The next crazy cruise ship attraction is ... a robotic arm that dangles you over the waves
Ready for the next crazy cruise ship attraction? It seems like every few years there's a new ground-breaking activity being introduced on board one ship or another. Recent additions have included a roller coaster on Carnival, a tricked-out water slide on Disney Cruise Line and a three-deck-high go-kart track on Norwegian.
Not to be outdone, this week Switzerland-based MSC Cruises announced an all-new amusement ride coming to its newest ship, MSC Seascape. Robotron, a robotic arm attached to a three-passenger, roller coaster-style seat, combines music and lights to create a dance party in the air, with the arm moving to the rhythm of the beat. The attraction is the first ride at sea to allow riders to customize their experience to their desired thrill level.
"We are excited to give our guests more access to cutting-edge experiences," said Ruben A. Rodriguez, president of MSC Cruises USA, in a company statement. "We're the first cruise line to offer something like Robotron at sea, and we can't wait for thrill-seekers to discover the ride of their life surrounded by the beauty of the Caribbean."
The Robotron ride is customizable, so riders can choose a high intensity level to be flipped upside down and dangled over the edge of the ship or a more family-friendly setting to focus more on taking in the incredible views. In addition, riders can select their favorite music and light settings, and Robotron will "dance" to the music and pulse colorful light patterns in time to the tunes.
Related: The craziest attractions you'll find on a cruise ship
Royal Caribbean fans might notice some similarities between Robotron and the North Star attraction on Royal Caribbean's Quantum-class ships. While both employ robotic arms with passenger pods at the end, the North Star offers more serene sightseeing, while Robotron goes straight for the heart-pounding thrills.
Robotron is not the only high-tech addition to MSC Seascape. MSC Cruises will also add new virtual reality experiences to the ship, including a VR flight simulator and VR motorcycles. MSC Seascape will join other ships in the fleet in offering an immersive XD theater and a Formula One race car simulator.
The second ship in MSC Cruises's Seaside EVO class, MSC Seascape will have many similarities to first-in-class MSC Seashore, which debuted in 2021. Seascape will launch in New York later this year with a naming ceremony set to take place on Dec. 7, though its first sailing will depart Rome on Nov. 19 for a trip across the Atlantic. The ship will spend its maiden season sailing Caribbean cruises from Miami.
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