Slidecoaster was my favorite part of Norwegian Aqua

We just returned from a three-night media cruise on the brand-new Norwegian Aqua cruise ship, and we had an awesome time. But being a theme park enthusiast, one thing stood out: the world’s first-of-its-kind launching water slide, the Aqua Slidecoaster.

Norwegian Cruise Line bills the Aqua Slidecoaster as “the world’s first hybrid roller coaster and water slide.” While the “world’s first” part is correct, I wouldn’t call it a roller coaster. I guess it gets that name from the speed at which you are launched, but speed alone doesn’t make a roller coaster. I say it’s a unique, fast-launch water slide.

Actor Eric Stonestreet and his fiancée Lindsay Schweitzer on the Aqua Slidecoaster — *Actor Eric Stonestreet from “Modern Family” and his fiancée Lindsay Schweitzer ready to be launched on the Aqua Slidercoaster. Stonestreet is the godfather of Norwegian Aqua.*
_{Photo by Jackie Roseboom}

Other water slides also billed as part roller coaster include the Krakatau Aqua Coaster at Universal Volcano Bay and Crush ‘n’ Gusher at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon. But they use magnets to propel your raft along the tube. This new technology for the Aqua Slidecoaster is different.

After you weigh yourself to make sure you meet the ride’s weight limit (300 pounds), you will go to the left or right loading area. Your ride vehicle is a tube raft with a large back you’ll lean against. This is for the pushing …

Yes, you will be pushed! After riding up a conveyor belt, you’ll stop at the bottom of a tall incline and see some lights turning from red to green. What you don’t see while you’re riding is the arm coming behind you to push you up the hill. With two riders ready to ride in two different slide tubes, a mechanical arm slowly sets itself into the back of each raft, then quickly pushes the two riders up and into the slide tubes.

rider on the aqua slidecoaster — *A rider anticipating the arm about to push him at a fast rate of speed.*
_{Photo by Matt Roseboom}

The push is very fast and very fun. It’s a thrill I haven’t experienced before, going so fast in an unrestrained raft. No, there aren’t any seatbelts or other restraints, just handles to hold onto. But after that initial thrill, the rest of the tube ride seems slow. Once you are pushed into the tube, the ride transitions into a more relaxed, but still fun, tube ride around the ship.

model of the aqua slidecoaster — *This model of the Norwegian Aqua shows the layout of the aqua/green side on the left, and the blue on the right.*
_{Photo by Matt Roseboom}

When you ride the Slidecoaster, you get to choose between the aqua/green slide on the left, or the blue one on the right. I like them both for different reasons. The employees told me the left slide is slightly faster, but I think you just make it to the end quicker because it has less curves. I did find the left one a bit more thrilling because you’re closer to the edge of the ship when you’re being propelled up.

You also have a choice to ride by yourself, or ride doubles with a friend. I tried both and didn’t notice any difference in speed.

I prefer the right side, especially if you have friends watching you ride. It not only has more twists and turns, but there’s a viewing window where your friends can see you go by, and snap a photo or video.

They weren’t working when we rode, but there are also photos and videos you can purchase after your ride. Look for the touch-screen at the top of the exit stairs. Just enter your cabin number to add it to your photo account.

Speaking of stairs, I love the re-rideability of the slide. Since you’re propelled uphill, there’s no large set of stairs to climb and you don’t have to carry any tubes. If there’s no line, you probably won’t even have to go up the exit stairs to re-ride.

Norwegian Aqua ship at night — *The Aqua Slidecoaster looks great at night.*
_{Photo by Matt Roseboom}

It’s worth mentioning that you’ll need to bring your own towel, and you will get wet. You won’t go underwater, though, so your head will only get splashed. Although Norwegian allowed us to use cameras on the ride during the media sailing, ordinarily cameras and other unsecured items like sunglasses are prohibited (so bring a strap for your glasses). I’m not sure if strapped cameras like GoPros will be allowed.

You must taller than 48 inches and less than 300 pounds to ride the Aqua Slidecoaster, or a combined 400 pounds if riding with someone.

Aqua slidercoaster ride vehicle — *A look at the back of the seats where the square prongs on the arm inset into the seat for a straight push.*
_{Photo by Matt Roseboom}

Like some of the aforementioned “water coasters,” the Aqua Slidecoaster sort of uses magnets to propel you up and into the water tube, but here the magnets are in the center of the two arms, pushing them, which are pushing you, instead of being along the ride path.

The slide was designed by Wiegand.waterrides in Germany. One of the guys from Norwegian who helped with getting the slide on the ship told me an older gentleman in Germany originally came up with the idea, then sold the idea to Wiegand.waterrides, who then presented the idea to Norwegian. So although right now this type of ride can only be found on the Norwegian Aqua, and coming next year to the Norwegian Luna, you may eventually see them on land at a water park near you.

cruisers in line for the aqua slidecoaster — *Cruise guests line up to ride the Aqua Slidecoaster on deck 19.*
_{Photo by Matt Roseboom}

The Norwegian Aqua is now sailing out of Port Canaveral, Fla. The Norwegian Luna will also feature a Slidecoaster when it launches next year, and will sail out of Miami, Fla. The Aqua also features one of the few multi-story dry drop slides, also by Wiegand. The ship also has a high-tech miniature golf course, a large arcade with lots of VR games/rides, and an interactive GlowCourt.