Cruise ships are floating resorts packed with everything from multiple restaurants and bars to theaters, rock climbing walls, mini-golf courses, go-kart tracks, and surf simulators. Recently, however, cruise lines have been upping their waterslide game.
In the past few years, popular mainstream cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises, and Norwegian have introduced mind-blowing waterslides, transforming the top decks into aquatic playgrounds.
Royal Caribean, for example, just launched Icon of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship. It features a record-breaking water park with massive slides—Category 6 isn't to be missed!
That's not all, either. Norwegian is debuting the world's first-ever rollercoaster-waterslide hybrid at sea aboard Norwegian Aqua.
Innovative is key when trying to compete in the cruising industry, and these cutting-edge additions highlight how guests are seeking more adrenaline-pumping adventures at sea.
Here's a breakdown of the best cruise ship waterslides at sea!
Category 6
Nothing beats Royal Caribbean's Category 6 Waterpark aboard Icon of the Seas. It's the largest waterpark at sea and features six slides ranging from the Frightening Bolt, the tallest drop waterslide at sea, to the Pressure Drop, the first open freefall waterslide at sea, and the Storm Chasers duo mat racing slides.
All slides are included in your cruise fare, so you don't have to pay admission like CocoCay's Thrill Waterpark. Instead, you're free to return to Category 6 as many times as you'd like during your vacation for no extra charge.
Other slides at Category 6 include Hurricane Hunters, the first family raft slide at sea, and Storm Surge, the first suspended family raft slide at sea.
Perfect Storm
While Category 6 is exclusive to Icon Class ships, that doesn't mean you won't find exciting slides on other vessels in Royal Caribbean's fleet.
The Perfect Storm waterslides encompass two four-deck high racer slides dubbed the "Cyclone" and "Typhoon." Some ships also have a third slide called the Supercall. The Champagne bowl-style slide sends you through a large basin before being shot through a final chute and dropped into a plunge pool.
Available on: Utopia of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Allure of the Seas (after drydock in 2025), Oasis of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Independence of the Seas, and Mariner of the Seas
The Blaster and Riptide
Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas has revamped the Perfect Storm waterslides. Measuring 800 feet, the Blaster is the longest slide at sea. It's more like a water coaster with water jets that move you up, down, and forward.
You will twist and turn around the aft of the ship, flying around the basketball court and FlowRider surf simulator. The slide will even take you over the ship's edge.
The other slide on Navigator of the Seas is the Riptide. This headfirst mat racer slide was the first of its kind at sea and was engineered to give you an intense rush as you race toward the finish line.
Tidal Wave
Liberty of the Seas has the standard Cyclone and Typhoon Perfect Storm waterslides. However, instead of the Supercell, Liberty has the Tidal Wave.
The Tidal Wave mimics what you might feel riding a giant wave. You're sent soaring down a steep hill where gravity takes over and sends you flying up the nearly vertical incline.
The slide is only found on Liberty of the Seas.
WaterWorks
Carnival Cruise Line is a pioneer with ship waterslides. The cruise giant is often cited with having the first waterslide on a cruise ship, having put a small slide board Festivale in 1978. Of course, cruise ships were much smaller back then, so the slide isn't comparable to what you'll find on a Carnival cruise today.
Today, there is at least one slide on most of Carnival's ships. The WaterWorks area varies based on the ship. However, you'll usually find at least one or two slides, a water play area, and interactive features like a dump bucket.
Available on: Carnival Breeze, Carnival Celebration, Carnival Dream, Carnival Elation, Carnival Firenze, Carnival Freedom, Carnival Glory, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Jubilee, Carnival Legend, Carnival Magic, Carnival Miracle, Carnival Panorama, Carnival Paradise, Carnival Pride, Carnival Radiance, Carnival Spirit, Carnival Sunshine, Carnival Sunrise, Carnival Venezia, Carnival Vista, Carnival Splendor, and Mardi Gras
AquaDuck
Though Disney ships don't have the same real estate for the attractions that define their world-class theme parks, Disney managed to bring an iconic experience to sea with the launch of the AquaDuck slide on Disney Dream.
The AquaDuck is a water coaster that soars around the aft of both Dream Class ships. The best part is that it's included in your cruise fare!
The 765-foot waterslide is found on Deck 12 and includes a 4-deck drop, though it isn't a dramatic freefall. It's designed to be appealing to sailors of all ages!
AquaMouse
Disney Cruise Line enhanced the AquaDuck concept on its newest ships, starting with the Disney Wish. Dubbed the "first Disney attraction at sea," the 760-foot slide is just as gentle as the AquaDuck; however, it floats through tubes that show animated Disney shorts.
It's also found on the Disney Treasure and Disney Destiny (launching in 2025). The theme of the shorts is different on each ship. For example, as you ride the AquaMouse on Disney Wish, you'll float through "Scuba Scramble" scenes, whereas on Disney Treasure, the shorts are themed around "Swiss Meltdown."
Disney Destiny's shorts will be centered around the ship's theme of heroes and villains.
Aqua Park (MSC Cruises)
MSC Cruises is trying to move off the backburner. All new builds since 2017 have a massive waterpark packed with waterslides and other inactive features.
For example, the brand-new North America-based MSC World Europa will include a new outdoor park called The Harbour. Inside The Harbour, passengers will find the Aqua Park with a splash area and various waterslides, including a virtual drop slide and raft slide with virtual reality.
MSC World America isn't the first cruise ship in MSC's fleet to mesh VR with water activities. MSC Seashore and MSC World Europa both incorporate virtual reality into their waterparks.
Available on: MSC Seascape, MSC Seashore, MSC Seaview, MSC Seaside, MSC Meraviglia, MSC Bellissima, MSC Grandiosa, MSC Virtuosa, MSC Euribia, MSC World Europa, and MSC World America (launching 2025)
Aqua Park (Norwegian Cruise Line)
Before Icon of the Seas, Norwegian Cruise Line held the record for the most waterslides on a cruise ship with Norwegian Breakaway. The namesake Breakaway Class ship has five slides onboard, ranging from twin free-fall slides to side-by-side racer slides.
However, NCL has been a leading line in innovative waterslides at sea, starting with Norwegian Epic in 2010. The only Epic Class ship has three large slides onboard, including a 200-foot-long slide.
Available on: Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Getaway, Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Joy, Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Encore.
The Wave
Norwegian strayed from the Aqua Park concept with its Prima Class.
While these are the line's most innovative ships, they aren't the largest. As such, some cuts had to be made to make way for features like the tech-immersive mini-golf course.
That doesn't mean that waterslides are absent, though. Both Norwegian Prima and Viva have The Wave, Norwegian's first tidal wave waterslide. There's also a kids' aqua park with cascading water features and other "splashtacular" experiences.
Aqua Slidecoaster
Upon Norwegian Aqua's launch, she'll be the only cruise ship in the world with the Aqua Slidecoaster, the world’s first hybrid rollercoaster and waterslide at sea.
The two-person slide launches you into a thrilling adventure at high speeds soaring around the ship's funnel. The dual slide, which measures three stories high, will feature a magnetic lift.
It will also be on Norwegian Luna.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
