Island. (Courtesy/Norwegian Cruise Line)
This close-up render shows the 10-foot-high and 15-foot-high jumps that are part of Cliffside Cove inside the Greattise Water Park. It is expected to open in the summer of 2026 as part of a plan to revamp the Norwegian Cruise Line’s private Bahamas Great Stulap Cay. (Courtesy/Norwegian Cruise Line)
This close-up rendering shows family slides defeating four people at once. It is expected to open all parts of Cliffside Cove’s caves within Great Tize Water Park as part of plans to revamp Norwegian Cruise Line’s private Bahamas Great Stulap Cay in the summer of 2026. (Courtesy/Norwegian Cruise Line)
This rendering shows a tide tower at 170 feet tall. This is eight out of 19 slides in the eight Great Tize Water Park. The Waterpark is scheduled to open in the summer of 2026 as part of a plan to improve Norwegian Cruise Line’s private Bahamas Great Stirlap Cay. (Courtesy/Norwegian Cruise Line)
This rendering shows the “Dynamic River,” part of the Great Tise Water Park, which will be appearing in the summer of 2026, when Norwegian cruise line is part of the revamp of the Great Stirlap Cay on the private Bahamas. (Courtesy/Norwegian Cruise Line)
This rendering shows the children’s splash zone, part of the Great Tise Water Park that will be appearing in the summer of 2026 as part of the revamp of the Norwegian Cruise Line’s Private Bahamas Great Stirlap Cay. (Courtesy/Norwegian Cruise Line)
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This rendering shows Cliffside Cove, part of Great Tise Water Park, which is part of a plan to improve the Great Stirlap Cay on the Norwegian Cruise Line’s private Bahamas Island. (Courtesy/Norwegian Cruise Line)
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“On 270 acres, our private island offers an incredible blueprint for reinventing what our guests can experience when they escape with us to “great life.” “This new water park is a notable addition to the recent announcements on the island’s other incredible new amenities and will be making their debut soon.”
The park’s centerpiece is a 170-foot-high tide tower with access to eight slides, including drop slides, tube runs, and mat racers. The conveyor belt runs some tubes in the tower, as Park Aqua doesn’t have to carry it while you’re climbing the stairs.
Another space called Cliffside Cove, with its own racer slide, also features 10 and 15 feet of Cliff Jump attractions. There are also slides of a family of four. Those who want to drink and watch can go to the cave bar.
The splash zone features an oversized tip bucket, eight mini slides and interactive water features 40 feet above the ground.
The line also ran lazy rivers in favour of “dynamic rivers.” This accelerates current and runs 800 feet at multiple entry points, including a wading pool with its own swim-up bar. The rider will start to flow through a tunnel lit up with a “dreamy bioluminescence” theme.
The map shows existing and future features that are part of the Norwegian Cruise Line’s plan to revamp the Great Stirup Cay on the Private Bahamas. (Courtesy/Norwegian Cruise Line)
This render shows a 1.4 acres of Great Tri Rawon. This is a large heating pool that is part of the Norwegian cruise line’s plans to revamp the Great Stirup Cay in the Private Bahamas. (Courtesy/Norwegian Cruise Line)
This rendering shows the kids pool area, part of a plan to revamp the Norwegian Cruise Line’s Great Stirlap Caye, Private Bahamas Island. (Courtesy/Norwegian Cruise Line)
This rendering shows one of two swim-up bars in the 1.4-acre Great Tri Raw Room, part of the Norwegian Cruise Line’s plans to revamp the Great Stirup Cay on the Private Bahamas. (Courtesy/Norwegian Cruise Line)
This rendering shows Splash Harbor, a free kids splash pad adjacent to the Great Tri Raw Loon opening as part of the revamp of the Norwegian Cruise Line’s Private Bahamas Island Great Stulap Cay. (Courtesy/Norwegian Cruise Line)
This rendering shows the new welcome area, part of the Norwegian Cruise Line’s plan to improve the Great Stirlap Cay on the Private Bahamas Island. (Courtesy/Norwegian Cruise Line)
This rendering shows Hammock Bay, part of the revamp of Great Stirlap Cay on the Norwegian Cruise Line’s private Bahamas island. (Courtesy/Norwegian Cruise Line)
This rendering shows Horizon Park, part of a plan to revamp the great Stir-Cali of the Norwegian Cruise Line’s private Bahamas island. (Courtesy/Norwegian Cruise Line)
This rendering shows the Vibes Shore Club, part of the Norwegian Cruise Line’s plan to improve the Great Stirlap Cay on the Private Bahamas Island. (Courtesy/Norwegian Cruise Line)
Construction will continue on Tuesday, April 15th, 2025 for a pool that has more than 28,000 square feet, with two swim-up bars on Norwegian Cruise Line’s Private Bahamas Great Stilellap Cay.
