Norwegian Bliss Speedway: Is the Go-Kart Track Worth It?

The Speedway is not hidden away in some random indoor arcade area. It sits up on the ship’s upper decks, which makes the whole thing feel a little ridiculous in the best possible way.

You are strapped into an electric go-kart, wearing a helmet, winding around corners, and looking out at the ocean from the top of a massive cruise ship.

That is not normal.

And we mean that as a compliment.

There are plenty of cruise activities that are fun but fairly standard: trivia, pools, hot tubs, mini golf, game shows, karaoke, comedy, live music. The Speedway is different because it feels like something you would not expect to do at sea.

That does not automatically mean everyone should pay for it. But if you are already curious, it is probably worth trying at least once.

We were told we needed proper closed-toed shoes, so we had to go all the way back to our rooms and change before we could race.

That part was mildly annoying, but also completely fair.

You are driving a go-kart on the top deck of a cruise ship. Safety rules are safety rules.

This is exactly the kind of cruise ship detail that can turn a quick activity into a much longer one. We had a short wait when we arrived, which was great. But because two of us had to go change shoes, the whole process took longer than it needed to.

So here is the practical version:

If you might ride the Speedway, do not show up in flip-flops, sandals, slides, or Crocs. Wear actual closed-toed shoes.

Your future self will appreciate it.

Cruise ship activities can feel very different depending on when you do them.

A short wait makes something feel easy and fun. A long wait can make the exact same activity feel like a bad use of vacation time.

For us, the Speedway landed in that first category.

We did not have to rearrange our whole day. We did not miss something else we really wanted to do. We were able to jump in, race, and move on.

Well, after two of us went back to change out of our Crocs.

But once we had the right shoes, the actual Speedway process moved quickly.

If we were doing it again, we would probably look for quieter windows instead of trying to go at the most obvious peak times. On a sea day, that might mean avoiding the middle of the afternoon when everyone is wandering the ship looking for something to do.

The length of the race changed our opinion more than we expected.

If it had been over almost immediately, we probably would have said, “That was fun, but not necessary.”

Instead, it lasted long enough for everyone to get comfortable, test the speed a little bit, figure out the corners, and actually enjoy the track.

That makes a difference.

There is always a little bit of a learning curve with something like this. The first lap or so is about figuring out the car, the steering, the spacing, and how aggressive you want to be.

If the ride ends right when you start feeling comfortable, it can feel underwhelming.

This did not feel that way.

By the time we finished, we felt like we had actually done the Speedway — not just sampled it.

The Speedway hits a nice middle ground.

It is not scary. It is not extreme. It is not something where you need to be a thrill-seeker to enjoy it.

But it also does not feel painfully slow.

That balance is probably why it works as a cruise ship activity. A wide range of people can try it, but it still has enough movement and speed to make you smile.

The turns are where it becomes more fun. You are not just driving in a flat circle. The track winds around, changes levels, and gives you enough corners to feel like you are actually racing.

And because you are doing it outside on the ship, the setting adds to the experience.

We already like going to the Sail Away party because it is one of those classic first-day cruise things.

The music is going, people are excited, and the trip finally feels like it has officially started.

But this was also a good reminder that sometimes they give away things during those events.

We are not saying you should go just for the freebies. But if you are already onboard and the party is happening, it can be worth stopping by.

In our case, Melanie catching that pass gave us a reason to try something we may have kept putting off.

And we are glad she did.

It is easy to say something is fun when it was free. It is a little different when someone actually paid for it and still felt good about the value.

Based on our experience, $15 felt reasonable for what it was.

Would we pay that every single cruise? Maybe not.

Would we pay it once on Norwegian Bliss if we had never done it before? Yes.

We would put the Speedway in the “worth trying once” category.

It is not a must-do for every person on every sailing. If you are trying to keep onboard spending as low as possible, this is an easy thing to skip.

But if you are curious, the price is not outrageous compared with a lot of cruise extras.

Specialty dining, drinks, Wi-Fi, excursions, arcade games, casino play, photos, and spa services can all add up quickly. In that context, $15 for a unique activity on top of the ship felt pretty fair.

Some cruise activities are just as fun solo.

The Speedway feels like one that is better when you have someone else to compare notes with afterward.

Who was fast?

Who drove too carefully?

Who acted like they were qualifying for Formula 1?

Who had no idea what they were doing but still had a great time?

Those little moments are what make cruise activities memorable.

For us, it was not just “we rode go-karts.” It was that we got to do it together, compare the experience, and laugh about it afterward.

That is usually the kind of stuff that sticks.

The biggest thing we would tell you before going is simple:

Wear closed-toed shoes.

Not Crocs. Not sandals. Not slides. Real closed-toed shoes.

A few other things we would keep in mind:

• Check the current price onboard before assuming it is the same as our sailing.
• Look for quieter times if you want a shorter wait.
• Pay attention to any onboard contests or giveaways where passes might be offered.
• Wear actual closed-toed shoes before heading up there.
• Do not overthink it if you are curious — this is one of those activities that is probably more fun to try than to analyze forever.

We would also check the app or onboard schedule for availability because hours can vary based on weather, itinerary, and ship operations.

That last part matters because it is an outdoor activity. Wind, rain, sea conditions, and general scheduling can all affect when it is open.

We would not say the Speedway is a reason by itself to book Norwegian Bliss. But it is one of those ship features that makes Bliss feel fun, active, and a little different.

And sometimes that is exactly what you want on a cruise.

Not every onboard memory has to be a big excursion, a fancy dinner, or a production show.

Sometimes it is just a few people getting into go-karts on top of a cruise ship and realizing it was way more fun than expected.

Even if two of them had to go change their shoes first.