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Ships with heated pools, swim-up bars, and exercise rooms just aren’t going to cut it anymore. The cruise vessels of today offer hundreds of amenities…and most of them are pretty darn cool. From pulse-racing performances to some serious pampering, these awesome features may sound a little overboard on a cruise, but we don’t hear anyone complaining.

1. A Recumbent Bike Track

New to the Carnival fleet is the Carnival Vista, which touts all sorts of daring, first-at-sea activities, like SkyRide. What’s that, you ask? Oh, just a hanging recumbent bike track a whopping 150 feet above sea.

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2. An IMAX Theater

If recumbent bikes aren’t really your thing, you can still get your adrenaline pumping aboard Carnival Vista. That’s because the ship also offers an IMAX theater, allowing you to enjoy first-run blockbusters, recent hits, and IMAX shorts in larger-than-life format.

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3. A Half-Acre of Real Grass

Aboard Celebrity’s Solstice Class ships, the grass is always greener. No – seriously. On the highest deck of the ships, you can find the first half-acre of real grass ever grown at sea. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy casual drinks and watch a sun set over the horizon (all while enjoyingtunes by a live guitarist).

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4. A Planetarium

In the middle of an ocean, you’d kind of expect stellar views of the night sky, right? Well, aboard Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, you’ll get that and way more. It’s the only ship to host a planetarium at sea, taking you on virtual tours to outer space and journeys to the moon (along with other exciting destinations).

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5. A Water Coaster

Leave it to Disney to imagine the first water coaster ever at sea! Climb aboard the Disney Dream, and you can enjoy the ride of your life on the AquaDuck. This elevated water coaster will have you whooshing through 765 feet of acrylic tube, down the span of 4 decks, and gives you beautiful views of the ocean…if you’re brave enough to keep your eyes open.

6. An Ice Bar

Looking for a place to chill at sea? Head to the SVEDKA and Inniskillin Ice Bar aboard <ahref=”http://cruises.orbitz.com/promotion/norwegian-cruises.do?cm_mmc=Link-_-ORB-Blog-_-20150501-_-10_Awesome_Cruise_Ship_Amenities_NCL”>Norwegian’s Epic, Breakaway, and Getaway ships. As you might infer from the name, this bar is made entirely of ice – ice glasses, ice seating, you get the idea – and is kept at an arctic 17 degrees Fahrenheit.

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7. A Skydiving Simulator

For pulse-racing, adrenaline-rushing fun, try soaring 10,000 feet in the air…on a cruise ship. Available on RoyalCaribbean’s Quantum of the Seas, RipCord by iFly allows you to experience the thrill of skydiving without jumping out of a plane.

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8. A Magic Show with Dinner

You may not believe your eyes when you get aboard Norwegian’s Getaway. Besides cool features like the Ice Bar (above) and a Ropes Course (which includes a zip track), the ship also boasts the Illusionarium, a mesmerizing dome venue with fine dining and jaw-dropping magic shows.

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9. A Bumper Cars Pavilion

Located aboard Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas is SeaPlex, is a cavernous space where passengers can enjoy a plethora of activities including roller skating, basketball, trapeze lessons, and bumper cars.

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10. A Personal Butler

Admit it – you’d so love to cruise with a personal butler. And, if you sail with on a Silversea luxury cruise ship, you can enjoy one around the clock. Prepare to have your clothes hanged, your ice bucket refreshed, your bed turned down, and your dinner reservations made by the Butler Service that’s offered to each guest.

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Read to get on board? Find your next sailing adventure at Orbitz Cruises.

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Tagged: Caribbean, Cruise, Family time

Note: Orbitz compensates authors for their writings appearing on this site.

Katie Straw

Katie Straw

Katie is a writer, lover of words and pizza connoisseur currently living in Manchester, New Hampshire.

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