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. Originally built to be 154,407 GT,[4] she joined Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas as the largest cruise ships and passenger vessels when she debuted. She is 1112 ft long, and typically cruises at 21.6 kn.
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 cruise ship, 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]