We’re not talking about a couple of modest water slides here. The honest-to-goodness water park will span about six acres and include 19 different slides along with a host of other attractions. The focal point and highlight will be Tidal Tower, which at 170 feet will tie the record for the tallest water slide tower in North America. NCL hasn’t provided details, but the line does say that two of the tower’s slides, on which guests will use inner tubes, will take advantage of the extreme height and offer “splashing drops and thrilling climbs…for an exhilarating ride.” With eight slides in total, the tower will also include mat-racing slides and body slides. NCL says that the topmost slides will include conveyor belts to lift the tubes up to the starting point, thereby giving guests a break from having to lug them. (But guests will apparently still have to climb up a gazillion steps to get themselves to the slides.)

There will be additional racing slides at the park’s Cliffside Cove. The area will also include two “cliff jump” slides, so named because they will abruptly end in midair leaving guests to freefall into a splashdown pool. One will end 15 feet and the other will end 10 feet above the water. NCL says that the cliff jump slides will be a cruise industry first.

Rounding out Great Tides Waterpark will be an interactive splash zone structure with toned-down slides for younger splashers, all kinds of sprayers and water cannons, and a tipping bucket–a water park staple–that will rain down on guests every few minutes. Partially encircling the park will be a jazzed-up river that will include a faster-than-lazy current and send passengers on a trip through a tunnel that will include a “dreamlike bioluminescent scene” according to NCL. The 270-acre Great Stirrup Cay also features beaches, a huge heated pool, a spa, water sports, dining spots, bars, and activities such as jet skiing.

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Royal Caribbean is also building a waterpark at its new private destination, Perfect Day Mexico. That’ll be the place where the other record-breaking, 170-foot-tall water slide tower (to be dubbed Jaguar’s Peak) will be found. I got to experience Daredevil’s Peak, the tallest water slide on the 135-foot-tall Daredevil’s Tower at Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay island retreat in the Bahamas. When it debuted, it was the tallest water slide tower in North America.

It’s since been topped by the 142-foot-tall Thrillagascar and Jungle Jammer slides at DreamWorks Water Park in New Jersey’s American Dream retail, dining, and entertainment complex and the 145-foot-tall The Rise of Icarus that opened in 2024 at Mt. Olympus Water and Theme Park in Wisconsin Dells. NCL’s Tidal Tower and Royal Caribbean’s Jaguar’s Peak may be able to claim North American bragging rights, but they fall far short of Icon Tower at Meryal, the water park that opened in 2023 in Qatar. That monster reaches a staggering 260 feet into the air.

Have you been on a cruise ship with water slides? Would you prefer to chill on the beach at a private island getaway, or does a waterpark sound appealing to you?

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The ride aboard the Norwegian Cruise line ship is being billed as “the world’s first hybrid rollercoaster and waterslide at sea.” It will use a single magnetically launched catch car that will accelerate two two-passenger rafts on side-by-side, dueling tracks up a lift hill and into enclosed waterslide tubes. Norwegian is also touting the attraction as the longest and fastest slides at sea.

According to the ride’s manufacturer, Wiegand Waterrides, the ride is designed to launch from 0 to 50km/h (31 mph). The Aqua Slidecoaster would seem to be more accurately referred to by the industry term, water coaster. As for claiming to have the first such ride at sea, the Disney Dream introduced the AquaDuck water coaster when it took its maiden voyage in 2010. In 2022, Disney Cruse Line debuted the AquaMouse, a water coaster that incorporates projected media and effects, on the Disney Wish. After slowly climbing its lift hill, the mildly thrilling attraction toddles along as it winds it way around the ship’s deck. Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas also has a water coaster, The Blaster. While Norwegian’s Slidecoaster will be faster than other cruise line water coasters, it won’t match the higher-speed intensity of the Bolt roller coasters that can be found on Carnival ships.

Disney’s AquaMouse uses a conveyor belt lift hill and partly relies on gravity to propel its rafts. As with many water coasters, the attraction also incorporates water jets along the route to catapult the vehicles uphill. However, there are also plenty of water coasters that, like Aqua Slidecoaster, use magnetic motors to send rafts racing through their courses. One such ride is Krakatau Aqua Coaster at Universal Orlando’s Volcano Bay. The Norwegian ride will be the first water coaster on a cruise ship to feature a magnetic launch. It will also be the first to use Wiegand’s Slide Coaster system. The company’s concept is different from other water coasters in that it will use a magnetically launched catch car on a roller coaster-like steel track as opposed to magnetic motors embedded in the flume. But the raft vehicles themselves will wind their way through more conventional water slide flumes.

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The 3,571-passenger Norwegian Aqua, which will have ports of call in the Caribbean, will also include a kids’ Aqua Park with splash pads and other ways to get wet. Passengers will also be able to brave The Drop, a 10-story tall freefall dry slide that will wind along one side of the ship. The similar Norwegian Luna, which will launch in 2026, will offer an Aqua Slidecoaster, Aqua Park, and The Drop as well.

