Carnival Cruise Lines
By Heidi Sarna
In the race for cruise ships to offer the most unusual features at sea, rock-climbing walls, miniature golf courses, and giant outdoor movie screens have already become commonplace.
From gourmet teaching kitchens to thrilling water parks, these 11 features and attractions are creating new experiences -- and raising expectations -- on the high seas.
Photo Caption: Carnival Magic's SkyCourse
What: This flume ride could belong in a water park. Daring passengers board a two-person inflatable raft and get swept away on a speedy trip around the perimeter of the ship's top deck. Propelled by high-powered water jets, the ride takes you 13 feet out over the ocean inside a transparent acrylic flume --150 stomach-dropping feet above the sea.
What Not to Miss: A ride at night, when the flume is lit up like a water disco.
Cruise Ships: Disney Cruise Line's Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy
Photo Caption: Disney Cruise Line introduces a cruise industry innovation on the Disney Dream with the debut of AquaDuck, the first-ever shipboard water coaster.
What: The outdoor AquaTheater stretches across the entire stern of both the Oasis and Allure of the Seas, making each the largest and deepest freshwater pool at sea. Each 51-by-22-foot kidney-shaped pool is the stage for performances featuring synchronized swimming and water ballet, plus some water acrobatics, aerial artistry, and high diving from a pair of 30-foot platforms.
What Not to Miss: The view from beneath the scenes: on either side of the pool, underwater cams are projected onto giant screens so you can see what's happening under the sea, so to speak.
Cruise Ships: Royal Caribbean's Oasis and Allure of the Seas
Photo Caption: A performance at AquaTheater aboard Allure of the Seas
What: The SVEDKA Ice Bar aboard the Norwegian Epic is so cool -- 17 degrees below zero, to be exact. Inspired by the handful of land-based ice bars in Scandinavia, this sea-going version comes complete with furniture made from chunks of ice. Warm parkas and gloves are handed out at the door so you can cozy up to the ice-covered bar.
What Not to Miss: A glass of anything with vodka in it, from a Polaris to a Caribbean Dream.
Cruise Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Epic
Photo Caption: A couple enjoys the SVEDKA Ice Bar on the Norwegian Epic
What: An honest-to-goodness half acre of real grass growing a dozen decks above sea, where passengers can relax and enjoy a picnic, a game of croquet, or some golf putting.
What Not to Miss: Aboard the Celebrity Silhouette, there are also eight cabanas for rent up in the Lawn Club. Each accommodates two to four privacy-seeking guests with cushy seating and a telephone to ring the waiter for some drinks and snacks. Nearby -- and free of charge -- are some hammocks and a pair of oversize Adirondack chairs.
Cruise Ships: Celebrity Cruises' Solstice-class ships
Photo Caption: Guests enjoy "lawn bowling" atop Celebrity Solstice's Lawn Club
What: In the spirit of an old-time vaudeville act, the completely silent, blue-painted trio communicates only through intense eye contact, gestures, drumming, videography, and audience participation. Eight 75-minute shows are performed on weeklong cruises aboard the Norwegian Epic.
What Not to Miss: Interactive fun, from ducking when rolls of unfurled toilet paper are thrown into the audience to being a part of the antics if you're selected for a special skit on stage.
Cruise Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Epic
Note: Blue Man Group no longer performs on this ship.
What: A ropes course is the focal point of the Sport's Square outdoor fitness area aboard the Carnival Breeze and Magic. Strap on a harness and swing your way along the challenging course that's open to any passenger 4 feet or taller.
What Not to Miss: The view. Definitely look down at the sea, about 150 feet below.
Cruise Ships: Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Magic and Breeze
Photo Caption: SkyCourse aboard Carnival Magic
What: Cooked up by the foodies at Bon Appétit magazine, Oceania Marina and Oceania Riviera offer the cruise world's only full-fledged hands-on teaching kitchen. It's outfitted with 12 cooking stations (two people per station). Each has its own burners, cutting board, and sink. Individual two-hour classes cost $49 per person and may include learning how to make modern Greek cuisine, American classics, homemade pasta, and recipes from Oceania's restaurants.
What Not to Miss: The class on chocolate desserts.
Cruise Ships: Oceania Cruises' Oceania Marina and Oceania Riviera
Photo Caption: Guests can learn cooking techniques at the Culinary Center on the Oceania Marina
What: Lindblad Expedition's National Geographic Explorer is an expedition ship that carries aboard a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) so passengers can get a glimpse of sea life 1,000 feet below. The robot is operated by a specialist crew member with a joystick in a Zodiac boat up on the surface. The ROV takes pictures with its sophisticated video equipment, transmitting images to a video monitor in the ship's lounge.
