• 4 min de lectura
• 4 min de lectura
Norwegian Cruise Line, whose Great Stirrup Cay was cruising's first private island, officially inaugurated Great Tides Waterpark on Tuesday, making the destination instantly more competitive with Royal Caribbean's hugely successful Perfect Day CocoCay, just across the water.
Now, like the visible-from-a-distance water slides there, Great Stirrup Cay has its own colorful high-rise skyline — the blue, aqua, yellow and orange Tidal Tower of slides with names like Breakwater Blasters, Whitewater Dash, Rapid Mat Racers, Tropic Storm and Tropic Spiral.
"Since 1977, Great Stirrup Cay has been part of who we are. It's one of the most important destinations for us ... playing a central role in our Bahamas and Caribbean deployment," NCL President Marc Kazlauskas said at the ribbon-cutting ceremony opening Great Tides Waterpark to an enthusiastic crowd.
Now families "don't have to compromise," Kazlauskas said, with all the activities ensuring there's something in the vacation for everyone, adding to Great Stirrup Cay's offering of beaches, massive lagoon pool, Vibe Shore Club adults area, upscale Silver Cove, cabanas and villas, zip line, water sports and more.
There's a giant tipping bucket atop family-friendly Splash Cay with its own eight slides, geysers and spray tunnel. The Wandering River twists and turns at a not-so-lazy pace, sending inner tube riders through a grotto and past a swim-up bar. Cliffside Cove provides two daring jumps.
The Breakwater Blasters were the favorite of two brothers, 7 and 13. "It shoots you out and back up," one said. They liked Cliffside Cove's cliff jumping, too, calling it "scary" and "higher than a high-dive."
The brothers are from Kansas, where things are "boring," they said, unlike this water park, which they deemed "definitely" a reason to take a cruise.
Many adults singled out the Wandering River as a favorite. "It's both relaxing and fun, with a lot of movement. And you could take a break and have a drink at the swim-up bar, perfect," one mom said.
Of the slides, she most enjoyed the Tropic Storm with its "drops and turns, really fun but not super-scary for someone who's 50-plus," she said, adding "This is a great water park."
"Good for the adrenaline," her husband said.
Their adult son liked the Tropic Spiral with its two-person tubes. He's been to Perfect Day CocoCay on past cruises and said Great Tides Waterpark has "something different to offer and it's got the latest slides."
An Orlando-based attractions authority who tried every slide also enthused about the selection.
WhiteWater and Martin Aquatic partnered with NCL for the park design, engineering and rides.
Food trucks served smoked barbecue snacks like jerk chicken wings and pork ribs and treats like ice cream sundaes and waffle cones. There were activations by Aperol, Casamigos, Coca-Cola and Hampton Water.
Kazlauskas praised NCLH's Capt. Patrik Dahlgren, EVP, chief vessel operations and newbuild officer; and NCL's Mark Kansley, chief experience officer, and Joel Garcia, VP construction and engineering, for their work in delivering Great Tides Waterpark, along with the many designers, partners and employees who played a role. He also acknowledged The Bahamas government.
NCLH Chairman/CEO John Chidsey quipped that on top of the features Kazlauskas mentioned, two of his water park favorites are the Grotto Bar, overlooking the cliff jumps, and Floataway Bar, within the Wandering River.
Member of Parliament for Bimini and Berry Islands Randy Rolle said Great Stirrup Cay adds "another compelling experience to The Bahamas' attractions," and it provides economic opportunities for craftspeople, entrepreneurs, transportation providers and others. Some of the island's market vendors are third generation.
US Ambassador to The Bahamas Herschel Walker also took part in the ribbon-cutting. He emphasized the partnership between the United States and The Bahamas, and said NCL wasn't just building a water park, it was building a family.