– 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 –
– Images and b-roll available here –
MIAMI, Sept. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — 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.
Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/norwegian_cruise_line/9361353-en-norwegian-cruise-line-great-tides-waterpark-on-great-stirrup-cay-preview-event
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.
Travelers can visit Great Stirrup Cay year-round, with voyages sailing seasonally from convenient homeports including New York and Philadelphia as well as Florida ports in Miami, Tampa, Orlando (Port Canaveral) and Jacksonville.
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.
View original content:SOURCE Norwegian Cruise Line
