Independence of the Seas
Cruises
Departure Ports
Starting Price, Per Night*
Maximum Duration
|
Spec |
Value |
|---|---|
| Age | 18 years (in service since 2008) |
| Class | Freedom class |
| Length | 339 metres (1,112 feet) |
| Beam | 38.6 metres (127 feet) |
| Tonnage | 154,407 gross tonnes |
| Capacity | 3,634 lower berth (4,603 maximum) |
| Crew | ~1,360 |
| Speed | 21.6 knots |
| Itinerary | US East Coast: Bermuda, Bahamas, Western Caribbean, New England/Canada |
Prefer to sail Royal Caribbean from Australia?
Independence of the Seas is based at New York and Miami, so an Australian booking is a fly-cruise. For a no-fly Royal Caribbean cruise from Sydney or Brisbane, see:
What is Independence of the Seas?
Independence of the Seas is a 154,407 gross tonne, 339-metre Freedom-class ship operated by Royal Caribbean International, the third of the three Freedom-class hulls and in service since 2008. She carries around 3,634 guests at lower-berth capacity (4,603 maximum when every upper berth and sofa bed is filled), with around 1,360 crew on board. Her standout features include the four-deck Royal Promenade running down the centre of the ship, the Studio B ice rink for professional ice productions, and the FlowRider surf simulator the Freedom-class introduced to sea.
Independence of the Seas was built by Aker Finnyards at Turku in Finland and entered service in May 2008, after sister ships Freedom of the Seas (2006) and Liberty of the Seas (2007), and she spent her early years as Royal Caribbean’s UK-based flagship from Southampton. Her current schedule is US East Coast: Bermuda, Bahamas, and New England-and-Canada sailings from Cape Liberty near New York, plus short winter Bahamas and Western Caribbean getaways from Miami, so Australian guests fly to join her.
How many decks does Independence of the Seas have?
Independence of the Seas has 15 passenger decks, with cabins on nine of them, so your stateroom sits on one of those. The remaining decks hold the public spaces you use during the cruise: the four-deck Royal Promenade, the three-deck Main Dining Room, the Windjammer Marketplace buffet, the Main Theater, the Studio B ice rink, the Vitality at Sea Spa & Fitness Center, the Adventure Ocean kids’ centre, Casino Royale, and the top-deck Pool deck with The Perfect Storm dueling waterslides, the FlowRider, the Sky Pad VR trampoline, Splashaway Bay, the 40-foot Rock Climbing Wall at the aft of the ship, and the adults-only Solarium.
What cabins does Independence of the Seas have?
Independence of the Seas carries 1,918 cabins across four core tiers. You can book:
- Interior cabins, including the Freedom-class signature Promenade View Interior with bowed windows that look down over the four-deck Royal Promenade rather than out to sea, the larger Family Interior at around 324 square feet, and the standard Interior.
- Ocean View cabins, which add a picture window, in sizes from standard up through Spacious Oceanview, a forward-facing Panoramic Oceanview, and an Ultra Spacious Oceanview for families.
- Balcony cabins, with a real private balcony, in standard and Spacious versions.
- Suites, which on Independence of the Seas are tiered by size rather than grouped into Royal Caribbean’s Star, Sky, and Sea Royal Suite Class (that program runs only on the line’s newer Oasis, Quantum, and Icon-class ships, not this Freedom-class hull). They run from the Junior Suite up through the one and two-bedroom Grand Suites, the Owner’s Suite, the forward Panoramic Suite, and the single Royal Suite at the top, at around 1,358 square feet. Larger suites add Concierge and Suite-Lounge access, a Suite Sun Deck, and priority check-in and boarding. There is no loft suite on this class.
There are around 125 suites in total.
What does Independence of the Seas itinerary look like?
Independence of the Seas runs a year-round US East Coast schedule, with Cape Liberty across the river from New York City as her main homeport and a winter Miami base for short Bahamas and Caribbean getaways. Her Bahamas and Caribbean sailings typically include a day at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas. You can choose:
- Bermuda and Bahamas voyages of 5 to 7 nights from Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey, calling at ports such as Kings Wharf in Bermuda, Perfect Day at CocoCay, Nassau, and Port Canaveral.