Tom Roser, product manager for Norwegian cruise line development and strategy, talks about his plans to develop the Vibe Beach Club area of the Line’s Private Bahamas Island Great Stirlap Cay.
The Placard shows plans for a more than 28,000 square feet of pool on Norwegian Cruise Line’s Private Bahamas Island on Great Stirup Cay.
Tom Roesser, product manager for Norwegian Cruise Line development and strategy, spoke on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 about the future development plans for the Line’s Private Bahamas Great Stillap Cay.
Construction Crane continues work on a new dock coming to Norwegian Cruise Line’s Private Bahamas Great Stillap Cay (Richard Toribou/Orlando Sentinel) on Tuesday, April 15th, 2025
Construction Crane continues work on a new dock coming to Norwegian Cruise Line’s Private Bahamas Great Stillap Cay (Richard Toribou/Orlando Sentinel) on Tuesday, April 15th, 2025
The placard shows the construction of a future passageway that will lead passengers to a new pool from the under construction dock at Norwegian Cruise Line’s Private Bahamas Great Stirup Cay (Richard Toribou/Orlando Sentinel) on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.
Construction will continue on a new 1,500-foot-long dock as Norwegian Cruise Line’s new ship Norwegian Aqua will need to halt offshore from the Line’s private Bahamas Great Stillap Cay on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.
Construction will continue on a new 1,500-foot-long dock as Norwegian Cruise Line’s new ship Norwegian Aqua will need to halt offshore from the Line’s private Bahamas Great Stillap Cay on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.
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The map shows existing and future features that are part of the Norwegian Cruise Line’s plan to revamp the Great Stirup Cay on the Private Bahamas. (Courtesy/Norwegian Cruise Line)
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The island’s addition is just after the already announced feature that debuts later this year, with a 1,500-foot-long pier that can end the boring practice of having to soften passengers with small boats to reach land.
There is also a 28,476 square feet of heated pool with a capacity of 1,898 people that can be walked straight away once passengers get off the ship. The 1.4 acre pool known as the Great Tri Raw Loon has a complimentary lounger and two swim-up bars, but cabanas and villas cost extra.
It also features a free adjacent 3,400-square-foot Splash Harbor area for children with an interactive water fountain and a unique shaded bar for parents to look out for their children. Another previously announced island-renovated space is the complimentary Horizon Park, a family-friendly social area with grass-style games, pickleball courts, a nine-hole mini golf course and sports courts.
It also frees the sea of 50 hammocks within the hammock bay, with its own dedicated bar, close to the existing BBQ buffet.
For extra cost day passes, passengers have access to the adults-only Vibe Shore Club, featuring a private bar, villa, hanging daybed and loungers.
The line also offers expanded tram services to provide easy access to the new welcome plaza and all new spaces.
Prices for water parks and other extra cost amenities have not been announced.
The newly announced water park has become an extra cost feature similar to Royal Caribbean water parks, with one island found one island on Cococay’s Perfect Day.
For the NCL, enhancements to the pier, pool and water park are speeding up the massive stir cay with a 125-acre Cococay Royal offering that had the pier installed amid a new $250 million feature since 2019.
NCL was the first to open a private stop in the Bahamas almost 50 years ago, and has been added to the Great Stirlap Cay, which includes the finest Area Silver Cove, featuring the best private lagoons, infinity pools, upscale buffets and modern villas around the spa.
However, the addition of a pier avoids the headache of missed calls to highly rated harbors due to the high seas.
NCL’s Bahamas destination revamps are located within the openings of the new recent private cruise line port, including the celebration key for the Carnival Cruise Line this summer and Kaye at the Disney Cruise Line observation deck at the lighthouse last year. Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean is approaching the opening of a mini resort at Nassau, Royal Beach Club on Paradise Island, and is set to welcome guests this December.
