Independence Of The Seas

The 2008-built Independence of the Seas cruise ship is the third and final Freedom-class liner, with sisterships Liberty OTS and Freedom OTS.

The vessel (IMO number 9349681) is Bahamas-flagged (MMSI 309374000) and registered in Nassau.

History - construction and ownership

Royal Caribbean International (RCI) is a US passenger shipping company, a trademarked travel brand, and a subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Group (RCG/shipowner). Established in 1968, RCI currently holds over one-fifth of the worldwide cruise market and operates RCG’s largest fleet by both vessel number and gross tonnage.

All RCI ships have names ending in “of the Seas.”

The 4000-passenger Independence OTS underwent a US$7 million drydock upgrade in April 2013 as part of RCI’s broader US$300 million fleet renovation program. New features added included the Italian trattoria Giovanni’s Table, a cupcake shop, Royal Babies & Tots Nursery, new digital signage, shipwide Wi-Fi, and a large poolside movie screen.

An excellent addition was the digital wayfinding system, especially helpful for first-time cruisers on a ship this size. Interactive boards with keypads provide directions and deck maps; guests can enter their stateroom numbers to see routes, browse restaurant menus, entertainment options, and other facilities. The large, responsive touch screens make navigation around the ship easy.

Decks and Cabins

Independence of the Seas staterooms (1918 total) include 127 Suites, 724 Balcony, 269 Oceanview, 168 Promenade View, and 620 Inside. Most cabins measure 150-190 ft² (14-18 m²). Most balconies are 65 ft² (6 m²). The largest accommodation is the Vista Suite (1210 ft² / 112 m² plus 805 ft² / 75 m² terrace). There are 31 wheelchair-accessible cabins.

The boat has 15 decks, of which 14 are passenger-accessible and 9 have cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

The three tiers of Independence’s main dining room (Romeo and Juliet, Anthony and Cleopatra, and Macbeth) offer assigned seating at two sittings (5:30 pm and 8 pm), as well as My Time Dining, in which guests choose preferred times between 5:30 pm and 9:30 pm and can change reservations daily. Guests opting for My Time Dining must prepay gratuities. The Windjammer Cafe (Lido buffet) offers flexibility and variety—ideal for families with kids. Windjammer features a long self-service line of cold and hot items, plus stations for salads, fresh sandwiches, pizza, carved meats, and petite desserts. An omelet station serves made-to-order eggs in the mornings; in the afternoons, a rotating Asian station offers dishes including Vietnamese and Indonesian specialties.

Follows the complete list of Independence of the Seas restaurants and food bars.

During the ship’s 2018 “Royal Amplified” refurbishment, RCI added the fleet’s first “Fish and Ships”—a poolside specialty venue (aft-portside on Lido Deck) offering à-la-carte seafood such as freshly battered cod, calamari, crispy hand-cut fries, and cold brews. Fish and Ships replaced the pool deck’s Squeeze Bar.

• Romeo and Juliet Restaurant (652-seat aft Dining Room, level 1)
• Izumi (Asian/Japanese restaurant)
• Anthony and Cleopatra Restaurant; Othello Restaurant (aft Dining Rooms, part of Romeo and Juliet)
• Macbeth Restaurant (500-seat aft Dining Room, level 2)
• King Lear Restaurant (883-seat aft Dining Room, level 3)
• Windjammer Cafe Lido buffet restaurant (774-seat; Early Breakfast 6:30 am, Breakfast 7-11:30 am, Lunch 11:30 am-3:30 pm, Dinner 6:30-9 pm)
• Chops Grille (104-seat specialty restaurant; reservations recommended)
• Giovanni’s Table (Italian specialty restaurant; reservations recommended)
• Johnny Rockets (84-seat burger bar)
• Sorrento’s Pizzeria (79-seat, complimentary)
• WipeOut Bar (20-seat, complimentary burger bar)
• Sugar Beach (candy and ice cream store)

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Independence of the Seas offers plenty for children and teens—from kid-oriented amusement and enrichment to recreation ranging from surfing and bodyboarding to ice skating—making her a strong choice for families. Adults will also find dedicated spaces for more mature pursuits. The fitness center, which even has a boxing ring, is excellent and always busy. Adults-only venues beyond bars and the casino include the Solarium pool and boutique dining venues (minimum age 15), plus a racy late-night comedy show.

