Independence of the Seas

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INDEPENDENCE OF THE SEAS (43623180144).jpg
History
Civil Ensign of the Bahamas.svg Bahamas
NameIndependence of the Seas
Owner Royal Caribbean Group
Operator House Flag of Royal Caribbean International.svg Royal Caribbean International
Port of registry Nassau, Civil Ensign of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas
Builder Aker Finnyards Turku Shipyard, Finland
Cost~US$828 million [1]
Launched14 September 2007
ChristenedApril 30, 2008 [2]
Maiden voyageMay 2, 2008 [3]
In service2008–present
Identification
StatusIn service
General characteristics
Class and type Freedom-class cruise ship
Tonnage155,889  GT
Length338.95 m (1,112.0 ft)
Beam
  • 38.6 m (127 ft) hull
  • 56 m (184 ft) extreme width of superstructure
Height63.70 m (209 ft)
Draught8.8 m (29 ft)
Decks15 (passenger); 4 (crew)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 21.6 knots (40.0 km/h; 24.9 mph)
  • 23 knots (43 km/h; 26 mph) (maximum)

Independence of the Seas is a Freedom-class cruise ship operated by Royal Caribbean International. The 15-deck ship was built in the Aker Finnyards Turku Shipyard, Finland. At 154,407 GT, [4] she joined Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas as the largest cruise ships and passenger vessels when built. She is 1,112 feet (339 m) long, and typically cruises at 21.6 knots (40.0 km/h; 24.9 mph).

Contents

Independence of the Seas is the third of the Freedom-class vessels. In October 2009, Oasis of the Seas , the first ship in the Oasis class, displaced the Freedom class as the world's largest passenger ship.

Areas of operation

Independence of the Seas has operated from ports in Europe and North America.

The ship was christened on April 30, 2008 during a ceremony in Southampton by its godmother, Elizabeth Hill of Chesterfield, the founder of a children's disability charity. [5]

Facilities

Pool Bar Area Independence of the Seas pool bar at Vigo, Spain.jpg
Pool Bar Area

Independence of the Seas facilities include an interactive water park, a dedicated water area for small children, and whirlpools which extend from the ship's sides. There is also a two-story theater, seating 1,200, an ice-skating rink and a complete conference center. On the Sports Deck, there is a rock climbing wall, the first ever trampolines at sea, a basketball/football court, water slides, and a FlowRider for surfing. [6]

The ship underwent an extensive dry dock refurbishment in April 2018: additional cabins were added, as well as the first trampoline park at sea, laser tag, water slides and an escape room designed in collaboration with Puzzle Break. [7]

This ship hosts the annual 70000 Tons of Metal music festival. [8]

Incidents

On May 22, 2014, the ship was arrested by port authorities in Ålesund, Norway for nonpayment of fees. The captain notified Royal Caribbean, which transferred NOK600,000 to cover port fees in less than an hour. The ship was then allowed to depart. [9]

Former drummer of the American rock band Boston, Sib Hashian, died on March 22, 2017, after collapsing in the middle of a set while performing on board.

On December 11, 2017, 332 of 5,547 passengers became sick with a gastrointestinal illness (believed to be norovirus-related) after the ship had departed from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida for a five-night Caribbean cruise. [10] [11] Royal Caribbean initiated a deep-cleaning of the vessel after its return to port. [11]

Related Research Articles

<i>Adventure of the Seas</i> Voyager-class cruise ship

Adventure of the Seas is a Voyager-class cruise ship operated by Royal Caribbean International. The vessel was launched and entered service in 2001. Registered in the Bahamas, Adventure of the Seas has cruised from ports in the United States and Europe to sites in the Caribbean Sea, Baltic Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Canada and Europe. The ship has a 138,193 GT and is 311.1 meters long with capacity for 3,807 guests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Caribbean International</span> Norwegian–American cruise line

Royal Caribbean International (RCI), formerly Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (RCCL), is a cruise line founded in 1968 in Norway and organized as a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Group since 1997.

<i>Explorer of the Seas</i> Voyager-class cruise ship operated by Royal Caribbean International

Explorer of the Seas is a Voyager-class cruise ship owned and operated by Royal Caribbean International, completed in 2000. She can accommodate over 3,000 guests, including scientists making use of a built-in atmospheric and oceanographic laboratory operated by the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science. The lab, with its attendant educational and outreach programs for passengers, was discontinued in 2007.

