Planning a Family Cruise? Visit Great Tides Waterpark

• Great Tides Waterpark is a family-friendly destination with everything from tot-friendly splash areas to breathtaking cliff jumps.

• Guests to Great Stirrup Cay must purchase Great Tides Waterpark tickets separately for admission.

• Great Tides water park covers nearly six acres, transforming your options on Great Stirrup Cay with new waterslides, pools, rides, and more.

• Great Tides kicks traditional waterpark features up a notch with attractions like the not-so-lazy Wandering River. 

The Great Stirrup Cay water park offers adventures for all ages. From tiny tots to thrill-seeking teens, you can entertain all your kids. Parents will find relaxing perks tucked away around the park, too. 

Great Tides has 11 slides that are considered main attractions. In the Tidal Tower zone, there are three inner tube slides, one body slide, and a mat racer. The Cliffside Cove area is even more adventuresome. Here, you can tackle body slides like Fearless Falls, or make a 10- or 15-foot cliff jump. 

Great Tides takes care to cater to guests of all ages. The 9,000-square-foot splash zone, known as Splash Cay, is a fantastical play area that's perfect for kids. Fountains and dump buckets provide watery fun that younger guests can explore at their ease. Splash Cay also features eight water slides for kids, so they can enjoy the thrill of a slide with less intensity. Parents of tots will find that Splash Cay can provide hours of entertainment.

If Great Tides Waterpark is part of your family cruise, you'll be delighted at the inclusive and interactive options on the island. The Great Slide in Cliffside Cove is a family-friendly body slide where up to four people can ride at once. The Breakwater Blasters, Tropic Storm, and Tropic Spiral slides in Tidal Tower can accommodate riders in pairs. 

The Wandering River takes the traditional lazy river to another level with the addition of a multimedia tunnel and attached pool. There's even a swim-up bar for a quick beverage before you take a loop with the family.

The trick to successful family cruises is finding flexible activities that can cater to everyone. Great Tides Waterpark fits the bill perfectly. This retreat eliminates the decision-making involved in selecting an excursion or figuring out how to navigate a new port of call. 

You'll enjoy convenient tram service to the waterpark from the pier. Once you get there, everything is taken care of for you. The park provides lounge chairs, umbrellas, towels, and life jackets. You'll even have access to complimentary lockers to safely stash your belongings. If you have the Free at Sea beverage package, your drinks are included on the island, too.

Cruising is increasingly popular among families for its flexible nature. Twenty-eight percent of cruise travelers sail with three to five generations of their family onboard. Norwegian's fleet caters to travelers of all ages. Onboard, you'll find youth programs like the Splash Academy for kids ages 3 to 12 and the Entourage club for teens. 

Cruises cater easily to family bonding time. In the Bahamas, where Great Stirrup Cay is located, you can book shore excursions that will delight your whole group, like dolphin encounters, snorkeling, and boat tours. Families are increasingly realizing that cruise vacations are a flexible, safe, and stress-free way to vacation.

Great Stirrup Cay is more than just a cruise waterpark. It's an immersive island escape where a world of new adventures will unfold.

Waterpark rides are far from the only activity you'll find on Great Stirrup Cay. The Snorkel Garden is a charming collection of underwater sculptures that tropical wildlife has come to call home. The adjacent beaches offer an exclusive escape that's free from the crowds found on public islands. For extra privacy, you can book a private cabana complete with floating mats for your rejuvenating day away.

If you want to head out on the ocean, Great Stirrup Cay offers guided wave runner tours. Itching to escape on your own? Take a kayak and explore at your own pace.

