On September 4, 2026, Norwegian Cruise Line opened a brand-new waterpark on their private island in the Bahamas, Great Stirrup Cay. I had the chance to visit on a media preview this past week, before it opened to the public. It's a fantastic, add-on option to an already great private island experience.
While I typically don't love intense waterslides, I've visited so many waterparks over the years because my family loves them. So, I was really excited to see this brand-new park to see how it would work for families of all ages sailing on Norwegian Cruise Line.
Disclosure: My sailing on the Norwegian Getaway and admission to the Great Tides Waterpark was complimentary for purposes of review. This post may contain affiliate links and a click through one of these may result in a commission paid to us at no additional cost to you. All opinions are my own.
Great Tides Waterpark at Norwegian's Great Stirrup Cay: What Families Need to Know
What Is Great Tides Waterpark?
Great Tides Waterpark is a brand-new 5.6-acre waterpark on Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian's private island in the Bahamas. It offers 19 waterslides, a wandering (not lazy), river, three food trucks, and a cliff jump area. Separate admission is required to this waterpark, and it was designed to complement the existing Great Stirrup Cay experience, not entirely replace it.
You can still visit Great Stirrup Cay without paying extra for the water park. There is no beach or traditional pool at the water park, but you can experience those on the island.
Getting to Great Tides Waterpark
Once your ship docks at Great Stirrup Cay, you can disembark and walk down the pier to the entrance plaza. There, you can board a tram to the Great Tides Waterpark. It's the last stop on the tram, and a pretty short distance away.
When you purchase admission at the Great Tides Waterpark, you don't have to stay there all day. If you're ready to leave but want to see the other areas of the island, you can just board the tram to get there.
Great Tides Waterpark Attractions
There are four main sections of the Great Tides Waterpark. These are spaced out nicely throughout the park, so you don't see everything as you walk in. In my press briefing, I learned that it was designed specifically this way.
Tidal Tower is the main waterslide tower, with eight slides total. This is what you'll see first as you ride on the tram to the water park. It's 152 steps to the very top, but don't worry about carrying the large waterslide tubes all the way up. A conveyor belt takes them, and employees at the top assist you.
The slides include:
- Breakwater Blaster: tubes are shot upwards, then down with big drops. On this ride, you'll sit in a tube and go through dark and colorful lighted tunnels. You land in a runout lane, not a traditional pool.
- Tropic Spiral: In the press briefing, this was described as the first Nautilus slide. In this ride, you enter large spiral sections where you are pushed backward and around before continuing down. There are some dark tunnels, and you end in a runout lane.
- Tropic Storm: The more traditional water slide using tubes. There are some dark tunnels, but this is probably the mildest slide on Tidal Tower. You end in a runout lane.
- Whitewater Dash: A dueling body slide where you ride down on your body, feet first, not on a mat or tube. It ends in a runout lane.
- The Rapid Mat Racer: A mat ride where you sit head first and can race others to the bottom, complete with a finish line. This ride does take you through colorful tunnels, and you end in a runout lane at the finish line.
Lines at the Tidal Tower never seemed especially long. Throughput was fairly quick throughout my day at the water park.
Wandering River is my favorite attraction. While it can best be described as a lazy river, it moves much quicker than a traditional lazy river. But it is still a mild ride, and you don't have to get your face wet.
There are several entry points to the Wandering River, including an area by the swim-up bar. Once you are in the Wandering River, you can go around as many times as you'd like. In addition to the river's speed, there's another unique feature. As you coast, you'll pass through an immersive tunnel.
In the tunnel, you'll see some beautiful multimedia screens showing colorful corals and sea life. There's no shooting water or anything in the tunnel, but it is beautiful.
Getting in and out of the tubes can be a little challenging, so I recommend entering at an area with stairs so you can get situated before the water takes you. You'll want to exit the same way.
Cliffside Cove includes three major attractions, including the Grotto bar, which is tucked into the back.
- Cliffside Leap is a simulated cliff jump into a deep pool of water (12.6 ft). Just like in an actual cliff jump, you'll face your fears as you jump right into the water.
- The Great Slide is a four-person body slide. As I watched people ride this, they shot across the water at a high speed before submerging.
- Fearless Falls is a twin set of body slides. You go through an enclosed tube until you are dropped 5 feet above the pool of water.
To me, Fearless Falls is the most thrilling of the water slides at the Great Tides Waterpark. Because you drop five feet into an actual pool of water (not a runout lane), you will be submerged.
Cliffside Leap, however, is one of the more unique experiences. I didn't do it myself, but I watched a lot of people jump. There are two platforms, at 10 and 15 feet. While I watched, people cheered each other on as they walked to the top and tried to find the courage to jump.
Splash Cay is the kids' splash area of Great Tides Waterpark. It features eight slides, splash water features, and a huge 300-gallon dumping bucket that drops massive amounts of water at timed intervals.
Splash Cay is where I found my chair and umbrella, so I spent a lot of time there. This is a great spot for families with younger kids to set up for the day, because you can supervise older kids and walk back and forth with younger kids.
