Norwegian Cruise Line is making an even bigger splash in The Bahamas with Great Tides Waterpark, an upcoming addition to its private island, Great Stirrup Cay! Spanning nearly six acres, the new waterpark packs in 19 waterslides, cliff jumps, a not-so-lazy river, a dedicated kids’ splash zone, bars, dining, cabanas, and plenty of ways to cool off under the Caribbean sun.
The official grand opening celebration is scheduled for September 4, 2026, during Norwegian Luna’s seven-day Caribbean sailing. If Great Stirrup Cay is on your upcoming NCL itinerary, here’s everything you need to know before diving into Great Tides Waterpark.
What is Great Tides Waterpark?
Great Tides Waterpark is Norwegian Cruise Line’s new waterpark experience at Great Stirrup Cay, NCL’s 270-acre private island in The Bahamas. The nearly six-acre park features four main areas: Tidal Tower, Cliffside Cove, Wandering River, and Splash Cay. Altogether, there are 19 waterslides, including 11 main attractions and eight kid-friendly slides.
Great Tides is just one part of a larger transformation happening at Great Stirrup Cay. NCL has also opened a new two-berth pier, making it easier for guests to step off the ship and get straight to their island day without tendering ashore!
Is Great Tides Waterpark Free?
No. While admission to Great Stirrup Cay itself is complimentary for NCL guests, Great Tides Waterpark is an upgraded experience that requires a separate day pass. Pricing varies depending on your sailing and availability, so booked guests will need to log into their MyNCL account to see the current price for their cruise.
Children ages 0–3 receive complimentary admission. Children 13 and younger must enter with a ticketed guest who is at least 18 years old.
What's Included With a Great Tides Waterpark Day Pass?
A Great Tides Day Pass includes admission, lounge chairs and umbrellas based on availability, towels, lockers, life jackets, and tram transportation. Complimentary dining is available, along with upgraded food and beverages for purchase.
Things to Do At Great Tides Waterpark
Whether your idea of vacation involves racing down waterslides or floating with a cocktail nearby, Great Tides has something for practically every type of cruiser.
Tidal Tower
Thrill seekers will probably want to make Tidal Tower their first stop. It’s home to several of the park’s biggest slides, including body slides, mat racers, tube rides, and one of the tallest waterslides in the Caribbean.
One of its signature attractions is Breakwater Blasters. According to NCL, this will be the Caribbean’s first dueling Master Blaster slides, propelling inner tubes uphill with high-pressure water jets before sending riders through drops and twists.
Tidal Tower also includes Whitewater Dash, Rapid Mat Racers, Tropic Storm, and Tropic Spiral. Riders must be at least 42 inches tall for Tidal Tower’s slides.
Cliffside Cove
If waterslides aren’t enough of an adrenaline rush, head to Cliffside Cove.
According to NCL, Cliffside Cove will feature the cruise industry’s only cliff-jump attraction, with jumps ranging from 10 to 15 feet. There’s also Fearless Falls, a shotgun-style body racer, and The Great Slide, a four-person family body slide. Cliffside Cove attractions have a minimum rider height of 48 inches.
And if watching everyone else leap from a cliff sounds more appealing than doing it yourself, there’s a solution for that too: Grotto Bar sits right in Cliffside Cove with views of the action.
The Wandering River
Forget the traditional lazy river. Great Tides has the Wandering River, an 800-plus-foot-long attraction designed with a little more adventure in mind.
The route includes an immersive multimedia tunnel, an attached pool, and surprises along the way. There’s even a swim-up Floataway Bar, so adults can grab a drink without completely abandoning their inner tube.
The Wandering River is also one of the waterpark’s more accessibility-friendly attractions, with NCL noting that it can be accessed by pool lift.
Splash Cay
Families with younger cruisers haven’t been forgotten. Splash Cay is Great Tides’ dedicated kids’ zone, featuring eight kid-friendly waterslides along with splash areas and interactive water features.
Splash Cay’s height requirements range from 36 to 40 inches, depending on the attraction, and its multi-rider slide accommodates up to four guests.
Food at Great Tides Waterpark
All that sliding and swimming works up an appetite.
Great Tides will offer both complimentary dining and additional food available for purchase. NCL has also announced several specialty dining spots with island-inspired menus.
Low Tide Smoke is the barbecue stop, with menu items including BBQ pork riblets, pork nachos, chicken wings, and crispy Buffalo cauliflower.
