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For Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Great Stirrup Cay's transformation has been a "huge undertaking" that's expected to pay off in many ways.
The nearly six-acre Great Tides Waterpark is open, the icing on the cake of earlier additions including the 28,000-square-foot Great Life Lagoon, nearby splash pad and, for adults, Vibe Shore Club.
"We really made something special, a great experience for our guests," said NCLH's Joel Garcia, VP construction and engineering. "The water park complements the rest of the island. If you're there to relax, if you're there to have fun, you can enjoy the water park, then go out and lounge by the pool, enjoy the beaches, the F&B.
"There's something for everybody."
Over 25 years, Garcia has delivered major infrastructure projects, from convention centers to utility plants. Overseeing Great Stirrup Cay's upgrades was a "huge undertaking. Nothing could prepare me for building on an island," he said.
Logistics played a major role in Great Stirrup Cay's recent upgrades, which were completed without ever closing the island, Joel Garcia said
It's not possible to just run out and buy equipment and supplies. Everything had to be shipped in, including the workforce. Logistics played a major role.
NCLH built two concrete plants on island and shipped in all the steel, raw materials and the workers, many supplied by Bahamas partners Bahamas Environmental Group and Island Site Development. A power generating plant and water treatment plant were installed, not just for the water park, but to serve all of Great Stirrup Cay for the next couple decades.
During the work, "We never closed the island. It was operational the whole time," Garcia said, "so planning how to do this without impacting the guest experience was crucial."
It was 15 months of nonstop effort, four in development and 11 in construction. More than 625 workers were on hand at the peak, with Garcia's team managing six main contractors and 12 subcontractors.
Every morning at 5:30 his team met to review the day's plan. And, by 7:30 a.m., all were back in Garcia's office due to some challenge with weather or equipment. So the plan would change and the team tackled other tasks ito keep moving forward.
At the same time, NCLH was building Great Stirrup Cay's pier, a "monumental task," according to Mark Kansley, Norwegian Cruise Line's chief experience officer. It will make calls much less weather dependent and the destination much better for guests.
The island's transformation has been a team effort, Kansley said, inspired by bringing features of what cruisers enjoy most on the ships to the shore, including the family water slides and Vibe for adults.
Family-friendly Splash Cay, daredevil cliff jumps, the Wandering River's illuminated tunnel and waterslides galore PHOTOS: NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE
NCL aimed make its water park different from others. It sports some of the latest slides, like Tropic Spiral, the first nautilus ride of its kind. There's no family raft slide or a wave pool, a considered decision because, Garcia said, "We wanted to offer something new and fresh for our guests."
Visible from afar, the centerpiece 170-foot Tidal Tower was an engineering feat on its own. Workers had to dig down 30 feet to ensure the structure is secure and able to withstand Category 5 hurricanes.
It's 152 steps to the top. At least there's a conveyer system to carry the rafts up; riders don't have to lug them.
Great Tides Waterpark's version of a lazy river, the Wandering River, has a current that propels riders in inner tubes along a winding 800-foot-plus course. An "immersion tunnel" incorporates media, creating changing projections on the walls, another novel aspect.
The park has been in a soft opening for a few weeks, with the ribbon cutting Sept. 1 for a preview by more than 100 influencers, media and company employees, then the grand opening Sept. 4.
During a short ramp-up period, capacity is limited to 1,200 for an attraction designed to handle 1,800.
Timed entries may be a consideration in future since NCL recognizes cruisers may not spend the entire day there.
Great Tides Waterpark was engineered to spread out riders to avoid long lines.
According to Kansley, "Our throughput is tremendous. I'm a grandfather. I've been to many water parks. You can queue 30 to 45 minutes to go on a one-minute ride."
That should never be the case here.
Some 17 NCL ships, including the newest like Norwegian Luna and Norwegian Aqua, are charting Great Stirrup Cay from a variety of homeports PHOTO: NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE
The island itself is so large that even with two ships, people won't feel crowded.
"I think we have a competitive advantage there," NCL Chief Sales Officer John Chernesky said.
Great Stirrup Cay is expected to host more than 1m people a year from 17 ships, including the newest, Norwegian Luna and Norwegian Aqua. It is easily accessed on cruises from many homeports, including New York, Jacksonville and Port Canaveral.
Itineraries with the private island are expected to sell cruises, including to travelers who've never tried cruising, and giving NCL loyalists a reason to return.
And, eventually, it's expected itineraries with Great Stirrup Cay will command a premium as word gets out about the features, generating demand. That's happened just across the water for Royal Caribbean's nearby Perfect Day CocoCay.
To sell NCL, travel advisors can tout Great Stirrup Cay's guest satisfaction ratings and the value and variety it offers. Beaches, the large lagoon pool and adjacent kiddie splash pad and buffet dining are included.
"The bang for your buck is certainly there," Chernesky said.
Extra-charge elements are the water park, adults-only Vibe Shore Club and upscale Silver Cove, the cabanas and villas, food trucks and excursions.
NCL is tight-lipped on water park pricing, which is dynamic and varies by sailing and season. Chernesky described pricing as "in development" but, for guidance, he put a day pass for cruises later in the year at $99 for adults and free for children under 3. No word on the cost for older kids.
Tickets are sold as a shore excursion so sales open a year in advance of the cruise. Some tickets may be available to buy aboard ship, depending on demand.
John Chernesky, left, and Mark Kansley were among the NCL executives who personally tested the water park following its Sept. 1 ribbon-cutting PHOTO: ANNE KALOSH
At a panel during last week's Great Tides Waterpark ribbon-cutting cruise, Garcia, Kansley and Chernesky shared their personal favorites.
For Chernesky, it was Breakwater Blasters (dueling Master Blaster slides that propel inner-tubes uphill and through steep drops and twists). Garcia liked Cliffside Cove's cliff jumps, the first thing his son tried. For Kansley, who went on every slide and ride with his wife, it was the Wandering River.
As for food, all three singled out one of the food truck's fancy ice cream waffle cones. "I had two," Kansley said.
Kansley noted only 36% of Great Stirrup Cay is developed, so there's plenty of room to add more in future and continue to innovate.
"We never want to rest on our laurels," he said.
Fuente: sea-trade cruise