Stunning POV footage shows the first-ever roller coaster at sea in action on board Carnival’s new £1billion cruise ship
- Bolt: The Ultimate Sea Coaster is 187 feet above sea level and reaches speeds of nearly 40 miles per hour
- The all-electric rollercoaster costs £10.80 ($15) for two laps and allows two riders to race each other
- Bolt debuted on a trip to Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas last month
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The first roller coaster at sea is open for business – and amazing point-of-view video footage of the ride in action shows that it’s a spectacular experience.
The ride is called Bolt and it winds its way around the top of the £1billion Carnival ship the Mardis Gras.
Described as the ‘Ultimate Sea Coaster’, the clip sees the ride shooting around the ship’s ‘Ultimate Playground’ water slides and its funnel, with the azure blue water of the ocean to one side.
Amazing point-of-view video footage of Bolt on the Mardi Gras shows that it’s an exhilarating experience
After years of anticipation, Bolt debuted on a trip to Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas on July 31, on a sailing from Port Canaveral, Florida.
Built by Munich-based Maurer Rides, the roller coaster track – which reportedly cost £5.7million ($8 million) to construct – is 187 feet (57m) above sea level and reaches speeds of nearly 40 miles per hour.
The all-electric roller coaster, which costs £10.80 ($15) for two laps, allows two riders to strap in to a motorcycle-like vehicle and race each other, experiencing nearly 800 feet (243 metres) of thrilling twists and plunges as it flies around the track.
The roller coaster allows two riders to strap in to a motorcycle-like vehicle and race one another
The roller coaster track is 187 feet above sea level and reaches speeds of nearly 40 miles per hour
It finishes with a high-powered hairpin turn around the Mardi Gras funnel
As their stomachs drop, guests can take in 360-degree views of the sky and sea around them, before the ride finishes with a high-powered hairpin turn around the ship’s funnel.
Riders’ speeds are posted after the race, and just like land-based roller coasters, guests have their photo taken during the ride for a memorable keepsake.
Guests can even choose their own speed using an in-car throttle, making it a tailor-made experience.
Bolt: The Ultimate Sea Coaster flies around the ship’s ‘Ultimate Playground’ water slides
Riders can enjoy 360-degree views from the top of the cruise ship as they experience the ride
Bolt debuted on a trip to Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas on July 31
Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, said: ‘Bolt will continue the tradition of Carnival providing exciting new ways for our guests to “choose fun”.
‘We are so thrilled to introduce this one-of-a-kind, game-changing, exhilarating attraction – our guests are going to love it!’
Mardi Gras, an XL-class ship, weighs 180,000 tonnes, is 1,130 ft (340m) long and features six onboard zones, including a French quarter.
The cruise line took delivery of Mardis Gras from the Meyer Turku Shipyard in Turku, Finland, where she was constructed.
The ship was set to launch in 2020 but the occasion was pushed back into 2021 because of the pandemic.
After the race, guests have their photos taken for a memorable keepsake
Mardi Gras was set to launch in 2020 but the occasion was pushed back into 2021 because of the pandemic