Carnival Cruise Line has revealed additional details on BOLT, the first roller coaster at sea, which will be the main attraction in the already action-packed expansive open-air recreation area on Mardi Gras called the Ultimate Playground.
Set to debut in August, 2020, Mardi Gras, the first LNG-powered cruise ship to homeport in North America, and the largest cruise ship ever ordered by Carnival Cruise Line, will also feature more dining, relaxation and entertainment options than ever before.
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One entertainment option on-board that has the cruise industry particularly excited is the BOLT roller coaster.
At the annual International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Conference in Orlando, Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy, let us in on some more details about the system.
Duffy revealed that BOLT’s all-electric, motorcycle-inspired vehicles will be adorned with metallic red and blue stripes and an eye-catching yellow lightning bolt.
BOLT will take passengers along an 800-foot roller coaster track above Mardi Gras
The vehicle will also feature a digital speedometer display and speakers with new sound effects that will activate to enhance the exhilarating, one-of-a-kind experience.
Cameras will be located along the 800-foot-long track, as well as within the vehicle itself, providing riders with unique photo keepsakes as they take in 360-degree views and race 187 feet above the sea with drops, dips and hairpin turns achieving speeds of up to 40 miles per hour.
Guests choose their own speed so no two rides will ever be the same.
Ultimate Playground featuring the BOLT rollercoater aboard Carnival Mardi Gras.
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“Whether guests want to get an adrenaline rush or take it slow and enjoy the breathtaking views, BOLT will have it all,” said Duffy. “Combining the most talented designers, technicians and attractions professionals in the industry, we’ve taken FUN to a whole new level with this amazing onboard experience that is also a true game changer in our industry.”
Aside from BOLT, the two-deck-high ‘Ultimate Playground’ (one of six zones aboard the ship) will also boast a massive water park, and Carnival’s longest ever ropes course.
More on the water park:
The waterpark will be the largest WaterWorks Aqua Park in the Carnival fleet featuring three unique heart-racing slides designed for all-ages fun.
Blue Lightning will offer 312 feet of high-speed twists and turns, while the 229-foot-long Orange Thunder drop-down slide will propel guests into a wet ‘n wild splash zone.
Back by popular demand, Carnival’s signature Twister slide encompasses 265 feet of thrills for the young and young at heart.
Other features will include a splash-tastic zone just for kids with a 150-gallon PowerDrencher tipping bucket and numerous water toys.
The expanded SportSquare recreation complex also features a 600-foot-long suspended ropes course – the longest in the fleet – a nine-hole miniature golf course, a jogging track and outdoor fitness equipment, and a basketball court.
Further details on Mardi Gras’ features and themed zones will be announced in the coming months.
Currently under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland, Mardi Gras is slated to enter service in Europe on August 31st, 2020, before repositioning to New York for a series of voyages ahead of her arrival in Port Canaveral for year-round seven-day Caribbean cruises beginning in October, 2020.
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