Starboard is positioned the “Tidal Wave” (raft slide). It provides Independence cruise ship passengers with the unique opportunity to ride in rafts plummeting down a very steep drop. Then the rafts shot up a nearly vertical wall into the air for experiencing the sensation of weightlessness and free fall.

The Tidal Wave℠ is a high-adrenaline boomerang-style waterslide located on the pool deck of Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas. Part of the "Perfect Storm" waterpark, this slide utilizes a two-person raft that plunges riders down a steep drop before launching them up a near-vertical wall to experience a moment of weightlessness. After reaching the peak of the wall, the raft slides backward through a splashdown finish. It is distinct from the ship's other slides, Typhoon and Cyclone, which are more traditional twisting "racer" slides. Due to the high-velocity nature of the Tidal Wave, there are specific height and weight requirements (typically a 48-inch minimum height) to ensure the raft maintains the correct trajectory on the vertical incline.