How brave are you really,would you dare to take this on…

Well for a change I thought i would take a look at a couple of the more challenging excursions that you can do if you are on a cruise, challenging in different ways from the physical to the “oh my god I can’t do that”
This week its going to be about Zip lines and I am telling you that a few of them would scare you to death
For a lot of people its more the adrenaline rush they are looking for, well let me tell you that some of these zip lines have that by the shed load.

Where to start though, well Royal Caribbean have a zip line on board their Oasis class ships and although I have not actually been on the ride I have seen first hand how high it is above the boardwalk, the screams tell you that it is “fun”.

This is a one person at a time ride but there are some excursions out there that are ideal for families and you can race each other across the sky, just remember to open your eyes.

We did quite a sedate one really in the rain forests of Dominica, it was one where you are in a carriage up in the canopy of the trees but it feels safer as you don’t get all strapped in as such. It is still a big drop but not as noticeable, ideal if you are a bit of a scaredy cat but want to try something different.

In Charlotte Amalie in St Thomas there is a zipline that can carry 2 people at once and this is ideal for kids as well as long as they are over 7, there is a yo yo effect as well that takes you backwards and forwards, it is up in the canopy of the forest.

In Honduras there are 12 zip lines to choose from as well as a hanging bridge you can walk across, well crawl in my case as bridges above things turn my knees to jelly which is odd as i love the big white knuckle rides.

In Belize See the spectacular Belize wilderness up close as you cross ancient Mayan caves. Zip under the jungle canopy, between the stalactites and stalagmites and through the open-air caves of Jaguar Cave. This one does look good I have to say. scary but good.

What about Niagra falls, It may be over in a minute, but the WildPlay Mistrider lets you feel the spray of Niagara Falls as you zip toward the iconic American and Canadian Horseshoe Falls, zooming along the edge of the vast Niagara River Gorge to the observation landing. Four side-by-side zips mean that a family of four can experience this together.

Snapshot:

Location: Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
Duration: Single zip lasts about one minute
Maximum height: 220 feet
Maximum speed: 40 mph
Length of zip: 2,200 feet
Minimum age: 7 years old
Weight range: 50-300 pounds

There are 2 more and I can’t decide which is the scariest, probably the one in Alaska but the one in Labadee is unbelievable as you go on a little roller coaster to get up there and the views are amazing, it is so long you can’t see the end and it looks like it drops into the sea.
If your itinerary includes a stop at Labadee, the cruise line’s private Haitian island, you can experience the world’s longest overwater zip line. Starting high above the island’s beaches on Dragon’s Breath Rock, this zip line takes you gliding a half a mile over the azure waters of Buccaneers’ Bay to the other side, where you touch down on soft white sand.

Snapshot:

Location: Labadee, Haiti
Duration: 1 1/4 hours from start to finish
Maximum height: 500 feet
Maximum speed: 50 mph
Longest individual zip: 2,600 feet
Minimum height: 5 feet
Weight range: 75–275 pounds

Finally this one I would love to do, its high and its scary and I can imagine the views would be stunning.

At over a mile long, Alaska’s Icy Strait Point ZipRider owns the bragging rights as the world’s longest zip line. It’s also one of the fastest; thanks to a 1,300-foot vertical drop and speeds of up to 60 mph, you’ll fly 300 feet above the treetops of the Tongass National Forest and be back on the ground in roughly 90 seconds. Up to six family members can launch at once, with each person safely sitting in a special harness seat.

Snapshot:

Location: Icy Strait Point, southeastern Alaska
Duration: 1 1/2 hours from start to finish
Maximum tower height: 300 feet
Maximum speed: 60 mph
Longest zip: 5,330 feet
Weight range: 90–275 pounds

So that is a little insight into some of the zip lines out there, there are more but these are all spectacular in their own right.
Have you been on any of them? please comment and let us know what you thought.
We use a company called cruisingexcursions.com for our trips but they can also be booked on board.

Seriously though have a look on you tube at these and i bet you will be booking one the next time you go on a cruise, just let us know when you do it and send us the proof that you are braver than the rest of us.