originally posted on 2/14/2019
Enthusiasts can be a snobby lot on occasion. Obviously not the norm, but at times the “I’ve done it all” attitude can sneak in when not intended. News like this is just the thing to take such types down a peg or two. A roller coaster is coming to a cruise ship.
ACE News will jump in right off the bat and squelch the debate. Yes, it is a powered ride, so by sheer definition, it isn’t a gravity-driven roller coaster. However, this publication isn’t about to pooh-pooh on the novel innovation that Carnival Cruises and Maurer Rides is bringing to the table. It’s sure going to look like a roller coaster. And the cool factor and marketing possibilities can’t be disputed.
A true gravity-driven coaster on a ship would face significant challenges. The undulating surface of the water can produce significant sway to the ship, not to mention what the wind can do. There’s also the issue of sound intensity to relaxing passengers on the upper deck. The roar of a coaster zipping by doesn’t scream “tranquil.” Carnival seems to have landed on a great solution, and coaster fans should love it.
Bolt Photo: Courtesy Carnival. View full-sized image.
Named Bolt, the ride will use the Spike Coaster system. For 720 feet, undulating hills will travel around the upper deck of Mardi Gras.
“With a ship, this opens up a new market,” said Steve Boney with Maurer Rides. “It’s something that’s never been done before. With a ship, there are space limitations and weight limitations. We had to address that from the beginning. That wasn’t a big challenge, but we still had to cross that hurdle. The Spike system is the lightest coaster available.”
The Spike Coaster system was introduced in 2017 at Skyline Park (Bavaria, Germany). There it is named Sky Dragster. Like a Steeplechase coaster, the Spike vehicle seats two riders motorcycle style. Track is on a vertical plane, so to the rider, it almost appears to be a single rail. A second such ride is opening at Mirabilandia (Savio, Italy) this year. On the Mardi Gras, track will be elevated above spectators, giving an extreme sense of height as it encircles the ship’s funnel. The track will rise 187 feet above the surface of the water.
With speed in control of the rider, acceleration of 1.2 Gs can be created. “That’s twice that of a Porsche 911,” said Boney. Bolt should reach 40 mph.
Another nifty factor to consider is the view. Obviously, a landlocked coaster can offer stunning views, but not ones that change each day, or even each hour. Bolt will have some bragging rights with that little detail.
Mardi Gras Photo: Courtesy Carnival. View full-sized image.
The ship is under construction in Finland and once at sea, can transport approximately 5,200 guests on 19 passenger decks. Mardi Gras will be the largest ship in the Carnival fleet when it sets sail from Port Canaveral in 2020. Don’t be surprised if some ACE members will plan to be the first aboard.
— Tim Baldwin
@#$%&!
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