Monday, April 22, 2024

Bolt, the Carnival cruise roller coaster: Is it the best top-deck attraction at sea?

carnival cruise roller coaster

And sorry, no cameras (even GoPros) are allowed on the ride. It definitely wasn’t us, because Carnival also gives you so many chances to get active at sea.

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There is a bit of a hairpin turn when you come around the funnel, where the cart tilts a bit. But don't worry, you'll never feel like you're going to fall off. When you book, you’ll pick a 30-minute window when you want to ride. During that window of time, you check-in at the BOLT station, sign the waivers, and get ready to ride. With this system, you barely have any wait at all, which is nice compared to the SkyRide we mentioned that can have a wait of 15 – 45 minutes depending on the day/time.

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carnival cruise roller coaster

The BOLT roller coaster is not the fastest, longest, or most intense roller coaster in the world. It is, however, the first at sea, and roller coaster enthusiasts who are completists may feel compelled to try it. Once you book in the HUB app, the $15 fee is immediately charged to your onboard account called Sail and Sign. However, if you cancel at least 2 hours before your start time, they will usually issue a refund to your Carnival account.

Getting Ready to Thrill - Carnival-News.com

Getting Ready to Thrill.

Posted: Wed, 16 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

BOLT: Ultimate Sea Coaster

To put it in perspective to other cruise ship attractions, Norwegian Cruise Line charges $15 for 8-10 minutes on the go-kart race track on the Bliss, Encore, Joy, and Prima. Traditional roller coasters rely on gravity to help run the course, whether through a lift hill or a drop later on in the track. While the car is in motion, the ship can bob up and down, or tilt and the gravitational forces can immediately change, altering the experience and possibly stopping the ride. To get around that, Maurer Rides put motors into the cars themselves to get them through the whole track. On the electric roller coaster, guests can ride in a two-person car that speeds up to 40 miles per hour. The attraction boasts 800 feet of winding track – complete with drops – more than 180 feet over the water.

Carnival Jubilee getting roller coaster - KHOU.com

Carnival Jubilee getting roller coaster.

Posted: Wed, 16 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Adrenaline-junkies will absolutely love the addition of Bolt, the first roller coaster at sea that will take you twisting, turning and flying around the top of Carnival’s newest ships. Zipping around the ship’s funnel, I forced myself to keep my eyes open the whole time (the opposite of my usual roller coaster coping strategy). Even the best theme parks I’ve visited haven’t had settings quite like that, and I didn’t want to miss it. Thirty-five miles per hour doesn't sound like a lot, but it felt much faster, possibly due to the wide-open surroundings. Guests pay $15 per person to experience two laps around the 800-foot track, which is located on the ships’ open deck at the Ultimate Playground zone. Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry.

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carnival cruise roller coaster

If you wear glasses, Carnival’s policies say they must be held with a head strap if they are going to be worn. While no minimum weight is listed, the maximum is 300 pounds per rider. At $15 each, Bolt is pretty expensive for how long the ride actually lasts. If you had a family of four, the cost for everyone to ride would be $60.

A roller coaster in the ocean: What Carnival Cruise Line's BOLT ride is like

Carnival turned to roller coaster manufacturer Maurer Rides to help them develop this first coaster at sea. As with any ride, there are height and weight restrictions for riding Bolt. Thus, not everyone onboard will unfortunately be able to ride this revolutionary addition to Carnival's cruise ships. Rather than sitting in a long line of multiple cars for a roller coaster ride, the cars for Bolt have you sitting as if you were riding on a jet ski or motorcycle.

How high above sea is BOLT?

We had a buffer of two hours before the ride was scheduled to reschedule. We booked two slots for Bolt during our port stay in Cozumel using the Carnival Hub App. There was a dedicated section for Bolt and it was super easy to navigate. We even saw some fairly old riders taking their spin on Bolt! I envisioned Bolt in my mind as more of a kiddy ride, one that would leave us rolling our eyes and disappointed that we spent $15 each for a dinky ride. Any suspicious or repeated votes were not included in the final result.

Just be sure you meet all the safety requirements -- shoes included. Additionally, passengers are not allowed to wear dresses, skirts or open-toed shoes in order to ride, and they must be in good physical condition and able to hold onto the handrails. Cruisers cannot be intoxicated while riding, and their clothing must be dry (no swimwear allowed). The motorcycle-style thrill ride garnered more than double the percentage of votes that adventure rides on competitors Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line received. For additional information on Carnival Cruise Line and to book a cruise vacation, call CARNIVAL, visit , or contact your favorite travel advisor or online travel site. Starting with its inaugural sailing on Nov. 21, the vessel will feature seven-day Caribbean voyages all year.

It makes two laps around the top of the ship, lasting about one minute before coming back into the starting point. While Carnival is known for having a lot included with the cruise fare, the Bolt roller coaster is an extra cost. At the time of this writing, the price is $15 per person, per ride.

You will need to make a reservation in advance via the Carnival HUB app, which I suggest you do as early as possible in your cruise. You can then pick the date that you want to ride and select a 30 minute window. You will need to check in during that window or forfeit your ride (and your $15). You can cancel up to two hours before your slot to be eligible for a refund.

I’d love if you could do a third or fourth lap for free - or even offer complimentary rides during sea days. Perhaps another lap or two would make me feel like I had my full fix. At the entrance of the ride, you’ll find a Bolt car that you can sit in and get a feel for what the seating arrangement is like. You’ll straddle the car similar to a jet ski or motorcycle; if you choose to ride solo, you have to sit in the front seat of the car.

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