Cruise operator Carnival is giving itself a present for its 50th birthday: a roller coaster on its newest and largest ship. The BOLT: Ultimate Sea Coaster is located on the upper deck of the Carnival Celebration, 57 m (187 feet) above sea level – and it will be the first coaster to operate during an Atlantic crossing.
BOLT is a roller coaster with a motorbike feeling on the top deck of a luxury liner. The Ultimate Sea Coaster is a two-seater – riders get on the motorbike, step on the gas and accelerate at 1.2 g to 60 km/h (37 mph) in no time. It offers a fast ride over drops, dips and curves – with a view of the endless horizon. At the end, a hairpin bend around the legendary Carnival funnel leads back to the start.
Behind its development is the think tank at Maurer Rides and the innovative spirit of Carnival Cruise Line. BOLT has a twin on the Mardi Gras, which was launched in 2021 as the largest ship in the Carnival fleet at the time. The response to the Ultimate Sea Coaster was great. So, there was no question for Carnival that the sister ship
Celebration would also get a roller coaster from Maurer Rides to offer passengers this fantastic experience.
Technically, the Ultimate Sea Coaster follows on from the success of the Spike Racing Coaster. The unique ride high above the ocean is made possible by the innovative and patented Spike drive from Maurer Rides.
The extremely powerful motor turns roller coaster passengers into real drivers. They can brake or accelerate themselves anywhere on the 220 m (721 foot) long track, with 100% traction and 1.2 g of force. Everyone creates their own individual roller coaster experience, pleasurable or thrilling, just as they like.
The Spike technology is what made it possible to install it on board in the first place. The “gear teeth” always keep everything in contact and thus eliminates the movements of the ship as well as the influences of the weather and the sea.
