10 Best Cruise Ship Waterslides for an Epic Vacation

Real talk: we are living in the golden age of cruise ship waterslides—especially the best cruise ship waterslides. We’re talking a 46-foot free-fall drop, a rollercoaster-waterslide hybrid that launches you at 31 mph (why yes, that’s faster than a car driving on a residential street!) And then there’s the Disney water coaster where animated shorts actually play while you ride.

Cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, Norwegian (NCL), Carnival, Disney and MSC are really taking waterslides and coasters to the next level. Of course, when considering the best cruise ship waterslides, remember that everyone will have their own opinion based on their personal tastes.

Over the past few years, I’ve sailed on over a dozen cruise ships—from the Norwegian Getaway to Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas—so I know firsthand how much the experience can vary from ship to ship. In this countdown, we’re starting at #10 and working our way up to the greatest slide of them all. The best part? Every single one is included free with your cruise fare.

The Best Cruise Ship Waterslides

10. The AquaDuck on the Disney Dream & Fantasy

This 765-foot water coaster drops four decks and loops out over the side of the ship in massive clear acrylic tubing that’s held up by 46 giant white stilts! Two-person rafts coast through with gravity and water jets, giving you a surprisingly fast ride that works for all ages. It earns our tenth spot in our best cruise ship waterslides list because Disney’s newer AquaMouse has raised the bar, but the AquaDuck is still a bucket-list experience—and that’s why

Must-Know:

• You must be 42″ or taller to ride AquaDuck; single riders must be 54″ or taller.
• Riders must be 7 years or older to ride alone and kids under 7 must ride with someone 14 years of age or older, provided the child is at least 42″ tall.
• Loose items such as sunglasses, mobile phones and cameras are not permitted when you ride.

9. MSC Vertigo — MSC Preziosa

In the quest for the best cruise ship waterslides, the MSC Vertigo stands out due to its unique design.

This slide measures 390 feet long across a whopping 18 decks and even has strobe lights built into the tube! It’s definitely the most atmospheric slide on this list. There’s a reason it’s called Vertigo: The 20-second ride takes you through alternating clear and colored sections, creating a genuinely disorienting, almost hypnotic effect unlike anything else we’ve seen at sea.

Pro Tip: While MSC Cruises is an Italian-founded and owned company, it also docks out of Miami, Orlando’s Port Canaveral, Brooklyn, New York and Galveston, Texas.

8. Green Lightning — Carnival Splendor

Green Lightning comes in at No. 8 on our best cruise ship waterslides list.  It starts in a capsule where the floor drops without warning—sending you plummeting 37 feet before a slingshot curve flings you into a massive bowl! Crazy fast and disorienting in the best way, it’s the kind of experience that gets your whole group talking at dinner.

Pro Tip: The Carnival Splendor primarily sails from Sydney, Australia, which sadly, makes it the hardest best cruise ship waterslide to reach on our list. (The flight from New York to Sydney will take you at least 24 hours!)

7. The Perfect Storm — Royal Caribbean

The twin racers on Royal Caribbean ships level up the entire waterslide experience because you can compete to see who finishes first!

The Perfect Storm is yet another contender for the title of best cruise ship waterslides.  That’s because it’s not just a waterslide; it’s a race! It’s got twin racers—plus a Supercell bowl—and takes you three stories up and has translucent ocean-view panels. The racing element makes you want to ride it over and over! I may or may not have competed in a “Best of 5” competition with my cousin, Jill!

Where To Find The Perfect Storm on Royal Caribbean Ships:

The Perfect Storm features Twin Racers and The Supercell Bowl. These are the massive Oasis-class ships that have all three slides:

• Oasis of the Seas
• Harmony of the Seas
• Symphony of the Seas
• Wonder of the Seas
• Utopia of the Seas

The following ships have the twin racers and the awesome Typhoon and Cyclone racing slides, but no Supercell bowl:

• Freedom of the Seas
• Liberty of the Seas
• Independence of the Seas
• Mariner of the Seas
• Adventure of the Seas
• Voyager of the Seas
• Explorer of the Seas

We love how you can find this best cruise ship waterslides pick on a dozen different RC ships!

6. Ocean Loops — Norwegian Bliss, Encore & Joy

Ocean Loops continues to impress as one of the best cruise ship waterslides and attracts thrill-seekers of all ages.

Here’s why: Two full looping sections extend OUT over the side of the ship in transparent tubes, where a trapdoor freefall launches you into loops suspended above the open ocean. Take a look!

Know Before You Go

• Height Requirement: Riders must be a minimum of 48 inches tall.

• Weight Minimum: Riders must weigh at least 120 lbs to ensure they have enough downward momentum to make it up and over the clear loops.

• Weight Maximum: Riders cannot exceed 300 lbs.

