After an absence of six years, Royal Caribbean’s Brit popular Independence of the Seas® is returning to Southampton for a series of cruises during the summer of 2025. What’s more, many of the on-board attractions that proved so popular with loyal passengers have been amplified with never-before-seen thrills.
Designed for adrenaline junkies, the Perfect Storm is a duo of intertwined racing waterslides with a 100-foot descent. Other next-level activities include the FlowRider surf simulator; a glow-in the-dark laser-tag clash in ‘Battle for Planet Z’; Sky Pad, a VR-enhanced trampoline experience; a rock-climbing wall with 11 challenging routes; and an Observatorium puzzle break room. With the biggest pool deck of any ship in the fleet, kids of all ages have never had it so good.
The action continues after dark in the Alhambra Theatre, where there’s a full-scale production of ‘Grease’. Studio B, the on-board skating rink, is open for lessons and free skating during the day, whilst by night there’s the spectacular ‘Strings’ ice show.
Located at the heart of the vessel is the Royal Promenade. At 445-feet long, this shopping, dining, and entertainment boulevard hosts nightly street parades which are a cavalcade of boisterous fun; whether it’s ‘Rock Britannia’, or ‘Mad Hatters Ball’. Kids are in their element during the Dreamworks Parade, when characters from ‘Madagascar’ and ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ make an appearance.
The 1,200-seat main dining room spans three decks, and the popular, nautical-themed Windjammer Café is open for breakfast, lunch, and casual dining. Izumi is perfect for innovative sushi and sashimi, plus there’s the hugely popular Chops Grille for great steaks. There’s also a retro 1950s diner, Johnny Rockets, and the new Fish&Ships.
Not to be missed are the nine-night ‘Spanish Flair’ cruises; where a medley of sun-kissed excitement awaits at the enchanting ports of Vigo, Lisbon, Cádiz, La Coruña, and Bilbao – check out our featured offer from the latest edition of Best of Cruise!
Nine-night Spanish Flair cruise on board Independence of the Seas®. Sailing from Southampton on 10 September 2025 with Royal Caribbean. Interior Stateroom from £781 per person.
