Carnival announces roller coaster on new cruise ship

MIAMI – Carnival Cruise Line plans to launch the first cruise ship with a roller coaster on board.

Carnival announced Thursday that BOLT will circle the top of a new ship, Mardi Gras, when it sets sail in 2020.

The all-electric coaster will allow people to strap in and race along nearly 800 feet (244 metres) of track, 187 feet (57 metres) above sea level. The cars will travel nearly 40 mph (64 kph) and take riders on a series of twists, turns and drops, right around the ship’s whale-tail funnel.

BOLT is being built by Munich-based Maurer Rides. Carnival says the Mardi Gras will be based at a new terminal at Port Canaveral, Florida, and be the first in the new XL-class of larger ships built for Carnival.