- Eastern and Western Caribbean voyages of 3 to 7 nights from Miami, including short 3 and 4 night Bahamas getaways and longer 7-night runs that call at ports such as Perfect Day at CocoCay, Cozumel in Mexico, Philipsburg in St. Maarten, and Charlotte Amalie in St. Thomas.
- New England and Canada voyages of 7 to 9 nights from Cape Liberty, calling at Boston, Bar Harbor in Maine, Saint John in New Brunswick, and Halifax in Nova Scotia.
What are the top facilities on Independence of the Seas?
Independence of the Seas has eight standout facilities:
- The four-deck Royal Promenade, the interior shopping-and-entertainment boulevard down the centre of the ship.
- Studio B, the ice rink that stages professional ice-show productions.
- The Sky Pad, a bungee-and-virtual-reality trampoline (charged in addition to your cruise fare) that was the first trampoline experience at sea when it debuted on Independence of the Seas in 2018.
- The Perfect Storm dueling waterslides, added in the 2018 amplification.
- The FlowRider surf simulator.
- The Battle for Planet Z glow-in-the-dark laser tag arena, also added in the 2018 amplification.
- The 40-foot Rock Climbing Wall at the aft of the ship, plus mini-golf, golf simulators, a sports court for basketball and other court sports, and a boxing ring.
- The Puzzle Room, an escape-room challenge added in the 2018 amplification (charged in addition to your cruise fare).
What is the onboard experience of Independence of the Seas?
Independence of the Seas‘s onboard experience covers six areas:
- Dining
- Bars and lounges
- Entertainment
- Activities and pools
- Wellness and fitness
- Kids and teens programming
Dining is anchored by the traditional three-deck Main Dining Room, with set seating or flexible My Time Dining, and the Windjammer Marketplace buffet. Casual included options add Sorrento’s Pizza, the 24-hour Café Promenade on the Royal Promenade, the adults-only Solarium Bistro for Mediterranean, and Sugar Beach, the sweets shop added in the 2018 amplification. Specialty (extra-charge) venues carry a distinctive Freedom-class mix on Independence, trading the Mexican specialty venues on sister Freedom of the Seas for the UK-flavoured Fish & Ships poolside fish-and-chips counter (a nod to her years as Royal Caribbean’s Southampton-based ship) and the Sugar Beach sweets shop: the Chops Grille steakhouse, Giovanni’s Table for Italian, Izumi Hibachi & Sushi for Japanese teppanyaki and sushi, Fish & Ships, the Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade for American sports-bar fare, the multi-course Chef’s Table tasting menu, and Johnny Rockets for burgers. Starbucks serves branded coffee for a fee, and 24-hour room service is available.
Bars and lounges spread along the four-deck Royal Promenade. The Schooner Bar is the nautical piano lounge and Boleros covers Latin music and cocktails. Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade, added in the 2018 amplification, is the sports-and-arcade venue. The Star Lounge hosts live music, the R Bar handles classic cocktails, Vintages covers wine, and Café Latte-tudes runs the specialty-coffee bar. Casino Royale runs the gaming floor and its bar.
Entertainment centres on the Main Theater, which stages Broadway-style production shows, comedy, and game shows, and Studio B, where the ice rink hosts professional ice productions. The four-deck Royal Promenade carries parades and party events down its length, the Battle for Planet Z arena adds glow-in-the-dark laser tag, and the Puzzle Room (charged separately) is the onboard escape-room challenge. Casino Royale covers the gaming.
Activities and pools lead with the Sky Pad, the bungee-and-virtual-reality trampoline that was the first trampoline experience at sea when it debuted on Independence of the Seas in 2018, alongside The Perfect Storm dueling waterslides added in the same refit. The pool deck adds the FlowRider surf simulator, the 40-foot Rock Climbing Wall at the aft of the ship, mini-golf, golf simulators, a sports court for basketball and other court sports, and a boxing ring that doubles as a fitness-class space. Water options include four pools, six whirlpools, and the Splashaway Bay kids’ aqua park, with the adults-only Solarium as the quieter swim and sun deck.
