The countdown is on to a major development at NCL’s Great Stirrup Cay.
The private island has been undergoing a major renovation, but the crown jewel is the all-new Great Tides Waterpark. Now, after more than a year from when it was first announced, the waterpark is set to open on September 4, giving visitors a massive new attraction to enjoy.
If you’ve ever visited Great Stirrup Cay before, you know that the experience has always been pretty nice. It has been a relatively quiet spot with white sand beaches, plenty of places to relax, and the electric blue water that The Bahamas is famous for.
But if you compared it to CocoCay, which sits literally right next to Great Stirrup Cay, the island has lacked in some respects. For a long time there was no pool, no waterpark, and not even a dock. Now, that’s all changing.
Already the cruise line completed a new dock, allowing visit even on days where the weather would otherwise make tendering questionable. (We’ve personally been set to visit Great Stirrup Cay only to have the visit called off on a clear, but windy day.)
And in January, NCL announced its heated pool on the island was officially open, along with swim-up bars, cabanas, and a new beach club for adults only.
Those features, however, are just an appetizer for the main course. The flagship of the new upgrades is a massive new Great Tides Waterpark.
Coming in at nearly six acres (about the size of 4.5 football fields), this isn’t a cruise line putting in a couple of slides and calling it a waterpark.
In fact, the park will feature a staggering 19 slides. It’s all anchored by what NCL is dubbing the Tidal Tower, featuring multiple slides, including Breakwater Blasters, a tube ride that takes you both down -= and up — using water jets.
There’s a massive kids splashpad area, a lazy-river ride complete with tunnel, and even a four-person body slide.
We think the most unique feature of the park is Cliffside Cove, which offers two cliff jumps into the pool below. It’s something we’ve never seen in a waterpark before.
Of course, there’s a lot out of the water to offer as well. Low Tide Smoke offers up BBQ options in the park, with Catch of the Day having seafood fare. There’s a dessert spot — Tidal Treats — and NCL says a complimentary buffet will also be available.
There are of course bars available, and the drink package from the ship also works on the island, including the new waterpark. There are also cabanas that are available for rent that will also include admission to the park.
If you’re ready to visit, you will have to wait just a bit. Great Tides Waterpark officially opens starting September 4, with the August 29 sailing of Norwegian Luna being the first ship to visit.
While Norwegian didn’t officially announce a cost of entrance to the waterpark, chatter on CruiseCritic says prices are $80-$90 per person, depending on the cruise.
