CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Carnival is preparing for a return to the seas with its newest and largest ship ever. The Carnival Mardi Gras arrived at Port Canaveral Friday to a crowd of hundreds of excited spectators, Florida Today reported.
The 1,130-foot long ship has a capacity of 6,465 passengers and 17 decks. And, oh yeah, the first-ever rollercoaster at sea.
BOLT, the first roller coaster on a cruise ship, is a "motorcycle-style speed machine" that zooms through an open-air course with 360-degree ocean views, according to Carnival.
The Mardi Gras is also the first cruise ship in North America to be powered by liquefied natural gas, in what Carnival calls a move toward eco-friendly cruising.
While certainly an exciting spectacle, the Mardi Gras' arrival doesn't mean a return to sailing quite yet.
A week ago, the CDC cleared Carnival to resume cruising operations from three ports across the country, which it plans to set sail from in July.
Several cruise lines are set to conduct test cruises with volunteer passengers this summer in an effort to get federal clearance to sail with paying passengers.
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