NCL announces Great Stirrup Cay transformation with six-acre waterpark, 19 waterslides, cliff jumping and jet karts

Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian Cruise Line’s private island in the Bahamas, will look very different in the summer of 2026 following a massive transformation that includes the launch of a nearly six-acre Great Tides Waterpark.

In addition to the multi-pier enhancements and the oversized heated pool and beach club additions already announced earlier this year, the island will now offer 19 waterslides, an 800-foot dynamic river, a 9,000-square-foot splash zone for kids, and the industry’s first cliffside jumps.

“Great Stirrup Cay has always been an amazing part of the Norwegian Cruise Line guest experience and continues to be one of our highest rated destinations,” said David J. Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line. “This new waterpark is an outstanding addition to our recent announcement about other amazing new amenities on the island soon to debut. With each phase of our enhancements, we’re bringing ashore more of what our guests love  about sailing with NCL. Whether you want to relax by the huge new heated pool – complete with multiple swim up bars, are looking forward to racing down one of the 19 waterslides with your kids at Great Tides Waterpark, or just want to enjoy the ocean breeze from one of the hammocks at Hammock Bay, Great Stirrup Cay will soon boast even more ways to escape to your ‘great life’ for a memorable vacation on and off the ship. I am thrilled to welcome our guests to the greatest private island in the Caribbean!” 

At 170-feet, Tidal Tower is a sky-high tower with eight waterslides, including the two tallest slides of the tower where guests can experience splashing drops and thrilling climbs on an inner tube. Additional slides include racing slides where guests can speed to the finish line on a mat, tube slides which feature large spirals and spins that send guests in a whole other direction as they shoot down, as well as exciting body slides. To make it even easier to enjoy, select slides will include convenient conveyor belts to lift the rafts to the top of the tower, eliminating the task of guests carrying them up on their own.

Families and adventure seekers will be able to let loose at Cliffside Cove with racer slides, two different cliff jumps standing at 10 and 15 feet tall – a cruise industry first – as well as the Caribbean’s only family slide, where four guests can slide down simultaneously. For those who prefer to enjoy from the sidelines, The Grotto Bar is a hidden cave bar tucked under the family slide. 

At the centre of Great Tides Waterpark, a 9,000-square-foot kids splash zone will provide a water wonderland for little ones with an oversized tipping bucket towering at over 40 feet above the ground. Eight mini slides and interactive water features complete this aquatic paradise for children of all ages. The waterpark will also feature a dynamic river, an immersive water experience with an accelerated current that will be faster and more exciting than a typical lazy river.

At 800 feet long, guests will be able to enter the dynamic river from several points, including a wading pool with a conveniently located swim-up bar nearby. A highlight on the river will be an illuminated grotto tunnel featuring a dreamlike bioluminescent scene for the ultimate multi-sensory experience. Well-located cabanas will be situated at the edge of the dynamic river and the kids splash zone for premium access to the popular family areas. 

An all-new mini aquatic racecourse with jet karts – combining elements of go-karting and jet skiing – will  soon be one of the top shore excursions available on the island for adventure seekers.  

The Great Life Lagoon, the recently announced expansive 1.4-acre pool area, will be complete with private ocean and pool view cabanas and villas, complimentary loungers and two swim-up bars offering a selection of beverages including kid-friendly drinks and adult-favourite cocktails. Each bar will have its own ambiance, with Reef Bar designed to be more vibrant with a DJ spinning all-day beats. The Waves Bar will be on the opposite side of the pool where a beach-style entrance leads to an exciting splash area for kids with fun water features. Another popular family space will be the 3,400-square-foot Splash Harbour, a complimentary splash pad steps away from the brand-new heated pool, with interactive water fountains, aquatic features and a shaded bar and lounge for the parents to relax while the kids are at play. 

For guests who enjoy their fair share of competition, the soon-to-be all-new complimentary recreational  area, Horizon Park, will feature lawn style games, pickleball courts, a nine-hole mini golf course, half a  sports court and more. Designed to provide the ultimate beachside relaxation, Hammock Bay will include over 50 hammocks for the perfect afternoon nap, a dedicated bar and will be conveniently located near  the guest-favourite BBQ buffet. Or if exclusive oceanfront luxury is preferred, Vibe Shore Club, the adults only area, will offer a chicer ambiance with a private bar, hanging day beds and premium lounge seating.  Entrance to the adults-only area comes with the purchase of a day pass and includes an upgraded  lounger and premium umbrella, or for an even more elevated experience, villas will also be available to rent. 

As part of the “Escape to the Great Life” campaign, NCL is launching a nationwide sweepstakes from July  29 to Aug. 31, 2025 and giving away 250 cruises to Great Stirrup Cay for travellers to experience the all-new attractions. Open to residents of Canada (aside from Quebec) and the U.S., consumers and clients can enter for a chance to win a  four-day voyage in August 2026 for two in a balcony stateroom inclusive of NCL’s More At Sea package.

“At 270 acres our private island provides us with an incredible blueprint to reinvent what guests can experience when they escape to ‘The Great Life’ with us,” added Herrera.”

For additional details on the sweepstakes or to enter to win, visit www.ncl.com/great-stirrup-cay. 

NCL is set to welcome one million guests to Great Stirrup Cay across 15 of its ships in 2026, including itineraries on its newest ship Norwegian Aqua, offering a variety of seven-day Caribbean voyages from Miami and Orlando (Port Canaveral) through October 2027 with calls to the Dominican Republic, U.S. Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands and more. In addition, Norwegian Luna, the company’s latest vessel debuting in March 2026, will also offer seven-day Caribbean itineraries from April 2026 to October 2026. 

Starting today and for a limited time, NCL is offering up to $1,500 off all Caribbean and Bahamas sailings with “The Great Life Sale.” As an added bonus, Latitudes members will also receive a $50 on board credit per stateroom to use during their sailing.