The Cliffhanger will be the first pendulum swing ride aboard a cruise ship. It will feature two side-by-side, two-passenger gondolas that will swing back and forth. While it won’t match the height, speed, or sheer thrills of swing rides such as Twizzlers Twisted Gravity coming to Hersheypark next year, it will dangle riders alongside the ship’s top deck, some 164 feet above the ocean.

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Accommodating 6,762 guests, the MSC World America will also sail to destinations in the Caribbean. Other activities will include Jaw Drop, an 11-deck-tall dry slide that guests will enter through the mouth of a shark; a high trail ropes course; and bumper cars in the MSC Sportplex.

Theme park touches, from costumed characters, to go-karts, to laser tag, to VR experiences, and much more abound on cruise ships. In 2022, MSC debuted Robotron, a KUKA robotic arm thrill ride, aboard MSC Seascape. Clearly, passengers want plenty of park-like fun when they set sail, and cruise lines are only too happy to accommodate them.

As theme park fans, are you drawn to the attractions aboard cruise ships? Might you book a cruise on the Norwegian Aqua or the MSC World America, partly to give the rides a whirl?

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Veritable theme parks at sea, all of Disney’s vessels are jam-packed with things to do that draw heavily on the company’s vast library of characters and stories. Disney Destiny will have much in common with its sister ships, the Disney Wish, which set sail in 2022, and the Disney Treasure, which will take its maiden voyage this December.

Among the highlights will be Pride Lands: Feast of The Lion King, a dinner theater-like experience that will pair a show based on the beloved movie with a menu that I imagine will include at least some African-inspired dishes. Other restaurants will include Worlds of Marvel and the retro 1923, both of which debuted on the Wish. The Destiny version of the Marvel eatery will shine the spotlight on Rocket and Groot from the “Guardians of the Galaxy” franchise. Classic rock songs will surely be in the mix at the restaurant.

Unlike other cruise lines, liquor isn’t as much of a draw aboard the family-focused Disney ships. (Another cruising staple, casinos, are nowhere to be found on them either.) But passengers looking to imbibe will be able to order a drink at some wildly unique watering holes. The adults-only De Vil’s piano lounge will be decked out in Cruella’s signature white, black, and red tones. Presumably, no Dalmatians will be harmed to develop the bar. Also, I’m pretty sure De Vil’s will not be a designated smoking area, even for those sporting the villainess’ trademark cigarette holder.

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Guests will literally be able to drink up me hearties (yo ho) in the Cask and Cannon, a pub that will be adorned with booty courtesy of certain Caribbean-based pirates. Patrons might need some liquid courage to face the specters looming in the tricked-out Haunted Mansion Parlor. Things are bound to get spooky in The Sanctum as well, which will feature sorcerers and otherworldly artifacts courtesy of Marvel’s Doctor Strange. Alas, unlike the Wish, there will be no Star Wars-based Hyperspace Lounge, nor its wacky $5,000 cocktail on the Destiny.

A statue of T’Challa, the Black Panther and Wakandan king, will greet passengers as they make their way onto the Disney Destiny via the ship’s Grand Hall. A huge likeness of do-gooder Spider-Man will grace the stern of the ship. A rogues’ gallery of villains, however, will abound throughout the vessel. If they can gather the courage, guests will be able to meet and greet baddies such as Captain Hook, Oogie Boogie, Maleficent, Hades, and the dastardly Ms. de Vil.

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As on the Wish, folks on the new ship will be able to careen aboard the AquaMouse themed water coaster. The attraction will present four different “shows,” which are abbreviated “Mickey Mouse” shorts shown on a series of screens that line the ride’s lift hill (which Disney refers to as a “magic tunnel”). One of the shorts will be “Sing a Silly Song,” which will star Mickey and Minnie as they journey up Villain Mountain. (I told you the ship will be full of villains.)

Accommodations will include inside staterooms, oceanview staterooms (with a porthole), and verandah staterooms with outside decks as well as more pricey suites that will be themed to “Hercules” and “The Incredibles.” The Destiny will embark on four- and five-night cruises from Fort Lauderdale to the Western Caribbean and The Bahamas. All sailings will include a stop at the company’s private island, Disney Castaway Cay, or its new port of call, Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. Some itineraries will visit both island getaways.

Would you want to hang with a bunch of Disney villains on the Destiny? Might you plan a vacation aboard the new ship?

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Like that ship, the 4,000-passenger Treasure will forego most of the earlier vessels’ retro trappings and adopt a more modern and playful look and feel. It will set the tone and its overarching theme of adventure with a flourish in the cavernous, three-story Grand Hall, which will be the first space passengers encounter as they embark. Outfitted with dramatic splashes of blue and gold, it will pay homage to Disney’s “Aladdin.”

