There are two types of train trip: The long, slow, and often luxurious train journey that takes you through beautiful scenery that you book specifically to spend time on the rails; and the speedy, no-nonsense, cheap train ride you take to get from point A to point B as quickly as possible. In the first category, you’ll find grand trips like Australia’s The Ghan, South Africa’s Blue Train, and Britain’s Caledonian Sleeper. In the second, there are trips from London to Brussels in just two hours, from Rome to Venice in four hours, and from Miami to Orlando in three hours. And if you’re a train traveler who belongs to the second category and likes getting places fast without flying, there are plenty of trains in this world that do just that at speeds previously unimaginable on land, including the fastest train in the world and its closest competitors.
We got a sneak peek at Norwegian Cruise Line's new thrill ride, and it's epic
19.09.2024 - 18:37 / thepointsguy.com
It's going to be epic.
So epic I might just ride it dozens of times.
Or not at all.
Honestly, it might just be too much for me.
That's my hot take after getting a sneak peek at the Aqua Slidecoaster, the massive new attraction that Norwegian Cruise Line is building atop its next new ship, Norwegian Aqua.
Billed as the first hybrid roller coaster and waterslide in the world (not just at sea but on land, too), it's like nothing else that's ever appeared atop a cruise ship.
As I saw Wednesday during a tour of the still-under-construction Norwegian Aqua at the shipyard where it's being built, it's a stunningly large-for-a-cruise-ship attraction that dominates the top deck of the vessel.
While it wasn't yet running — it won't be ready for riders until Norwegian Aqua debuts in March 2025 — its massive tubular course was already mostly in place, swirling around the ship's superstructure.
It was a sight to behold.
But it's what we didn't see during the tour that will really set it apart.
As Alex Tavernini, Norwegian's senior director of guest experiences and innovation, explained, the Aqua Slidecoaster is being built with powerful magnets that will shoot riders forward in two-person rafts at speeds of up to 31 miles per hour.
Related: Giant new Norwegian ship will sail from Miami
The magnets will be installed in the coming weeks, he said. They are what will set the ride apart from other water rides on cruise ships that use water jets to propel riders forward, such as the AquaDuck on Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy.
"This is essentially the same technology used on land on roller coasters," Tavernini said during a briefing for a small group of media assembled at the spot on Norwegian Aqua's top deck where the ride would begin.
The location for the loading platform where Tavernini was standing was on Deck 18 of the vessel. From there, riders will be catapulted upward past Deck 19 to Deck 20.
The ride has two tracks and is built to have four sets of rafts in motion at any given time.
Tavernini said the magnet system that catapults riders forward can be adjusted to make the ride more or less intense, offering flexibility in its operations. It can be run at full blast for a high-thrill experience or dialed back for a milder experience.
While the former setting might appeal to thrill ride enthusiasts, the latter setting would be more appropriate for smaller kids with their parents.
"We want it to be as inclusive as possible," Tavernini said. "Not everyone wants to be super thrilled."
According to Tavernini, the ride track will consist mostly of opaque tubing but will feature clear sections that will give passengers on the ship's top decks a glimpse of riders zipping around. Passengers on the ride will also get a
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This story was first published on February 27, 9:40 AM Mauritius Standard Time, and will be updated as the story develops.
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