First look at Norwegian Cruise Line's private Caribbean island upgrades, featuring giant waterslides and cliff drops
The cruise line regularly visits the 270-acre private island during Caribbean itineraries and soon guests will have more features to enjoy, including an excursion that takes guests to a new mini aquatic racecourse with jet karts, combining elements of go-karting and jet skiing, and a new six-acre waterpark.
There will also be a new heated pool, a multi-ship pier and an island-wide tram service that will make it easier to get around the island.
David J. Herrera, president of NCL, said: "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.
'With each phase of our enhancements, we're bringing ashore more of what our guests love about sailing with NCL.'
Here is what NCL cruise passengers can expect.
NCL has revealed plans for a Great Tides Waterpark to open in summer 2026. Guests can enjoy the 170-foot-high Tidal Tower featuring eight waterslides.
Cliffside Cove will offer racer slides as well as two 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, a hidden cave bar tucked under the family slide, will offer the best people watching with a cocktail in hand.
At the centre of Great Tides Waterpark will be a 9,000 square-foot kids splash zone featuring an oversized tipping bucket towering at more than 40 feet above the ground.
The waterpark will also have an 800-foot-long immersive water experience with an accelerated current that is described as 'faster and more exciting than a typical lazy river.'
New swimming pools
A new 1.4-acre pool area will also debut later this year.
It will include the Great Life Lagoon, which has its own private ocean and pool view cabanas and day villas (featuring their own bathrooms and facilities available to rent), as well as two swim-up bars, the Reef Bar and Waves Bar, offering kid-friendly drinks and adult-favourite cocktails.
There will also be a 3,400 square foot complimentary Splash Harbor, with interactive water fountains, aquatic features and a shaded bar and lounge for the parents to relax in.
A free-to-enter recreational area, Horizon Park, will feature activities such as lawn style games, pickleball courts, a nine-hole mini golf course and a sports court. Alternatively, there will be more than 50 hammocks at Hammock Bay, perfect for an afternoon nap and also close to the BBQ buffet.
Adults can also escape to the kid-free Vibe Shore Club, which has 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.
Herrera added: '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 you 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.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
5 hours ago
- The Sun
New £100million indoor resort to open in the UK with ‘next generation waterpark' and thermal spas
A huge Therme spa complex with a huge indoor waterpark, pools and slides, is still coming to Glasgow. Therme Group has plans to open multiple new sites across the globe, including one in Scotland. 4 Since the announcement of its opening back in 2021, there haven't been many updates on the upcoming Therme Scotland. But the company confirmed the build was still going ahead in a recent Instagram update. On social media it created a post about Therme's new destinations across the globe which included Manchester and Glasgow. The new attraction is planned to open in central Glasgow next to the Riverside Museum at a cost of £100million. The site will have a "next-generation indoor waterpark" with 35 water slides, 25 pools which are both indoor and outdoor, and a wave pool. There will be more relaxing areas too like thermal spas, wellbeing garden, sauna, steam room and exotic relaxation areas. The initial plans in 2021 also included a bridge being built across the River Kelvin. This would link the Riverside Museum to Therme Scotland and expanding access to the Glasgow waterfront. At the time of its announcement in 2021, Therme Group CEO Stelian Iacob said: "Therme Scotland will create a fun and accessible experience with profound health and wellbeing benefits for all. "We look forward to engaging with the Glasgow community as we progress with the design and development of Therme Scotland.' 4 4 Forming part of Peel Waters in Glasgow, Therme Group is expected to update designs ahead of formal planning submission in late 2025. Therme Manchester was initially announced in March 2020 with an initial opening in 2024 - however it is still in the works. The attraction bosses have said the first major construction phase will start later in 2025. The huge complex was predicted to take between 24 and 30 months to build, so it could mean that it's might not be open until 2028. Costs have risen too, initially the build was set to be £250million, this has since jumped to £400million. When the Manchester site does open, it will have a waterpark with 25 swimming pools, 35 water slides and even an indoor beach. And it will be 33C all-year round so visitors can enjoy it whatever the weather. Therme Spa is known for its affordability, at the site in Bucharest, one day entry tickets cost from €36 (£31.28). One woman even flew herself and her mum out to the Therme Spa in Romania because it was cheaper than a spa day trip in the UK. Flights and spa passes for the pair set them back £315 - rather than the £400 at the spa in their neighbourhood. For anyone who can't get enough of spas, take a look inside the new spa woodland pods in the UK that make you feel like you're abroad. And check out this European beer spa where you bathe in hops with a pint - and you can get there by train. 4
The Independent
8 hours ago
- The Independent
First look at Norwegian Cruise Line's private Caribbean island upgrades, featuring giant waterslides and cliff drops
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has unveiled several upgrades to its private Bahamas private island Great Stirrup Cay, including a jet karting excursion, new bars and waterparks. The cruise line regularly visits the 270-acre private island during Caribbean itineraries and soon guests will have more features to enjoy, including an excursion that takes guests to a new mini aquatic racecourse with jet karts, combining elements of go-karting and jet skiing, and a new six-acre waterpark. There will also be a new heated pool, a multi-ship pier and an island-wide tram service that will make it easier to get around the island. David J. Herrera, president of NCL, said: "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. 'With each phase of our enhancements, we're bringing ashore more of what our guests love about sailing with NCL.' Here is what NCL cruise passengers can expect. NCL has revealed plans for a Great Tides Waterpark to open in summer 2026. Guests can enjoy the 170-foot-high Tidal Tower featuring eight waterslides. Cliffside Cove will offer racer slides as well as two 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, a hidden cave bar tucked under the family slide, will offer the best people watching with a cocktail in hand. At the centre of Great Tides Waterpark will be a 9,000 square-foot kids splash zone featuring an oversized tipping bucket towering at more than 40 feet above the ground. The waterpark will also have an 800-foot-long immersive water experience with an accelerated current that is described as 'faster and more exciting than a typical lazy river.' New swimming pools A new 1.4-acre pool area will also debut later this year. It will include the Great Life Lagoon, which has its own private ocean and pool view cabanas and day villas (featuring their own bathrooms and facilities available to rent), as well as two swim-up bars, the Reef Bar and Waves Bar, offering kid-friendly drinks and adult-favourite cocktails. There will also be a 3,400 square foot complimentary Splash Harbor, with interactive water fountains, aquatic features and a shaded bar and lounge for the parents to relax in. A free-to-enter recreational area, Horizon Park, will feature activities such as lawn style games, pickleball courts, a nine-hole mini golf course and a sports court. Alternatively, there will be more than 50 hammocks at Hammock Bay, perfect for an afternoon nap and also close to the BBQ buffet. Adults can also escape to the kid-free Vibe Shore Club, which has 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. Herrera added: '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 you 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.'
TTG
10 hours ago
- TTG
The Cruise Room launches recruitment drive to free up owners to pursue 'new projects'
Asked if The Cruise Room planned to launch a homeworking division, O'Grady said: 'Never say never, but I don't think we'll do that at the moment. That's not really our USP. We think we're the only dedicated cruise agency on the high street in the UK. "We've got a lot of guests from all over the country, but our guests walk in. We've got a lot of first-time cruisers who need the right advice. That said, I reckon one or two of our crew [staff] could become homeworkers in the future."