“The Disney Treasure will bring brand-new stories to life, blending one-of-a-kind experiences with the extraordinary entertainment, world-class dining, and unparalleled hospitality that make every sailing so memorable,” said Sharon Siskie, the cruise line’s senior vice president and general manager.

Instead of the Wish’s Frozen-themed dining experience, the new ship will draw on the Disney and Pixar film, “Coco,” for its dinner theater. Whereas the adventurous menu on the other ship includes nods to Scandinavian fare, the Treasure’s passengers will be treated to Mexican cuisine. The other signature dining room will duplicate the Wish’s Worlds of Marvel, including the interactive, surprisingly funny, and action-packed “Quantum Encounter” presentation that accompanies the meal. On the Treasure, however, guests will spend two evenings mingling with the heroes of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and will participate in a second, to-be-announced experience there. Because of its seven-night itinerary, passengers will visit the ship’s three main dining rooms, which will also duplicate the Wish’s elegant 1923 restaurant, at least twice during their ocean getaway.

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Lest you think Disney cruises are exclusively focused on kids, the new ship will introduce compelling new places to imbibe adult beverages. The Periscope Pub will draw inspiration from both the 1954 film, “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,” and its defunct namesake Disney World attraction. There’s no word whether the menu might include giant squid calamari. (But you have to admit, it’s a pretty nifty idea). The Skipper Society, meanwhile, will celebrate the legendary Jungle Cruise. It’s likely that the lounge will adopt the tiki bar vibe of Trader Sam’s. Reportedly, there will be at least one more high-concept lounge. Given what’s been announced thus far, it’s a good bet that it will honor a theme park attraction as well and have something to do with “adventure.” Apparently, there will be no Star Wars-based Hyperspace Lounge, nor its wacky $5,000 cocktail on the Treasure.

Like the Wish, the new ship will include AquaMouse, which Disney calls an “attraction at sea.” Given that it is essentially a water coaster with some video screens tacked onto a “magic tunnel” covering the lift hill, that’s a charitable description. It will feature a new story, “Curse of the Golden Egg,” in the manic style of the Mickey Mouse cartoon shorts (which, curiously, the company ended in July after a 10-year run).

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The Treasure’s Walt Disney Theater will showcase a Broadway-style production of “Beauty and the Beast” as well as “Disney Seas the Adventure,” a rollicking jukebox musical that debuted on the Wish and stars Goofy and his Fab 5 buddies. The cruise line says a third show will be announced. Like its sister ship, the new ocean liner will also offer two onboard cinemas showing first-run films from Disney’s trove of studios, a sports and rec space, a nighttime Pirate’s Rockin’ Parlay Party complete with fireworks and a live yo-hoing band, and programming for toddlers, kids, and teens that incorporates Star Wars, Marvel, and other popular properties under Disney’s vast umbrella.

The ship’s itineraries and ports of call have not been revealed, so it’s unclear whether the Treasure will be stopping at Lighthouse Point, the cruise line’s new retreat on the island of Eleuthera in The Bahamas that is scheduled to open next summer, and/or at Castaway Cay, the private Bahamian island that Disney has operated since it got into the cruising biz.

90% of the the ship’s 1,256 staterooms will have ocean views, and 70% of them will include verandahs. Booking reservations can be made starting September 20. You can learn more about the Disney Treasure in a reveal video from the cruise line.

Once the province of older fuddy-duddies, Disney Cruise Line has played a major role in broadening the cruise industry audience and infusing it with Disney’s legendary storytelling dazzle-dazzle. The Treasure will continue that tradition in what appears will be grand style–and a sense of adventure.

Have you been on a Disney cruise? Might you book a sailing on the Disney Treasure. What features most excite you?

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Like Castaway Cay, DCL’s other Bahamian port of call, the new destination will include a family beach, a quieter, adults-only beach, recreational activities such as a volleyball court and a gaming pavilion, and nature trails. There will also be add-ons available to rent such as private cabanas, a variety of boats, snorkeling gear, and bicycles.

Whereas the buildings at Castaway Cay go for a faux primitive look with corrugated metal roofs and the like, the architecture at Lighthouse Point will feature a distinctive, colorful style that Disney says is being designed with the input of local artists. It is part of what the company characterizes as an embrace and celebration of the islands’ culture. For example, Bahamian artists will be on hand to share their work and lead special programs in a dedicated art and culture pavilion.

“At Disney Cruise Line, we have a deep appreciation for the Bahamian community,” said Sharon Siskie, the division’s senior vice president and general manager. “With the opening of Lighthouse Point, visitors from around the world will experience the magic of The Bahamas in a new way, one that truly celebrates its natural and cultural beauty.”

