Travel Tuesday: Are cruise ships becoming floating theme parks?

While Orlando might be the theme park capital of the world, cruise ships are starting to transform into floating theme parks. Are travelers enticed by these attractions?

Booking vacations on cruise ships has become a popular choice for everyone from millennials to boomers. As cruise companies see the rise in vacation bookings, the newer cruise vessels are offering bigger, bolder, and more thrilling onboard options. Could these floating theme parks mean that you never disembark at port?

Travel trends ebb and flow. As travelers balance convenience, cost, and experience, cruising has become a popular choice. From one location, travelers can go from locale to locale while only unpacking once.

Given the growing popularity, cruise companies are looking to add bigger, more exciting attractions to their vessels. Carnival Cruise Line is the perfect example. As unveiled during the IAAPA Expo, Mardi Gras looks to become a giant, floating theme park.

With help from its Chief Fun Officer, Shaquille O’Neal, and Carnival Cruise Line President, Christine Duffy, the pair unveiled details about BOLT, the first roller coaster at sea. While the roller coaster car didn’t zoom off its perch, the details about this attraction impressed many people in attendance.

BOLT is described as an all-electric coaster. The cars are motorcycle inspired, display a digital speedometer, and offer speakers with activated sound effects.

The most intriguing aspect to this roller coaster is that rider controls the speed. So, even the less brave can enjoy these dips, drops and hairpin turns above the sea. Even if you have never ridden a roller coaster before, the ability to control the experience could entice a ride.

But, it appears that the front rider would be in control of the experience. If you and the second rider don’t agree on how fast is too fast, the rest of the day could be filled with some bickering. Basically, if you aren’t a good back seat driver, you’d better take the wheel.

While adrenaline junkies and roller coaster fans will want to take BOLT for a ride, the views from the top of the cruise ship will entice many people. More importantly, the wide audience for this experience is growing trend. Just look at roller coasters, like Universal Orlando Resort’s Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure, which is family inclusive.

Still, the idea of turning cruise ships into floating theme parks isn’t just due to this roller coaster invention. Looking at other aspects of Mardi Gras, the Ultimate Playground offers a wide array zones that appeal to travelers’ need for excitement.

For example, Mardi Gras will feature the “largest WaterWorks aqua park in the Carnival fleet” with three racing slides. Add in other splash zones and water play areas, and it looks similar to your favorite water park.

In a way, these thrilling attractions show how travelers are craving experiences on their vacation. Each moment is about making a memory that will last long after the vacation tan fades. Since many people travel to theme parks for the annual vacation, why wouldn’t Carnival Cruise Line try to capture those vacation travelers?

Offering more and more thrilling attractions has become a growing trend. Looking back, Disney Cruise Line had an aqua-coaster on the Dream many years ago. As travelers get excited about these types of experiences, the possibilities of new attractions are only limited by engineering and technology.

Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras is slated to offer seven-day Caribbean cruises out of Florida’s Port Canaveral starting in October 2020.

Do you think turning cruise ships into floating theme parks is a good idea? Would you want to ride BOLT?