From thrills to chills: Ranking the slides at NCL Great Tides Waterpark

Adrenaline junkies and lazy river aficionados alike have a new venue for splashing and sliding in the Bahamas after the opening of Great Tides Waterpark last month.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Great Stirrup Cay now has a dedicated 6-acre space filled with 19 waterslides — ranging from super tall to very small — plus the kid-friendly 9,000-square-foot Splash Cay, an 800-foot-long Wandering River and a cliff -jumping experience.

During the park’s opening month, I had a chance to visit while sailing on the Norwegian Getaway. Even from the ship, it’s possible to see the 170-foot-tall “Tidal Tower” on the horizon, which has eight high-thrill waterslides for guests.

The new attractions give NCL an offering that rivals the waterpark at Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay, which is visible directly across the water from Great Stirrup Cay.

“Sometimes others will launch something, and you watch it, and what you can do is make it a whole lot better,” said NCL president Marc Kazlauskas in a previous Orlando Sentinel interview.

The waterpark builds on other recent upgrades at Great Stirrup Cay, including the Great Life Lagoon with a 28,000-square-foot heated pool, the adults-only Vibe Shore Club, Splash Harbor splash pad and the island’s new tram system. NCL also opened a two-ship pier this year to eliminate the need for tendering.

Upon arrival at Great Stirrup Cay, walk along the new pier to the welcome plaza, then catch a tram to the waterpark stop.

Upon arrival at the park, guests can stash their personal belongings at the complimentary locker stations near both restrooms. Four distinct areas fan out from the center of the park.

On the right-hand side of the entrance is Cliffside Cove, which has a four-person-wide family slide, a pair of racing slides and the cliff-jumping experience. It also features the Grotto Bar in a hidden cave tucked under the family slide, a spot primed for people-watching — just as the whole area is, with lounge chairs aplenty.

Straight ahead upon entry is Splash Cay, the kid-friendly area featuring a playground with water cannons, eight small slides and a big bucket that tips over periodically for maximum splash.

The main attraction of the park is visible from far away, standing high above all the other water features. Tidal Tower boasts eight slides, including the tallest Breakwater Blasters water coaster, the Whitewater Dash racing body slides, Rapid Mat Racers and two separate tandem raft slides: Tropic Storm and Tropic Spiral.

The Wandering River is situated at the back of the park with a dark glowing tunnel and the swim-up Floataway Bar right along the route.

During a full-day visit to Great Tides Waterpark, here’s how NCL’s slides and attractions ranked from “Most Thrills to Most Chills.”

Description: Jump from rocky platforms 10 or 15 feet high, with plenty of spectators around, at Cliffside Cove. Cliff jumping is dangerous, but much less so in a controlled environment with lifeguards and a designated landing area in a 12-foot-deep pool.

Thrill factor: “You have a lot of time to process life in the air,” remarked another jumper right before my first leap. I went right for the 15-footer. It feels like a long drop when you’re staring down from above. In reality, you might be in the air for about two seconds. In that time, the experience elicited an involuntary yell from me. What a thrill.

Chill factor: If plummeting downward from 15 feet up is your idea of chill, more power to you.

First: The cruise industry’s first cliff-jumping attraction.

Description: Riders in tandem tubes experience twists, turns, drops and uphill propulsion in the park’s signature attraction and tallest slide with side-by-side tracks.

Thrill factor: A steep descent early in the ride is a scream-worthy moment shortly before water jets shoot riders back uphill. The indoor/outdoor nature of the slide keeps things interesting, including one part where riders pass in opposite lanes. One final drop makes a great conclusion.

Chill factor: Enclosed sections feature multicolored neon lights, adding to the visual of the thrill. Otherwise, it’s a high-speed adrenaline rush.

First: The Caribbean’s first dueling Master Blaster water coaster slides.

Description: Go from countdown to splashdown in seconds on this high-speed racing body slide.

Thrill factor: Twists and turns keep sliders accelerating until the end. Neon lights inside the slide add to the visual intrigue and a sense of rush. As a racing slide, it’s infinitely repeatable to challenge friends or family — or to set a personal PR with a stopwatch timer on the bottom screen.

Chill factor: Lying on your back is usually a chill position, but not necessarily in this case.

Description: This racing body slide is the biggest thrill in the shortest amount of time at Cliffside Cove — other than the two-second freefall of the cliff jump.

Thrill factor: The spiral slide keeps riders accelerating faster and faster until the final 5-foot drop into the water at the bottom. It’s possible to race too.

Chill factor: Lying on your back is about the only chill thing on this quick slide.

Description: This side-by-side, head-first racing mat waterslide brings riders through enclosed and outdoor sections on a zippy journey to the bottom.

Thrill factor: Sliding face-first and racing presents an adrenaline rush. Neon lights inside the slide give the feeling of going through hyperspace.

