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Eight Best Attractions on Cruise Ships

3/16/2020

3 Comments

 
SkyRide on Carnival Horizon.
SkyRide on Carnival Horizon.
By John Roberts
Every year, cruise lines are coming up with bigger, bolder and more fun activities and features to offer cruisers. The idea is to design a ship so bold and buzzworthy that it draws travelers who just have to try it out.
We've sailed on quite a few new cruise ships in recent years, vessels that have somehow squeezed in innovative and entertaining venues and activities that no one had thought of before. These eight ships are real trend-setters in the cruise industry because of these standout features.

SkyRide
 on Carnival Horizon
This ride is a pedal-powered experience. You hop in the seat and start pumping to glide along the rail that encircles the perimeter of Carnival Horizon. SkyRide gives you incredible views all around from your unique perch.
Two riders at a time propel themselves on side-by-side tracks, and you can choose to race one another or just sit back and simply enjoy the sights as you make your circuit.
This is a free activity, and the ride is also available on sister ship Carnival Vista.
Royal Caribbean Anthem of the Seas Ripcord by IFly
Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas features Ripcord by iFly, a virtual skydiving experience.
Skydiving on Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas.
The RipCord by iFly skydiving simulator is located at the back of Anthem of the Seas and is another great attraction for thrill-seekers.
A wind machine in the big tunnel allows riders to feel as if they are free falling through the sky during this included activity. Instructors help you get in in the flow, explaining the best body positions so you can soar and get comfortable enough to try a few tricks once you get the hang of it.  This activity is included in your cruise fare.
Go-kart track on Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Bliss
The fun go-kart race track on top of Norwegian Bliss.
Go-Kart Racing on Norwegian Bliss.
This is a true race track, with tiny Formula One cars zipping around the course that features hairpin turns, two levels and a garage area.
It's a blast. The track is about 1,000 feet long, and you can expect to race for about five to six laps and against about nine other drivers during each session.
This activity requires a fee. You can buy an unlimited pass for your cruise (about $100 for a weeklong cruise) or pay per ride ($10). There is also an unlimited daily ride pass for $30.
You can find tracks on sister ships Norwegian Encore and Norwegian Joy.
Celebrity Edge's magic Carpet
The Magic Carpet on Celebrity Edge is an adjustable cantilevered platform to add flexible space to four deck areas.
The Magic Carpet on Celebrity Edge.
This innovative feature on Celebrity Edge serves as a flexible cantilevered space that can move among four designated decks.
The combination bar and lounge area is a floating platform that can be positioned at Deck 16 for "Dinner on the Edge" dining experiences. It moves to the Lido Deck 14 to add a bar and lounge to the pool deck. On Deck 5, it serves as an al fresco dining space for Raw on 5, the sushi and seafood eatery.
Down at Deck 2, it becomes a launch platform to tender ashore from the ship's Destination Gateway facility. The Magic Carpet has comfy seating, a full bar and space for live music acts.
The Ultimate Abyss on Harmony of the Seas
The Ultimate Abyss is a thrilling slide on Harmony of the Seas.
Ultimate Abyss on Harmony of the Seas.
This included thrill ride is a dry slide. You hop on a mat speed down through twisty tunnels that extend off the back of the ship and carry you more than 100 feet, from Deck 16 (the sports deck) down to Deck 6, which is the Boardwalk area of the ship.
It's over in about 12 seconds and will have you screaming with joy all the way. Plus, it's way more fun and a much quicker option to taking the stairs or elevator.
Ultimate Abyss is also on Symphony of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas.
Ropes course of Norwegian Escape
You can walk the plank and face numerous other challenges on the ropes course on Norwegian Escape.
Ropes Course on Norwegian Escape.
This is the largest ropes course at sea, and it offers an almost infinite number of ways you can choose to navigate around the course. The course has a lot of cool features that will please daredevils and maybe freak you out if you are afraid of heights. It can be scary but is completely safe, as you are hooked in a harness and connected to a line the whole time.
The obstacles include two short ziplines. Plus, you can walk the plank and step right out to the edge to get a dizzying look over the side of the ship.
You'll take on rope walls, slacklines and thin beams before finding your way to the end of the course. The activity is free and also available on Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway.
LivNordic Spa on Viking Ocean Cruises
The LivNordic Spa is an immersive spa facility available on all Viking Ocean Cruises. Access is included in your cruise fare.
LivNordic Spa on Viking Ocean Cruises.
All of Viking's ocean 930-passenger cruise ships feature these large spa facilities.
Passengers can immerse themselves in the traditional Norwegian spa experience -- you get a sauna, steam room, cold plunge pool, thalassotherapy pool, snow grotto, hot tubs, cold dump bucket and experience shower. The elegant thermal suite also has ceramic loungers, padded lounge chairs and a full locker room.
The best part: it's included in your cruise fare, which is unheard of for such an immersive cruise ship spa.
Picture
Helicopters on Scenic Eclipse.
This luxury expedition ship takes cruisers to new heights while exploring exotic destinations around the world in style.
The 228-passenger ship carries two six-passenger helicopters, and you can pay to take 20- or 40-minute rides to get a bird's-eye view of amazing places that are best seen from above. We tried it out in Martha's Vineyard, and we have heard amazing reviews of these helicopters rides over Antarctica.
The choppers feature noise-canceling headphones, and the pilot gives a commentary of the flight.
It's quite a thrill to take off a land right from your ship -- which also carries a six-passenger submarine onboard that can dive up to nearly 1,000 feet below the surface. This gives travelers more amazing ways to see the world.

Which of these trend-setting onboard cruise attractions are you most interested in giving a try on your next cruise?