The retreat will also include a water play area with a couple of slides, sprayers, and other interactive elements as well as pint-sized slides for the littlest guests. It won’t be nearly as big as the full-featured water park at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island in The Bahamas. But it will be more integrated with the destination than the water slides at Castaway Cay, which are perched offshore on a floating platform, and seem like an afterthought. The new destination will also include a kids’ club themed to (the original) The Little Mermaid. Among its highlights will be a splash pad.

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Unlike tiny Castaway Cay, which is a private island that is used exclusively by Disney Cruise Lines (and reportedly was once an infamous hideaway for bootleggers and later, drug smugglers), Eleuthera is a decidedly non-private, 100-mile-long island with a number of settlements and a population of about 11,000. In fact, Carnival operates its own port-of-call destination, Princess Cays, on Eleuthera. Lighthouse Point will be located on the southern tip of the island.

In other Disney news, new-old CEO Bob Iger has had some interesting things to share lately. About a month ago, he said that the company is planning to add an Avatar “experience” at Disneyland. Given the success of James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water sequel (generating a cool $2.3 billion at the box office thus far) and the fact that the movie franchise now falls under the Disney umbrella, it’s no surprise the company would want to capitalize on its mojo. But what form might the new park experience take?

Could it be a one-off, modest attraction at the space-challenged California resort? Or might it be a full-formed land like Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Florida’s Walt Disney World? It certainly seems as if it just might be the latter.

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Referring to Pandora, Iger said, “You have a pretty good idea of what Imagineers are capable of,” when he first made the announcement. That strongly implies an Animal Kingdom-level land with multiple E-ticket rides along the lines of the incredible Avatar Flight of Passage.

A week ago, D23, the company-sanctioned-and-operated fan club, made this pronouncement on its site: “While details on the coming Avatar experience remain under wraps, it promises to be as amazing as those found at Walt Disney World Resort.” It followed up by teasing, “Stay tuned for updates!” Assuming it’s a done deal, where might Disney shoehorn the new land? I guess we’ll just have to stay tuned.

In a candid acknowledgment of fans’ pent-up frustration, Iger acknowledged a few days ago that prices are getting out of hand at the parks.

“I always believed that Disney was a brand that needs to be accessible,” he said at a conference. “And I think that in our zeal to grow profits, we may have been a little bit too aggressive about some of our pricing. And I think there is a way to continue to grow our business but be smarter about how we price so that we maintain that brand value of accessibility.”

Some of Disney’s price hikes and added fees were introduced under former CEO, Bob Chapek, and some date back to Iger’s previous reign. In the short time that he has been back in the saddle, Iger has overseen the elimination of charges for overnight self-parking at Disney World hotels and the addition of days that Disneyland offers its lowest price tickets, among other guest-friendly changes. Here’s hoping that he and Disney Parks Chairman Josh D'Amaro will continue to act on excessive pricing practices and policies such as park reservations that have made going to the parks needlessly challenging.

What are your thought about Disney Cruise Line’s new destination, Lighthouse Point? What do you think/hope the new Avatar-themed experience at Disneyland might be? And what do you make of Iger’s acknowledgment of the parks’ overly aggressive pricing? What else do you think Disney should do to make the parks more accessible and easier to experience?

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Launched in 2021, Carnival Cruise Line’s massive Mardi Gras packs a lot of fun into the latest “Fun Ship.” The Excel-class vessel, which boasts 20 decks and can accommodate over 6,000 guests, is the largest in the company’s fleet and among the biggest in the world. It is named for the cruise line’s first ship, the TSS Mardi Gras, which set sail 50 years ago.

“We showed what cruising could and should be,” says Christine Duffy, the cruise line’s president. By challenging the stuffy status quo and making cruising affordable and accessible to the masses, Carnival changed the industry. “We moved away from being formal and having different classes to an experience that was a vacation for everyone–for most Americans,” she adds.

Yes, the original Mardi Gras introduced a more relaxed experience. But it placed an even higher premium on making the experience fun–hence the company’s “Fun Ships” tagline. In the five decades since Carnival grew into the world’s largest cruise vacation company, the nature of fun aboard its ships has evolved dramatically. The new Mardi Gras draws a great deal of inspiration from parks and attractions. I’d go so far as to characterize it as a theme park at sea for all that it offers–not the least of which is an actual, kick-ass roller coaster.

Park fans (and since you are here at About Theme Parks, I’m guessing that includes you) would feel right at home aboard the ship. Let’s explore some of the many ways in which Mardi Gras is like a floating theme park.

Yes, there is a wonderful coaster bolted to the ship

Asked how the company arrived at the bold decision to introduce the first roller coaster on a cruise ship, Duffy says that it is always looking for ways to make its onboard experience even more enticing for kids and families. (Fun fact: Carnival sails more children than any other cruise line, welcoming more than one million of them annually pre-pandemic.) “We thought, what could we do to take it up a notch?”

