I Tried 2 of the Scariest Cruise Ship Thrill Rides: Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Them Both!

On my most recent cruise, I challenged myself to try two of the scariest cruise ship thrill rides (to me, anyway - I’m sure some of you will agree): the ‘Aqua Slidecoaster’ and also ‘The Drop’ onboard Norwegian Luna. I’m going to tell you all about my experiences of both of these rides in this post today - I hope you’ll enjoy finding out more about them both.

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As soon as I booked my cruise onboard Luna, which was the newest cruise ship in the world at the point of my cruise, I knew I would want to conquer both the Aqua Slidecoaster and also The Drop. Both of these activities are included in your cruise fare, so you don’t need to pay anything extra to do either of these things during your cruise.

I cruised onboard Norwegian Luna, which was the newest cruise ship in the world at the point of my cruise!

What is the Aqua Slidecoaster on Norwegian Luna?

Norwegian Luna’s Aqua Slidecoaster is the world’s first hybrid rollercoaster and waterslide. I’ll pause and let you read that again - that’s right - a rollercoaster AND a waterslide. To add to the thrill, the ride starts roughly 18 decks up in the air - it’s quite difficult to believe, isn’t it?

The ride promises to launch you to a top speed of over 30mph (50km/h), and it then offers you a journey like no other as you continue onwards after the initial launch. Riders are inside an inflatable raft, and can either ride solo or as a pair.

Of course, as soon as I realised there were TWO slides to try, I just had to plan to ride them both!

The Aqua Slidecoaster is on the top decks of Norwegian Luna, the newest cruise ship from Norwegian Cruise Line (2026).

The Aqua Slidecoaster onboard Norwegian Luna promises to be like nothing you’ve ever tried at sea before!

There are two slides: a turquoise coloured one, and also a blue coloured one. You can see both of them in the photo above.

I opted to try the slides during one of our sea days. You’ll wait much less time to try during a port day, but the honest reality is that I’d been putting it off and delaying it for the whole cruise, so I opted to try the ride at one of the last possible opportunities…!

Standing watching the other riders be launched at the start is a thrill in itself - it’s difficult to comprehend that you’re standing on the top deck of a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean when you see things like this, isn’t it?

I waited for around 30 minutes to ride, but had I tried this out while we were docked at a port, I’d probably not have waiting more than a couple of minutes (if at all!).

Before I knew it, it was my time to step into one of the small inflatable boats and be launched up the slide…

Photographic proof that I tried the Aqua Slidecoaster onboard NCL Luna!

So, what’s my review of the Aqua Slidecoaster?

I’ve got five words to summarise this thrill ride: It’s all about the launch. Sure, what happens after the launch is cool, but it simply can’t beat the adrenaline rush that you get when the huge mechanical arms of the ride attach themselves to your boat and thrust you up the slide to get started.

After the launch, the ride really slows down, and it becomes a very leisurely slide down a gentle hill inside the tube. Looking at the slide from the outside, it’s clear that the incline isn’t up to much while you’re inside the slide, so I guess the initial launch needs to be enough to allow you to clear the entire length of the slide to reach the end.

The slower speed inside the slide allows you to enjoy what’s going on - your boat will be gliding through perspex sections that allow you to get a totally different view of the ship, music is playing to you inside the slide, and there are lots of special effects to enjoy as you twist and turn towards the end.

At the end of the slide, you’ll splash out at the end, at which point you’ll make your way around to where you boarded your boat to disembark the ride. Tip - this is a great photo opportunity, so be sure to have someone nearby ready with their camera!

The end of the ride is a good photo opportunity - remember to smile for your camera!

Can you film on the Aqua Slidecoaster?

This is an important one. It’s a clear ‘no’ on this front - I guess it’s too much of a risk for passengers to be on the slide with their own camera equipment. If you’ve see videos online of passengers enjoying the slide, chances are that they were onboard in an official capacity - during my cruise, no passengers were permitted to film.

One point to be aware of is that the slide is actually fitted with a camera, which includes both video and photo capabilities. When you disembark from the slide, head over to the digital screens by the exit and input your cabin number. This will then send your photos and videos to the onboard photography gallery (on deck 8), where you can then go to have them sent to your email free of charge. It’s not the best video you’ll get of your vacation, but it’s a nice keep-sake for the experience!

Would I recommend the Aqua Slidecoaster?

In a word, YES. I was super nervous before boarding my little boat, but I was absolutely delighted when I could say that I’d actually done it. It’s honestly nowhere near as scary as it might seem when you first see it - give it a try, and you’ll be glad that you did!

Are there any weight or height restrictions to ride the Aqua Slidecoaster on Norwegian Luna?

If you’re planning to ride during your cruise, you should note that there’s a maximum weight of 300 pounds (roughly 136kgs) per individual rider. If you’d like to ride as a pair, then there’s a maximum combined weight of 400 pounds (181kgs).

The only other requirement that you’ll need to satisfy is the minimum height of 48 inches.

If you meet both of those requirements, you’re good to go!

Would you like to give the Aqua Slidecoaster a try during your cruise? Go on - you’ll be proud of yourself afterwards!

Now, let’s move on to talk about something that I found much more intimidating: ‘The Drop’.

The Drop is a ten-storey drop slide that plunges you from the top deck of the ship down to the Promenade Deck in a matter of seconds.

Interestingly, you finish this slide directly beside the outdoor dining area for ‘The Local’ - one of the onboard dining venues. The last thing you’re probably expecting when you’re finishing your dessert is someone appearing beside your table who’s just plummeted ten storeys, right?!

The Drop is a drop slide on the top deck of the ship that plunges you down to the Promenade Deck!

Are you brave enough to enter this capsule to begin the ride?

So, how does it work?

This one doesn’t need too much preparation from the rider’s point of view - you stand in the capsule that you can see in the above photo, at which point you’re standing inside on a floor that’s about to fall away from you. You’re wrapped in a pouch (or a bag), which allows you to move through the slide without getting injured by the slide itself, or stopping enroute!

After the crew member closes the door, a countdown then begins. When the countdown reaches ‘zero’, the floor will fall away from you, and you’ll be on your way (at speed) towards the Promenade Deck.

I can safely say that this is one of the scariest things that I’ve ever done on a cruise ship - my heart was pounding in my head listening to the countdown approaching the point where I knew the floor would disappear!

Here’s the evidence that I made it into ‘The Drop’…

I never thought I’d type this, but can you see me inside the tube?!

My ‘top tip’ if you’re hoping to ride The Drop is to either take one of your friends or family members with you to take a photo of you as you descend, or ask the ride attendant if they’d mind taking your photo.

I really enjoyed this one, but I think it’s probably a ‘one and done’ for me - I don’t think I’d be brave enough to try it again…!

Are there any weight and height restrictions to ride The Drop on Norwegian Luna?

To ride The Drop, you’ll need to be at least 55 inches tall, and you’ll also need to comply with the weight limit of 330 pounds (149kg).

There’s also a maximum height on this ride of 89 inches tall.

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about my experiences on both ‘The Drop’ and also the Aqua Slidecoaster onboard Norwegian Luna. If you’d like to see more from my time onboard, here’s a video over on YouTube that you might enjoy - it’s our overview of our cruise experience!