10 best waterslides on a cruise ship
Swoosh your way to thrills & spills on your next family vacation
From the archive. Published March 2, 2017. Ships, prices and port details may have changed since.
When you want to let loose and have some fun on a big cruise ship, one surefire way is to head to the top of the waterslide. There you'll find other thrill seekers ready to whirl down down down to a watery crescendo.
We've rounded up 10 of the best waterslides on a cruise ship:
AquaDuck
1. Disney Cruise Line
Probably the most elaborate waterslide on a cruise ship is the AquaDuck aboard Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy. Not only is it a single or tandem raft slide, it’s also a full-blown water coaster with exciting dips and turns cantilevered out over the side of the ship leading to uphill sections before a leisurely return to the deck below. The 765-foot ride is located on the deck 12 aft area of the ship and includes a four-deck drop.
AquaDunk
2. Disney Cruise Line
Like the AquaDuck, the similarly named AquaDunk tells the story of Donald being subjected to the waterslide experimentation of his mischievous nephews – Huey, Dewey and Louie. Only this time on Disney Magic, the raft variety has been replaced with a free-fall one where the floor drops out from under riders before a speedy descent. The three-story body slide sends you through a tube that extends 20 feet over the side of the ship, so be warned!
Aqua Racer
3. Norwegian Cruise Line
As raft waterslides go, most only accommodate one set of riders at a time. However, the Aqua Racer on Norwegian Escape can accept two as the tube widens out in sections to see if one rider might pass the other. All the while, a translucent portion overlooks the ocean below while illuminated colored patterns activate the rest.
Free Fall
4. Norwegian Cruise Line
Also on Norwegian Escape, as well as Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway, are two side-by-side Free Fall waterslides, somewhat similar to the AquaDunk on Disney Magic. Except this time there is so much momentum gained that riders are catapulted uphill for a portion of the loop before finishing off in a dramatic trough splashdown.
Green Thunder
5. Carnival Cruise Line
The last free-fall variety on this list is Carnival’s Green Thunder on the Carnival Legend, Carnival Pride and Carnival Spirit, which is nearly identical to the AquaDunk on Disney, making it a thrilling but quick seven-second or so ride.
Kaleid-O-Slide
6. Carnival Cruise Line
Unique to Carnival is the Kaleid-O-Slide aboard Carnival Vista. This raft waterslide features an enclosed section with translucent colored stripes that are illuminated by the sun and create a chromatic strobing effect as riders approach a final open-air stretch before coming to the finish line.
Slideboarding
7. MSC Cruises
MSC Seaside is scheduled to debut in late November, but there's already buzz about its upcoming 367-foot Slideboarding waterslide, which will combine a board riders sit in with video game-like controllers and music. As riders traverse the wet path, lighting effects will prompt them to respond with the onboard buttons, and scores will be ranked upon each guest's arrival below. The ship will feature five waterslides in all: two high-speed racing slides with clear loops that extend over one side of the ship; Aquatube, an innertube slide; a flume slide for families, and the Slideboarding tube.
Tidal Wave
8. Royal Caribbean International
As dramatic waterslides go, Royal Caribbean International features the Tidal Wave as part of its Perfect Storm trio aboard Liberty of the Seas. This raft slide starts out in a tube that slingshots riders down a fast descent prior to opening up to a half-pipe-like structure that boomerangs riders up and down the sides before leveling off. This type of waterslide has been at water parks on land for years, but Liberty of the Seas is the only cruise ship to have one.
Ultimate Abyss
9. Royal Caribbean International
While not technically a waterslide — there's no water — the Ultimate Abyss aboard Harmony of the Seas must be included as an impressive addition on a cruise ship. This dry slide has riders sit in burlap bags to avoid rug burn as they spiral swiftly down an astounding 10 decks from the FlowRiders above to the Boardwalk district below.
Vertigo
10. MSC Cruises
One final entry aboard MSC Preziosa is what MSC Cruises touts as the longest single-rider body waterslide at sea. It measures 394 feet long and 42 feet high, complete with a translucent 30-foot pass suspended over the side of the ship for even more thrills.
How about you? Have your favorite waterslide for slipping and sliding?
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