Lest you think Bolt: Ultimate Sea Coaster is an off-the-shelf kiddie model, rest assured that the custom-made ride definitely kicks it up a notch. Because of space and other practical constraints, it’s not all that tall or long. While its top speed of 40 mph may not come close to breaking any records, it is nonetheless an exhilarating experience. It is also an unusual experience–and not just because passengers find themselves screaming on the high seas.

A traditional roller coaster, which incorporates a lift hill and uses gravity to deliver its thrills, would be difficult to pull off on a ship that’s constantly moving. Bolt, which is designed by Maurer Rides, overcomes the challenge by using a powered rack and pinion system that propels its cars along a single-rail track. The unique, interactive system also includes motorcycle-like throttles and boost buttons that allow passengers to control the speed and acceleration of the ride vehicles. You can read more about Maurer’s innovative Spike line of coasters in my Funworld column.

Each car gets to take two laps around Mardi Gras’ top deck, soaring up and down small hills, circumnavigating the ship’s iconic funnel, and hitting a long straightaway where passengers can put the pedal to the metal. It is a wild and wooly ride. I wrote an in-depth review of Bolt in Paste Magazine.

These water slides doesn’t skimp on the thrills

It’s not a full-fledged water park per se, but WaterWorks, which is adjacent to Bolt, has some mighty impressive slides. Orange Thunder features a launch chamber in which passengers enter, cross their arms and legs, and nervously await a “3…2…1” countdown before the floor suddenly unlatches to release them into a near vertical drop. It’s surprisingly intense.

Likewise, Blue Lightning, which guests navigate by lying prone on mats, is so potent, I flipped over about halfway through its course. Rounding out WaterWorks is a twisty body slide, a huge dump bucket that unleashes a torrent of water every few minutes, and some smaller slides and water features for tykes.

For Caribbean itineraries that include a stop at Carnival’s Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic, the private port includes a water slide as well as a splash zone for little kids. For an additional fee, it also offers a zipline that sends guests soaring above Amber Cove’s huge pool.

Speaking of a zipline, there is one embedded in the ropes course on Mardi Gras’ upper deck. It’s not especially long or fast, but it is positioned just over the edge of the ship. Guests, therefore, careen 19 decks above the ocean. I’m a bit chagrined to admit that I–Mr. I’ve Never Met a Roller Coaster I Wouldn’t Ride–chickened out and took the bypass route on the ropes course to avoid the zipline. Even though I knew I was safely harnessed to the track, it freaked me out to step off the ledge and zip along on a moving ship while dangling some 200 feet in the air. (Mind you, I’ve braved some pretty wild ziplines, including one quite high in the mountains at Big Sky Montana. I can’t explain why I met my match aboard the Mardi Gras.)

Themed lands and scrumptious food

It wouldn’t be a theme park without themed lands. It also wouldn’t be a theme park without great things to eat. The Carnival ship boasts a number of whimsical zones, many of which feature dining options that support their themes.

Befitting its name, Mardi Gras offers a French Quarter neighborhood anchored by Emeril’s Bistro 1396. Developed by New Orleans celebrity chef, Emeril Lagasse, the eatery serves delicious, adventurous fare such as Citrus Pain Perdu, a take on French toast that bathes brioche in grand marnier, vanilla cream, strawberry compote, and a subtle orange zest. Yum! Sweet Potato Waffles are also a great choice. Emeril’s is not included in the dining plan, but breakfast entrees are well worth the additional $5 surcharge.

The Summer Landing zone is where Guy’s [as in celeb chef Guy Fieri] Pig & Anchor Smokehouse and Brewhouse is located, while La Piazza features the casual Italian restaurant, Cucina del Capitano. If you want to splurge during a Mardi Gras cruise and perhaps celebrate a special occasion, I’d highly recommend the elegant restaurant, Rudi’s Seagrill, presided over by noted chef, Rudi Sodamin. As something of a cioppino fanatic, I was blown away by Rudi‘s take on the Italian fisherman’s stew. Beautifully presented, it was loaded with seafood in a delicate and supremely tasty tomato broth.

There are plenty of dishes commonly associated with theme parks available throughout the ship. With wood-fired ovens, flour, and olive oil all imported from Italy, the perfectly charred, Neapolitan pies served at Pizzeria del Capitano are slices of heaven. No kidding, this place would be a huge hit in Brooklyn. Fieri does double duty on Mardi Gras, by serving sinfully delicious burgers slathered in “donkey sauce” at Guy’s Burger Joint. If fried chicken is more your thing, Shaq O’Neal, who serves as Carnival’s “chief fun officer,” introduced his Big Chicken eatery aboard the ship. Its flavorful fare is a cut above Popeye’s and KFC.

