Royal Caribbean International says that its third and final Freedom-class ship will be named Independence of the Seas. The enormous ship, currently under construction at Aker Yards in Turku, Finland, is set to make its debut in May 2008. It will follow Liberty of the Seas, which is scheduled to make its entrance into Southampton, England on Sunday April 22, 2007.
Independence of the Seas will have all of the signature elements of its sister ships, Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas, including rock climbing, a much-hyped surf simulator and an ice rink, as well as a superb spa, a boxing ring, whirlpools cantilevered out over the sides of the ship, 112 feet above the ocean, and a giant presidential family suite, sleeping 14. Independence and its sisters will be the three largest cruise ships afloat, each measuring 160,00 tonnes and carrying more than 3,600 passengers.
From May, Liberty of the Seas will sail alternating seven-night eastern and western Caribbean itineraries year-round from Miami, calling at San Juan, Puerto Rico; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and Labadee, Haiti in the east; and Labadee; Montego Bay, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Cozumel, Mexico in the west.
Liberty of the Seas will depart Miami on Saturdays while Freedom of the Seas, also sailing alternating seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries out of Miami, will depart Sundays. Visit www.rccl.com.
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