After months of waiting, Norwegian Cruise Line passengers are once again walking directly from their ship onto Great Stirrup Cay. Guests aboard Norwegian Getaway reported that the island’s two-berth pier was operational on Tuesday, Aug. 4, allowing them to skip the tender ride ashore.
Norwegian Cruise Line also confirmed the dock is currently open. In its press release, the cruise line stated, “Complementing these enhancements, the island’s brand-new two-berth pier is officially open, providing reliable and easy access to disembark ashore and maximize time enjoying all the world-class amenities.”
At the same time, select passengers are apparently getting an unexpected preview of Great Tides Waterpark, which is not scheduled to officially open until September 4, 2026.
Between the operational pier and early waterpark access, NCL’s massive transformation of Great Stirrup Cay appears to be entering its final stretch.
For anyone who has visited Great Stirrup Cay before, this is a significant improvement. Until the pier was constructed, ships had to anchor offshore and transport passengers using smaller tender boats. Guests often needed to wait for a tender assignment, board the smaller vessel and then ride between the ship and shore.
Besides taking time away from the beach, tendering left Great Stirrup Cay especially vulnerable to wind and rough seas. Conditions that were perfectly safe for a large cruise ship could still make operating the smaller boats difficult or unsafe.
As a result, Great Stirrup Cay developed a frustrating reputation as one of the more frequently missed private-island calls in the Caribbean.
Only one ship can reportedly dock right now
While passengers are understandably celebrating, it may be too early to say that tendering is completely over. A separate Great Stirrup Cay passenger update said only one ship can currently use the pier.
“As of this morning the dock is open, can only handle one ship right now,” the passenger wrote.
NCL has described the facility as a multi-ship pier that will eventually accommodate two vessels. The latest passenger report suggests that at least one berth is operational while work on the other side may still be underway.
Norwegian Cruise Line had not published a same-day announcement confirming the pier’s current capacity or whether every upcoming ship will dock. However, Norwegian Getaway successfully using the dock is a promising update for passengers with upcoming visits.
This isn’t the pier’s first opening
Norwegian Getaway also made history on Dec. 28, 2025, when it became the first cruise ship to dock at Great Stirrup Cay’s new pier.
Norwegian Cruise Line marked the occasion with an announcement in the ship’s Freestyle Daily, telling passengers they were the first guests to walk directly from a Norwegian ship onto the island.
But that initial opening did not mean the entire pier was finished. At the time, one one berth appeared to be available when Norwegian Getaway docked. Norwegian Gem was visiting Great Stirrup Cay on the same day but remained offshore and tendered its passengers to the island.
The pier later experienced operational interruptions while work continued on the enhancements. Winter storms also temporarily took the facility out of service in February, requiring Norwegian Prima passengers to tender while repairs were made, according to Cruise Industry News.
A fully operational two-ship pier is part of an approximately $150 million redevelopment intended to improve access, increase capacity, and reduce the number of missed calls at Great Stirrup Cay.
Great Tides Waterpark also appears to begin a soft opening
The return of the pier comes as Norwegian Cruise Line begins offering some guests an early look at Great Tides Waterpark. According to the same Reddit update, Latitudes Rewards members with Silver status or higher received complimentary preview tickets to the new attraction.
One passenger said qualifying guests received a message on their phone along with a letter and waterpark wristbands delivered to their stateroom.
“The letter said not everything would be operational, but seemed pretty complete from what we were able to see and do,” the passenger wrote.
Guests who had purchased access to the adults-only Vibe Shore Club were also reportedly invited to preview the waterpark.
NCL has not announced an early opening date, so this appears to be a limited soft launch rather than a change to the official schedule. Access may be restricted to select guests and may not be offered during every visit before the grand opening.
However, passengers visiting Great Stirrup Cay during the next few weeks may want to pay close attention to letters, app notifications and onboard announcements.
What to expect at Great Tides Waterpark
The nearly six-acre Great Tides Waterpark is scheduled to officially open Sept. 4, 2026, during a visit by Norwegian Luna.
“With just one month until the grand opening of Great Tides Waterpark, we’re excited to give guests a first look,” Norwegian Cruise Line President Marc Kazlauskas said.
The park will include 19 waterslides, with many of them beginning at the 170-foot Tidal Tower.
Breakwater Blasters will use high-pressure water jets to send riders in inner tubes through drops, twists and uphill sections. Other attractions on the tower will include body slides, mat racers and spiraling tube slides.
The Great Slide is being promoted as the Caribbean’s only four-person body slide, allowing families and friends to ride together. Cliffside Cove will offer 10- and 15-foot cliff jumps, along with racing slides and the Grotto Bar, where guests can watch the action with a drink in hand.
Guests looking for something less intense can float along the 800-foot Wandering River. Unlike a traditional lazy river, it will include both relaxed and faster-moving sections, as well as an immersive tunnel with visual effects.
Younger cruisers will have Splash Cay, a 9,000-square-foot children’s area with eight kid-friendly slides, interactive water features and an oversized tipping bucket.
New dining, bars and places to relax
Great Tides Waterpark will also introduce several dining options:
- Low Tide Smoke: Barbecue dishes such as ribs, wings and pork nachos
- Catch of the Cay: Seafood, including fried shrimp baskets and shrimp rolls
- Tidal Treats: Desserts, bubble-waffle sundaes and soft-serve ice cream
- The Grotto Bar: Overlooks the cliff-jumping area
- Floataway Bar: A swim-up (or float-up) bar along the Wandering River
- Complimentary buffet dining will also be available inside the park
Guests will also find private cabanas, complimentary lounge chairs, shade umbrellas, lockers, beach towels and life jackets. A tram will transport passengers to and from the waterpark entrance.
Day passes are already available for eligible sailings through guests’ myNCL accounts. Prices vary based on the sailing and availability. Norwegian Luna is scheduled to bring the first official waterpark guests to Great Stirrup Cay on Sept. 4. Norwegian Getaway is scheduled to visit two days later, on Sept. 6.