Wellness and fitness centre on the Vitality at Sea Spa & Fitness Center, with a full menu of massages, facials, and body wraps plus a thermal suite and a salon. The adults-only Solarium is the calm retreat away from the family pools, and the gym carries cardio and weights with paid group classes, plus a boxing ring.
Kids and teens programming runs through Adventure Ocean for ages 6 months to 17, with a nursery for 6 to 36 months, then Aquanauts (3 to 5), Explorers (6 to 8), and Voyagers (9 to 11). Splashaway Bay is the kids’ aqua park on the pool deck, and teens get The Living Room lounge for ages 12 to 17, alongside the Sky Pad, laser tag, and FlowRider.
Who is Independence of the Seas best for?
Independence of the Seas is a strong fit for you in three scenarios:
- You want a big, thrill-packed Freedom-class ship from the US East Coast, with the four-deck Royal Promenade, the Studio B ice rink, and the modern thrills the 2018 amplification added, from the Sky Pad VR trampoline and The Perfect Storm dueling waterslides to the Battle for Planet Z laser tag and the Puzzle Room escape-room challenge. The Cape Liberty homeport across the river from New York City makes her a natural pick for a Bermuda, Bahamas, or New England-and-Canada cruise.
- You’re a short-break cruiser who wants a 3 or 4 night Bahamas getaway from Miami, a length that’s uncommon on Royal Caribbean’s larger megaships and ideal for a long weekend or a first taste of cruising.
- You’re a drive-to cruiser based in the US Northeast who values Cape Liberty as a homeport that skips the flight to Florida for a Caribbean, Bermuda, or Canada sailing.
Independence of the Seas is a mid-sized Freedom-class hull, so she’s less suited to you if you’re after the scale of Royal Caribbean’s larger Oasis-class ships, with their Central Park, Boardwalk, and AquaTheater neighbourhoods, or the line’s newest Icon-class features such as the AquaDome and Surfside. She’s also a fly-cruise for Australian guests rather than a homeport sailing, since she’s based at Cape Liberty and Miami; if you’d prefer to board a Royal Caribbean ship from Sydney or Brisbane, the section below covers the Australian-homeported alternatives.
Where does Independence of the Seas dock?
Independence of the Seas works from two homeports across the year. Her main base is Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne, New Jersey, across the harbour from New York City, for her Bermuda, Bahamas, and New England-and-Canada season. In winter she shifts to the Miami Cruise Terminal in Florida for her short Bahamas and Western Caribbean getaways. Pier assignments can vary by voyage, so check your booking for the exact terminal. For many years she was Royal Caribbean’s UK-based ship from Southampton, but her current schedule is US East Coast-only, so Australian guests fly either to New York for Cape Liberty or to Miami to join her.
Prefer to sail Royal Caribbean from Australia?
Independence of the Seas is a US East Coast ship, so an Australian booking is always a fly-cruise. If you’d rather board closer to home, three Royal Caribbean fleetmates sail from Australian homeports:
- Anthem of the Seas is the upgrade pivot, a newer Quantum-class ship that homeports in Sydney and Brisbane in the Australian summer. Her signature features, the North Star observation pod and the RipCord by iFLY indoor skydiving simulator, are a step up from the Freedom-class feature set on Independence of the Seas. See Anthem of the Seas cruises.
- Ovation of the Seas is the other Quantum-class Australian regular, with a similar newer-generation feature set to Anthem of the Seas on Sydney and Brisbane summer rotations. See Ovation of the Seas cruises.
- Voyager of the Seas is the closest size-and-feel match to Independence of the Seas. She’s a Voyager-class fleetmate sailing Australian summers from Sydney and Brisbane that carries the same four-deck Royal Promenade, Studio B ice rink, and FlowRider surf simulator format on a slightly smaller, older platform. See Voyager of the Seas cruises.
