Ultimate Abyss: Royal Caribbean's cruise ship dry slide

Royal Caribbean has a reputation for offering incredible activities on cruise ships, which includes its 10-deck-high slide.

The Ultimate Abyss has quickly become a hit with guests who flock to give it a try.

Towering 150 feet above sea level, it is a dry slide that sends guest plummeting down a 10-story slide.  To say it is a thrill ride on the high seas would be an understatement.  We felt it was our intrepid duty to try this gargantuan slide out ourselves, and report back what it is all about.

What is Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate Abyss?

The Ultimate Abyss towers 150 feet above sea level at the aft of and offers a 100 foot drop.

The Ultimate Abyss is made up of two separate cylinders, a reflection of one-another, each with a diameter of approximately 2.6 feet and constructed of stainless steel.

Guests will twist and turn from deck 16 all the way down to deck 6, where they will exit on the Boardwalk.

It’s only available on the Oasis-Class ships, with the exception of Allure of the Seas.

As if a 100 foot drop was not scary enough, there is a glass platform at the ride launch area to remind guests just how high up they are. Prior to going down the Ultimate Abyss, guests can take one last look at the Boardwalk, which is 10 decks below them, and then count their blessings and slide down.

During the ride down, you could reach a speed of up to nine miles per hour as they twist and turn in a serpentine-like movement.

There will be a new Ultimate Abyss on Utopia of the Seas, as Royal Caribbean wants to take back the title of the longest dry slide at sea.

How to ride

The entrance to the Ultimate Abyss is located on deck 16, near the very back of the ship.  It can be found by simply walking all the way to the aft of the ship on deck 16.

There is no means of signing up in advance, simply enter the queue when the ride is open and wait your turn.  In addition, there is no waiver to sign to participate.

You must be at least 44 inches tall and weigh no more than 300 pounds.

As you get closer to the entrance, you will be instructed on how to ride properly.  The important thing to know is to keep your elbows in and legs straight.  Not following these instructions can lead to a nasty (and painful) burn on your arms during the ride.

Right before climbing the stairs to the slide entrance, guests will take a mat that they will ride in.  At the top, the mat is placed at the very beginning of the slide, and the guest will enter the mat, placing their feet and most of their legs in the mat opening.  Then, grab the mat handle, lean back and head down when instructed.

During the ride, guests descend at a rate of up to nine miles per hour, through a variety of twists and turns.  While the slide is dark inside, there are spontaneous audio effects played at different parts of the ride, along with lighting effects.  All of this combines to provide a multi-sensory thrill.

At the conclusion of the ride, you will come to a stop along a long straightaway on the Boardwalk.  Step out, grab the mat and place it in the receptacle for used mats.

There is an on-ride photo option, where guests can get a photo of themselves that is taken just as they are about to end the slide ride.

How much does it cost to ride the Ultimate Abyss?

There is no cost to ride the Ultimate Abyss. It’s free!

What’s it like to ride?

The Ultimate Abyss lives up to its billing as a multi-sensory thrill ride.  Most guests that ride agree it is not as scary/intense an experience as one might think by looking at the slide.

The amount of turns, and the angles at which they occur, contribute to slowing guests down to a pace that is far more tolerable than a simple plunge.  It is quite common to be apprehensive at the top of the slide, but we found the ride down to be slower than we expected (which is not a bad thing).

Rides on the Ultimate Abyss are complimentary, and offered during most times of the day.  Lines certainly can develop for the Ultimate Abyss, especially on sea days and in the afternoons. To ensure a short wait, try to ride just as the ride opens or during dinner hours (after 5pm).

Ultimate Abyss is a lot of fun to ride, and definitely worth a few rides over the course of a cruise.  It is easy to get apprehensive about the experience, but the ride is big on fun and not as intense as one might imagine.

Which cruise ships have the Ultimate Abyss?

• Oasis of the Seas
• Harmony of the Seas
• Symphony of the Seas
• Wonder of the Seas
• Utopia of the Seas

Allure of the Seas does not have the Ultimate Abyss yet.