Seafood fans can head to Catch of the Cay for options such as crispy shrimp rolls, fried shrimp baskets, and chilled seafood rolls served with seasoned waffle fries.
Then there’s Tidal Treats for dessert. Expect warm-weather indulgences like sundaes served in bubble-waffle bowls and fish-shaped waffle cones topped with soft serve and your choice of flavored swirls.
Complimentary buffet-style dining will also be available within the waterpark.
Bars at Great Tides Waterpark
Great Tides has two main watering holes for adults: Grotto Bar and Floataway Bar.
Grotto Bar is tucked beneath The Great Slide in Cliffside Cove, giving you a front-row seat to watch brave cruisers take on the nearby cliff jumps.
Floataway Bar is located in the pool connected to the Wandering River, so you can float over for a drink without leaving the waterpark action behind.
Does the Free at Sea Beverage Package Work at Great Tides Waterpark?
Yes. NCL says guests with its Free at Sea™ beverage package can use the package at Great Tides Waterpark, including Grotto Bar and Floataway Bar. Guests without a qualifying beverage package can purchase drinks separately.
Great Tides Waterpark for Kids
Great Tides was designed with families in mind, but parents should review the ride requirements before visiting. Minimum heights range from 36 inches in Splash Cay to 42 inches at Tidal Tower and 48 inches at Cliffside Cove. Weight limits also vary by attraction.
Children ages 0–3 receive complimentary admission, while guests 13 and younger must enter with a ticketed guest who is at least 18. Complimentary life jackets are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and certified lifeguards are on duty while the park is operating.
Can You Rent a Cabana at Great Tides Waterpark?
Yes. For cruisers who want a dedicated home base between trips down the slides, a limited number of private cabanas are available for up to six guests. Each reservation includes waterpark admission, sparkling wine, a fruit basket, chips and salsa, bottled water, towels, and all-day bar service.
One bonus: Free at Sea™ Shore Excursion Credits can be applied toward a Great Tides cabana reservation. However, those credits cannot be applied to regular waterpark day passes.
What Should You Bring to Great Tides Waterpark?
NCL recommends bringing swimwear or beach attire, sunglasses, sunscreen, and your keycard. Towels are provided.
Water shoes aren’t required, and keep in mind that some attractions restrict loose items such as phones, footwear, hats, and sunglasses while riding. Rules are posted at individual slide entrances.
Pro tip: Take advantage of the complimentary lockers. Nobody wants to spend their Wandering River ride wondering whether their phone is still sitting on a lounge chair.
How Do You Book Great Tides Waterpark?
Once you’ve booked an NCL cruise that visits Great Stirrup Cay, you can reserve your Great Tides Waterpark day pass through your MyNCL account, subject to availability.
NCL recommends booking before your cruise since passes may be limited onboard. Advance reservations can be made up to two days before sailing. If you wait until you’re onboard, you can check with the Shore Excursion Desk to see if any passes remain.
Tickets are available for sailings visiting Great Stirrup Cay beginning with the September 4, 2026 call during Norwegian Luna’s Caribbean itinerary and for qualifying visits thereafter.
Is Great Tides Waterpark Worth It?
That depends on how you want to spend your day at Great Stirrup Cay.
Great Tides may be worth the upgrade for families and cruisers who want waterslides, cliff jumps, kids’ attractions, and more active ways to spend the day. However, you don’t need a waterpark ticket to enjoy Great Stirrup Cay. Island admission remains complimentary, so guests who prefer a beach day can skip the upgrade.
Plan Your Norwegian Cruise From Port Canaveral with Go Port
Great Tides will give Norwegian cruisers a new way to experience Great Stirrup Cay. If your Norwegian cruise departs from Port Canaveral, Go Port can also help simplify the hotel and transportation side of your vacation.
Go Port makes cruise travel easier with convenient hotel and transportation packages designed specifically for Port Canaveral cruisers. Travelers flying into the Orlando Airport can bundle their pre-cruise hotel stay and transportation with a Fly Snooze Cruise package, while other transportation options can help take the stress out of getting from Orlando to your Norwegian cruise.
Get the logistics handled before embarkation day, then save your energy for the important decisions, like whether you’re brave enough to jump off a 15-foot cliff!
Ready to make your Norwegian cruise smooth sailing from start to finish? Plan your trip with Go Port at goport.com, and reserve your hotel and cruise transportation package online up to a year before your sail date.