Independence of the Seas FAQs
How old is Independence of the Seas?
Independence of the Seas entered service in May 2008 as the third and youngest of Royal Caribbean’s three Freedom-class ships, which makes her 18 years old in 2026. She was built by Aker Finnyards at Turku in Finland at a cost of around US$828 million, and she spent her early years as Royal Caribbean’s UK-based flagship from Southampton. Her landmark update was the major 2018 amplification, which added the Sky Pad VR trampoline (the first trampoline experience at sea), The Perfect Storm dueling waterslides, glow-in-the-dark laser tag, the Puzzle Room escape room, Splashaway Bay, Playmakers Sports Bar, Sugar Beach, and Fish & Ships.
Who christened Independence of the Seas?
Independence of the Seas was named at Southampton on 30 April 2008 by her godmother Elizabeth Hill of Chesterfield, a Royal Caribbean past-guest who won the right to christen the ship in a UK competition. It was a deliberately Britain-led ceremony, fitting for what was then Royal Caribbean’s UK-based flagship.
How many passengers can Independence of the Seas carry?
Independence of the Seas carries around 3,634 guests at lower-berth capacity (standard double occupancy) and up to 4,603 passengers when every upper berth and sofa bed is filled. With around 1,360 crew, that is roughly 4,994 people on board at standard occupancy and about 5,963 at full capacity.
How long is Independence of the Seas?
Independence of the Seas measures 339 metres (1,112 feet) in overall length, with a waterline beam of 38.6 metres (127 feet) and a maximum beam of around 56 metres at the bridge wings. At 154,407 gross tonnes she sits in the middle of the Royal Caribbean fleet, alongside her Freedom-class sisters, between the older Voyager-class ships and the larger Oasis-class megaships.
What are the noisy rooms to avoid on Independence of the Seas?
Two cabin positions on the Independence of the Seas are worth avoiding if you’re a light sleeper, based on researched architectural patterns for Independence of the Seas that transfer across the Freedom-class hull (sisters Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas):
- Cabins on Deck 10, directly below the pool deck, the gym, and the Windjammer Café, which pick up early-morning deck-chair movement and pool-deck setup from above.
- Aft cabins on Deck 2, above the engine room, which can pick up engine noise and vibration, though the evidence for this pattern is thinner than for the Deck 10 one.
Call Cruise Guru on 13 13 03, use Contact Us, or submit a Request a Call Back form, and a consultant can advise on specific deck and cabin numbers within the category you are considering.
Does Independence of the Seas have a water slide?
Yes, Independence of the Seas has waterslides at The Perfect Storm, a dueling-slides complex added in her 2018 amplification, alongside her pool deck. They’re included in your cruise fare and open during scheduled hours, weather permitting. For younger children there’s Splashaway Bay, the kids’ aqua park on the pool deck, and the ship also carries the FlowRider surf simulator and the Sky Pad bungee-and-VR trampoline that was the first trampoline experience at sea when it debuted on her in 2018.
Can Australian cruisers book Independence of the Seas?
Yes, Australian cruisers can book Independence of the Seas, but you’ll need to fly to the United States to join her, either to New York for the Cape Liberty homeport (her main base for Bermuda, Bahamas, and New England-and-Canada) or to Miami for her short winter Caribbean getaways. She has no Australia, New Zealand, or South Pacific departures, so for a no-fly Royal Caribbean sailing from Sydney or Brisbane, the section above on Anthem of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, and Voyager of the Seas is the better starting point.
Royal Caribbean prices these fares in US dollars, and at recent exchange rates indicative cruise-only fares for Independence of the Seas sailings start from around A$1,515 per person for an interior cabin, around A$2,360 for an oceanview, around A$2,160 for a balcony, and around A$5,200 for a suite, roughly A$237 per person per day at the entry tier, though these are volatile snapshots that move with the exchange rate, so check the live fares on this page for current pricing on your chosen sailing.