Splash Cay never really seemed crowded, even with lots of kids playing there. There's a lot going on, including some small slides and a few larger ones. There are minimum heights for the slides (family slides: minimum height 40 inches / 102 cm, and kids’ slides: minimum height 36 inches / 91 cm).
What Makes Great Tides Different from Other Water Parks?
While Great Tides Waterpark offers some traditional water park elements, a few things make it unique.
The Cliffside Leap is very unique and is something I've never seen at a waterpark. If you are traveling with older kids who are thrill-seekers, they'll love it. It's not just a jump; it's designed to look like natural cliff jumping.
For a gentler (but not slow) ride, the Wandering River is a must-do. I could easily have spent the day just going around, stopping once in a while at the swim-up bar. The immersive tunnel is incredibly unique, too.
Great Tides Waterpark doesn't have a traditional swimming pool, a wave pool, or a family wave ride. The focus really is on the attractions and slides. The conveyor belt is also an added benefit, since no one wants to lug a large tube up over one hundred steps.
Food and Drinks at Great Tides Waterpark
If you are spending the day at Great Tides Waterpark, you're eventually going to be very hungry. There are several food options at the waterpark.
Three new food trucks offer à la carte food. The most unique among these are the ice cream and the pork nachos. Note that these cost extra.
There are a few ice cream options. You can get a strawberry or chocolate sundae in a bubble cone, or vanilla ice cream with a variety of flavored sauces, served with a fish waffle. These were especially popular while I was there. I got the fish cone with vanilla ice cream/caramel sauce, and it was so delicious.
The pork nachos are unique because they are served on Doritos rather than traditional tortilla chips. They are also served right in the Doritos bag. I found them to be delicious, with a sweet taste rather than a spicy one.
Other Things to Know
- Towels are available at the water park, and you won't have to carry them to and from the ship
- Our general waterpark packing list can be found here.
- General seating, including lounge chairs and umbrellas, is available. They are first-come, first-served.
- There seemed to be enough seating when I was there, but go early if you have a specific shade/location preference.
- Lockers are available, again on a first-come, first-served basis
- Life jackets are offered
- There are two bars on the island, and attendants also provide chair service
- Free At Sea™ excursion credits can be used for a cabana rental, but not the water park entrance fee
- If you have a Free at Sea beverage package, it can be used throughout the island, including at the water park
Cabanas at Great Tides Waterpark
Ten cabanas are available at Great Tides Waterpark and should be reserved in advance, because they are limited. These are a great option if you want a covered, private space.
Cabanas accommodate up to six people and include a sofa, curtains, a ceiling fan, and exterior loungers. They include a bottle of sparkling wine, a fruit basket, chips and salsa, a bottle of water per guest, towels, and bar service.
A cabana would be especially good for families with young kids, multigenerational groups, and anyone who wants guaranteed shade. To maximize the value, spend most of the day at the water park. If you know that you want to book one, do it as early as possible.
How Crowded Is Great Tides Waterpark?
Because Great Tides Waterpark admission is limited to a specific capacity, it will never seem excessively crowded. During the media preview I attended, Norwegian said 1,000 people visited. Lines were never too long, although seating (especially in the dining area) was a little limited.
As of September 2026, we were also told that current operating capacity will be around 1,200 people, although it can accommodate 1,800. This may change as they evaluate throughput.
Is Great Tides Waterpark Worth It?
If you are considering booking the waterpark, you are probably wondering how much Great Tides Waterpark costs. Tickets are sold separately and are optional.
Pricing is dynamic, and at the opening briefing in early September 2026, Norwegian didn't announce an official price range. From what I can see, prices run about $70-$100, but they're dynamic and subject to change.
If your family loves water slides, Great Tides Waterpark is unique and thrilling. It's absolutely worth it if you know your kids will enjoy most of the attractions. There's a large selection, enough to keep everyone happy and busy all day.
If you've got younger kids who aren't as into water experiences and/or may not be tall enough for many of the attractions, it's probably not worth it. It's also not a good idea for families looking for a beach experience or a standard pool day.
Do You Need Great Tides Admission to Enjoy Great Stirrup Cay?
No, you can still visit the rest of Great Stirrup Cay without purchasing admission to Great Tides Waterpark. Guests can enjoy other experiences across the island without purchasing waterpark admission.
In our press briefing, Norwegian executives mentioned that only about 36% of Great Stirrup Cay was developed, so there's plenty of room for growth.
My Opinion
I visited the water park without my family, so when I'm evaluating it, I consider whether I would have purchased admission for my family (with two college-aged kids). I absolutely would. I think the attractions are unique and fun, and the kids would love them all. The Wandering River is especially my favorite, and I could easily spend much of the day floating.
Tips for Visiting Great Tides Waterpark
- Leave the towels on the ship because you can get them at the water park
- If you need a locker, get there early
- Book well in advance to ensure availability
- Check all of the height requirements if you are traveling with young kids to make sure there are no disappointments
- Sit at Splash Cay if you are with younger kids because that's where you'll likely spend the day
- Arrive early if you want to get specific seating
- Consider booking a cabana if you want shade, but book early because they are limited
Visit the Norwegian Cruise Line site for more specifics of Great Tides Waterpark.
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