The BlueIguana Cantina offers made-to-order tacos and burritos that are superb. Consider getting a tasty breakfast burrito at the taqueria. Carnival introduced a new concept, Street Eats, on the Mardi Gras. Drawing inspiration from food trucks (and perhaps food carts at theme parks?), a rotating menu of items sourced from around the world is served daily at the walk-up counters. I couldn't get enough of intoxicating dishes such as sesame chicken wontons, spicy beef bao buns, and utappam, an Indian lentil and rice pancake that was to die for.

As is the case on all Carnival ships, there are Swirls, where passengers can serve themselves as much frozen yogurt as their hearts desire (and their stomachs can tolerate) 24 hours a day. Even better, the Lido buffet makes different flavors of creamy, delicious gelato, such as coconut, hazelnut, and tiramisu, fresh daily.

On with the shows

Theme parks and cruise ships are known for their shows, and Mardi Gras does not disappoint. Ambitious productions, complete with digital projections, hydraulic lifts, rigging that takes performers overhead above the audience, and other state-of-the-art enhancements, are staged in both its main theater and its multi-purpose Grand Central Atrium. There are music venues throughout the ship with a wide array of styles represented.

You want costumed characters? How about the Cat in the Hat, Thing 1 and Thing 2, and other Dr. Seuss favorites? They are featured in children’s programming aboard the ship and can also be found at the Green Eggs and Ham character breakfast.

There is mini-golf, an arcade, and other fun available. Of course, it’s not all theme parks all the time (as much as that might sound appealing to park nerds like us). There is plenty more to recommend Mardi Gras, including nicely appointed and thoughtfully laid-out staterooms, the first eco-friendly, liquefied natural gas-powered cruise ship in North America, and, of course, a large casino and lots of places to get adult beverages. And when folks want to chill out from all the activity, there are quiet spots with hot tubs, cushy lounge chairs, and ultra-comfortable beds–where park nerds like us can dream about taking another ride on the first roller coaster at sea.

The cruise line is planning to launch its second Excel-class ship, Carnival Celebration, later this year. It will also feature an onboard Bolt roller coaster.

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Might you be interested in booking a cruise on Carnival’s Mardi Gras? What do you think about the trend of cruise lines borrowing liberally from theme parks?

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From stem to stern, the Wish distinguishes itself. Whereas the line’s other ships go for a classic, retro, steamship look and feel, the Wish has a decidedly contemporary aesthetic. Instead of polished brass, dark woods, and nautical callbacks, there are warm tones, occasional splashes of bright colors, and playful, inviting touches. The Wish asserts its personality the moment you step onto the ship.

Be wowed by The Grand Hall

Featuring a statue of Cinderella, who holds court at the bottom of a sweeping staircase in her belle-of-the-ball regalia, the three-story-tall Grand Hall makes a dramatic statement. Looming above the space is an enormous chandelier adorned with a wishing star. The fixture is meant to represent an upside-down Cinderella’s dress as it transforms into a gown according to Dan Soto, VP of technology and digital for Disney Cruise Line.

“The theme of the Disney Wish is enchantment, which is so core to Disney stories,” he says. Soto adds that unlike the company’s other ships, which have three elevator bays, the Wish has two. “That gave us the opportunity to create this incredible atrium space,” he explains.

By the way, despite its fairytale castle inspiration and the presence of the legendary princess, the hall, as well as the rest of the ship, does not scream “Disney.” Sure, the branding is ever-present, but it’s not so in-your-face as to be overwhelming.

Go back in time to 1923

Guests can get their fix of dark wood, polished brass, and other retro stylings in the lovely 1923 dining room accessed via the Grand Hall. Themed to the year that the Disney company was founded, the handsome, Art Deco-inspired space features displays of over 900 drawings, animation cels, and other objects from the studio’s archives. With jazz renditions of songs from the Disney canon playing in the background, the ambiance is chic and charming.

Oh, and the food is wonderful. 1923 is one of three dining rooms that guests experience aboard the Wish. I cover them in detail, as well as other dining experiences on the ship in a separate article.

Indulge your inner Wookiee at Star Wars: Hyperspace Lounge

There are plenty of places to grab an adult beverage on the ship, including The Bayou, a New Orleans-themed lounge that pays homage to “The Princess and the Frog.” But the one watering hole that everybody will want to experience is the “Star Wars”-based Hyperspace Lounge. I wrote about the bar and its wacky $5,000 cocktail and was the first to report what patrons get for the out-of-this-world price.

See a show (or two or three)

Disney has long been praised for its elaborate, Broadway-level shows aboard its ships. The Wish is no different. During the christening cruise I was on, we saw snippets of two of the shows, and they were spectacular. “Disney Seas the Adventure” is a jukebox musical of sorts anchored (see what I did there?) by Captain Minnie and wannabe Captain Goofy. It weaves together scenes featuring characters and songs from a number of Disney and Pixar films, including “Finding Nemo,” “Hercules,” and “Brave.”

