Cruise Ships "Wow" Amenities
A bowling alley on a cruise ship....what's next a
roller coaster?
NCL’s next ship, Norwegian Pearl, which debuts in 2007, will feature a full-size, four lane, 10-pin bowling alley as part of an all new, all-day entertainment and bar complex called Bliss. Yes, that's right, we now have the world's first-ever floating bowling lanes. Bowling is the newest entertainment at sea.
The entertainment complex, Bliss, will host bowling parties for guests of all ages during the day. Gutter bumpers will automatically pop up for kids’ bowling parties or for adults who might need a little help with their scores. In the evening, it will become a nightclub and lounge. There will be a full bar and dance floor, and “mood lighting” in the bowling alley.
A bowling alley at sea? This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. After all the cruise lines have been getting more creative in the designs and amenities they are offering on new cruise ships.
Royal Caribbean premiered the first boxing ring at sea in May on the Freedom of the Seas, the world's largest ship. This ship also has the first surfing pool- a pool with a constant, machine-made wave.
Carnival recently unveiled Water Wars, a water balloon-themed attraction. It's currently available on the Imagination and Fascination and the attraction will be installed fleet-wide by summer 2007.
Many cruise ships already feature; miniature golf courses, golf simulators, ice skating rinks, waterslides, rock-climbing walls, bungee trampolines, self-leveling pool tables and full-size basketball courts.
What's next you might ask? Speculation abounds on the possibility of a roller coaster. Perhaps Royal Caribbean will be the first cruise line to have a roller coaster at sea when they launch their new, bigger class of ship in 2009. The $1.2 billion vessel will hold up to a record-setting 6,400 passengers. This super-sized ship, dubbed Project Genesis, will be 220,000 gross registered tons, 1,180 feet long, 154 feet wide and 240 feet high.
Carnival is drawing up plans for what's been dubbed the "Pinnacle Project." Although it's on the back burner for now, the project has been the subject of considerable media speculation. Carnival's chief architect, Joe Farcus, has spoken of dreams of one day putting a roller coaster on a ship.
It's difficult to predict what may appear on cruise ships of the future. But it's interesting to speculate and imagine the possibilities!
