The safe middle pick
Nobody’s first choice on paper, and remarkably often the right answer in practice.
Independence of the Seas completed the Freedom trio in 2008 and went through Royal Amplified in 2018 — later than Liberty, earlier than Freedom. That refit brought The Perfect Storm waterslides, a rebuilt kids’ water zone, an escape room, laser tag and Playmakers. It also added the Sky Pad bungee trampoline, which Royal Caribbean retired fleet-wide in March 2023.
Her position is genuinely useful. She is the newest hull of the three, she leads the class on the Seabound dining scorecard, and her fares typically sit between her sisters’. When all three are sailing similar itineraries at similar prices — which happens often — she is the pick that requires the least justification.
People still ask about the Sky Pad, so here is the short answer: it is gone. Royal Caribbean retired it fleet-wide in March 2023. Book Independence because she is the youngest hull of the three, with laser tag, an escape room and the class’s top dining score — a strong, boring, correct argument.
Is she your ship?
Three questions, and we'll tell you yes, yes-with-an-asterisk, or “book her sister instead”.
Should you book Independence of the Seas?
We'll tell you straight — including when a different ship is the better booking.
Where she sails
Caribbean from Florida, with the shortest flights of the three for most travelers.
Caribbean from Florida
Short and week-long Caribbean itineraries from a Florida homeport, frequently including Perfect Day at CocoCay. Florida departures mean the cheapest and most frequent flights of any Freedom-class option for most of the country. Deployment shifts by season — confirm your sailing.
Sailing length changes the ship
As with her sisters, a three- or four-night sailing draws a young, celebratory crowd, while seven nights skews family. Same hull, two quite different holidays — choose the length deliberately.
How she compares to her sisters
Three near-identical hulls. The difference that matters is when each was last rebuilt.
Freedom of the Seas (2006, amplified 2020) — a deep 2020 rebuild of the pool deck, kids’ spaces and dining, and the only sister with Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen.
Liberty of the Seas (2007, amplified 2026) — the newest refit of the three since May 2026, with identical core hardware.
Independence of the Seas (2008, amplified 2018) — the youngest hull and now the oldest amplification of the three. Her Sky Pad was retired fleet-wide in 2023.
All three carry the FlowRider, Studio B ice rink, the Royal Promenade, the rock wall and The Perfect Storm waterslides. Read the full Freedom Class guide for the side-by-side.
What's on board
The standard class toolkit, plus two dining extras none of her sisters have.
Which cabin to actually book
Same categories as her sisters, with the same one trap.
The honest take
Things we'd want to know before booking, said plainly.
She wins nothing outright. Not the freshest refit, not the cheapest fare, not the most distinctive. Her case is that she is never the wrong answer, which is a different kind of virtue.
A 2008 hull. Newest of the three, but still nearly twenty years old. Cabins show it more than public spaces.
No neighborhoods. No Central Park, no Boardwalk, no Surfside.
The Sky Pad is gone. Royal Caribbean retired it fleet-wide in March 2023, so older reviews that sell her on it are out of date. Grease also left her theater in November 2025.
The verdict
Book her if all three sisters are priced similarly and you want the least risky choice; you are flying to Florida and want the shortest, cheapest flights; you have teenagers who will use laser tag, the escape room and the FlowRider; or you want a newer hull without paying Freedom’s premium.
Skip her if you specifically want the freshest refit — that is Liberty, amplified in May 2026; you want Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen — that is Freedom; or you want neighborhoods and the AquaTheater, which means the Oasis Class.
Our actual position: Independence is the ship we recommend when someone cannot decide. She is the youngest hull, her refit is recent enough, her fares are reasonable and her Florida departures are the easiest to reach. That is an unglamorous case, and it is right more often than it is wrong.
Frequently asked
Does Independence of the Seas still have the Sky Pad?
No. The Sky Pad was a bungee-trampoline dome with an optional virtual-reality headset, and Royal Caribbean retired it from every ship that had one, Independence included, on March 31, 2023.
Is Independence of the Seas a good ship?
Yes — she is the youngest Freedom-class hull with a 2018 refit that added waterslides, laser tag, an escape room and Playmakers. She rarely wins a single comparison outright, which makes her the safe pick when the sisters are priced level.
Independence or Freedom of the Seas?
Freedom has the newer refit (2020 vs 2018) and usually the higher fare; Independence is the younger hull. If the prices are close the difference is small — take whichever has the better itinerary and port for you.
Does Independence of the Seas have waterslides?
Yes — The Perfect Storm racing slides were added in her 2018 amplification, along with a rebuilt water zone for younger children.
Is she good for teenagers?
Particularly so. The 2018 refit added laser tag and an escape room alongside the FlowRider and the sports court — a strong line-up for that age group.
Where does Independence of the Seas sail?
She has typically sailed Caribbean itineraries from a Florida homeport, often including Perfect Day at CocoCay. Deployment shifts by season, so confirm your specific sailing.
Considering Independence of the Seas?
Tell us about your trip.
Your dates, your crew and your port — and we'll tell you whether she's the right sister, and what to reserve the moment your booking window opens.
Tap a question or the button and an advisor will answer against current pricing before you book.