Norwegian Cruise Line‘s private island got a 170-foot centerpiece this week. Great Tides Waterpark opens to guests September 4 on Great Stirrup Cay, with the ribbon cutting and a creator preview already behind it. Tidal Tower carries eight slides, among them the Tropic Spiral, which NCL calls the first Nautilus slide anywhere, and the Breakwater Blasters, a dueling setup that shoots tubes uphill on high-pressure water jets. Cliffside Cove has 10 and 15-foot cliff jumps plus a four-person family slide. Wandering River runs more than 800 feet with a swim-up bar built into the bank. Splash Cay takes the little kids across 9,000 square feet, 300-gallon tipping bucket included. I haven’t set foot on Great Stirrup Cay yet, but after 50-plus sailings I’ve watched enough private islands go vertical to see what this is: NCL going straight at Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day. Waterpark passes are sold separately through myNCL once you’ve booked.
Norwegian's Great Tides Waterpark opens September 4 at Great Stirrup Cay with a 170-foot slide tower, cliff jumps, and an 800-foot river.
