PHOTO: Carnival's Mark Tamis tries out the SkyRide aerial bike that will be on the Carnival Vista. (Courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line)
Carnival Cruise Line's new ship will feature an array of eye-popping features, including the first IMAX theater at sea, a pedal-powered ride 150 feet above the sea, a seafood shack with lobster rolls, and staterooms with private lanais and room for a family of five.
The 4,000-passenger, 133,500-ton Carnival Vista will debut May 1, 2016, with a 13-day cruise departing from Trieste, Italy. It will operate 18 Mediterranean voyages before heading for New York City in November for a series of voyages. The ship's permanent homeport has not been announced yet.
The IMAX theater will be three decks high and will show first-run movies, Mark Tamis, Carnival's senior vice president of guest operations, said at a press event in New York City. The theater will be part of the Carnival Multiplex, which even will have a concession stand offering popcorn and snacks.
The SkyRide is a bike of sorts suspended 150 feet above the sea. Riders pedal the recumbent-like bikes to cycle their way around the 800-foot-long suspended track with panoramic views. The SkyRide and the ropes course will be part of an expanded outdoor activity park. It also includes the indoor Clubhouse at SportSquare, which includes mini-bowling, ping-pong, arcade basketball, sports video gaming and more.
New restaurants include Seafood Shack, a casual indoor/outdoor dining venue that will feature lobster rolls, fried shrimp, crab cakes, and fried clam strips for purchase.
The RedFrog Pub, Carnival's Caribbean-inspired bar, will brew three kinds of beer in its own onboard brewery. Guests will be able to view the two giant copper-topped glass kettles and pour their own drink through tabletop taps.
Also new is the Latin-infused Havana experience, which will include a sizzling Latin dance club at night and an aft pool with colorful umbrellas, faux palm trees, thatched patio huts and comfy seating.
New accommodations include staterooms with private outdoor patios - called Havana Cabanas - that will be furnished with lounge chairs and a hammock. New family staterooms and suites are designed to sleep up to five people and include access to a family lounge, a hangout space with large-screen TVs, games, a concierge desk, and complimentary breakfast and snacks.
Carnival Vista also will have the line's largest WaterWorks aqua park. It will include Kaleid-O-Slide, a 455-foot-long water tube attraction with one- and two-person rafts, and kaleidoscopic visual effects.
The ship also will feature more outdoor dining options in an expanded Lanai on Deck 5. Favorite specialty restaurants with new outdoor seating include the steakhouse Fahrenheit 555 and Japanese-style Bonsai Sushi. Cherry on Top, the store with sweets and gift items, will get a new premium ice cream bar with outdoor seating.
Returning favorites include Guy's Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina, and the cocktail pharmacy-themed Alchemy Bar.
There will be two main dining rooms, Reflections and Horizons, and the latter will offer a bar in the middle of the restaurant.
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