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The original BOLT, the first roller coaster at sea, is on Celebration's sister ship, Mardi Gras. Riders have the unique ability to control the speed of their all-electric, two-person cars, reaching speeds of up to 40 miles per hour. Unlike the waterslides and ropes course that share the top deck with Bolt, Carnival's roller coaster is not free to ride. Each ride costs $15 per person for two laps of the track, regardless of whether you're riding solo or with another passenger. The 800-meter track circles above Deck 18, starting out by the water park, continuing with a spiral section right above the mini-golf course then racing around the funnel and the ropes course.
How tall do you have to be to ride the Carnival BOLT?
My car was creeping along at a sideways angle, and I was bit concerned about not making it over the hill. But I made it slowly around the bend, and realized the ride attendants had to cut my speed so I wouldn't crash into my son, who was slowing down as he neared the end of the ride. But if that's the case, it's a design flaw to have that final section banked. I saw no reason not to go for broke so I gunned the engine as soon as my car leaped into motion. That might have been a mistake because that initial burst of speed turned my stomach a bit, and I wasn't sure how the ride would go. But once I adjusted to the speed, it was just fast enough to be fun but not sickening and I kept the car at full throttle even through the twisty-turny parts.
Initial Impressions of Bolt
Empty your pockets before you go or store your belongings in the provided cubbies so you don't lose your cruise card or wallet as you ride. Unfortunately, you're not allowed to take GoPros or cellphones, so you can't get any first-person videos of the ride. Ask a friend to video you from below; a good spot to film is on the jogging track between the mini-golf course and the water park.
How Do You Sign Up To Ride?
That said, if it is considered too windy the crew will stop operations. As part of Carnival Cruise Line's commitment to offering unique and exciting experiences, the BOLT roller coaster has been expanded to the Carnival Jubilee. The attendant buckled me in with a heavy-duty seat belt that locks into place. He showed me how to use the hand throttle on the right handlebar to rev the engine and the button on the left to push for speed boosts. We also learned on this sailing that Bolt won't run in the rain or high winds. On embarkation morning, it was pouring rain in Miami, and all of Carnival's outdoor attractions were shut down.
What other activities does Carnival Jubilee have?
It’s better to book it for some of the first days if possible; the ride can shut down due to weather or technical malfunctions, so then it gives you plenty of other opportunities to rebook. Unlike a regular roller coaster, on the BOLT, you can actually control your ride. The rider in the front can choose to use the throttle to control the speed, and there’s also a “BOOST” button that gives an extra “oomph” when pressed. The car has a digital speedometer that displays your speed and a tank that shows how many times you can “boost” which you should use while climbing a hill for the best effect.
How Old Do You Have To Be To Ride?
Carnival Cruise Line Welcomes Next Roller Coaster at Sea - TravelPulse
Carnival Cruise Line Welcomes Next Roller Coaster at Sea.
Posted: Wed, 16 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
These cars can seat up to two people each - and you can also ride solo. The ride was fast but mostly smooth (though on one uphill section of the track, I felt myself lift off the seat a bit, but my seat belt did its job). BOLT reaches up to 40 mph, but guests can control their speed. Two electric cars, each carrying up to two people and evoking Jet Ski vibes, operate in tandem at different intervals, with the ability to accelerate at speeds faster than some sports cars.
If you're playing putt-putt, it feels like the roller coaster cars might blow the hat right off your head. I took a second ride on Bolt later in the cruise, this time as a passenger. I got off of the ride a bit shaky and full of adrenaline (as you can see in the Bolt video we filmed). More than that, it was the screams coming from the participants. I hadn't expected a roller coaster on a cruise ship to offer real adrenaline, but then I got into line and saw the cars take off.
Carnival Cruise Line unveils next rollercoaster at sea - Riviera Maritime Media
Carnival Cruise Line unveils next rollercoaster at sea.
Posted: Tue, 22 Aug 2023 10:05:46 GMT [source]
When it was first announced, the BOLT was supposed to be included in the cruise fare at no additional cost. However, things changed during the COVID cruise industry shut down, and Carnival announced it would be charging for a ride. Riders are not allowed to have any loose articles or items that may fall off during the ride. They also strictly prohibit any cell phones, GoPro’s, or other electronics. Thankfully, Carnival has some cubbies right at the entrance, so you can store your stuff there and not have to worry about running back to your cabin to leave your stuff.
What are the requirements to ride the BOLT roller coaster?
The reservation option was not working on my app on the first day of our Carnival Celebration cruise, but we met people who successfully made reservations on theirs. If you want to ride a roller coaster on a cruise ship, you have two options for snagging a spot. You can walk up to the attendee manning the ride and ask if there are available slots. We chose to ride on embarkation day, when the weather was gray, and waltzed right on with no wait at all.
He's known for providing detailed and analytical coverage of cruising to help cruisers get a comprehensive picture of a ship's offerings. You can also station someone else on the ground to get pictures. There are quite a few good locations to take photos from all over the “Ultimate Playground” on Deck 18.
For our family, that meant we were all going to ride once and then be content with watching others speed above our heads. If you sign up to ride and decide not to — for whatever reason — you simply need to cancel two hours before the appointment time in order to get your money back. To ride Bolt, you need to sign up within the Carnival Hub app. Click there and it will offer up the times that are available to ride.
A big twist comes right after launch and my sister pulled back on the throttle whenever she could. There’s a scale you can step on that will illuminate a green light if you meet the weight requirement. For both of us in the stateroom to ride, it was $30 total.
But being onboard in a wide-open car, it’s easy for it to feel much higher. While BOLT is called a roller coaster, it’s really not like anything else out there today. The car only seats 2 people, and it has a relatively low seating position, making it feel like a motorcycle or jetski than a traditional roller coaster car. The ride consists of electric-powered, single-occupant race cars that can reach speeds of 30 MPH, plus a turbo-boost that allows even more speed. A single run costs $9.95, with higher-priced days and weekly passes available.
My son didn't have a strap but the ride attendees had a few on hand that he could borrow. When the ride is operating, there are two different carts on the track at once, each offering two seats. So the most on any car at once is two, and the most on the track at once is four. You're allowed to ride Bolt either by yourself or as a twosome. I went solo on my first ride, which was good because I didn't want to have to fight anyone for control over the speed. We were surprised to find people on the ride screaming in a legitimate way - and it wasn’t just little kids riding Bolt.
The track is a simple loop with a helix at one end, but it is especially unique because passengers can actually control the ride themselves. Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate Abyss came in second place in the best feature category of the 2022 Cruise Hive Cruise Ship Awards. It’s a twisting, turning 10-story slide that goes from deck 16 aft near the FlowRider all the way down to the Boardwalk neighborhood on four ships. BOLT is the fastest, and first ever, rollercoaster at sea. If you've pre-booked on the app, your shipboard account will be credited if your ride is canceled due to weather or mechanical issues. As each ride is approximately 20 seconds, your cost to ride is about 75 cents per second.
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