• The “No Metal” Rule: This is the most common reason people get turned away from the best cruise ship waterslides. Swimwear cannot have any exposed metal, including zippers, buckles, rivets, or grommets, because they scratch the clear acrylic tubes.

• Accessories: Absolutely no jewelry, eyeglasses, or sunglasses are permitted on the slide.

• Age/Supervision: Riders under 12 years old must be accompanied by an adult.

5. The AquaMouse on the Disney Wish, Treasure & Destiny

The AquaMouse captures the essence of the best cruise ship waterslides through its innovative design.

Disney calls it “the first Disney attraction at sea” and they’re exactly right. A 760-foot water coaster with animated Disney shorts, lighting effects and custom sound literally built directly into the slide. There’s a different story on every ship and this one’s also the most all-ages slide on the list. Check it out:

4. The Blaster — Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas

The Blaster is a thrilling option among the best cruise ship waterslides, making your cruise unforgettable.

It’s the longest waterslide ever built on a cruise ship: 800 feet of tubing with water jets propelling you uphill like a roller coaster. Less about screaming and more about sustained, pure joy.

Pro Tip: Navigator sails from Los Angeles. Hit The Blaster first thing on sea days.

3. Free Fall — Norwegian Getaway, Breakaway & Escape

Don’t miss Free Fall, one of the best cruise ship waterslides you can experience on your next voyage.

Trapdoor drops, near-vertical plunges, 4Gs of force and loops at terrifying speed.

But here’s the thing: There’s not just one amazing waterslide: Norwegian Getaway’s park has five multi-story slides.

I sailed on the Getaway in November 2025 and can tell you firsthand: The Free Fall is 100% the real deal. The moment the floor disappears under you, you get the same adrenaline rush you only feel on theme park roller coasters. And then, the fun kicks in! I loved it so much I’m going on the Getaway again this April!

2. The Aqua Slidecoaster — Norwegian Aqua & Luna

The Norwegian Aqua ship sailed its maiden voyage in March 2025 and its slide offerings are an absolute game-changer in the realm of the best cruise ship waterslides. The Aqua Slidecoaster is the world’s FIRST hybrid rollercoaster-waterslide at sea. And its powered by revolutionary magnetic launch technology that catapults your raft to 31 mph through 600+ feet of twists. Its sister ship—the Norwegian Luna—has its first sailing in April 2026 and also features the Slidecoaster.

I’ve gotta say—The Aqua and Luna are at the top of my list of ships to cruise and the Slidecoaster is definitely a big reason why!

1. The Frightening Bolt on Category 6 — Royal Caribbean Icon & Star of the Seas

It’s the tallest drop slide ever built on a cruise ship—a 46-foot near-vertical plunge located inside Category 6. It’s the largest water park at sea, with six total record-setting slides. Icon launched in January 2024 as the world’s largest cruise ship, while Star of the Seas debuted in August 2025.

Carnival Festivale — Coming Spring 2027

A rendering of what the Carnival Festivale water park will look like

This is going to be massive. The Festivale will sail out of Port Canaveral in Florida and debut Sunsation Point—a three-deck-high zone featuring “Carnival WaterWorks Ultra.” It will be Carnival’s biggest water park ever, with six slides—including twin racing slides and family raft rides. The coolest part? For the first time ever, the water park will be open at night with a live DJ and crazy lighting effects!

Pro Tips for Riding the Best Cruise Ship Waterslides

1. Check the daily schedule. These slides are not open at all hours! Slide operating times can vary based on weather, sea conditions and staffing, so check your cruise app each morning.

2. Wear your swimsuit under your outfit on embarkation day. When you first board the ship, most people head straight to the buffet or wait for their cabins to open. If you are already in your suit, you can head straight to the top deck and ride best the cruise ship waterslides with zero lines!

3. Watch your swimwear hardware. This is the number one reason people get turned away at the top of the stairs! The most extreme slides (especially the trapdoor free-falls) have a strict “no metal” rule because it scratches the clear acrylic tubes. If your swimsuit has metal zippers, grommets, or hard buckles, they will make you do the walk of shame back down the stairs.

4. Stay on board during port days. In my experience, while everyone else gets off to explore the ports of call, the ship empties out. It is the absolute best time to have the water park practically to yourself. It’s a good idea to plan any excursions around what time the slides are open that day.

5. Leave the action cameras behind. We all want that epic POV video for TikTok, but almost all major cruise lines strictly ban loose items—including GoPros, phones, and sunglasses—on the best cruise ship waterslides for safety reasons. Don’t wait in a 30-minute line just to be told you can’t ride with your camera.

Colleen Broomall is an avid cruiser and the founder of YSBnow.com. She’s also a 20-year veteran of teen entertainment media, helming publications like Tiger Beat, BOP and Popstar.