Is Carnival’s Bolt roller coaster really the most heart-pounding attraction on the deck? I’m on my second journey Carnival, 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 involve my husband and 8 and 11 year olds for a variety of perspectives.
Here’s everything you need to know about riding Carnival’s Bolt roller coaster and my hot take on whether the short ride is worth the hefty price tag.
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Bolt, Carnival cruise coaster
CarnivalThe roller coaster is not quite what you would expect when you think about the roller coaster in an amusement park. You will not find convoys of cars linked together to race along the track. It’s also not a passive ride where you’re clutching the handle and screaming.
Instead, the Bolt roller coaster features two Jet Ski-style vehicles for two that move independently around the track. The “driver” (i.e. the driver in front) can actually control the speed of the roller coaster, by turning the throttle on the handlebars and by pressing a button to increase the speed. However, the rider in the back simply enjoys the ride (and screams) with no charge whatsoever.
The 800-meter track runs around Deck 18, starting at the water park, continuing with a spiral just above the mini golf course, then racing around the funicular and line. If you’re playing putt-putt, you’ll feel like the roller coasters can blow the hat off your head. You can hear the magnifying sound on all the upper aft decks.
Bolt is now found on Carnival cruise ships Mardi Gras and Carnival. When Carnival Jubilee launches in 2023, it will also feature a roller coaster on the top floor.
The cost of riding the Bolt . roller coaster
Unlike the waterslides and ropes that share the top deck with Bolt, Carnival’s roller coasters are not free to ride. Each ride costs $15 per person for two laps of the track, regardless of whether you’re traveling alone or with another passenger.
Since each ride lasts about 20 seconds, your ride costs about 75 cents per second. For our family, that meant we would all ride once and then be content to watch others gallop overhead.
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Weight restrictions and height requirements, plus other rules
Sadly, not every Carnival cruiser is allowed to ride the Bolt. A sign at the entrance says the roller coaster weight limit is 300 pounds. The minimum height requirement is 52 inches (4 feet, 4 inches) and the maximum is 77 inches (6 feet, 5 inches). Stand on the scale next to the boarding stairs and the green light will come on if you have an acceptable weight. Measure your height based on the bold line on the height chart.
In a word, my 8-year-old daughter is just a little taller than average and she barely meets the height requirement.
In addition, riders must wear closed-toe shoes and are not allowed to wear swimwear. Dresses and skirts are not allowed unless you can tie them between your legs into makeshift shorts. If you wear glasses, remove them or tie them to your head with a strap. My son doesn’t have a strap but the tour participants have a few available for him to borrow.
Empty your bag before you go or store your belongings in the small compartments provided so you don’t lose your journey card or wallet while riding. Unfortunately, you’re not allowed to bring a GoPro or cell phone, so you can’t watch any first-person videos of the trip. Ask a friend to video you from below; A good location for filming is on the jogging track between the mini golf course and the water park.
How to sign up for Bolt
If you want to ride a roller coaster on a cruise ship, you have two options for choosing a seat. You can go to the attendee driving the trip and ask if there is a seat available. We chose to ride on the start day, when the weather was gray, and went right away with no wait.
You can also reserve on Carnival’s Central app for a specific time – recommended if you want to ride during popular times, such as on a rough day. Reservations didn’t work on my app on the first day of our Carnival cruise, but we’ve met people who have successfully booked on their app.
When does Carnival’s roller coaster run?
Bolt runs on sea days and port days alike. Typical hours might be 9am to 6pm on sea days and 1 to 6pm on port days. It will not run in the dark, so there may be more hours in the summer. (I’m flying in late November, so sunset comes early.)
Through this sailing we also learned that Bolt would not run in heavy rain or wind. On the morning of departure, it rained in Miami and all outdoor Carnival attractions were closed. The roller coaster only opens later in the afternoon, when the rain stops and the sun comes out.
As I write this, late in the morning of our first day at the beach, the trip is once again over. I asked the waiter about it, and he said that when the wind reached 45 mph, they had to build the roller coaster. Decisions come from the bridge; officers will broadcast Bolt staff to notify them when they must close and when they can reopen the ride. (The same policy applies to the wiring course, in case you were wondering.)
If you have booked on the app, your onboard account will be credited if your trip is canceled due to weather or mechanical problems.
My family’s impressions of Carnival’s Bolt roller coaster
My 11 year old son and I decided to try the roller coaster first. Since there was no line and we would only pay to go once, we decided to go alone in our own car. Two cars race along the track at the same time, the second one starts after a delay, so we can go at the same time.
The waiter fastened my seatbelt with a load-bearing seat belt that locked it in place. He showed me how to use the throttle on the right handlebar to accelerate the engine and the button on the left to increase speed. Then we went.
I saw no reason not to go bankrupt so I fired up as soon as my car started moving. It could have been a mistake because that initial acceleration gave me a bit of a stomach ache and I wasn’t sure how the ride would go. But once I adjusted the speed, it was fast enough to be fun but not drunk, and I kept the car running at full throttle even through twists and turns. I keep hitting the boost button, but it’s unclear when or how often it will give me more speed.
I was so focused on going fast that I didn’t look around, so I tried to get a full view of Miami in the second round. The scariest part of the ride came near the end, when I was racing uphill over a ledge and suddenly my speed plummeted. My car was crawling at an angle, and I was a little worried about not getting over the hill. But I was going slow around the bend and realized that the ride-hailers had to slow down so I wouldn’t hit my son, who was slowing down near the end of the ride. But if that’s the case, then it’s a design error when that last part is ticked.
My son raved about Carnival’s roller coaster when I caught up with him after the ride, but he said he didn’t use power assist because he thought normal speed was scary enough and he didn’t need to go fast. than.
My husband and daughter went on, and she chose to drive. They sat in the second of the two carriages; while the first couple sped up, it was clear that my daughter wasn’t using the throttle or accelerating and was just driving at the base car speed. I could tell they were going slower and the first car seemed about to hit my family. I wondered if the waiters had slowed down the first car so that it wouldn’t catch up with my slow family.
However, my daughter said the trip was amazing, and that’s what matters. My son said he would consider using the limited amount I put in his cruise pass to ride the roller coaster again – giving up the arcade games or shopping souvenirs in two more rounds. That’s a positive review right there. My husband thinks visibility, speed and incline are good, but the distance is too short. I agree. For $15, maybe four rounds would be better.
Is the Bolt the best deck attraction at sea?
After two days on board, my son and I tried all of the Carnival waters and rope slides, as well as the roller coasters. The rope course has the advantage that once you’ve fastened your seat belt, you can go around countless times without waiting in line. However, my 8-year-old overcame three obstacles and I had to talk to a crying baby, scared back into those obstacles to get to the main platform. I tried again after that, and the second half of it was a bit rough and definitely pushed your faith in the harness over your basic fear of falling to the limit.
The water park is fun but the slides are long. The Blue Lightning Carpet slide is clearly the best, but the yellow Twister slide is too slow and a sudden descent to start the Orange Thunder slide is a no-no for many people. (I did it once and really don’t need to do it again.)
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 releases unlimited rides and how much it could cost.
Yacht aficionados have been dreaming of a roller coaster ride for years, and it’s certainly appreciated for novelty and thrills that are more exciting than scary. If it’s not the best deck attraction at sea, it’s certainly among the top contenders.
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