Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas Sails Into Port Everglades

November 24, 2008...  The Independence of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International's latest Freedom-class ship, debuted in the U.S. Wednesday at Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Touted as one of the world's largest cruise ships, it will be Royal Caribbean's first Freedom-class ship to sail from Port Everglades.

Independence of the Seas can hold 3,634 guests, and includes Freedom-class features such as a FlowRider surf simulator, the H20 Zone water park, cantilevered whirlpools in the adults-only Solarium, a boxing ring and a 14-person family suite. Other amenities include an ice-skating rink, rock-climbing wall, Broadway-style entertainment and the Royal Promenade— an entertainment of shops, restaurants, bars and lounges.

Independence will sail from Ft. Lauderdale and alternate between eight-night Eastern Caribbean and six-night Western Caribbean itineraries. Independence's Eastern Caribbean itinerary will call at San Juan, Puerto Rico; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Phillipsburg, St. Maarten and Labadee, Royal Caribbean's private beach destination in Haiti. The Western Caribbean itinerary will call at Belize City, Belize; and Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico.