Norwegian Can Send More Guests to Great Stirrup Cay. Selling the Extras Is the Test.

Norwegian Cruise Line has found another 200,000 guests for Great Stirrup Cay by changing its 2027 itineraries. That takes projected annual traffic to approximately 1.4 million, up from an earlier forecast of 1.2 million.

I like the practical thinking here. An expanded private island needs itineraries that actually bring ships to it. But a scheduling decision and a buying decision are different things. Norwegian can route more passengers to Great Stirrup Cay. Those passengers still decide whether its new waterpark deserves their money.

John Chidsey, CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, disclosed the revised forecast during the company’s third-quarter earnings call Thursday. He linked the increase to itinerary-planning changes for 2027 and 2028, an area management has prioritized in its turnaround work at the Norwegian brand.

The additional traffic will follow the Sept. 4 opening of Great Tides Waterpark and the addition of a two-berth pier. Two ships can now dock simultaneously, with passengers walking directly onto the island. Chidsey, who attended the opening, said the pier makes visits more reliable and gives guests more time ashore.

That is useful infrastructure for a destination Norwegian intends to visit more often.

The first payoff is expected from extra spending

Management is being reasonably measured about how the island will earn its keep. Mark Kempa, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, said the immediate contribution is expected to come primarily through onboard revenue.

“That’ll take time to build awareness,” Kempa said of the potential to charge higher fares on itineraries calling at Great Stirrup Cay.

That distinction matters. Selling an attraction to someone who has already booked a cruise is a different proposition from persuading them to pay more for the cruise because that attraction is on the itinerary.

Asked what proportion of island visitors buy waterpark admission, Kempa said the company had not disclosed the exact figure. Admission uptake and pricing were meeting expectations, he said, with improvement anticipated as exposure grows and more families sail those itineraries during the fourth quarter. The company’s fourth-quarter guidance already includes a contribution from the island’s amenities.

The early feedback supports the product. According to the company, 90 percent of surveyed Great Tides visitors said they would recommend it, and the waterpark received higher guest ratings than any other experience on the island. Those are encouraging results from people who used it, though they answer a different question from how many island visitors choose to pay.

Approximately 100 social media creators attended the opening, and their content has accumulated more than 275 million views, the company said. That gives the attraction visibility. A disclosed admission purchase rate would show what share of island visitors choose to pay.

The island sits within a broader effort to encourage spending before departure. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings is changing its reservation system to promote advance purchases, upgrades and personalized options. Norwegian, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises are also updating their websites and apps to improve booking conversion. Companywide onboard spending increased year over year in the third quarter.

What the waterpark adds, and what remains included

Great Tides occupies nearly six acres of the 270-acre Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas’ Berry Islands. Its 19 waterslides include eight at the 170-foot Tidal Tower. Cliffside Cove offers jumps from 10 and 15 feet, plus a slide accommodating four riders together.

Younger visitors have Splash Cay, a 9,000-square-foot play area with eight smaller slides and a tipping bucket. The 800-foot Wandering River includes an accelerated current, a tunnel and a neighboring float-up bar.

Waterpark admission costs extra and can be reserved once a cruise is booked. Access is restricted to Norwegian Cruise Line passengers on Caribbean and Bahamas voyages visiting the island, including sailings from Miami, New York and Port Canaveral.

Guests can still have an island day without buying waterpark admission. Beaches, loungers and dining are included, along with the complimentary Splash Harbor children’s splash area. Other facilities include the heated Great Life Lagoon pool with two swim-up bars. Cabanas, Silver Cove villas, spa services and the adults-only Vibe Shore Club carry additional charges.

Norwegian will feature the expanded island in its new “cruise without compromise” marketing, with a new creative platform scheduled to launch in January.

The number to watch is a waterpark purchase rate Norwegian is willing to disclose. Another 200,000 scheduled guests gives the company more people to sell to. It does not yet tell us how many want to buy.

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