Today's cruise ships are a far cry from the bare-bones vessels that launched in the 70s and 80s, featuring everything from ice skating rinks to zip lines, go-kart tracks, skydiving simulators, and more. Cruise lines continue to push the boundaries of what's possible at sea, too.
In 2021, for example, Carnival Cruise Line launched the first-ever ship with a roller coaster. BOLT: The Ultimate Sea Coaster is a unique onboard thrill that's available exclusively on Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee.
This attraction is an adrenaline-junkie's dream that takes you twisting, turning, and flying around the top deck of Carnival's jaw-dropping Excel Class ships.
As a huge roller coaster fan (and Universal Orlando annual passholder!), BOLT was on my must-do list during a recent Mardi Gras sailing.
I knew the experience wouldn't be comparable to rides like Velocicoaster or Stardust Racers, but I couldn't not try out the ship's roller coaster — even if it did cost a staggering $15 per person (yup, that means a family of four would have to shell out $60 to ride BOLT).
In this article, I'll go over everything you need to know about the Carnival cruise roller coaster and give you insider tips to help make sure you get the most out of your ride.
What Carnival cruise ship has a roller coaster?
As of April 2026, BOLT: The Ultimate Sea Coaster is only on three cruise ships: Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee.
Carnival has also announced that it does not have plans for the attraction to return on Carnival Festivale or Tropicale. Instead, the cruise line plans on making the water park area bigger than ever before.
In addition to the three Carnival Excel Class ships, the Disney Adventure also has a one-of-a-kind roller coaster on its top deck.
BOLT weight limit and height requirement
As with most amusement park rides, Carnival's roller coaster has strict height and weight limits.
BOLT weight limit: 300lbs
BOLT minimum height: 4'4"
BOLT maximum height: 6'5"
Where is the Carnival cruise ship roller coaster located?
BOLT is located within the ship's Ultimate Playground zone, AKA your one-stop shop to all the vessel's most fun attractions, including the WaterWorks aqua park, mini-golf course, sports court, and ropes course.
The entrance to the ride's queue is at the aft of Deck 18. As you ascend the stairs, you're greeted by a setup that feels surprisingly familiar if you have spent any time at major theme parks.
Although I can't imagine the line ever filling up, the winding queue added to the overall excitement ahead of boarding the ride and gearing up for the first launch.
Carnival cruise roller coaster review
Not wanting to miss our once-in-a-lifetime chance to ride a roller coaster on a cruise ship, my partner and I quickly made our booking through the mobile HUB app on embarkation day.
Our initial reservation was for 10:00 a.m. on a sea day. However, due to high winds, the ride remained closed, and we were forced to reschedule.
Rather than chance it on the last sea day of the cruise, we shifted gears and rebooked our time slot for a port day while the vessel was docked in Amber Cove.
We returned a few minutes before our 4:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. time slot. However, the BOLT attendant at the bottom of the stairs didn't give us any trouble.
We proceeded directly up to the queue and were surprised to find no line — we were the only ones there for the roller coaster!
The ride operators quickly ushered us over to the scale, where we were weighed to make sure that our combined weight didn't exceed the ride's maximum. Then, we were instructed to place all loose articles, including glasses, hats, lanyards, and cell phones, into the small cubbies.
We then made our way to the BOLT roller coaster car, which looked similar to a jet ski. My partner and I sat in the straddle-style seats, with her taking the front.
After securing the heavy-duty seat belt that locks into place, the attendant told us how to use the hand throttles for speed boosts — and that was that! As soon as the light turned green, we were off.
Initially, I was worried that I'd feel as though we were going too slow, reaching speeds of just up to 40mph. Now, I'm not sure if it was the salty sea breeze or pure adrenaline, but that concern was gone almost immediately after the ride launched.
After zooming around the top deck, we slowed down as we rolled back into the boarding area, just to take off again on the second lap around the track.
The lap seemed quicker than the first, perhaps since we knew all of the twists and turns! Less than two minutes after initially taking off, we were unbuckling our seat belts and talking about how much fun we'd had.
BOLT roller coaster tips
If riding Carnival's roller coaster is on your must-do list, here are my best tips after trying it out for myself:
- Reserve a time slot early in the sailing. That way, you have time to reschedule if there's inclement weather.
- Dress appropriately with closed-toed shoes. Swimwear isn't permitted, either.
- Don't expect the same thrills as you would on a major coaster.
Final thoughts: Is the Carnival cruise roller coaster worth $15?
If you're anything like me, you can't say no to a roller coaster — for better or worse (I wish I could go back in time and tell myself that riding Stardust Chasers at Epic Universe back-to-back in the very front and back seats wasn't necessarily the smartest idea for my motion sickness, but I digress).
Carnival's roller coaster doesn't come close to the major thrills I'm used to, but that doesn't mean that it is disappointing. By managing your expectations, you can thoroughly enjoy the ride, just like I did!
I'm glad I paid $15 for the experience and would gladly do it again on future Carnival sailings. However, I don't think I'd be willing to pay to ride the coaster twice during a single sailing, especially with Excel Class vessels having so many other fun things to do!
Right now, there are only single-ride passes available, but I would be curious as to what Carnival might charge for an unlimited pass. For example, if the cruise line offered an "all-you-can-ride" pass for around $50 on a seven-night cruise, it could easily become a popular add-on for thrill-seekers — myself included.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
In addition to writing for Cruise.Blog, Elizabeth has bylines in Business Insider, Royal Caribbean Blog, and Cruiseshipfood.com.
