Cruise lines go above and beyond to bring their passengers the most innovative and exciting on board attractions. From water parks to virtual reality skydiving, cruises are becoming a more enticing holiday option for families, rivalling with land-based resorts. However, with finite space on board and ever-changing demands, cruise lines must be efficient and on-trend with their designs. In this article, we will be looking at some of the best, next-gen attractions in cruise.
Carnival Cruise Line and the First Rollercoaster at Sea
Launched in January 2020, the new flagship of Carnival Cruise Lines’ Excel-Class fleet, Mardi Gras boasts a one-of-a-kind experience for all. The cruise’s ‘Ultimate Playground’ is built to entertain a variety of guests, featuring a SportsSquare, Waterworks aqua park, and the first rollercoaster at sea, BOLT.
Spanning almost 800 feet, BOLT dominates the playground. This unique coaster puts guests in the driver’s seat, with the ability to control their speed. Thrill-seekers can hit the gas and compete for the fastest speed, up to a 40 mile per hour momentum, which is captured by a speedometer and displayed at the end of the ride. Alternatively, those who want a slower paced, more relaxing ride can sit back and enjoy 360° ocean views from 187 feet above sea level. This one-of-a-kind rollercoaster truly provides an experience that any cruisegoer can enjoy.
Royal Caribbean’s Epic Laser Tag Quests
In the last decade, laser tag has seen a massive boom in popularity. So, it is no surprise that cruise lines are adding it to their offerings. First introduced in 2018, Battle for Planet Z brought an intergalactic glow-in-the-dark experience to Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas, Independence of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas. Here, passengers were transformed into teams of aliens and robots battling for control of the extra-terrestrial Planet Z.
More recently, Royal Caribbean has expanded their laser tag offering. As part of their Royal Amplified refurbishment programme, Freedom of the Seas welcomed Clash for the Crystal City, a brand-new glow-in-the-dark laser tag experience. This fast-paced attraction sends passengers into the far-off future. Here, two lifeforms, Yetis and Snowshifters, battle it out to claim the mythical Crystal City. While Freedom of the Seas has only recently received sailing approval, Clash for the Crystal City is bound to be a hit among guests.
Go-karting on Norwegian Cruise Line
In 2017, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) became the first cruise line to offer on board go-karting for its passengers. Initially available on Norwegian Joy, Norwegian Bliss later opened its own track, complete with two custom cars built by Alex Vega of The Auto Firm. This attraction allows passengers to fulfil their race-car driver fantasies as they zoom around the S-shaped track at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour. For full immersion, drivers wear a helmet which plays speeding race car sounds.
NCL’s latest cruise ship, Norwegian Encore, features a 1150-foot-long go-kart track spanning 2 floors. Unlike its predecessors, up to 10 drivers can race around the track at a time. Each race lasts a generous 10 laps. The impressive racetrack also spans 13 feet over the edge and features 10 turns. Onlookers can also get involved in the fun and use lasers to turbo boost their favourite drivers.
Celebrity Cruises’ AR Dining Experience
As a luxury cruise brand, Celebrity Cruises offers its passengers top-quality cruising experiences, with dining being no exception. Originally a land-based attraction, Le Petit Chef made its cruise debut on Celebrity Edge in 2018. This fun dining experience was brought to Celebrity Cruises passengers following a partnership with Tablemation and Skullmapping. The 3D projections take guests through an interactive journey. Using the magic of augmented reality, guests watch as a tiny chef on their table crafts courses from the set menu. Once the animation has finished, the real dishes are served.
Since its debut, Le Petit Chef has expanded to Celebrity Cruises’ other vessels, adding new experiences and cuisine. In one version, the French chef is joined by other tiny chefs, cooking Italian, Spanish and Japanese cuisine. Here, the four chefs compete, each cooking a different course. At the end, guests decide who the winner is. In a more recent animation, passengers journey through the life of Le Petit Chef. With Celebrity Cruises offering this experience on many cruises, Le Petit Chef is clearly here to stay. The only question is, what will he be doing next?
With cruisegoers actively seeking thrilling activities and suppliers developing more innovative and exciting attractions, we can’t wait to see what’s next for cruise line entertainment.