Additional amenities include complimentary 24-hour room service, a supervised youth program, Internet/Wi-Fi access, and laundry.

Follows the complete list of Independence of the Seas lounges, clubs, and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• Alhambra Theatre (1320-seat; grand production shows with dance, acrobatics, comedy, and games)
• Studio B Lounge (indoor ice-skating rink; also used for ice shows, cooking demos, and game parties)
• Photo Gallery and Shop; Art Gallery
• On Air Club (140-seat karaoke and sports bar); The Centrum (7-deck social hub with aerial acrobatics); Pyramid Lounge; Next Cruise Lounge; Concierge Club (suite and past guests only); Seven Hearts (card room); Crown Lounge (formerly Diamond Club Lounge & Bar for past guests only); Viking Crown Lounge and Bar
• The Raven Gothic Bar; On Air Club (140-seat sports bar); Schooner Bar (112-seat piano bar); Boleros Lounge & Bar (77-seat Latin bar); Connoisseur Cigar Club & Bar; Dog and Badger English Pub; Vintages (wine bar); Ben & Jerry’s Bar (ice cream parlor); Cupcake Cupboard (bakery); Cafe Promenade (24-hour; snacks and drinks, plus Starbucks specialty coffee); Champagne Bar; Sky Bar; The Plaza Bar; Olive or Twist Lounge and Martini Bar; Cloud 9 (24-seat sports bar)
• Casino Royale (447-seat)
• Royal Caribbean Online Center (Internet computers room; 24-hour)
• Royal Promenade Boutiques (perfumes, jewelry, duty-free alcohol, general store, logo/souvenirs); SeaTrek (diving equipment shop)
• Vitality at Sea Spa & Fitness Center; 7 jacuzzis (2 cantilevered); 3 pools
• Solarium lounge (Cafe Bar, pool bar, and adults-only pool area)
• Outdoor movie screen
• Challengers Video Games Arcade; Fuel Teen Disco; The Living Room; Royal Babies & Tots Nursery
• H2O Zone water park; Adventure Beach; Adventure Ocean kids lounge; water slides; escape rooms; laser tag; trampoline park
• Sports Court (golf simulator, table tennis, basketball court); Jogging Track; Rock-climbing Wall; Independence Dunes mini-golf course; FlowRider (surf simulator, complimentary)
• Skylight Wedding Chapel (40-seat; also used for religious services)

During the 2018 refurbishment, the following were added:

• RCI’s signature “Perfect Storm” waterslides (“Cyclone” and “Typhoon” high-speed racing slides), FlowRider (surf simulator), Sky Pad (bungee trampoline with optional virtual reality headset), and laser tag (“Battle for Planet Z,” a glow-in-the-dark gaming room in the Studio B complex). The new water park and the duo of waterslides (“Perfect Storm”) were first introduced on Liberty of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas (Oasis class).
• “Splashaway Bay” kids’ aqua park—an interactive water play area with cannons and geysers (replacing the Outdoor Youth Area “back deck”).
• Escape Room by Puzzle Break—team-based adventure games in which players solve a series of puzzles using clues, hints, and group strategy within a set time limit.

Itineraries

Independence of the Seas’ itinerary program is based on homeporting in Florida—Fort Lauderdale and Miami. Short Bahamas getaways (3–4 days to Nassau + CocoCay) depart Fort Lauderdale. From Miami, short Western Caribbean (4–5 days to Falmouth, Jamaica + Nassau) and short Eastern Caribbean (4 days to Labadee, Haiti) sailings are offered.

Independence is the last of Royal Caribbean's Freedom-class liners, with sisterships Freedom and Liberty. She was built in 2008 at Aker Finnyards Shipyard (Turku, Finland). Aker Finnyards was later acquired by STX Europe (a division of the multinational STX Holding, South Korea). The ship’s godmother was Elizabeth Hill from Baslow (Derbyshire, England, UK). Married to a British farmer, she won the naming contest after her 12-year-old daughter submitted her application among ~1700 competitors. Richard D. Fain (Chairman and CEO of RCCL) and Sir Steve Redgrave (Royal Caribbean charity partner) were on the jury, which assessed contestants’ charity activities. Hill was chosen for her work with the Gamelea Countryside Training Trust, which helps young people with physical or social challenges integrate into society. The naming ceremony took place on April 30, 2008, in Port Southampton (UK).