“Disney The Little Mermaid” was even more enchanting. While it includes familiar tunes and characters, it is a “bit of a twist on the story,” according to Ed Whiton, director of artistic and talent casting for Disney Cruise Line. Instead of the heroine finding her man and living happily ever after, “the big difference with this show is that it’s about Ariel finding her voice,” he adds. The empowering, new take on the narrative is uplifting.

The production features puppets, with the actors’ faces showing in the style of Julie Taymor’s breakthrough stage adaption of “The Lion King” on Broadway. The tricked-out, 1,300-seat Walt Disney Theatre gets in on the act with digital projections that extend across the stage and up to the ceiling, hydraulic set pieces, and other effects. A third show, a new take on “Aladdin,” wasn’t available to preview on the christening cruise.

Catch a film

The other DCL ships have a movie theater; the Wish has two of them, which are themed to “Peter Pan.” The Wonderland and Never Land Cinemas feature the latest releases from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm. My family really enjoyed seeing “Lightyear” in one of the intimate theaters, with its large screen, impeccable sound, and comfy chairs.

Yo ho as you ooh and aah

The Wish version of Pirate Night includes a live band in addition to fireworks. Well, at least some of the music is live, as a band rocks out to “Yo Ho (A Pirate’s Life for Me)” and other songs with plenty of pre-recorded embellishments. It is so wonderful–and so Disney–to have fireworks light the sky above the ship. And how cool is it to party with the Pirates of the Caribbean in the actual Caribbean? (Answer: way cool.)

Get set to get wet on AquaMouse

As I share in my review of the AquaMouse, it‘s a bit of a stretch to characterize the water coaster as the “first Disney attraction at sea.” While the company might be overhyping the ride, it is nonetheless a lot of fun.

I haven’t even mentioned the Marvel Super Hero Academy or the Star Wars: Cargo Bay experiences that are part of the Disney’s Oceaneer Club programming for children. And there’s all kinds of other things to see and do aboard the ship.

Lest you think the Wish is targeted exclusively to families with young children, let me reassure you my wife, adult son, and I had a ball. There are plenty of things for grownups to enjoy. No, you won’t be able to indulge in the cruise industry staple, gambling. But hey, land-based casinos have proliferated to the point that you shouldn’t miss the slot machines. Besides, you’ll be able to hang onto your money so you can spend it on that $5,000 “Star Wars” cocktail.

Are you planning to book a cruise on the Disney Wish? What features are you most looking forward to experiencing? Have you been on other Disney cruises? How about cruises on competing companies? How do you think the Disney cruises compare to other lines?

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2.5 (out of 5)*

When Disney Cruise Line launched its third ship, the Disney Dream, in 2010, it introduced the AquaDuck, the first water coaster at sea. It later included a clone of the ride aboard the the Disney Fantasy. Now, the Disney Wish will set sail with what the company is calling “the first attraction at sea,” the AquaMouse. It’s essentially the same ride system as the AquaDuck, but the new attraction tells a story with projected media and effects. (The “telling a story” part is what distinguishes a ride from an attraction.)

Whereas the AquaDuck includes a long section of translucent tube through which passengers can view the ocean and the deck below, the first part of the AquaMouse’s 760-foot tube is opaque and serves as a show building of sorts. Passengers get to ride up on a conveyer belt through a “magical tunnel” that includes a series of screens (designed as large portholes) and speakers that present a mini (or is that Minnie?) Mickey cartoon short. It is in the same stylized aesthetic as the retro “Mickey Mouse” animated shorts that Disney Television Animation has been airing for a few years, which draw inspiration from the studio’s late 1920s and early 1930s cartoons.

Guests get to experience one of two shorts. “Scuba Scramble” is an original production created for the attraction. It features Mickey and the gang cavorting with underwater creatures. I got to see “Swiss Meltdown,” an alpine-themed story based on the “Mickey Mouse” short, “Yodelberg.” The cartoon lasts a bit over one minute. The frantic action and silly hijinks are entertaining enough, but the media doesn’t meld in any meaningful way with the action of the ride vehicles. It’s just a bunch of screens lining both sides of the lift tunnel.

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, the delightful attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios which also features the classic characters in the the style of the “Mickey Mouse” shorts, is wildly ingenious and compelling on the other hand. It’s a bit of a stretch to identify the AquaMouse as an “attraction.”

*Note that in addition to the video screens, there are supposed to be synchronized water and other effects in the tunnel. During the media preview I attended the effects were either not working or turned off for some reason. My ride rating might have been different (likely higher) had I experienced the attraction as designed. The christening cruise was apparently the first time that the Disney Wish sailed with guests, and the AquaMouse hadn’t had a soft opening to put it though its paces. More often than not, the entire attraction was down during the cruise as techs struggled to keep it operational. I got stuck midway through my first ride as the AquaMouse cycled down and had to be escorted off. I’m sure that when the Disney Wish embarks on its maiden voyage on July 14, Disney will have resolved the issues.

