Biggest Ship Ever for Europe

Showing a huge commitment to the growing British cruise market, Royal Caribbean International will be dedicating its third Freedom-class ship, Independence of the Seas, to the UK for the summer of 2008, when the ship will operate cruises from Southampton.

"Independence of the Seas is the largest and most expensive ship ever built and the most innovative in the region," says chairman and CEO Richard Fain. "For us to make this kind of investment for Independence to sail out of Southampton is a statement of how much the market has matured. Now we are taking it to the next level."

Carrying over 3,600 passengers, Independence and its sisters, Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas, have innovative features like an ice skating rink, the unique FlowRider surf simulator and a children's water park on deck. The benefit for British cruisers will be that the ship will sail from Southampton, so holidaymakers can drive to the port.

Independence of the Seas, which is currently under construction in Finland, is expected to attract many first time cruisers; current booking patterns for Navigator of the Seas, which will sail out of Southampton this summer, show more than 60% of passengers are first-timers and the average age is between 37 and 49, a sign that cruisers are getting much younger. Some 97% of passengers are expected to be British.

There will be three itineraries for Summer 2008: a four night mini-cruise to Ireland; a ten night Canary Islands cruise; and two different 14 night voyages to Spain, France and Italy. Prices start from £349 per person.

The ship will be adapted slightly for British tastes, "beer, bacon and tea" being the main concerns, according to Fain, but the onboard currency will remain as US dollars, which at current rates of exchange is highly beneficial to Brits.

For more information, visit www.royalcaribbean.co.uk.

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