Carnival Cruise Line Closes SkyRide for Extended Maintenance

(2:57 p.m. EDT) -- Carnival Cruise Line has closed its popular SkyRide air bicycle attraction on Carnival Horizon and Carnival Vista for extended maintenance until further notice.

"SkyRide is currently undergoing extended maintenance on Carnival Horizon and Carnival Vista," a spokesperson for Carnival told Cruise Critic.

"We conduct regular maintenance inspections of SkyRide on both ships. As we compared findings of the most recent inspections, we decided it best to take the rides out of service and consult with our engineering experts on some enhancements to maintain the high level of safety we are committed to providing.  

" We are making every effort to complete any recommended work as quickly as possible. We apologize for any disappointment this may cause our guests."

An included top-deck feature on both ships, SkyRide offers a course that's suspended nearly 150 feet above sea level. Passengers sit in an enclosed device and pedal their way around an 800-foot-long track that offers panoramic views of the ship and the ocean. Thanks to its two-track design, participants can "race" each other to the finish line.

Members on Cruise Critic's message boards have been chatting about the issue since the weekend.

"The Skyride is a huge draw to me; I can imagine quite a few will be disappointed as they may have chosen that ship for the Skyride," boards member cruisequeen4ever said.

But, while some are disappointed to hear of the closures, others are taking it in stride.

"If it is out of service, I will just have to do a couple extra slides down the water slide," said Banditswife.