Which cruise ship became the first to feature an IMAX cinema at sea?

Carnival Vista became the first cruise ship to feature an IMAX cinema at sea.

Carnival Cruise Line introduced Carnival Vista in 2016 as the lead ship of its Vista class. Among its entertainment facilities was an IMAX Theatre, bringing the large-format cinema brand to a cruise ship for the first time. The venue could show current films, documentaries and other large-screen programming during voyages.

The ship also introduced several other attractions to Carnival’s fleet, including an onboard brewery and SkyRide, a suspended cycling experience above the upper deck. These additions reflected the industry’s shift toward cruise ships offering destination-style entertainment as well as traditional lounges, theaters and pools.

Carnival Horizon later joined the fleet with similar Vista-class features, but it was not the pioneer for the shipboard IMAX concept. The record refers to an IMAX-branded cinema installed aboard a cruise ship, not merely to a large movie screen used for outdoor presentations.