Maurer Rides, a leading designer and manufacturer of roller coasters and transport solutions, has provided details of BOLT The Ultimate Sea Coaster, an attraction that recreates a motorcycle-style experience on the upper deck of a luxury liner.
The two-seater ride accelerates to speeds of up to 60 kilometres per hour. As a result, cruisers will soon be able to enjoy a quick ride with drops, dips, and curves, all with a perspective of the infinite horizon. A hairpin loop around the renowned Carnival funnel leads back to the beginning.
BOLT has a sister coaster on, the Mardi Gras, currently the largest ship in the Carnival fleet which debuted in 2021.
“The Ultimate Sea Coaster received a positive reception, so it was a forgone conclusion for Carnival that the sister ship Celebration would also receive a roller coaster from Maurer Rides to provide passengers with this amazing experience,” says the manufacturer.
Motion on the ocean
The Spike Racing Coaster’s popularity inspired the Sea Coaster, with the patented Spike propulsion from Maurer Rides allowing for the unique ride high above the waves. Spike, a refined gear drive, is a highly powerful motor that helps transforms roller coaster riders into drivers, with 100% traction and 1.2 Gs of force. Everyone generates their own roller coaster experience, leisurely or thrilling, and can brake or accelerate themselves anywhere on the 220-metre-long track.
Maurer’s gear teeth ensure everything stays in touch, eliminating the effects of ship motion as well as weather and sea impact, and the system can already demonstrate reliability after one year of continuous operation on the high seas. The innovative Spike system was also granted the “Best of What’s New” accolade from Popular Science magazine earlier this year as the first roller coaster specifically designed for use on the ocean.
The lightweight coaster vehicle ensures that energy consumption can be kept to a minimum, reaching a maximum of only 130 KWh when accelerating.
Assembling a trio
Carnival, Maurer’s customer, says it is excited at the prospect of adding another roller coaster to its cruise ships. Carnival Celebration is the largest ship in the Carnival fleet, with 180,000 GRT: an XL-class cruise ship 345 m long and seating up to 6,600 guests. It has a variety of entertainment and leisure programmes, with the roller coaster as its crowning beauty.
In 2023, a third coaster will make its debut on the Carnival Jubilee which will set sail from Galveston, Texas.
Last month, Maurer Rides announced the Omega Coaster, a new unique powered coaster ahead of IAAPA Expo in Orlando, US.
