Norwegian Cruise Line is sending a lot more people to its private Bahamian island. On the company's third-quarter earnings call, CEO John Chidsey said reworked 2027 itineraries will bring roughly 1.4 million guests to Great Stirrup Cay next year — about 200,000 more than originally forecast, and up from the 1.2 million first projected.
The reason is simple: the island just got a serious upgrade. On September 4, Norwegian opened Great Tides Water Park alongside a new two-berth pier. The pier is the quiet game-changer here. Previously, tendering ashore could eat into the day and was at the mercy of sea conditions; now ships dock directly, so guests step off quickly and reliably, with more hours to actually enjoy the beach, food and attractions. Chidsey, who attended the opening, pointed to easier, more dependable access as the key benefit.
Early feedback on the water park looks strong. Norwegian says 90 percent of surveyed guests who tried Great Tides would recommend it, and it's pulling the highest ratings of anything on the island. The company also flew in around 100 social media creators for the launch, whose posts have racked up more than 275 million views — a marketing push that clearly hasn't hurt awareness.
What about money? Executives were coy on the attach rate for water park tickets, with CFO Mark Kempa declining to share exact figures. The near-term play, he said, is onboard and on-island spending; over time, as more families sail these itineraries and word spreads, Norwegian expects the island to justify premium pricing on Caribbean sailings that call there. Great Stirrup Cay is also front and centre in the brand's new "cruise without compromise" positioning, launching with fresh creative in January.
Why should a cruiser care? If you're eyeing a Bahamas or Caribbean sailing with Norwegian in 2027 or 2028, chances are rising that your itinerary includes a private island stop — and that stop now offers a full-scale water park and pier-side docking rather than a basic beach day. It's also a signal of where the industry is heading: cruise lines are pouring investment into private destinations as a differentiator, so the quality gap between lines' islands keeps widening. Norwegian clearly sees Great Stirrup Cay as a reason to pick its ships over rivals', and the added sailings give families more options in the prime school-holiday window.
For anyone who has sailed to a private island and found it a touch underwhelming, the new pier alone is worth noting — more beach time and fewer tender-queue delays is a real, tangible improvement. As awareness grows, watch for these itineraries to be priced at a premium; booking early may be the way to lock in the enhanced island experience before the ticket prices catch up.
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