Royal Caribbean to Base the “Independence” Year Round in U.K.

Royal Caribbean International’s Independence of the Seas will remain in the U.K. year-round in 2010 after it returns to Southampton for its second season on April 25. Independence of the Seas will be the company’s first ship to be based year-round in the U.K. The winter 2010 season of will go on sale on June 1.

Winter cruises in 2010 and 2011 will include the Italian Riviera, the Sorrentine Peninsula on the south side of the Gulf of Naples and the Balearic Islands. Cruises are 11 to 18 nights long. Prices for an 11-night cruise to the Canary Islands start from £799 per person (about $1,175) based on two sharing an inside stateroom. An 18-night Mediterranean cruise is priced from £999 (about $1,470).

Traditionally, Royal Caribbean ships have only operated the summer season (April until October) in Europe and the Mediterranean. In 2008, Brilliance of the Seas became the first ship in the fleet to operate year-round in the Mediterranean from the homeport of Barcelona.