What Not to Miss: Deep-sea images from Arctic or Antarctica voyages, such as revealing what the underside of an iceberg looks like.
Cruise Ship: Lindblad Expedition's National Geographic Explorer
Photo Caption: A remotely operated vehicle (ROV) enhances the undersea experience for guests aboard the Lindblad Expeditions' National Geographic Explorer.
What: A dry-launch platform at the stern of InnerSea Discoveries' expedition vessels make it a breeze to slip into one of the ship's fleet of sea kayaks and into the water. InnerSea's shallow-draught ships allow them to access shallow waters, so passengers can kayak close to the shore line of remote inlets and fjords.
What Not to Miss: Kayaking in Alaska -- you can get so close to the coastline that you may spot a brown bear just a few feet away.
Cruise Ships: InnerSea Discoveries' Wilderness Adventurer and Wilderness Discoverer
Photo Caption: Kayaks at sea after launching from InnerSea Discoveries' Wilderness Discoverer
What: This full-scale planetarium seats hundreds of passengers and presents four shows about the wonders of astronomy on its giant domed ceiling.
What Not to Miss: Robert Redford narrating the "Cosmic Collisions" space show
Cruise Ships: Cunard's Queen Mary 2 has the only planetarium at sea.
Photo Caption: Cunard's Planetarium on the Queen Mary 2
In the race for cruise ships to offer the most unusual features at sea, rock-climbing walls, miniature golf courses, and giant outdoor movie screens have already become commonplace.
From gourmet teaching kitchens to thrilling water parks, these 11 features and attractions are creating new experiences -- and raising expectations -- on the high seas.
Photo Caption: Carnival Magic's SkyCourse
What Not to Miss: A ride at night, when the flume is lit up like a water disco.
Cruise Ships: Disney Cruise Line's Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy
Photo Caption: Disney Cruise Line introduces a cruise industry innovation on the Disney Dream with the debut of AquaDuck, the first-ever shipboard water coaster.
What Not to Miss: The view from beneath the scenes: on either side of the pool, underwater cams are projected onto giant screens so you can see what's happening under the sea, so to speak.
Cruise Ships: Royal Caribbean's Oasis and Allure of the Seas
Photo Caption: A performance at AquaTheater aboard Allure of the Seas
What Not to Miss: A glass of anything with vodka in it, from a Polaris to a Caribbean Dream.
Cruise Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Epic
Photo Caption: A couple enjoys the SVEDKA Ice Bar on the Norwegian Epic
What Not to Miss: Aboard the Celebrity Silhouette, there are also eight cabanas for rent up in the Lawn Club. Each accommodates two to four privacy-seeking guests with cushy seating and a telephone to ring the waiter for some drinks and snacks. Nearby -- and free of charge -- are some hammocks and a pair of oversize Adirondack chairs.
Cruise Ships: Celebrity Cruises' Solstice-class ships
Photo Caption: Guests enjoy "lawn bowling" atop Celebrity Solstice's Lawn Club
What Not to Miss: Interactive fun, from ducking when rolls of unfurled toilet paper are thrown into the audience to being a part of the antics if you're selected for a special skit on stage.
Cruise Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Epic
Note: Blue Man Group no longer performs on this ship.
What Not to Miss: The view. Definitely look down at the sea, about 150 feet below.
Cruise Ships: Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Magic and Breeze
Photo Caption: SkyCourse aboard Carnival Magic
What Not to Miss: The class on chocolate desserts.
Cruise Ships: Oceania Cruises' Oceania Marina and Oceania Riviera
Photo Caption: Guests can learn cooking techniques at the Culinary Center on the Oceania Marina
What Not to Miss: Deep-sea images from Arctic or Antarctica voyages, such as revealing what the underside of an iceberg looks like.
Cruise Ship: Lindblad Expedition's National Geographic Explorer
Photo Caption: A remotely operated vehicle (ROV) enhances the undersea experience for guests aboard the Lindblad Expeditions' National Geographic Explorer.
What Not to Miss: Kayaking in Alaska -- you can get so close to the coastline that you may spot a brown bear just a few feet away.
Cruise Ships: InnerSea Discoveries' Wilderness Adventurer and Wilderness Discoverer
Photo Caption: Kayaks at sea after launching from InnerSea Discoveries' Wilderness Discoverer
What Not to Miss: Robert Redford narrating the "Cosmic Collisions" space show
Cruise Ships: Cunard's Queen Mary 2 has the only planetarium at sea.
Photo Caption: Cunard's Planetarium on the Queen Mary 2