Roller Coaster at Sea and More Fun Cruise Ship Thrills

Prior to the suspension of cruising due to the COVID-19 pandemic, cruise lines were pulling out all of the stops to wow travelers with the next coolest attraction at sea. While there's no telling what onboard adventures might be coming in the future, here are some of the most thrilling at-sea attractions travelers can look forward to when cruising returns.

Carnival Cruise Line will debut BOLT-the world's first-ever and fastest roller coaster at sea-aboard the all-new Mardi Gras next year. The two-person motorcycle-style coaster allows riders to control their own speed (up to 40 mph) as they soak in 360-degree ocean views from as high as 180 feet above sea level.

Royal Caribbean guests will love the 40-foot-long FlowRider surf simulator available on more than a dozen of the line's ships. Riders can put their skills to the test as 30,000 gallons of rushing water simulates a never-ending wave.

Carnival's SkyRide is as simple as riding a bike except riders are suspended high above the sea, where they can race their friends while taking in incredible views. SkyRide is available on Carnival Horizon, Panorama and Vista.

The RipCord by iFLY skydiving simulator aboard Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, Quantum of the Seas and Spectrum is guaranteed to get guests' adrenaline pumping as they experience the sensation of being in a complete freefall without leaving the ship.

Laser tag is even more fun at sea and both Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line offer passengers impressive arenas where they can compete against their friends and fellow cruise guests. Battle for Planet Z is a glow-in-the-dark laser tag experience that can be found aboard Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas, Independence of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas.

Available onboard Disney Cruise Line's Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, the AquaDuck is the first water coaster at sea. The pulse-pounding 765-foot ride propels riders with the help of about 10,000 gallons of water per minute.

Norwegian Cruise Line pioneered the race track at sea concept aboard Norwegian Joy and later Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Encore. The latter is home to the longest go-kart track at sea. Riders can reach speeds of up to 30 mph as they navigate the winding track high above the sea.

Cunard Line's Queen Mary 2 boasts the only planetarium at sea allowing guests to sit back and enjoy a tour of the solar system. The versatile venue, Illuminations also hosts 3D films as well as concerts and recitals when the dome is retracted.

It's no secret that Escape Rooms are growing more and more popular on land but they've also taken to the seas. Royal Caribbean's "Escape the Rubicon" brings friends and family together to solve a handful of hidden clues to see if they have what it takes to break free in 60 minutes or less.

Believe it or not, there are health benefits to spending even just a few minutes in a freezing cold room full of manmade snow. The thermal suite feature available aboard Viking Sea and Viking's other vessels offers guests a great way to improve circulation and recharge during their voyage.

Available exclusively on Norwegian's Breakaway and Breakaway Plus Class ships, the challenging and equally thrilling ropes course tests guests with more than 40 different elements, making it the largest multi-level ropes course at sea.

Royal Caribbean guests can put their courage to the test on the cruise line's complimentary signature rock-climbing walls stretching as high as 40 feet above the deck. Climbers will be rewarded with jaw-dropping views of epic ships like Symphony of the Seas in addition to the surrounding sea.

Royal Caribbean's Sky Pad is far from your typical backyard trampoline. The one-of-a-kind onboard experience utilizes bungee cords and a virtual reality headset that immerses guests in a completely different world as they take flight.

The tallest slide at sea, Ultimate Abyss is another highlight for passengers sailing with Royal Caribbean. The monster slide is guaranteed to get riders' hearts pumping as they plummet from as high as 10 stories up.