Transatlantic Cruise

Royal Caribbean are offering a 13 night transatlantic cruise on board Independence of the Seas departing from Southampton on November 23rd 2009.

You will depart Southampton on this large vessel (one of the largest in the world) and head for France where you will dock at Le Havre and Cherbourg. From here you will move down the coast and arrive at Vigo in Spain where you will spend another day on land. Finally you will spend a day in Madeira in Portugal.

Once you have departed Madeira you will spend 6 days at sea as you travel in style and luxury aboard this huge vessel and there is plenty to keep you busy on board. After 6 days you will arrive at Fort Launderdale in Florida where this experience will end. This cruise is ideal for people who just want to relax and live in luxury for 13 days.

Italian Mediterranean Cruise

Departing from Southampton on board one of the largest ships in the world, Independence of the Seas, Royal Caribbean will take you on a magical journey on their 14 Night Italian Mediterranean Cruise.

There is so much to do when on board this Freedom Class vessel; from ice skating on the rink to enjoying a relaxing time in the spa and health centre.

The cruise will take you first of all to Gibraltar where you will spend the day after 2 days at sea from Southampton. You will then move onto Cannes in France then Livorno in Italy. You will then travel the West Coast of Italy taking in Sardinia and Rome before travelling back towards Spain.

You will have 3 stops in Spain and Portugal before heading back to Southampton for a thoroughly enjoyable and hot experience.

Mediterranean Treasures Cruise

Royal Caribbean Cruises sail to many different destinations around the Mediterranean on 7 night to 14 night cruises. One cruise of interest is the Mediterranean Treasures Cruise.

This cruise runs on Independence of the Seas and is a 14 night cruise that sails via Spain, France, Italy and Portugal. There are 9 ports of call on your voyage around the Western Mediterranean and you will be able to soak up the culture and cuisine of these beautiful countries.

FlowRider Onboard Independence

Independence of the Seas is the newest addition to the Royal Caribbean fleet, joining in May 2008. She operates from Southampton and is currently the largest cruise ship and passenger vessel ever built.

She is a sister ship to Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas with all three ships falling into the Freedom Class of ships.

As the biggest cruise ship she can hold 4,370 guests alongside 1,360 crew members. She weighs in at a total of 154,407 gross tons and has a total of 15 passenger decks filled with endless entertainment and activities.

Activities include a FlowRider, rock-climbing wall, H2O Zone and ice-skating rink.

Independence of the Seas

The newest ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet is Independence of the Seas who entered service for the cruise line in May 2008.

She can carry an incredible 4,370 passengers alongside 1,360 crew members and weighs in at 154,407 gross tons.

At the time of construction she was the largest cruise ship and passenger vessel to ever be built; measuring in at 1,112 feet long and 180 feet wide at the widest point.

Her sister ships are Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas and collectively they form the Freedom Class of ships.

Independence Repositioning Cruise

Independence of the Seas is the third ship of the Freedom Class of ships and the largest ever ship to be home-port in Europe.

She will embark on a European transatlantic cruise on November 2008 as her repositioning cruise from Europe, ready to spend 5 months in the Caribbean. The cruise will see her depart Southampton and spend 13 nights at sea calling at three destinations before docking in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The destinations will be Vigo, Spain; Funchal, Portugal and Philipsburg, St Maarten.

Many shore excursions will be offered on this cruise including island tours, snorkelling, SCUBA diving, beach breaks, shopping trips and sightseeing.

Once she has arrived in Fort Lauderdale she will spend around 5 months on a variety of 6 and 8 night western and eastern Caribbean itineraries before returning to Europe in April 2009.

Independence or Independance

It is amazing how many people misspell Independence of the Seas, this is more so in the UK as many pronounce it Independance of the Seas and spell it that way. Could this be due to the fact that in the US people celebrate Independence Day while over her in the UK we do not?

Independence of the Seas is due back in Southampton in 2010 for her second season of UK based cruising.

Royal Caribbean Welcomes Independence of the Seas

Royal Caribbean has just welcomed its newest ship, Independence of the Seas to its fleet. A ceremony took place at Aker Yards in Turku, Finland ready for her to make her debut in Europe later in the next few days. Independence of the Seas will be the third cruise ship to join Royal Caribbean’s Freedom Class of ships and the largest cruise ship ever to be home-ported in Europe. The official naming ceremony and celebrations are due to take place in Southampton on April 30th after the Godmother is announced on April 18th.  “We are delighted to welcome Independence of the Seas to our fleet and to introduce her to vacationers throughout the United Kingdom and Europe,” said Adam Goldstein, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “Positioning one of our largest and newest ships in Southampton reaffirms Royal Caribbean’s strong commitment to the region and will provide the opportunity for more European guests to experience the distinctive and award-winning vacation our brand has become recognized for throughout the world.” Independence of the Seas will embark on her maiden voyage on May 2nd before spending the summer sailing through the Mediterranean calling at various ports including Barcelona, Malaga, Monte Carlo, Sardinia and Lisbon.

