Independence of the Seas launched in 2008 and went to the UK, where she quickly became Royal Caribbean's most popular British ship. The 2018 Royal Amplified overhaul turned the pool deck into something genuinely theme-park-calibre: twin FlowRiders, the fleet's tallest slide complex, a family surfing pool, and Splashaway Bay for younger children. Independence remains the favourite Royal Caribbean ship in the UK market, homeporting in Southampton for Mediterranean, Norwegian fjord, and Canary Islands sailings.
