Ultimate Abyss on Harmony - Not about taking a ride

[bradner3]

I was on Harmony last November and I just wanted to get other people's thoughts on the addition of Abyss. But again, this is post is NOT about the riding the actual riding of the slide itself or if it's a good or bad addition.

 

I was on Allure a few years previous and I really liked the back part of the pool deck; the Wipeout bar, etc. Great people watching! I also enjoyed Boardwalk and dining at Sabor, etc. on Allure.

 

On Harmony, I think the Abyss sort of disrupted both spaces a bit. Don't get me wrong, I will still go on Harmony - there are plenty of other places to hang out :D, but the space around the bar on the upper deck is essentially non-existent and overrun with kids running around, queuing up for the slide.

 

On Boardwalk, you now hear screams of people coming down the slides which is particularly grating when trying to eat at Sabor or Johnny Rockets. In addition, the traffic patterns of people walking (and now even more kids waiting on sliders) are interrupted by the slide.

 

Again, not bashing, just starting a conversation. Thoughts about the placement? Specifically comparing the rear pool deck and Boardwalk to other ships. Did it need to take up all that room with that big fish head?:confused:

[setsail]

Seriously, you been holding this for 8 months

 

All the slides are a great addition, so glad rci offers choice with their ships

[aubreyc1988]

Personally I don't like it. I haven't been on Harmony but aesthetically, I don't find it pleasing. I can't speak to the added noise because of it because I haven't been on Harmony, but I could see it adding noise. The abyss itself wouldn't cause me to not book Harmony, although it doesn't really add anything to my personal cruise experience...that is not to say it doesn't add to other passengers experience.

[NaplesGoBlue]

This is the world's largest cruise ship, with an overall length of 1188', 16 passenger accessible decks, and 7 neighborhoods.....and we're concerned that a solitary 20' fish head located near the back of one of those single neighborhoods is too big. Okay.

[Thorben-Hendrik]

It is really disrupts the back of the ship - the giant stupid giant Fish makes it almost impossible to see the wake - so sad!

[Lady Chew]

We were on in June ... I've got some great pictures of the wake, taken right by The Fish Head ...

[Hey Tina]

Bless your heart...I think the placement is fine.

[mooseman52b]

You can hear them scream going down, but barely hear them coming down. IMO the Abyss adds to the Boardwalk atmosphere. Before Abyss on Oasis is was more of a Bored Walk :D

[taglovestocruise]

The saddest part is that they removed the Tequila Bar to make way for the slide exit. Oh the joy of a transatlantic. We have done Oasis, Allure and have Symphony booked for the first transatlantic. All the features, all the shows, and all done with 1500 less kids.

[LuCruise]

Subscribing. We booked Symphony and know our kids will love it. Have also booked Boardwalk room. You hear a lot of negative comments with the slide blocking. Not sure it'll bother us but don't know yet. It does make Royal unique.

 

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[A&L_Ont]

The saddest part is that they removed the Tequila Bar to make way for the slide exit.

 

Actually they moved the Tequila Bar to be inside Sabor. That being said it is less functional in it's new location than on Oasis and Allure. It doesn't seem to process guests as quickly or at least the lines seem to be longer and slower on Harmony.

[Shipof6Fools]

Sure I'll bite. Of the three current Oasis class ships I booked Harmony specifically for the Ultimate Abyss slide. Well that and the Perfect Storm water slides. I think it just adds one more thing to the long list of "stuff" I am looking forward to doing on my upcoming sailing on her. Oh and my kids think they are pretty cool too.

 

Speaking of the Ultimate Abyss. Does anyone know the minimum weight and/or height requirements?

[Hey Tina]

Sure I'll bite. Of the three current Oasis class ships I booked Harmony specifically for the Ultimate Abyss slide. Well that and the Perfect Storm water slides. I think it just adds one more thing to the long list of "stuff" I am looking forward to doing on my upcoming sailing on her. Oh and my kids think they are pretty cool too.

 

Speaking of the Ultimate Abyss. Does anyone know the minimum weight and/or height requirements?

 

You can be 6 years old and about 30 pounds and you're fine to ride as long as you have sleeves and long-ish pants (noticed a sign that said dresses and skirts need to be at the knee). I don't k now the official figures but my niece is young and skinny and was fine. She's probably like 3 feet tall.