Royal Caribbean Cruises in Europe 2009

Offering travelers more choices to experience multiple destinations throughout Europe, Royal Caribbean International today announced the planned deployment of a record eight ships to the region for the 2009 summer and fall seasons. Vacationers can select from itineraries ranging from four to 14 nights aboard some of the world’s most innovative cruise ships: Independence of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s newest Freedom-class ship; two Voyager-class ships, Navigator of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas; as well as Brilliance of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, Legend of the Seas, Splendour of the Seas, and Vision of the Seas. Totaling 70 distinct itineraries and 87 ports of call in 32 countries, Royal Caribbean will offer vacationers unprecedented choices throughout the Mediterranean Sea, Northern and Western Europe and a variety of transatlantic sailings in 2009. Bookings are available immediately for Royal Caribbean’s 2009 Europe cruises and cruisetours aboard all ships except for Vision, which will be opened in April 2008.

“Royal Caribbean’s Europe cruises offer great vacation value to see the continent’s most popular destinations and where guests need to unpack only once,” said Alice Norsworthy, senior vice president, Marketing, Royal Caribbean International. “Vacationers can choose among twelve convenient European homeports to meet our ships - more than any other cruise line in the industry. In addition, guests can enhance their vacation by combining their cruise with a Royal Caribbean cruisetour and delve into Europe’s popular inland cosmopolitan centers.”

Cruisetours complement a Royal Caribbean International vacation in Europe by combining a cruise with land journeys, city tours and hotel stays ranging from three to five nights prior to embarkation. A tour director escorts each group on the itineraries, featuring the must-see landmarks and attractions in Europe’s popular cities, including Paris, London, Madrid, Barcelona, Stresa, Verona, Venice, Florence and Rome. Air and ground transfers, hotel reservations, tours and some meals are inclusive, and guests will have ample time for shopping and independent pursuits

In 2009, Independence of the Seas returns to Southampton, U.K., for her second Europe season, offering 14-night Western Mediterranean, 10- and 11-night Western Europe and Canary Islands, and four-night British Isles itineraries. Like no other cruise ship in Europe, Independence of the Seas exclusively features amenities that have revolutionized the industry, such as the FlowRider surf simulator, the H20 Zone water park, a boxing ring, cantilevered whirlpools, and the fourbedroom/four-bath Presidential Family Suite. With eight restaurants and more than 15 bars and lounges, Independence offers vacationers a unique onboard experience while cruising in Europe.

Navigator of the Seas will take guests on more varied itineraries from her homeports of Malaga, Spain, a new homeport for Royal Caribbean; Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy; and Barcelona. Voyager of the Seas - also homeporting through November 2009 in Barcelona - and Navigator will offer more opportunities for vacationers to experience a Europe cruise aboard a Voyager-class ship. Each ship offers guests an ice-skating rink, the line’s iconic rock-climbing wall, a nine-hole miniature golf course, and the Royal Promenade - a boulevard lined with shops, restaurants, bars and lounges that runs nearly the length of the ship.

 
Brilliance of the Seas will remain in Europe and continue offering year-round itineraries for a second consecutive year. In November and December, Brilliance will offer vacationers a new Egypt and Eastern Mediterranean itinerary sailing roundtrip from Barcelona, featuring the Greeks Isles and calls at Port Said, last called at by a Royal Caribbean ship in 2001, and Alexandria, Egypt.

Royal Caribbean also is expanding the line’s Northern Europe program with short Scandinavian itineraries aboard Vision of the Seas from her homeport of Copenhagen, Denmark, another new homeport for the cruise line; Oslo, Norway; and Stockholm, Sweden. Concurrently, Jewel of the Seas will specialize in 12-night Scandinavia and Baltic voyages, featuring an overnight in St. Petersburg, Russia, Peter the Great’s “Window to the West.” Jewel will also sail one 12-night itinerary that combines the British Isles and Norwegian Fjords, which includes a call at Geiranger, Norway, one of the highest rated ports by previous guests.

Vacationers also can choose among very special 10- and 11-night Holy Land itineraries aboard Vision of the Seas. From the line’s new homeports of Athens and Istanbul, Vision’s ports of call will include Haifa and Ashdod, Israel, last called at by Royal Caribbean in 2000, and Port Said.

Onboard every Royal Caribbean ship, guests enjoy complimentary 24-hour room service, award-winning Broadway-style musical revues from Royal Caribbean Productions, top-rated Adventure Ocean kids programming with teen-only spaces fleetwide, and Royal Caribbean’s Gold Service Standard of friendly and engaging service from staff and crew.

Official Royal Caribbean Press release Miami, March 19, 2008.

Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas Floated

At the Aker Yards in Finland today, the latest Royal Caribbean arrival, Independence of the Seas, was floated. This should mean that she should be ready for her inaugural voyage scheduled for May 2008. She will take over the honour from her sister, Queen Mary 2, of being the largest ship ever to homeport in Europe. Southampton in the United Kingdom will be her European base when her cruises begin next summer.