Carnival Vista debuts with IMAX, SkyRide, deck parties and, to come, a murder mystery

Carnival Cruise Line's largest ship also offers a suspended, 270-foot-long ropes course, a high-speed Twister slide and a water spray park with a 300-gallon tipping bucket.

New activities include the South Beach-inspired Serenity Nights, a Rock-N-Glow '80s Deck Party and an Island Deck Party as well as a murder mystery experience.

Among the entertainment are popular comedians at the Punchliner Comedy Club; family-favorite Hasbro, The Game Show, a live action game show incorporating popular Hasbro games; and Thrill Theater.

'Our guests are going to love this ship and their biggest challenge will be trying to choose from among so many different things to do on board,' said Sarah Beth Reno, vp entertainment for Carnival.

The IMAX Theatre features a three-deck-high screen for an immersive cinema experience with the latest Hollywood blockbusters, family favorites and IMAX documentary content.

The 187-seat venue is part of the Carnival Multiplex, which also includes Thrill Theater, where seats move back and forth and side to side and viewers are sprayed with water and bubbles to make them feel like they’re part of the feature. 'Thrillogy' is a scary-yet-fun multi-sensory horror movie designed for ages 17 and older.

The cost for first-run movies in the IMAX Theatre is $12.95 for adults and $9.95 for children 12 and under and those 55 and over. The cost for IMAX documentaries and Thrill Theater is $5.50.

Carnival Vista is raising the curtain on three new high-tech Playlist Productions that blend live performances with LED staging and special effects.

'Amor Cubano: A Caribbean Dance Romance,' is a get-on-your-feet show of classic Latin songs with today’s hits and featuring an authentic reproduction of the ship's own Havana Bar. A seven-piece Cuban-inspired band performs songs by stars like Gloria Estefan and Celia Cruz. The other shows are 'America Rocks!,' featuring rock anthems by artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aerosmith, Styx and Kiss, and 'Flick: The Power of Motion Pictures,' with songs from popular movies like 'Footloose' and 'Dirty Dancing.'

All three shows lead to high-energy after parties in Carnival Vista’s atrium, Havana Bar and other places where passengers can dance and interact with the performers.

The 385-seat Punchliner Comedy Club offers family-friendly and adults-only sets.

At night the ship’s outdoor adults-only retreat, Serenity, transforms into a South Beach-style club under the stars, complete with lighting effects and a mix of popular music spun by one of Carnival’s professionally-trained DJ’s.

For the Rock-N-Glow '80s Deck Party, participants don day-glo and other attire from the 1980s and dance the night away. A new Island Deck Party celebrates the fun and spirit of RedFrog and BlueIguana, the namesake characters of Carnival Vista’s poolside bars. In early summer, the Clue murder mystery experience will debut, as well.

Carnival Vista is operating a summer schedule of Mediterranean cruises through October. In October the ship will offer a pair of 11-day voyages from New York before repositioning to its year-round home, PortMiami.