A Cruise Ship With Go-Karts: Norwegian Cruise Line

Table Of Content

• Adrenaline junkies will be able to experience The Drop, which is described as the world's first freefall dry slide.
• The Laps Take About 30 Seconds
• Are The Go Karts Free On Norwegian Ships?
• Norwegian Joy
• You May Not Go Fast… But It Feels Fast
• The long-awaited ship will include eye-popping amenities like the world's first onboard three-level go-kart racetrack.
• Which Norwegian Ships Have Go Karts?

The Go Karts aren’t free on Norwegian cruise ships, there is an additional charge. The track rises two decks at times and spins around on itself before descending and rising again, like one of those crazy freeway interchanges you see in the Los Angeles area. Even at slow speeds, the many sharp turns (there are 14 turns in all) make for exhilarating moments. As I experienced Sunday during an eight-lap test run on Prima Speedway, the extra deck devoted to the attraction makes it more thrilling than any of its predecessors on other Norwegian ships. This is all the more impressive considering that Norwegian Prima is a significantly smaller ship than the recent vessels Norwegian has built with go-kart tracks. Some elements of the top deck of Norwegian Prima are notably smaller than you'll find on those ships.

Adrenaline junkies will be able to experience The Drop, which is described as the world's first freefall dry slide.

That's for an eight-lap race that, typically, lasts about six to eight minutes. The bigger width of the track makes it much easier to pass other cars, or be passed, as the case would be. It’s understandable if you don’t want to spend the extra money to take a ride on the carts. For instance, a family of four would spend $60 for about 10 minutes of entertainment. Still, after having done the carts ourselves, we suggest that everyone take at least one turn.

The Laps Take About 30 Seconds

If there is one bad thing about the racetrack on Norwegian, it’s that the activity isn’t free. While prices can change at anytime, as we go to press you’ll pay $15 per person for your turn on the track. There are unlimited passes available that allow you to go the entire length of your trip. We’ve seen prices quoted around $200 for a week-long cruise.

Are The Go Karts Free On Norwegian Ships?

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The Speedway may not be worth the extra cost if you are someone who is overwhelmed by thrilling experiences such as high speeds or loud noises. When Norwegian Cruise Line introduced its Breakaway Plus class of ships, it introduced a revolutionary new onboard form of entertainment to the cruise line industry - the Norwegian Speedway. Christened Norwegian Viva, the liner will built by renowned Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri and will mirror the upscale design of sister ship Norwegian Prima. Perhaps the only bad news about the new go-kart track on Norwegian Encore is that it costs a lot more to experience than the go-kart tracks initially did on Norwegian's Joy and Bliss vessels. Just last year, when Norwegian Bliss first debuted, its go-kart track cost $7 per ride. With demand sky high, the line quickly raised that fee to $9.95 per ride.

Do you have to pay for go-karts on cruise ships and how much do they cost?

It’s important to note that they are not just amusement-park karting race tracks either – they feature an authentic racing experience similar to the one you can experience at indoor go-kart racing facilities on land. Like many things on Norwegian ships, the race track isn’t included in the cruise fare. For an extra $5, you can have the track to yourself for three laps and drive at faster speeds. The first time I accelerated up the hill to the track’s third deck, I was scared of flying off the top of the ship. Having lived in walkable cities for more than a decade, I rarely drive nowadays, let alone in miniature race cars on moving ships in the middle of the ocean.

Norwegian Joy

With twists, turns, and high speeds, it’s an experience like no other. Whether youre a racing enthusiast or just looking for some adrenaline-pumping fun, the go-kart track at the SeaPlex is a must-try. Yes, Royal Caribbean offers a running track on several of it’s cruise ships.

You May Not Go Fast… But It Feels Fast

However, all drivers and riders must be over 55 inches in height. Additionally, guests wishing to drive a race car at sea must weigh in at no more than 265 lbs. The speed of the cars is actually dependent on the staff. In fact, when you first start on the track you’ll be disappointed with the speed out of the gates and climbing the hill. It’s not until all the cars are on the track that the power is turned up and you can really start to drive quickly. As well, if there are any incidents on the track or when it’s time to pit at the end of the race, your speed will be cut.

No serious injuries can come from this, however, I do think guests should keep this in mind before choosing to race, should that have any health risks. I also noticed that the cars are able to turn quite well and it is easy to take the sharp turns while maintaining the car’s speed. I also noticed throughout the sailing when I went to check in on and watch the Speedway that there seemed to be openings at many different times and days throughout the voyage. Come along with me as I break down exactly what is included in the extra cost of racing along this Speedway - and wether or not I think this extra-cost experience is worth your $15. What does stand out, though, are the twists Norwegian has used to differentiate itself from its competition -- and from previous iterations of its own at-sea firsts. Its racetrack is longer with more turns, its dry slides have sharper drops, and its new Broadway-style offering provides theater buffs with another playbill from which to choose.

It has now become a massive three-deck, 1,375-foot-long go-kart track with 14 turns, named the Prima Speedway. Norwegian Prima was the first of a new class of NCL ships namely the “Prima Class“. Norwegian Encore is NCL’s largest ship, and as a result, the go-kart track has also been lengthened. The go-karts on Norwegian Bliss are also designed to cater to both solo and duo riders. Therefore, this ship is perfect for those who wish to ride with a child. It was not only the second ship with such a feature but the track was also improved and expanded.

Still, don't think for a minute they're not serious go-karts. The cars can hit speeds of up to 27 miles per hour on the track, making for a rip-roaring experience. Technically, the cars can go even faster — more than 50 miles per hour — but Norwegian has restricted them a bit for safety.

The Speedway does highly encourage guests to make reservations, as this activity tends to be very popular and can fill up throughout a cruise voyage. The cars can go up to 40 miles per hour, but Norwegian limits speeds to 27 mph during group drive times. Even with the speed limitations, the curvy track has enough sharp turns—14 of them, to be exact—to keep things exciting.

The SeaPlex is a unique and exciting feature found on Royal Caribbeans Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas. It’s the largest indoor active space at sea, offering guests a wide range of thrilling activities and entertainment options. This state-of-the-art venue is designed to inspire guests to let loose, have fun, and connect with their playful sides. Guests' racing laps are also timed, which is a fun feature that makes the experience feel even more like a real race track. Guests are able to see their final lap times after they are done driving.

If you're the kind of person who can't get enough of go-karting (or, more likely, you have a kid who loves the track), you soon will be able to buy a weeklong, all-you-can-ride pass. When Norwegian offered this before at the race tracks on its other ships, the cost was $199 per person. Helmets are required and everyone is given a clean open-faced ski mask to wear beneath the helmet. Because the racecars are electric, there is little sound from the race track; however, the noise of a speeding race car is piped into the helmet to give drivers the full sense of being on a race track.

Norwegian first introduced go-kart tracks on its ships beginning with Norwegian Joy, which debuted in Asia in 2017. Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Encore followed, adding tracks to their outer decks. The first two go-kart tracks at sea, unveiled in 2017 and 2018 on the line's Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Bliss, respectively, were huge hits. So much so that Norwegian has dreamed up an even bigger go-kart experience for its latest vessel, Norwegian Encore.