AVC Joins Royal Caribbean to Float Out “Independence of the Seas”

In less than a year, Royal Caribbean International’s Independence of the Seas will make her debut in Southampton, England where she will be the largest ship ever to be home-ported in Europe.

With her hull now complete, Independence of the Seas, under construction at Aker Yards in Turku, Finland, reached an important maritime milestone when she was “floated out” –moved from dry dock to wet dock- for the final months of finishing work leading up to her May 2008 debut.

Independence of the Seas will share the title of world’s largest cruise ship with her sister-ships, Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas, weighing in at 160,000 GRT and holding 3,634 guests, double-occupancy.

In November 2008, Independence will complete her Europe season and reposition to Florida to offer 6nt. and 8nt. Caribbean sailings from Ft. Lauderdale.