Bowling alley is latest cruise offering…roller coasters next?
Saturday, 28 Dec, 2006
0
Fast-growing Norwegian Cruise Line unveiled what it called the first bowling lanes at sea on the 2,394-passenger Pearl, which sails out of Miami.
The move led USA Today to ponder other more unusual offerings cruise ships are coming up these days, including:
- Royal Caribbean premiered the first boxing ring at sea in May when it launched the much-ballyhooed Freedom of the Seas, the world’s largest ship.
- The vessel also boasts the first “surfing pool” at sea — a pool with a constant, machine-made wave.
- Carnival recently just unveiled Water Wars, a water-balloon battle game complete with “battle stations” that’s popular at theme parks. It launched on two ships, the Imagination and Fascination, and will be fleet-wide by next summer.
- The line also has been adding its first miniature golf courses on ships (a concept pioneered by Royal Caribbean) and plans to roll that out fleet-wide, too.
What’s next? Industry watcher Mike Driscoll, editor of newsletter Cruiseweek, expects something big from Royal Caribbean when it launches a new, bigger class of ship in 2009. The $1.2 billion vessel will carry a record-setting 5,400 passengers.
“Don’t rule out a roller coaster,” Driscoll says, noting one possibility at the center of industry speculation. “Shipyard engineers have said this can be done on a cruise ship.”
Report by David Wilkening
David
Have your say Cancel reply
Most Read
TRAINING & COMPETITION
BA suspending all Heathrow to Abu Dhabi flights
Turkish Airlines flight in emergency landing after pilot dies
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Woman dies after going overboard in English Channel
Foreign Office issues travel advisory for winter sun destinations