Royal Caribbean International announced the arrival of Independence of the Seas at her new Port Everglades home.  The third unit in the Freedom class ships, a follow-on to the revolutionary Voyager class, has been ported in Europe during her initial months of operation.  She will take on an alternating schedule of 6 night eastern and 8 night western Caribbean “milk-runs.”  Eastern Caribbean ports include San Juan, Puerto Rico; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Phillipsburg, St. Maarten and Labadee.  Western Caribbean ports will be Belize City, Belize; Costa Maya, Mexico and Cozumel, Mexico.

Rumors flew about that Indy might not be the last Freedom class built.  It was thought that maybe RCI would build a fourth unit between the first and second Oasis class, maybe to buy time to fully incorporate any changes needed to Allure of the Seas.  That obviously can not happen, with most steel having been cut for Allure.  With STX/Akers’ Turku yard having been building Voyager family ships since 1998, the logic of building a fourth Freedom may lay in ensuring no break in the relationship between it and Royal Caribbean.

The Freedom class, for those who are unaware, is a longer, upgraded design based on the Voyager class.  Having been on most of the ships in both class’, I can say it is a distinct refinement of the industry changing Voyager.  This in no way is intended to say there is anything wrong with Voyager class.  Indeed, where Royal Caribbean has always excelled is in making leaps from one class to the next smoothly.  The success of Freedom class, is that it expands the passenger base, yet feels more open and less crowded than.

A fourth unit might make Wall Street analysts freak out, yet it is clear from the new “Nation of Why Not” marketing campaign, that the post Vision class ships are going to be the focal point of Royal Caribbean’s branding.  It is a clear advantage an exclusive hold on ships which are changing the public’s idea of what a cruise should offer.  It is equally clear 2009 and beyond will be all about taking that fact and beating rivals over the head with it.

New to Royal Caribbean Fan?  Visit our growing community at www.RoyalCaribbeanFan.com.   Chat rooms, message boards, this blog, galleries, history, and ship facts, plus many new and unique features and events coming January 2009!