Book a shore excursion on Great Stirrup Cay to secure a personal slice of paradise during the day. You can reserve spaces like:

• Cabana for six at the Great Tides waterpark

• Premium cabana for four at the Vibe Shore Club

• Couple's cabana for two at Vibe Shore Club 

• Couple's cabana for two at the Great Life Lagoon

• Group cabana for eight at the Great Life Lagoon with bar service

• Great Life Lagoon Grand Cabana for 12 with bar service

• Silver Cove Villa for six or eight with AC, a private bathroom, TV, and buffet access 

• One- or two-bedroom Silver Cove villa for 10 or 16 guests

• Private cabana for eight on the beach

Securing these reservations will ensure that your whole family has a place to gather and eat snacks, take a rest, or plan the next adventure. Silver Cove villas even have a television with on-demand movies if some of your family members need an extended break from the sand and sun.

The Great Tides Waterpark includes two bars for parents to unwind from time to time. You can even swim up to a bar in the Wandering River. When you want to take a break from the slides and rides, you can head over to the Great Life Lagoon. This 28,000-square-foot pool has its own swim-up bars and lounge chairs. There's even a dedicated kids' area where little ones can play while you rest.

Great Stirrup Cay is a private island owned by Norwegian. No other cruise line can visit this paradise, which makes it an exclusive offering you'll only get with Norwegian.

Great Stirrup Cay is Norwegian Cruise Line's private island spanning 270 acres of tropical beauty in the Bahamas. Here, you'll find soft white sands, brilliant turquoise waters, and all the amenities of a private resort. Great Stirrup Cay has a multi-ship pier so more than one cruise ship can dock at a time, making the island more readily accessible to Norwegian passengers.

Great Stirrup Cay is included on select Norwegian itineraries in the Bahamas and Caribbean. You can take a short two-, three-, or four-day jaunt to the Bahamas from Miami for a quick escape. If you're looking for a longer vacation, indulge in a seven- or nine-day round-trip Caribbean cruise from Port Canaveral near Orlando. If you want to avoid the busy Florida cruise ports, consider booking a trip to the Bahamas from Philadelphia, one of Norwegian's newest ports. 

Great Tides Waterpark is one of the newest additions to Great Stirrup Cay. Prepare for a comfortable and memorable visit with these tips.

You don't need much on the island. Swimwear, sunscreen, sunglasses, and sandals are adequate. Water shoes are not required. You cannot take certain personal items like phones, hats, and sunglasses on water slides. Complimentary lockers are available for your use.

Great Tides Waterpark is a separately ticketed experience. The first tickets for the Great Tides Waterpark are available for the August 31, 2026, sailing on the Norwegian Luna, which stops at Great Stirrup Cay on September 4. Tickets are available for all subsequent sailings stopping at Great Stirrup Cay as well.

Norwegian is one of the best family-friendly cruise lines, thanks to its entertaining onboard offerings, flexible dining options, and streamlined excursions. On select cruises, your third and fourth guests are free, making it even easier to bring the kids. Kids under 12 eat free in every restaurant onboard. 

If you're excited to see Great Tides Waterpark for yourself, book a Norwegian cruise for this fall or later with Great Stirrup Cay on the itinerary. You'll experience a whole new level of fun in the Bahamas. Even guests who have seen Great Stirrup Cay before have never seen this side of it. Secure your spot and book waterpark tickets now.

Great Tides Waterpark is a new, upgraded experience available on Great Stirrup Cay. The sprawling park includes 19 waterslides, an 800-foot not-so-lazy river, a 9,000-square-foot splash zone for kids, and more.

Great Tides Waterpark is on Norwegian's private island, Great Stirrup Cay, in the Bahamas. Great Stirrup Cay has a tropical climate with temperatures around 75 between December and April, and daily temps ranging from 85 to 93 between May and November.

Yes, Great Tides Waterpark is ticketed separately, so you should secure your spot in advance. Children under the age of three receive complimentary admission.

Great Tides Waterpark is great for kids! The splash zone provides a large area for toddlers and children to enjoy the water. All children age 13 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

Select Norwegian cruises to the Bahamas and Caribbean stop at Great Stirrup Cay. Check your cruise itinerary before booking to determine exactly which ports of call are on the plan.