After the two-person raft reaches the top of the lift tunnel, gravity takes over, and it careens through an enclosed tunnel with some lighting effects. The action picks up when “Master Blaster” water jets propel the raft uphill twice. AquaMouse wraps with a spirited jaunt through a clear tube and a tame splashdown finale accompanied by an audio sendoff from Goofy.

Could you handle AquaMouse?

Geared to families, all but the most faint of heart should be fine with the attraction’s mild thrills. The uphill blasts are not as powerful as most other water coasters, such as Crush ‘n’ Gusher at Walt Disney World’s Typhoon Lagoon. And neither the uphill nor the downhill elements are all that long or steep. Accordingly, the speed and G forces are fairly gentle.

This may be the first “attraction at sea,” but it is not the first themed water coaster. In fact the very first water coaster, Dragon Blaster, which opened in 1994 at Schlitterbahn in Texas, was redesigned as Dragon’s Revenge, and now includes water screens and other (albeit relatively primitive) effects.

AquaMouse represents a trend among cruise lines to include signature thrill rides on their newer ships. For example, Carnival’s Mardi Gras, which launched in 2021, features Bolt, the first roller coaster at sea.

In addition to AquaMouse, the Disney Wish offers other water attractions, including Slide-a-saurus Rex, a double-looping body slide. The Toy Story Splash Zone has pint-sized slides, water jets, fountains, and other ways for tykes to get soaked. There are also a number of small pools for all ages as well as an infinity pool and a whirlpool spa designated for adults in the ship’s 18+ Quiet Cove district. Oddly, one end of the otherwise hushed adults-only area backs up to the boisterous AquaMouse.

Ride along with me on AquaMouse.

Are you looking forward to experiencing AquaMouse? What uphill water coasters have you enjoyed? What do you think of the trend to include thrill rides aboard cruise ships?

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So, what the heck is in it? An actual Kaiburr crystal? Well, no. But I’ve got the lowdown on its ingredients.

The Kaiburr Crystal is served in a nifty gizmo that guests activate by pressing a button and turning a dial. Along with some cool sound effects, the sides of the device open, wisps of smoke emanate from it, and lights activate revealing multiple shot glasses. It makes quite the presentation.

According to a bartender in the lounge, the galactic beverage is primarily made with Camus cognac. It also includes the Japanese citrus fruit, yuzu, as well as kumquat. Apparently, ritzy cocktails can never have enough cognac, because the Kaiburr Crystal also features Grand Marnier Quintessence, which is considerably pricier than Camus cognac. Speaking of pricey, the bartenders add shots of ultra-expensive Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 23 Year bourbon and Taylor's Fladgate Kingsman Edition Very Old Tawny Port.

Guests get to keep the silver plated glasses in which the drinks are served. (But not, alas, the cool Star Wars container gizmo.) They also get amenities delivered to their staterooms, including flowers and personalized sparkling wine from Skywalker Vineyards, the wine estate owned by none other than Mr. “Star Wars,” George Lucas. They can check out the grapes that made the wine, because the $5,000 package includes a visit to the vineyard, which is located at Skywalker Ranch in Marin County, California. Tours are not otherwise available to the public.

Is all that worth $5,000? If you have to ask, you probably can’t afford it. If you can afford it, the bragging rights of having purchased the most expensive drink in the galaxy are pretty nifty. If you want to indulge in some conspicuous consumption on a budget, you could consider the Hyperspace Lounge’s Coaxium Trio. It goes for a mere $250. I have no idea what’s in that.

Among the more, um, down-to-Earth-priced drinks at the lounge are The Golden One, from the Moons of Endor, which will set you back $15. I really enjoyed The Chancellor, a $20 beverage brought to you by the good folks on Coruscant. It includes Hennesy James cognac, which is apparently a (much) lower-shelf cognac than the ones in the Kaiburr Crystal.

The sleek Star Wars: Hyperspace Lounge features a large viewport behind the bar. It shows a constantly shifting array of vessels and other activity. Every few minutes, a jump to lightspeed transports the lounge and its customers to another planet.

With only eight tables and another seven seats at the bar (what was Disney thinking?), the lounge is surprisingly small. Since it is a must-see aboard the ship, the demand far exceeds the supply. On the christening cruise, reservations were generally required, often hours in advance, to enter the lounge.

The Disney Wish will sail its maiden voyage on July 14, 2022.

Would you pay $5,000 for a Star Wars-themed cocktail? Would you want to visit the Hyperspace Lounge? Join the conversation.

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