Thanks for reading,
JR
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This post might contain affiliate links. This means I will get a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you click through and visit the website. 
3 Comments

Carnival to Can and Keg Craft Beers Onboard Cruise Ships

5/1/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
By John Roberts

How about this craft beer fans?

Carnival is expanding on its breakthrough idea to brew craft beers at sea, the first such line to do so. Carnival Vista, Carnival Horizon and Carnival Panorama have beer-brewing facilities onboard, and now Carnival has partnered with Lakeland, Fla.-based Brew Hub to become the first cruise line to can and keg its varieties. The in-house brewery team aboard Carnival Horizon and Carnival Vista will produce the cans and kegs so cruisers can enjoy the beers on all Carnival Cruise ships -- and even be able to take home the flavors.

The agreement is the first of its kind between a craft beer manufacturer and a major cruise line.

"With the success of our breweries on Carnival Vista and Carnival Horizon the obvious next step was to let all of our guests fleetwide enjoy our refreshing craft beers, and that's where our partnership with Brew Hub began," said Edward Allen, Carnival's vice president of beverage operations. "To be the first cruise line to ever scale up its beverage operations by canning and kegging their own beer is unprecedented.

"My hope is that our guests will take a four-pack home with them to share with family and friends as a refreshing and memorable reminder of their cruise."
Picture
Three of the Carnival beers, which are based on recipes developed in-house by Carnival's brewery team, are now available in 16-ounce cans and on tap across all 26 ships, as well as at all private destinations.

ThirstyFrog Caribbean Wheat is an unfiltered wheat beer with flavors of orange and spices.

ParchedPig West Coast IPA is in the style of a traditional West Coast India Pale Ale, with a hoppy, intense flavor loaded with bitterness. It has a bright flavor profile and an aroma of citrus and pine.

ParchedPig Toasted Amber Ale is highlighted by its rich amber color and notes of toasted caramel and biscuit. This is a well-balanced and smooth brew.

Since introducing the first North American brewery at sea in 2016, Carnival has served nearly 300,000 pints of its private label craft beers. Much like breweries on land, Carnival's brewery team has also taken advantage of seasonal products to create innovative varieties like a Miami Guava Wheat and Pumpkin Spice Ale. A brewery will also be featured aboard Carnival Panorama when it debuts in California in December 2019.

Carnival Vista is home to the Red Frog Pub & Brewery, and Carnival Horizon and Carnival Panorama feature Guy's Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse | Brewhouse.

Cheers to this news!

What flavors are you taking home?

JR
Subscribe today to get the latest reviews, tips and tricks to help you have your best adventure ever.

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Carnival Cruise Ship to Get Overhaul, Sail to Cuba from New Cities

11/14/2018

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Carnival Radiance cruise ship rendering
Rendering courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line
By John Roberts

Carnival Cruise Line is set to totally revamp Carnival Victory and give it new life and amazing new itineraries as Carnival Radiance.


Once the ship undergoes an overhaul in 2020, it will emerge to sail including 9- to 13-day European voyages, as well as Carnival'
s first trips to Cuba from New York and Norfolk, Virginia.

Carnival Radiance also will sail 
four- to nine-day voyages to the Caribbean and Canada/New England from New York and a winter season of cruising to the Caribbean and Cuba from Port Canaveral, Fla.

These are the details of Carnival Radiance's 
planned 2020 inaugural season:

Following a 
$200 million dry dock in Cadiz, Spain, for its refurbishment, Carnival Radiance is due to debut April 29, 2020, with a 10-day Mediterranean itinerary from Barcelona followed by nine- and 12-day cruises visiting top destinations, including Italy, France, Croatia, Greece, Malta and Spain. The ship will then embark on a 13-day trans-Atlantic crossing from Barcelona to New York June 11 to June 24, positioning the cruise ship for its inaugural season in Manhattan.

Once in New York, Carnival Radiance will offer a series of four- and six-day Bermuda cruises, as well as a four-day cruise to Saint John, New Brunswick, eight-day eastern Caribbean voyages and the line's first Cuba cruises from New York 
-- nine-day sailings that include a full-day and overnight stay in Havana and two Bahamian ports of call. The New York season concludes with a series of Canada/New England voyages featuring stops in Boston, Portland, Saint John and Halifax.

The ship will also offer four five- to seven-day voyages from Norfolk in October and November 2020, including the line's first Cuba cruises from that port. The week-long Cuba cruises will feature an extended stop in the capital of Havana along with visits to two tropical Bahamian ports. There will also be a five-day Bahamas cruise and a six-day cruise visiting three of the country
's most popular destinations, including the private island of Half Moon Cay.

Following the cruises from the Northeast, Carnival Radiance will reposition to Port Canaveral, Fla., to operate a winter schedule of six- to eight-day voyages to the Caribbean and Cuba beginning November 8.  The program includes six-day voyages featuring a day-long visit and overnight call in Havana and two Bahamian ports; a six-day sailing to Grand Turk, Amber Cove, the Dominican Republic and Nassau; and seven- and eight-day Caribbean voyages visiting some of the region's most popular and beautiful islands, including Aruba, Curacao, St. Kitts and Grand Turk.


As part of the transformation to Carnival Radiance from Carnival Victory, the ship will get a slew of staples now found on many other ships throughout the fleet. This means Carnival Radiance will get new restaurants: Pizzeria del Capitano, Seafood Shack, Guy's Pig and Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse, Cucina Del Capitano, Bonsai Sushi, The Chef's Table and Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse.

It also adds lounges and bars: 
RedFrog Pub, Piano Bar 88, Limelight Lounge and Liquid Lounge. Other new features: Cloud 9 Spa, SportSquare with a ropes course, and additions to the WaterWorks water park, which adds the 203-foot-long AquaTunnel water slide.

Thanks for reading,
JR

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