NCL’s Great Tides Waterpark opens September 4th at Great Stirrup Cay, and for a grandparent with a water-obsessed toddler, it just became the best reason to book a cruise I’ve ever had.
When I sailed on the Norwegian Luna on its inaugural voyage, we stopped at Great Stirrup Cay, NCL’s private island in the Bahamas. I’d been before, but this time it looked very different from how it had in the past. This time it was different. Something was clearly happening over there. Construction. Big construction. The kind that makes you crane your neck and wonder what on earth they’re building. I heard the rumors, but now I know: it’s Great Tides Waterpark, and it’s about to open this fall on September 4, 2026.
s going to be there when kids and adults will be flying down them. That thought alone makes me want to book right now.
Why this feels personal
My grandson is a water fiend, and I mean that in the best way possible. He’s a toddler living in Florida, with a pool in the backyard, and his parents had him in swim classes before he could even walk. (When you live in Florida with a pool, that’s not a luxury, it’s a safety necessity.) He is most himself when he’s wet, splashing, and completely fearless about it.
Now imagine handing that child a nearly six-acre waterpark on a private island in the Bahamas. Nineteen waterslides. A 9,000-square-foot kids’ splash zone. An 800-foot Wandering River. Industry-first cliff jumps (for the brave; he’ll grow into those). A 170-foot Tidal Tower with water coasters that shoot you uphill inside an inner tube, which is an actual first for the industry. He is going to lose his mind!!
And I am going to be standing right there watching him. Well, until his parents take over, and I quietly slip away to enjoy my favorite parts of the island. The adults-only Vibe Shore Club and the Great Life Lagoon, with its beach-style entry pool and swim-up bars. The version of Great Stirrup Cay that’s designed for someone like me, who wants to relax and enjoy the ocean rather than be launched into it at high speed.
What’s actually opening on September 4th
Norwegian Cruise Line announced today that the grand opening will take place during Norwegian Luna’s seven-day Caribbean sailing. If you want to be there for the ribbon-cutting moment, you’d board in Miami on August 29th. Day passes go on sale today, May 28th, through your myNCL account, and private cabanas (shaded, fit up to six, and include waterpark admission) will also be available to reserve. FYI, I’ve reserved a cabana on two separate occasions and because I have a husband who is NOT a beach bum like me, it was perfect for us.
Beyond the slides, the park includes three new food trucks, the hidden Grotto Bar tucked under the action for prime people-watching, and the Cliffside Cove area with the industry’s highest cliff jumps. Younger guests get Splash Cay, that sprawling kids’ zone built exactly for toddlers who think they’re invincible. (My grandson, in other words.)
Getting there: Great Stirrup Cay is accessible year-round, with sailings from New York, Philadelphia, Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando (Port Canaveral), and Miami. Norwegian Getaway also offers three- and four-night Bahamas voyages from Miami through October 2026 with a shorter option if a full week doesn’t fit the schedule.
A cruise destination, not just a stop
Here’s what I keep coming back to. Great Stirrup Cay has crossed a threshold. With a waterpark of this scale, it’s not just a private island day stop anymore, it’s a destination in itself, a reason to choose a particular itinerary. And for families with young children, I’d argue it might become the deciding factor when comparing what it is you want to do on your next vacation.
I’ve sailed enough to know that the best memories aren’t always made at the grand ports with the famous landmarks. Sometimes they happen on a beach, in the water, watching someone you love laughing and saying again Nana, again. I saw Great Stirrup Cay before the waterpark was finished. I can’t wait to see it through my grandson’s eyes when it is.
- Day passes to Great Tides Waterpark go on sale May 28, 2026 via ncl.com.
- The park officially opens September 4, 2026.
- Pricing varies by season and availability.
