If you’ve ever looked up while standing on a Carnival ship and thought, Wait… is that a roller coaster?—you’re not alone. And now it’s official: Carnival Cruise Line’s Bolt: Ultimate Sea Coaster has been named the Best Cruise Ship Feature of 2025, according to Cruise Hive readers.
What makes the win interesting is that it’s not new. Bolt has now taken the top spot five years in a row, earning the title every single year since it first debuted aboard Mardi Gras in 2021. In other words, it's a certified fan-favorite.
Bolt is the first roller coaster ever built at sea, and even if it’s not competing with massive land-based coasters, the fact that it exists on a moving ship is still impressive. Built by German manufacturer Maurer Rides, the track wraps 430 degrees around the ship’s signature whale-tail funnel, delivering ocean views along the way. Riders control their own speed using a motorcycle-style handlebar, with an optional boost for extra thrills.
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Bolt is on all three of Carnival’s Excel-class ships: Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee. But don't expect to see it rolling out again: Carnival has already confirmed that future Excel-class ships will not include Bolt. Instead, upcoming vessels like Carnival Festivale and Carnival Tropicale will feature a much larger water park called Carnival WaterWorks Ultra.
The ride sits 187 feet above sea level, reaches 1.2 Gs and offers just enough airtime on its two floater hills to make it feel legitimately thrilling—especially when you remember you’re on a cruise ship. It’s also one of the few ship attractions that feels distinctly Carnival, blending spectacle, fun and bragging rights.
Bolt comes with an extra fee, height and weight restrictions apply, and operating hours depend on weather and scheduling. But judging by the votes—22.9% put it ahead of every other onboard feature—it’s still the thing many cruisers remember most.
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Several other onboard attractions almost edged out the competition—pun intended. Celebrity Cruises’ Edge-class ships earned high marks for Magic Carpet, a multi-use platform that shifts roles throughout the day, from lounge to dining venue. Close behind was MSC Cruises’ Cliffhanger, a high-flying swing ride debuting on MSC World America, which quickly became one of the most talked-about new thrills at sea.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Aqua Slidecoaster—found on Norwegian Aqua and upcoming Norwegian Luna—also landed near the top, blending waterslide elements with coaster-style movement, while Royal Caribbean’s Crown’s Edge ropes course continued to draw attention for its edge-of-the-ship design. Rounding out the list was Disney Cruise Line’s AquaMouse, a family-friendly attraction that combines water ride elements with classic Disney storytelling.
For now, Bolt remains the Carnival GOAT—and a reminder that sometimes the best cruise ship feature isn’t always the next best thing, but an oldie and a goodie.
Related: Carnival Is Adding More Adults-Only Cruises Including This Mediterranean Hot Spot
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