Norwegian Cruise Line's new ship has a ridiculously big go-kart track here's why I loved it
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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.
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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.
Is Norwegian’s go-kart racing on a cruise ship worth $15?
With state-of-the-art tracks, fast-paced competitions, and breathtaking ocean views, passengers can enjoy an adrenaline-pumping adventure while sailing the high seas. Guests can play games like bumper cars, roller skating, basketball, and even take part in circus school. Theres truly something for everyone, regardless of age or skill level. The SeaPlex is a versatile space that can transform to accommodate different activities, making it a dynamic and engaging venue for guests to enjoy. This unique experience has the potential to create once in a lifetime memories for cruisers, and therefore should definitely be on your list of must-do activities onboard your next Norwegian Cruise Line sailing. During our sailing, the Speedway was open everyday from about 5pm to 9pm each day.
What Are the Requirements to Race?
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.
This means that guests have the opportunity to race during both sunset, during the later part of the afternoon, and at night. We chose to race during the earlier reservations, but we did check out the Speedway during the nighttime and it looked really fun to race at night as well. Norwegian Encore, the cruise ship with the longest go-kart track at sea, has begun sailing cruises from Miami to the Caribbean.
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.
Do Norwegian’s Go Karts Have Petrol or Electric Engines?
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.
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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.
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If you want to drive alone, then you need to be at least 55 inches tall (4′ 7″). Note that some websites showing the minimum height of 48 inches, but on the ship it was in fact listed as 55 inches to drive alone. Smaller riders can go with larger drivers to also enjoy the track. As you’d expect on a racetrack on a ship, the course isn’t that long. In a compact space the track packs a lot in, including a ton of corners, twists and turns. It’s also a double-decker track, with a hill climb right at the start and a downhill section at the end to bring you back to the start/finish line.
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.
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.
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.
There are definite times when you have to let off the gas to make a corner cleanly. Norwegian’s onboard go-kart fleet is electric, though that might be hard for drivers to believe because sounds mimicking gasoline-powered cars are pumped into driver’s helmets to mimic the traditional race car experience. I didn’t notice the go-karts were electric and the sounds I was hearing were fake until after my drive. New for Norwegian Prima, the line also is adding a "You And The Track" single-rider experience where you get to zoom around the speedway for three laps with no one else on the course. For this experience, the speed restrictions that have been imposed on the cars will be lifted so that you can hit speeds as high as 40 mph. In fact, most indoor karting arenas feature similar prices, although the length of a race may be a little longer.
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.
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