by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 8:00 AM ET, Thu September 17, 2026
Norwegian Cruise Line made a splash when it opened the new Great Tides Waterpark on Great Stirrup Cay, its private island in the Bahamas.
The waterpark, which officially opened on September 4, has 19 waterslides, cliff jumps, a 9,000-square-foot splash zone, swim-up bars, a nearly 800-foot dynamic river, food trucks and other family-friendly experiences.
The sprawling, nearly six-acre sun-drenched playground reflects the brand’s emphasis on choice, giving families and groups the freedom to spend their vacation as they please.
“There is literally something for everyone,” says Julie Valeriote, head of cruise programs and entertainment operations. “Every age, every activity level, every interest.”
The centerpiece of the new Great Tides Waterpark is the 170-foot-tall Tidal Tower, which features eight waterslides (Photo Credit: Sarah Kuta)
As Norwegian Cruise Line celebrates the opening of Great Tides Waterpark—a monumental achievement completed in just 15 months—the cruise line is already looking ahead to what’s next.
“We never want to rest on our laurels, we always want to be innovative,” says Mark Kansley, chief experience officer for Norwegian Cruise Line. “We have a lot in development.”
Here’s a look at what’s on the horizon for Norwegian Cruise Line.
The Future of Great Stirrup Cay
Norwegian Cruise Line has been bringing travelers to Great Stirrup Cay for nearly 50 years, since 1977, when it became the first cruise line to offer a private island experience to its guests.
Great Tides Waterpark is just the latest enhancement at Great Stirrup Cay. Norwegian Cruise Line also recently debuted a new two-berth pier that allows two vessels to dock at Great Stirrup Cay at once, eliminating the need to tender guests from ship to shore.
Other recent upgrades include a new welcome plaza, new tram service, a new adults-only area called Vibe Shore Club and a massive 1.4-acre heated pool area called the Great Life Lagoon featuring cabanas, villas, loungers and two swim-up bars.
Norwegian Luna calls at Great Stirrup Cay (Photo Credit: Sarah Kuta)
The island—which is located right next to Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay—spans 270 acres, so the brand still has a lot of room for expansion. Roughly 36 percent of the Great Stirrup Cay is developed, leaving 64 percent open for future possibilities.
“Watch this space—I’m sure there’s a lot more coming,” says Kansley.
For Great Tides Waterpark specifically, the cruise line's leaders are already considering possible expansions. Potential new additions might include a wave pool and a family raft ride, according to Joel Garcia, vice president of construction and engineering for Norwegian Cruise Line.
“We’re still evaluating,” he says. “It’s still undecided. We want to see how our guests react to the park we created.”
Harvest Caye in Focus
Beyond potential enhancements to Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian Cruise Line leaders hinted that the brand’s other private destination, Harvest Caye, is also on the radar for future upgrades.
The 75-acre island, located in southern Belize, includes a swim-up pool, white-sand beach, ziplines, snorkeling, Mayan ruins tours and more.
“I was there last week with the leadership team,” says Kansley. “And although it’s already a great island, the potential there to be even more so than it is is tremendous. So I’m sure we’ll have something coming in the future in that regard.”
Harvest Caye (Photo Credit: Norwegian Cruise Line)
John Chernesky, Norwegian Cruise Line’s senior vice president and chief sales officer, also implied that Harvest Caye is a top priority for the brand moving forward.
“I can't wait to see what comes of Harvest,” he says. “It blew my mind when I went there, because it's just a great day at the beach—the pool, the dining, you can go paddleboarding with manatees, there’s a nature preserve nearby—so it's a really special experience. Between the two of them [Great Stirrup Cay and Harvest Caye], I think the future is so bright for us.”
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Growing Fleet
Private islands aside, Norwegian Cruise Line is also continuing to expand and refresh its fleet.
Norwegian Cruise Line is still building on the momentum of the debut of Norwegian Luna in March 2026. The 3,560-passenger ship, the second vessel in the brand’s new Prima Plus Class, features new and expanded dining, entertainment and outdoor experiences.
Up next, the brand will welcome Norwegian Aura to its fleet. Scheduled to debut in May 2027, the vessel will homeport in Miami and offer seven-day voyages to the Eastern Caribbean and Western Caribbean.
At nearly 1,130 feet long and approximately 170,000 gross tons, Norwegian Aura is 10 percent larger than predecessors Norwegian Aqua and Norwegian Luna. The vessel will feature over 1,970 staterooms accommodating approximately 3,880 guests at double occupancy.
A rendering of Norwegian Aura (Photo Credit: Norwegian Cruise Line)
One of the highlights of Norwegian Aura is Ocean Heights, a new open-air activities complex featuring a pair of dueling waterslides called Eclipse Racers, a drop-in body waterslide called Aura Free Fall and a pendulum-style raft slide named The Wave. Nearby, guests will find the 82-foot Aura Ropes Course, a 25-foot rock-climbing wall and Aura Midway, which offers carnival-style games.
Norwegian Aura will also introduce an expanded pool deck that’s more than 20 percent larger than her predecessors, offering additional seating, an extra hot tub, open lounge areas and a nearby Kids’ Aqua Park. The ship will also have the adults-only Vibe Beach Club, an enhanced and expanded Ocean Boulevard and new family‑friendly hubs like Adventure Alley, Little Explorer’s Cove and Teen Hangout.
Another new Prima Plus Class ship is slated to debut in 2028. The approximately 170,000-gross-ton vessel will be designed to accommodate the future use of green methanol, continuing the brand’s focus on next-generation ship technology.
Beyond that, the company is expected to take delivery of four 227,000-gross-ton ships, each with a capacity of nearly 5,000 travelers, in 2030, 2032, 2034 and 2036. A fifth ship of the same new class is slated for delivery in 2037.
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