Cruise ship thrill rides are set to get even more innovative in 2025.
While Disney Cruise Line prepares to debut its first roller coaster at sea on the Disney Adventure, which sets sail from Singapore in December 2025, Norwegian Cruise Line and MSC Cruises will both introduce all-new attractions on cruise ships launching from Florida in April.
Related: New experiences, characters coming to Disney Cruise Line in 2025
Norwegian Cruise Line is trying something different with its new Prima Plus-class ship, Norwegian Aqua. The cruise line is trading its popular cruise ship race track for a new attraction that’s sure to make a splash – the Aqua Slidecoaster. It’s a first of its kind both at sea and on land.
MSC Cruises is also dialing up the thrills on its first ship featuring spaces and experiences tailored specifically to the U.S. market. Debuting the same month as Norwegian Aqua, MSC World America will offer adventurous passengers the chance to soar to new heights on a new Cliffhanger ride.
Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or your first) cruise.
Image source: Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Aqua will debut the first hybrid roller coaster and waterslide
The first ship in Norwegian’s Prima Plus Class, Norwegian Aqua will be 10% larger than the cruise line’s first two Prima Class vessels, offering more outdoor space, and more inventive amenities and experiences. With this bigger ship, the cruise line is replacing its top-deck race track with a new kind of exhilarating ride, the first hybrid roller coaster and waterslide.
The Aqua Slidecoaster will feature dual slides and a unique magnetic lift that propels riders through two different courses. Thrill seekers will set off on two-person rafts to zoom through three stories of twists and turns around the ship’s funnel.
Related: Norwegian Cruise Line is leveling up its onboard activities
Norwegian Aqua’s attractions will also include the cruise line’s 10-story free-fall slide, The Drop, and new gaming experiences. The Glow Court, a new high-tech digital sports complex, will offer immersive play and the Aqua Game Zone will feature a reimagined version of the cruise line’s Galaxy Pavilion virtual reality playground and arcade offerings.
Beginning April 26, 2025, Norwegian Aqua will sail an inaugural season of seven-day Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral, Fla. Itineraries include calls to the island destinations of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian’s private island in the Bahamas, which will feature a new pier in late 2025.
Be the first to see the best deals on cruises, special sailings, and more. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter.
MSC World America will be the first cruise ship with an over-water swing ride
Shortly before Norwegian Aqua sets sail on its maiden voyage, MSC Cruises will launch its newest ship, MSC World America, from another popular Florida port. Offering a fresh take on MSC Cruises’ mix of European style and American comfort, the new ship will sail from Miami and feature one of the cruise line’s biggest innovations yet, a swing attraction called Cliffhanger.
The only over-water swing ride at sea, Cliffhanger will tower above MSC World America’s top deck, offering passengers a chance to dangle 160 feet above the ocean. Powered arms will lift the ride’s four seats up and out over the edge of the ship before propelling them back and forth, high above the waterline. Riders will feel a rush of excitement and wind in their hair as their view oscillates between the sea below and the sky above.
Related: MSC Cruises designs new ship to tempt the American palate
The Cliffhanger ride will be located in an outdoor space on the ship’s top deck called The Harbour, a new outdoor park for families that also features a water park, a ropes course, a grab-and-go restaurant, relaxation areas, and more. The Harbour will be situated within the ship’s Family Aventura district, one of seven distinct areas on the ship, each with its own atmosphere, venues, and activities designed to enhance the cruise experience.
Beginning April 12, 2025, MSC World America will sail an inaugural season of Caribbean cruises from Miami. All itineraries will include a stop at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, the cruise line’s private island in The Bahamas.
Are you taking a cruise or thinking about taking one? Visit our Come Cruise With Me website to have all your questions answered.