In 2008, Independence OTS was the world’s largest passenger liner. Her maiden voyage was a 4-day cruise from Southampton to Cork, Ireland (departing May 2, 2008). On May 6, she began an 11-day Canary Islands itinerary from Southampton.

The vessel was extensively refurbished in April 2013 at Navantia Cadiz, with RCCL investing $7 million in upgrades. Additions included a large poolside movie screen, digital signage, shipwide Wi-Fi coverage, nursery for toddlers, cupcake shop, and Giovanni’s Table (Italian trattoria).

As with all RCI ships, Independence OTS offers extensive entertainment for children and teens, including a surfing simulator, ice skating rink, and rock-climbing wall. For adults, amenities include a modern fitness center, boxing ring, numerous bars and lounges, and the adults-only Solarium.

The liner’s namesake is ACL’s American Independence (2010-built).

She was last drydocked in 2023 (January 6 - February 16) at Navantia Shipyard (Cadiz) for routine class works and general maintenance (hotel and machinery).

Independence OTS refurbishment 2018 review

The 2018 drydock (April 4 - May 4, at Freeport, Bahamas) brought the following deck plan changes:

• (Decks 3 and 4) Alhambra Theatre was fully renovated and renamed “Royal Theater.”
• (Deck 3) The Raven nightclub’s lower level was replaced with staterooms; the upper level (Deck 4) became Izumi (specialty Japanese restaurant with Teppanyaki grills).
• Photo Gallery was relocated from Deck 4 to Deck 3. Its former space on Deck 4 now houses Playmakers Sports Bar and an Arcade Room.
• (Deck 3) On Air Club was replaced with staterooms.
• (Deck 3) Art Gallery was downsized to add more staterooms.
• (Decks 3-5) The Romeo and Juliet (Deck 3 aft), Macbeth (Deck 4 aft), and King Lear (Deck 5 aft) restaurants were renamed collectively as “Dining Room.”
• (Deck 5) Pyramid Lounge was renamed “Star Lounge” and reduced in size.
• (Deck 5) Connoisseur Club became “Library – RC Online” (Internet room) and was enlarged.
• (Deck 5) God and Badger Pub was renamed “Ale and Anchor Pub” and reduced in size.
• (Deck 5) Cupcake Cupboard was replaced with “Sugar Beach” candy store.
• (Deck 6) Added 1 Inside Cabin (#6137 forward), 4 Inside Cabins aft (replacing Business Center and Loyalty Desk), and 2 Villa Suites (replacing the aft 4-Bedroom Family Suite).
• (Deck 7) Added 1 Inside Cabin (#7139 forward) and 4 Inside Cabins aft (replacing the Library, moved to Deck 5).
• (Deck 8) Added 6 Inside Cabins forward (8127, 8129, 8131, 8133, 8315, 8237) and 4 Inside Cabins aft (replacing RC Online, moved to Deck 5).
• (Deck 9) Added 1 Inside Cabin (#9237 forward).
• (Deck 10) Concierge Lounge was replaced by 4 Inside Cabins.
• (Deck 11 forward-starboard) Added 6 Spa Staterooms (space taken from the Vitality Center). The H2O Zone kids aqua park was replaced with Splashaway Bay (interactive water park with Cyclone, Typhoon, Boomerang slides, water cannons, geysers, pools, and a drench bucket). Squeeze Bar became Fish and Ships eatery, and Seatrek Dive Shop was renamed PADI.
• (Deck 12 forward) Added 44 Spa Staterooms (including Panoramic Ocean View), also taking space from the Vitality Center.
• (Deck 13 aft-portside) Independence Dunes mini-golf was replaced with The Perfect Storm waterslides, Sky Pad (bungee trampoline with optional VR headset), and FlowRider surf simulator.
• (Deck 14 forward-portside) Cloud Nine and Seven Hearts rooms were replaced with the exclusive Suite Lounge.
• (Deck 15) Skylight Chapel (wedding room) was replaced with Escape Room (team puzzle adventure with time limits).

Independence OTS refurbishment 2013 review

The 2013 drydock added:

• “Giovanni’s Table” (Italian restaurant) on Lido Deck 11, along with RCI’s signature Royal Babies & Tots Nursery and a poolside Jumbotron movie screen.
• “Cupcake Cupboard” bakery on Promenade Deck 5.