If you’re a cruise ship thrill seeker, Carnival Cruise Line’s BOLT roller coaster should be on your bucket list.
The first roller coaster at sea, BOLT is an all-electric coaster that puts passengers in the driver seat of a two-person motorcycle-style car on an open-air course offering 360-degree ocean views. Riders can control the speed of the car, which reaches up to 40 miles per hour, as it zooms around on an 800-foot track full of drops, twists and turns 187 feet above the water line.
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The first BOLT roller coaster debuted on Carnival Mardi Gras in 2021. Today, two other Carnival Excel-class cruise ships also feature the thrill ride, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee.
In a Facebook Reel highlighting the exhilarating experience of riding the sea coaster on Carnival Jubilee, the ship’s cruise director, Kyndall “Fire” Magyar, recently shared a few important reminders that passengers should keep in mind if they want to ride BOLT during their next Carnival cruise.
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Kyndall “Fire” Magyar is cruise director on Carnival Jubilee.
Image source: Facebook
1. Book your BOLT ride early in the cruise.
“Book your ride early in the cruise,” Kyndall Fire noted. “Weather can cancel your booking, and you don’t want to run out of days.”
Passengers sailing on one of the Carnival cruise ships featuring BOLT can book their rides in the Carnival HUB app once on board.
In the comments on the post, passengers agreed that this is a key tip. Some reported that their BOLT bookings were canceled due to wind.
“Definitely book as soon as you board,” passenger Jennifer Breedlove agreed. “We got canceled 3 times due to wind and finally on the 4th try got to ride. But it was cutting it close to disembarking!!!”
“Yes! We just got off and I didn’t get to ride because of the wind,” passenger Mesha Shuptrine chimed in. “Regretted not doing it the first day.”
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2. Don’t forget your closed-toe shoes.
The cruise director also reminded passengers that closed-toe shoes are required to ride BOLT. Carnival’s website also notes that in addition to closed-toe shoes, pants or shorts are required to ride the sea coaster. Passengers can’t ride if they are only wearing a bathing suit. Passengers who wear glasses will also need to secure them with a head strap or take them off.
In the comments on the post, some passenger expressed disappointment that they were unable to ride BOLT because they didn’t have the appropriate attire.
“We planned to ride it but, I didn’t know you needed tennis shoes to ride it,” noted Diane Bethel Perthuis. “So bummed.”
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According to the cruise director, passengers are permitted to ride BOLT with Crocs that are secured with a back strap.
“Are Crocs considered closed toe shoes (with the back strap)?” asked Sirrom Anna.
“Yes!” Kyndall Fire confirmed.
Passengers should also note that the minimum height to ride BOLT is 52” (4’3”), and maximum height to ride is 77” (6’5”). BOLT’s rider weight limit is 300 pounds, per person and 440 pounds, per vehicle. Kids under 12 are required to pair up and ride with someone who’s 15 or older.
3. You can book family passes.
Each BOLT ride costs $15 per person for two laps around the roller coaster’s track. Passengers can get more rides for their money by booking the family pass, which offers three rides for the price of two.
In the comments on the post, passengers also noted that the sea coaster is fast, so passengers will want to make sure to hold on tight.
“Add a reminder: it goes around twice! Keep your hands on the handles,” commented Janet Park Balanoff. “Guess how I know.”
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One passenger shared that the ride’s intensity actually helped a kidney stone to bolt out of their system.
“Riding Bolt was fun. And, true story, the ride dislodged my kidney stone, which is now somewhere in the Gulf,” shared Roger Luna. “I can laugh about it now, but that was a miserable night.”
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