On April 22 2008 creativecruises.co.uk director Jason Peters had a sneak preview of Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s new ship Independence of the Seas.
He was the only travel agent invited to Independence of the Seas’ inaugral celebrations, which took place in the Port of Oslo before the ship sailed to Southampton to be named.
Independence of the Seas is the third in the series of Freedom Class vessels, and has all of the Wow! factor that Royal Caribbean Cruise Line brought to her two sister ships Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas.
When you see the ship for the first time you wonder if a vessel so large can be operated to the demanding standards that modern cruise passengers expect. But Royal Caribbean Cruise Line is a master of its craft, and has pulled off the seemingly impossible.
As you walk aboard you get a glimpse of what is to come. Sleek, elegant public rooms, wide-open spaces, great attention to detail and a very high standard of finish.
RCCL is looking to attract many different types of cruiser and have provided a wide range of facilities on Independence of the Seas, including rock climbing walls, ice rinks, promenades, the Flowrider surf ride, a magnificent water park and the open deck and spa area pools.
With the Independence of the Seas based in the UK for 2008, RCCL has worked hard to satisfy British clients. English food options are available at all food outlets, and there are coffee and tea making facilities in the staterooms.
Staterooms themselves are spacious – in fact, Independence of the Seas has the largest stateroom in its class – and have plenty of storage space. Soft furnishings and duvets are made of Egyptian cotton.
RCCL is looking to continue its growth into the ex-UK market and it looks as though Independence of the Seas will achieve that and more. My feeling is that Independence of the Seas will provide a quality experience for family groups and couples, as well as attracting first-time cruisers.
And with a variety of itineraries – from four to 14 nights – passengers will have a chance to sail more than once in a season.
I wish the vessel every success, and suggest other agents take a look at the brand and recommend Independence of the Seas to their clients.
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