The LAUNCH
Royal Caribbean’s popular Independence of the Seas ® is undergoing a multimillion-pound makeover, ready for sailings in summer 2018
IF YOU think cruises are all sedate affairs featuring elegant cocktails, string quartets and silverservice formal dining, with very little opportunity for real, rip-roaring, let-your-hair-down fun, then think again. While there’s no doubt that seafaring holidays offer plenty of scope to enjoy sophisticated stays on board, if you’re looking for a family holiday packed with frolics, then consider booking a cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas ® .
You’ll be amazed how much there is to do as you’re carving your way through the waters of the world, keeping all the family entertained with a wealth of amazing activities and exciting experiences for toddlers through to teens – and even oversized kids who thought playtime was long behind them.
Already regarded by many travellers as the best ship sailing from the UK*, and certainly one of the most popular with fun-hungry families, Independence of the Seas ® is embarking on a comprehensive bow-to-stern makeover in the spring, ready to welcome guests under a new guise in summer 2018. And what a welcome they’ll receive.
DISCOVER THE REVAMPED INDEPENDENCE OF THE SEAS ®
A HOST of new additions and features will see Independence of the Seas ® offering some of the most exhilarating on-board experiences at sea, adding even more activities and entertainment to the ship’s already feature-packed offer.
Take, for example, the trampoline zone, planned for the top deck, so you can enjoy bouncing high above the water, enjoying spectacular views as you practice your mid-air manoeuvres.
Royal Caribbean has left other cruise operators in its wake when it comes to pioneering on-board swimming pools and water-based fun, and the revamped Independence of the Seas ® will be no different, with Splashaway Bay, a thrilling new water park featuring wild-water slides and the opportunity for oodles of fun. Test your wits in the Escape Room, a highly charged interactive virtual-reality adventure game for all the family, designed to challenge your intuition, intelligence and team skills. From rock-climbing walls high above the water and an ice rink to street dancing, ice-carving and cookery lessons, there’s plenty to keep you occupied as you cruise between myriad fascinating destinations.
SET SAIL
OF COURSE, while life on board is packed with a plethora of enticing experiences and world-class entertainment options, Independence of the Seas was created to transport guests on a range of enchanting itineraries designed to discover new cultures, places and experiences. As she sails from Southampton to the Mediterranean, Western Europe and the Canary Islands, and on a range of fly-cruise holidays in Europe and the Caribbean, her impending makeover will add even more rooms to her already impressive capacity, ensuring even more guests can enjoy holidays on this beautiful ship from summer 2018.
In fact, if you’re new to cruising or simply fancy a short break at sea, why not try one of the new two- or three-night taster cruises, offering a fantastic chance to sample life on board this magnificent ship? In May 2018, she will set sail on the ‘Royal Experience’ itineraries, departing from Southampton for a two-night round trip to Le Havre (Paris) or a three-night sailing to Cherbourg.
Later in the summer, she’ll also offer a Taste of Paris and Bruges three-night sailing, or another ‘Royal Experience’, taking in the charming cities of Rotterdam and Bruges.
And, over the summer months, she’ll sail on a series of beguiling breaks offering holidays to appeal to all the family. A 14-night Mediterranean Beaches itinerary sails from Southampton and takes in some of Europe’s most beautiful seaside destinations in Gibraltar, mainland Spain (Cartagena, Seville, Malaga and Barcelona), Mallorca, Villefranche (Nice) and Corsica, before returning home to the UK.
CRUISE THE FJORDS
CRUISE the Norwegian Fjords or book a Mediterranean Highlights trip, taking in the likes of Rome, Florence, Provence, Barcelona and Lisbon on an ex-Southampton sailing. And don’t forget, if you’re on a cruise departing from the UK, you aren’t bound by luggage limitations encountered when flying, so you can pack relaxed in the knowledge you’ll have whatever you want to hand in the comfort of your cabin, wherever you drop anchor. *As voted in a survey of over 1,000 participants conducted between June 21, 2017 and June 23, 2017.