[John&LaLa]

We were on in June ... I've got some great pictures of the wake, taken right by The Fish Head ...

The previous poster was talking about the view from the FlowRider

 

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[bradner3]

Seriously, you been holding this for 8 months

 

All the slides are a great addition, so glad rci offers choice with their ships

 

Seriously, you need to be rude and negative when replying when I am simply asking for opinions to drum up conversation? I didn't realize there was a limitation on how long I was able to hold onto my personal thoughts and questions. Kindly let me know the statute of limitations on how long I should be able to have free thought and I will keep your restrictions in mind.

 

Not that your ridiculous comment deserves any explanation, but yes, it's been 8 months. I am getting ready to leave on my next cruise in a couple weeks so my mind is once again focused on cruising.

 

As far as the poster who provided the ships dimensions and found it ridiculous that a slide would make much difference, I challenge you to go on Allure or Oasis, spend some time on the back deck between the flow riders, and then do the same on Harmony and then honestly report back that there is no difference. Again, I was asking for opinions, not wise cracks.

 

Thank you to the rest of you for your thoughts regarding Abyss.

[John&LaLa]

Your original post pretty much says it's a bad addition, even though you said the post is not allowed to say if it's good or bad.

 

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[rusty nut]

The saddest part is that they removed the Tequila Bar to make way for the slide exit. Oh the joy of a transatlantic. We have done Oasis, Allure and have Symphony booked for the first transatlantic. All the features, all the shows, and all done with 1500 less kids.

Agreed. I would much rather have the bar.

[tdtanc]

I get what you are saying. Was on Harmony in January. Went down the slide once. Did not find it all that "to do." I guess jumping out of perfectly good airplanes has desensitized me a bit. Airborne! I went to Johnny Rockets a few times and heard people screaming as if they were dying and I was like really?? Think they were embellishing a bit. That said I don't really hang out at that end of the boat much having been on the Allure twice and Oasis once. My bars are Schooner bar and Central Park for peace and quiet. And the casino bar at night.

[Ti2m]

I agree with you 110%. The Abyss is loud and ugly and not all that much fun to ride. No more Boardwalk for us. Our cabin on the Symphony is located in Central Park. Just hope Royal doesn't find a way to ruin that space.

[Beachammo]

Since each Oasis class ship is almost identical in layout....it's great that Royal tries to put something a bit different on each one. I applaud the effort....

 

If you don't care for Abyss then stay off Harmony and choose one of the other three.

 

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[BillOh]

Since each Oasis class ship is almost identical in layout....it's great that Royal tries to put something a bit different on each one. I applaud the effort....

 

If you don't care for Abyss then stay off Harmony and choose one of the other three.

 

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Other 3? The Symphony is going to have the Abyss, I believe. It will be a long time before I get to see it, but I don't think the noise will bother me at Sabor, but we will see.

[constable145]

You can be 6 years old and about 30 pounds and you're fine to ride as long as you have sleeves and long-ish pants (noticed a sign that said dresses and skirts need to be at the knee). I don't k now the official figures but my niece is young and skinny and was fine. She's probably like 3 feet tall.

Ya I'm fairly certain this isn't accurate..

 

I'm pretty sure that the height requirement is 48 inches.

 

If it was just a weight requirement of 30 pounds you would never get my 3 year old daughter off of it.

 

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[Hey Tina]

Ya I'm fairly certain this isn't accurate..

 

I'm pretty sure that the height requirement is 48 inches.

 

If it was just a weight requirement of 30 pounds you would never get my 3 year old daughter off of it.

 

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If the height requirement is 48 inches then perhaps my niece is 48 inches or taller. All I know is she rode it, her dad said she's "like 30 pounds" and she looked about as tall as a yardstick to me.

 

Edit: The minimum height is 44 inches.

[BamaGuy44]

Meh. Very low on the list of things I would care about onboard. It's a pretty cool addition, and if it makes the traffic flow near one of the 30 bars on board less than optimal I can live with that. Any changes to ship design and features will cause some trade offs.

 

The boardwalk is pretty noisy in general, so we didn't really notice the sounds from the slide in particular when we ate at Sabor and JR. The view off the back of the ship would definitely be better without it but again, trade offs.