Royal Caribbean Floats Out Its Next Jumbo Ship

MIAMI, FL, September 18, 2007 (The Boating Channel) – Royal Caribbean floated out the third ship in it super mega-ship class. The 160,000-ton Independence of the Seas was moved from dry dock to wet dock on Friday at the Aker Yards in Turku, Finland. The sister ship to Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas will now undergo many months of finishing leading up to her May 2008 debut in Southampton, England.

She will be the largest ship ever to be home-ported in Europe and is a statement of the company’s conviction that cruise travel in Europe will continue to grow as more and more cruise vacationers seek destinations beyond the Caribbean, Alaska and Hawaii.

The official ceremonies were held at the shipyard and attended by Royal Caribbean and Aker executives, who joined together to turn the valve releasing 87 million gallons of water into the wet dock area.

Independence of the Seas, which will share the title of worlds largest cruise ship with Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas, will be able to accommodate 3,634 guests, double-occupancy. In addition to new programs and onboard embellishments yet to be announced, amenities Independence will include the popular innovations introduced on her sister-ships, including the FlowRider surf simulator; the wet and wild H20 Zone aqua park; and cantilevered whirlpools suspended 112 feet above the ocean. The ship will also boast an ice-skating rink; a boxing ring; and the 1,215-square-foot Presidential Family Suite, which sleeps up to 14.

Royal Caribbean International currently has 21 ships in service and three under construction.