Norwegian Cruise Line's Private Island Caribbean Water Park Is Opening Soon In 2026

Guests aboard Norwegian Cruise Line ships now have a new opportunity to add thrills and adventure to their stop on the line's private island. The cruise line opens its brand-new Great Tides Waterpark on its Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas this September. Guests aboard select ships to the Caribbean will be eligible to grab a day pass to the new 6-acre water park that caters to every member of the family.

According to a Norwegian Cruise Line press release, the new destination offers familiar water park fare like racing slides, raft slides, and a lazy river for a more relaxed experience. The river also includes the Floataway Bar, which means guests don't have to leave the water to get a drink. The park also offers innovative attractions like its Breakwater Blasters, which pushes riders uphill and around twists and turns with the help of high-pressure water jets. Then there's the Cliffside Cove, featuring the Caribbean's tallest cliff jumps; the cruise line says the attraction is an industry first.

There are a number of assumptions guests should not make about their cruise ship vacation. A booking on Norwegian Cruise Line does not, for example, automatically grant someone access to Great Tides Waterpark. A separate purchase is required, and passengers can purchase their day pass to the new water park on the Norwegian Cruise Line website once their cruise booking is confirmed. Day passes are about $100 per person.

When many people picture a water park, they of course picture the youngest members of the family splashing in the wave pools or hurling themselves down slides. While it may not be as big as Germany's Tropical Islands, one of the largest water parks in the world, the same scene applies to Great Tides Waterpark and the 270-acre Great Stirrup Cay. Norwegian Cruise Line says its private island and water park are designed for multi-generational groups. Private cabanas for up to six people are available from about $1,000 and include water, a cooler, and a quiet shaded area for families. Adult-only spaces with high-end loungers and a private bar are also available within the Vibe Shore Club.

While you may not be able to swim with wild pigs while exploring all the offerings of Great Tides Waterpark, you can tailor-make your experience. If the more adventurous members of a group decide to race down the Great Slide, the only four-person body slide in the Caribbean and one of the park's 19 total waterslides, others may decide to relax and explore Splash Cay, a kid-friendly splash zone.

Norwegian Cruise Line offers excursions to Great Stirrup Cay and Great Tides Waterpark on sailings from a variety of ports. The closest include the Florida ports of Miami, Port Canaveral, Tampa, and Jacksonville. There are multiple cruise itineraries to Norwegian's private island, and cruise lengths range from three to seven days.