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Guests with “structural body damage” cannot ride, according to a sign posted at BOLT’s entrance. "The sign pertains to physical impairments impeding guests' safety," a Carnival spokesperson said in an email. "For instance, a guest who cannot hold on to the handlebars would not be able to ride BOLT."
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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. I kept jamming the boost button, but it wasn't clear when or how often it would give me extra bursts of speed. You can also make a reservation on Carnival's Hub app for a specific time – recommended if you want to ride during a popular time, such as on a sea day. 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. 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.
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I'm aboard the second voyage of Carnival Celebration, the second ship in the Carnival fleet (and the entire cruise industry) to boast a roller coaster ride, and I made it my mission to find out. I roped in my husband and 8- and 11-year-old kids to get a variety of perspectives. Technically, the BOLT roller coaster is 187′ over sea level, much taller than the other two coasters. But the BOLT is mounted on Deck 18, so most of the time, it’s only 20′ higher than the nearest ground level. But being onboard in a wide-open car, it’s easy for it to feel much higher.
Carnival Celebration
With no inversions, a simple lap belt, and a relatively low speed, it is excellent for the more casual rider. The $15 per person may seem a bit steep for two laps that get you less than a minute of ride time, though. 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. To ride the BOLT roller coaster, you’ll have to make a reservation in advance via the Carnival HUB app. Unlike excursions or dining reservations, you can’t make a reservation for this ride until you’re aboard the ship.
Which ships is the Carnival BOLT on?
Cruisers cannot be intoxicated while riding, and their clothing must be dry (no swimwear allowed). As the third entry in the series, Carnival Jubilee seeks to recreate the spirit of its forerunners while infusing the cruising and roller coaster experience with a unique flavor of its own. Although Bolt does not specify an age limit, there are restrictions on weight and height. Riders must weigh under 300 pounds, be at least 4-foot-4, and not be taller than 6-foot-5. So, as long as you meet the criteria, you're set for the experience of a lifetime. Embark on an ocean adventure and unveil the features of Carnival Cruise's BOLT Roller Coaster, where cruising meets the thrill of a lifetime.
Carnival Jubilee getting roller coaster - KHOU.com
Carnival Jubilee getting roller coaster.
Posted: Wed, 16 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
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).
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.
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BOLT was introduced on the Mardi Gras when she debuted in July 2021; the ship won Best New Cruise Ship in the 2021 Cruise Hive Annual Cruise Ship Awards. The ride also is featured on Carnival Celebration, which entered service in November 2022. Bolt would be my favorite, but the high price tag for such a short ride means most people will only enjoy it once or twice. It will be interesting to see if Carnival ever issues an unlimited rides pass and what it might cost. 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. We also learned on this sailing that Bolt won't run in the rain or high winds.
I wondered if the attendants slowed down the first car so that it wouldn't catch up to my slow-going family. I was so focused on going fast that I wasn't looking around, so I made a point to try and take in the Miami views on the second lap. The scariest part of the ride came at almost the very end, when I was careening uphill through a banked section and suddenly my speed plummeted.
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. Carnival's roller coaster is not exactly what you expect when you think of amusement park roller coasters. You won't find a train of cars linked together that race along a track. Riders must be at least 4-foot-4 (52 inches) tall and shorter than 6-foot-5 (77 inches).
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. 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. 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.
Randy Young is the founder and editor-in-chief at Cruise Spotlight. He has been in marketing for 19 years and has been cruising for just as long. Over the years, he's worked with products like TVs, copiers, light bulbs, and EV chargers, but cruising has always been his passion. There's nothing Randy likes more than the first couple of hours on a ship, exploring every nook and cranny and seeing how it's different from everything else out there. He's known for providing detailed and analytical coverage of cruising to help cruisers get a comprehensive picture of a ship's offerings.
Thirty-five miles per hour doesn't sound like a lot, but it felt much faster, possibly due to the wide-open surroundings. The ride, which is free to guests, debuted on Harmony of the Seas in 2016 and is now offered on three more ships, including Oasis of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, and Wonder of the Seas. Ultimate Abyss will also be featured onboard Utopia of the Seas when she enters service in July 2024.
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. BOLT has quickly gained popularity among Carnival Cruise Line guests. More than 150,000 passengers have experienced the exhilaration of riding the BOLT roller coaster on Carnival's sister ships, Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration.
We make sure cruisers are fully prepared for their cruise vacation with tips on ships and ports.Millions of travelers rely on Cruise Hive in the United States, Europe, Australia, and around the world. Guests pay $15 per person to ride BOLT, which can accommodate up to two riders. The rider at the front controls the speed to customize the ride experience along the 800-foot track. The roller coaster is electric-powered and is located on the ship’s open deck at the Ultimate Playground zone. There’s also the arguably more thrilling go-kart rides offered by Norwegian Cruise Line, though admittedly they also cost extra.
Cruise fans have been dreaming of a cruise ship roller coaster for years, and it definitely gets high marks for novelty and thrills that are more fun than scary. If it's not the best top-deck attraction at sea, it's certainly among the top contenders. 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. A marvel in modern technology and maritime engineering, BOLT is an all-electric coaster that encircles 800 feet of track 187 feet above the water line.
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