The Royal Caribbean North Star Experience is a 360 degree viewing pod that rises on an arm to 300 feet above sea level. The arm doesn’t only rise above the deck of the ship, it also swings out sideways to port or starboard. When the arm swings out to either side, the occupants get to see the entire ship from a birds-eye view.
The North Star experience is only available on Quantum Class ships. The North Star is a single glass-enclosed pod, similar to a London Eye capsule but smaller. It’s attached to a huge mechanical arm that lifts the pod up and down and out over the side of the ship rather like a construction crane. The experience is described as a cross between a Ferris wheel and a ski resort gondola.
The North Star attraction has a Guinness World Record for the tallest viewing deck on a cruise ship.
The North Star Experience is available only on Quantum Class ships including Quantum, Ovation, Anthem, Odyssey & Spectrum.
- Quantum of the Seas offers Alaska, South Pacific, New Zealand, Australia, and transpacific cruises
- Anthem of the Seas offers both Caribbean and European cruises
- Ovation of the Seas offers Alaska, Australia, South Pacific, New Zealand, Hawaii, and transpacific cruises
- Odyssey of the Seas offers Caribbean, European, and transatlantic cruises
- Spectrum of the Seas offers cruises throughout both Southeast Asia and Japan
There is currently an admission fee of $49 at the time of writing (March 2022). The experience lasts approximately 15 to 20 minutes and can accommodate 14 people (plus the operator). The pod is wheelchair accessible. I think it is limited to one wheelchair per ride, but I am not sure about that.