Chill factor: It’s moderately fast, but slower than some top-thrill attractions. Speed will depend, in part, on how fast the launch from the top is.

Description: The park’s widest slide has the broadest draw as it’s over quickly, easily repeatable and accessible for all (above 48″ tall at least).

Thrill factor: As the widest slide, there’s room to slide alongside family and friends, making for a good photo op if a non-rider is watching from a lounge chair. After a hump in the middle, the slope increases for a dramatic splash into the pool at the bottom.

Chill factor: It’s over quickly, and the views from the top are nice. This is one that would be easy to repeat over and over. Bonus: the Grotto Bar is tucked away underneath the slide.

First: The Caribbean’s only four-person family body slide.

Description: This tandem raft slide is completely enclosed, with twisting tunnels and two Nautilus-style shell structures that propel guests up a wall before sending them down the slide, forward or backward.

Thrill factor: The two vertical walls send riders looking skyward for a few seconds before the raft finds its equilibrium and continues down the slide. Add a point or two to the thrill rating if you end up going backward after the spirals. The dark sections are disorienting.

Chill factor: Other than the Nautilus-style spirals, the slide doesn’t move too quickly and there’s no sudden drop at the end.

First: The Nautilus-style slide debuted at Great Tides Waterpark as one of park designer WhiteWater West’s signature creations.

Description: The entrance is right next to Tropic Spiral, offering a slightly more chill alternative for tandem rafting with a mix of enclosed tunnels and open-air chutes.

Thrill factor: The views are fantastic where the slide opens up. The thrill factor goes up with two sliders, making the raft go almost twice the speed. The final drop is a thrill before exiting.

Chill factor: Especially if you’re a single rider, it’s the most chill and scenic of the raft slides and of the tower’s offerings overall.

Description: The children’s area has plenty to explore, including water cannons, geysers, a spray tunnel and eight slides.

Thrill factor: The slides are geared towards young riders, meaning they are shorter and slower than the park’s big attractions. Still, it’s possible to get some speed on the tallest slides. Getting blasted by another kid manning a water cannon could also be considered thrilling, or annoying, depending on who you are.

Chill factor: This zone will be the most chill for mom and dad, who can relax in their lounge chairs while the young ones have the time of their lives.

Description: The 800-foot-long lazy river concept gets a revamp with a dark tunnel featuring LED screens that light up with fish and colors.

Thrill factor: There’s a swim-up bar at one of the river’s entrances, so you can pause for a drink and then take another lap. The dark tunnel is interesting and different than other lazy river concepts.

Chill factor: The quintessential lazy river experience is laid-back and enjoyable for those less inclined toward big slides or those taking a break between thrills.

In addition to a complimentary buffet included for all waterpark visitors, Great Tides Waterpark has three food trucks with à la carte items.

Low Tide Smoke has barbecue staples like riblets and pork nachos, Catch of the Cay has seafood staples, and Tidal Treats features ice cream treats.

Individual items cost $10-$15, and there’s a $20 mix-and-match deal that lets you get three items from any food truck. I tried the riblets, the fried shrimp basket and a brownie sundae wrapped in a bubble-waffle bowl.

Everything hit the spot after a morning of thrills; I just wish I had someone to share my plates with. The mix-and-match deal can easily feed two.

For guests interested in visiting Great Tides Waterpark, it is highly recommended to reserve day passes online before sailing or on board at the Shore Excursion Desk. There’s a chance passes will sell out, so booking early is always the best move.

On the date I visited, a full-day waterpark pass (open from around 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on our sailing) cost $81.81 on the excursion order form delivered to my stateroom. A half-day pass was offered for $39. Neither option was eligible for the $50 Free at Sea shore excursion credit or Latitudes Rewards (NCL’s guest loyalty program). Children ages 3 and younger get complimentary admission.

The pass includes access to all four zones of the park, lounge chairs and umbrellas, the complimentary buffet, towels, lockers, life jackets and tram service to and from the park.

Drinks are included for guests with the Free at Sea beverage package. Otherwise, drinks are available for purchase at both of the park’s bars.

Cabanas are available for up to six people; each costs $999.09 during our sailing. Free at Sea Shore Excursion Credits can be applied toward a Great Tides cabana reservation.

I was never bored during a full day at the Great Tides Waterpark, and the lines were short enough that I rode everything at least twice. There’s plenty of space to relax between thrills, and the park feels accessible, with everything in close proximity — but not cramped.

The actual experience will likely depend on how crowded the park is. Norwegian said it will voluntarily limit the park to 1,200 guests per day, despite a maximum capacity of around 1,800, according to Travel + Leisure.

A family of five would pay more than $400 for a day at the Great Tides Waterpark, but if each person is on a mission to do 20 rides, the cost per thrill is very affordable. There are plenty of other complimentary offerings, including beaches and the massive lagoon pool at Great Stirrup Cay, so it’s not essential to upgrade with the water park pass, but it sure is fun.

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