MS <i>Freedom of the Seas</i> Cruise ship; first of her class

MS Freedom of the Seas is a cruise ship operated by Royal Caribbean International. She is the namesake of Royal Caribbean's Freedom class, and can accommodate 3,634 passengers and 1,300 crew on fifteen passenger decks. The vessel also has 4 crew decks below the waterline. Freedom of the Seas was the largest passenger ship ever built from 2006 until construction of her sister ship, Liberty of the Seas in 2007.

<i>Oasis</i>-class cruise ship Class of Royal Caribbean International cruise ships

The Oasis class is a class of seven Royal Caribbean International cruise ships. The first two ships in the class, Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, were delivered respectively in 2009 and 2010 by STX Europe Turku Shipyard, Finland. A third Oasis-class vessel, Harmony of the Seas, was delivered in 2016 built by STX France. A fourth vessel, Symphony of the Seas, was completed in March 2018. As of March 2022, the fifth Oasis-class ship, Wonder of the Seas, was the largest cruise ship in the world. A sixth ship, Utopia of the Seas, slightly larger than the previous one, followed in July 2024, with a seventh to follow in 2028.

<i>Liberty of the Seas</i> Freedom-class cruise ship

Liberty of the Seas is a Royal Caribbean International Freedom-class cruise ship which entered regular service in May 2007. It was initially announced that she would be called Endeavour of the Seas; however, this name was later changed. The 15-deck ship accommodates 3,634 passengers served by 1,360 crew. She was built in 18 months at the Aker Finnyards Turku Shipyard, Finland, where her sister ship, Freedom of the Seas, was also built. Initially built at 154,407 gross tonnage (GT), she joined her sister ship, Freedom of the Seas, as the largest cruise ships and passenger vessels then ever built. She is 1,111.9 ft (338.91 m) long, 184 ft (56.08 m) wide, and cruises at 21.6 knots (40 km/h).

<i>Freedom</i>-class cruise ship Group of Royal Caribbean cruise ships

The Freedom class is a group of three cruise ships for Royal Caribbean International. The first ship of the class, Freedom of the Seas, was the largest passenger ship in the world, and the largest ever built in terms of passenger capacity and gross tonnage, when it was built in 2006. These two records were then shared by all three ships until the construction of Oasis of the Seas was completed in November 2009.

<i>Norwegian Epic</i> Cruise ship

Norwegian Epic is a cruise ship of the Norwegian Cruise Line built under NCL's F3 Project by the STX Europe Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. When built she was the third largest cruise ship in the world.

<i>Oasis of the Seas</i> Cruise ship; first of the Oasis class

Oasis of the Seas is a cruise ship operated by Royal Caribbean International. She is the first of her class, the Oasis class, whose ships were the largest passenger ships in the world, until surpassed in 2023 by the Icon class. Her hull was laid down in November 2007 and she was completed and delivered to Royal Caribbean in October 2009. At the time of construction, Oasis of the Seas set a new capacity record of carrying over 6,000 passengers. The first of her class, she was joined by sister ships Allure of the Seas in December 2010, Harmony of the Seas in May 2016, Symphony of the Seas in April 2018, and Wonder of the Seas in March 2022, as well as Utopia of the Seas in July 2024. As of November 2024, Oasis of the Seas conducts cruises in the Caribbean from her home port of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

<i>Allure of the Seas</i> Oasis-class cruise ship

Allure of the Seas is an Oasis-class cruise ship owned and operated by Royal Caribbean International. As of 2018, the Oasis class ships were the largest passenger vessels ever in service, and Allure is 50 millimetres (2.0 in) longer than her sister ship Oasis of the Seas, though both were built to the same specifications. Designed under the name "Project Genesis", she was ordered from Aker Finnyards in February 2006 and her construction began at the Perno shipyard, Turku, Finland, in February 2008. She was named in May 2008 after a contest was held to name her and her sister. The keel of Allure of the Seas was laid on 2 December 2008, shortly after the shipyard had been acquired by STX Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timeline of largest passenger ships</span>

This is a timeline of the world's largest passenger ships based upon internal volume, initially measured by gross register tonnage and later by gross tonnage. This timeline reflects the largest extant passenger ship in the world at any given time. If a given ship was superseded by another, scrapped, or lost at sea, it is then succeeded. Some records for tonnage outlived the ships that set them - notably the SS Great Eastern, and RMS Queen Elizabeth. The term "largest passenger ship" has evolved over time to also include ships by length as supertankers built by the 1970s were over 400 metres (1,300 ft) long. In the modern era the term has gradually fallen out of use in favor of "largest cruise ship" as the industry has shifted to cruising rather than transatlantic ocean travel. While some of these modern cruise ships were later expanded, they did not regain their "largest" titles.

