This Bahamas Private Island Just Added 19 Waterslides and an 800-Foot River
Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas is opening Great Tides Waterpark, a nearly six-acre attraction with slides, cliff jumps and a long lazy river.
A private island in the Bahamas is about to become a lot more than a beach day. Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian Cruise Line's island in the Berry Islands, is opening Great Tides Waterpark, a nearly six-acre attraction built around 19 waterslides, cliff jumps and an 800-foot river winding through the property.
The waterpark held its soft opening ahead of welcoming its first regular cruise passengers this week, turning what had been a straightforward stretch of sand and loungers into a full-scale water attraction. The lineup covers the range from family-friendly slides to the kind of drops meant for thrill-seekers, alongside the long river that lets guests drift the length of the park.
The addition reflects how aggressively the private-island category has evolved. What used to be a quiet beach stop has become a competitive amenity, with cruise lines and resort operators pouring money into slides, pools, dining and cabanas to make the island itself a headline reason to book. Great Stirrup Cay has been on the receiving end of a steady stream of upgrades, and Great Tides is the most ambitious yet.
For travelers weighing a Bahamas trip, it is another sign of how the destination keeps layering on reasons to visit beyond its beaches. The Bahamas already anchors a huge share of Caribbean cruise itineraries, and marquee attractions like this one raise the baseline for what a day on a private island looks like.
Guests will find the waterpark integrated into the wider island experience, with beaches, dining and lounging areas surrounding the new slides and river. It is a notable escalation for a corner of the Bahamas that most visitors reach by sea, and a reminder that the region's most talked-about openings are not always traditional hotels.