<i>Quantum</i>-class cruise ship Cruise ship class

The Quantum class is a class of cruise ships from Royal Caribbean International, previously known by the code name Project Sunshine.

<i>Ovation of the Seas</i> Quantum-class cruise ship

Ovation of the Seas is a Quantum-class cruise ship owned by Royal Caribbean International (RCI) and the third ship of her class. The Quantum class is the fourth largest class of cruise ships behind MSC Cruises's Meraviglia class, Royal Caribbean International's Oasis class, and Royal Caribbean International's Icon Class by gross tonnage.

<i>Anthem of the Seas</i> Quantum-class cruise ship

Anthem of the Seas is a Quantum-class cruise ship owned by Royal Caribbean International (RCI) and the second ship of her class. The Quantum class is the fourth largest class of cruise ships behind MSC Cruises's Meraviglia class and Royal Caribbean International's Icon class and Oasis class by gross tonnage.

<i>Harmony of the Seas</i> Oasis-class Royal Caribbean International cruise ship

Harmony of the Seas is an Oasis-class cruise ship built by STX France at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, for Royal Caribbean International. With a gross tonnage of 226,963 GT, she is the fourth largest passenger ship in the world, larger than her older sisters Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, but surpassed by her newer sisters Symphony of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas.

<i>Icon</i>-class cruise ship Class of Royal Caribbean International cruise ships

The Icon class is a class of cruise ships ordered by Royal Caribbean International to be built by Meyer Turku in Turku, Finland. As of 2024 this class is the largest cruise ship class ever constructed. Royal Caribbean plans to have at least four Icon-class ships, which will include Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas, unnamed third and fourth ships. It also has an option for two additional ships.

<i>Symphony of the Seas</i> Oasis-class cruise ship

Symphony of the Seas is an Oasis-class cruise ship owned and operated by Royal Caribbean International. She was built in 2018 in the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, the fourth in Royal Caribbean's Oasis class of cruise ships.

<i>Wonder of the Seas</i> Oasis-class cruise ship

Wonder of the Seas is a cruise ship operated by Royal Caribbean International. She was completed in 2022 in the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire France, the fifth in Royal Caribbean's Oasis class of cruise ships. At 235,600 GT, she was the largest cruise ship by gross tonnage, until she was surpassed in 2024 by the Icon-class cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, also owned by Royal Caribbean International.

<i>Icon of the Seas</i> Royal Caribbean International cruise ship

Icon of the Seas is the lead ship of the Icon class. She entered service on 27 January 2024 out of the Port of Miami in the US. At 248,663 gross tonnage (GT), Icon of the Seas is the largest cruise ship in the world.

References

  1. ↑ Bill Ebersold (1 February 2008). "Cruise growth: driven by megaships & Europe". Marine Log. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  2. ↑ "Woman names largest cruise ship". BBC News. 30 April 2008. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
  3. ↑ "Independence of the Seas will arrive two weeks early". TravelMole. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
  4. ↑ "Independence of the Seas (26747)". Vessel Register for DNV. DNV . Retrieved 2008-04-17.
  5. ↑ Jainchill, Johanna (April 21, 2008). "Royal Caribbean names godmother for Independence". Travel Weekly.com. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Things to Do". Royal Caribbean. Royal Caribbean International. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  7. ↑ "Puzzle Break on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2018-04-26.
  8. ↑ "70000TONS OF METAL - The World's Biggest Heavy Metal Cruise". 2014-02-13. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
  9. ↑ Kystverket tok arrest i gigantisk cruiseskip; Rederiet hadde ubetalte regninger på rundt 600.000 kroner, by Johann D Sunderg and Andre AAvik, 22 May 2014, E24 Næringsliv
  10. ↑ "More than 500 people fell sick aboard two Royal Caribbean cruises". NBC News. 2017-12-16. Retrieved 2017-12-16.
  11. 1 2 Rakow, Tim Swift, Erica (16 December 2017). "Royal Caribbean cruise ship returns to Florida after more than..." www.local10.com. Retrieved 2017-12-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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