Independence of the Seas - Bermuda
A quick getaway to Bermuda's pink sand beaches and turquoise waters aboard one of Royal Caribbean's most technologically advanced ships, featuring the North Star observation capsule and robotic bartenders.
Price Range
$$
Mid-Range
*Prices vary by cabin type, sailing date, and availability. Confirm rates with Royal Caribbean before booking.
Ship Details — Independence of the Seas
View full Independence of the Seas details
Year Built
2008
Tonnage
154,407 GT
Passengers
4,370
Crew
1,360
Decks
18
Class
Freedom
Itinerary & Route Map
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Where this cruise calls, day by day
4 ports and 2 sea days over 5 Nights.
- Day 1
Cape Liberty, NJ
United StatesDepartCape Liberty is Royal Caribbean's New York-area homeport, built on the old Military Ocean Terminal at Bayonne - a flat 430-acre peninsula sticking into the harbour with essentially nothing on it but the terminal. That is fine, because you are not staying: Newark Liberty is roughly 20 minutes away and Manhattan half an hour. The sailaway past the Statue of Liberty is the best in the country.
- The sailaway: the ship passes the Statue of Liberty close aboard on the way out
- Liberty State Park in Jersey City, ten minutes north, with ferries to Ellis Island
- Hoboken's Washington Street for dinner with the Manhattan skyline across the water
- Manhattan itself if you build in a full day - the PATH from Journal Square gets you in
- Getting ashore
- A single terminal building at Piers 11 and 12, 14 Port Terminal Boulevard in Bayonne, with parking alongside; Newark Liberty is about 20 minutes, Manhattan 30-45, and the nearest light rail station roughly two miles away.
- Best months
- Apr-Nov (a few winter Caribbean sailings run, but the harbour in January is bleak)
Day 2 · At sea
- Day 3
Royal Naval Dockyard
BermudaPortBermuda is not the Caribbean and does not behave like it — this is a mid-Atlantic call, usually two or three nights alongside, and ships berth at the old Royal Navy dockyard on the far western tip because they cannot fit into Hamilton or St. George's. The dockyard is a restored fortress complex of limestone warehouses turned into shops. Everything else is a ferry or bus away; there are no rental cars on the island.
- National Museum of Bermuda inside the Keep
- Horseshoe Bay and the pink-sand south shore beaches
- Fast ferry across to Hamilton
- St. George's, the UNESCO-listed old town at the far east end
- Getting ashore
- Docked at King's Wharf or Heritage Wharf with shops at the gate; Hamilton is about 20 minutes by fast ferry and Horseshoe Bay roughly 25 minutes by bus or taxi.
- Best months
- Apr-Oct — this is a summer-season port; the water is cold and much of the island winds down Nov-Mar
- Day 4
Royal Naval Dockyard
BermudaPortBermuda is not the Caribbean and does not behave like it — this is a mid-Atlantic call, usually two or three nights alongside, and ships berth at the old Royal Navy dockyard on the far western tip because they cannot fit into Hamilton or St. George's. The dockyard is a restored fortress complex of limestone warehouses turned into shops. Everything else is a ferry or bus away; there are no rental cars on the island.
- National Museum of Bermuda inside the Keep
- Horseshoe Bay and the pink-sand south shore beaches
- Fast ferry across to Hamilton
- St. George's, the UNESCO-listed old town at the far east end
- Getting ashore
- Docked at King's Wharf or Heritage Wharf with shops at the gate; Hamilton is about 20 minutes by fast ferry and Horseshoe Bay roughly 25 minutes by bus or taxi.
- Best months
- Apr-Oct — this is a summer-season port; the water is cold and much of the island winds down Nov-Mar
Day 5 · At sea
- Day 6
Cape Liberty, NJ
United StatesArriveCape Liberty is Royal Caribbean's New York-area homeport, built on the old Military Ocean Terminal at Bayonne - a flat 430-acre peninsula sticking into the harbour with essentially nothing on it but the terminal. That is fine, because you are not staying: Newark Liberty is roughly 20 minutes away and Manhattan half an hour. The sailaway past the Statue of Liberty is the best in the country.
- The sailaway: the ship passes the Statue of Liberty close aboard on the way out
- Liberty State Park in Jersey City, ten minutes north, with ferries to Ellis Island
- Hoboken's Washington Street for dinner with the Manhattan skyline across the water
- Manhattan itself if you build in a full day - the PATH from Journal Square gets you in
- Getting ashore
- A single terminal building at Piers 11 and 12, 14 Port Terminal Boulevard in Bayonne, with parking alongside; Newark Liberty is about 20 minutes, Manhattan 30-45, and the nearest light rail station roughly two miles away.
- Best months
- Apr-Nov (a few winter Caribbean sailings run, but the harbour in January is bleak)
Onboard Amenities
Cruise Highlights
About the Ship
What Travelers Say About Independence of the Seas
Reviews of the ship itself — the same for every Independence of the Seas sailing. Based on 4,500 discussions.
Independence of the Seas is Royal Caribbean's value play: a 2008 Freedom-class megaship (about 3,864 guests at double occupancy) that delivers the big-ship formula without the premium price newer hulls command. A 2018 refurbishment kept it relevant with Perfect Storm waterslides, a Puzzle Break escape room and a SkyPad VR trampoline park, layered on top of the FlowRider surf simulator, ice rink and rock wall. The vibe skews young and family-forward, lively rather than refined, and reviewers consistently note it's easier to get around and less packed than the fleet's giants.
What People Love
- Strong value: a full big-ship experience at fares well below newer Royal Caribbean ships, making it a favorite for budget-minded families
- Activity volume for a Freedom-class ship: FlowRider surf simulator, two three-deck Perfect Storm waterslides, ice skating, rock climbing and a SkyPad VR trampoline added in the 2018 refit
- Easier to navigate and noticeably less crowded than the mega Oasis/Quantum ships, especially on shorter 3-4 night sailings
Common Complaints
- Hot spots like the main pool and Solarium get crowded at peak times, and noise from the high-energy areas disturbs guests seeking quiet
- Complimentary main dining and Windjammer food is consistently described as 'basic at best'; the better flavor is behind specialty cover charges
- Older, non-renovated staterooms still show pre-2018 tired decor with dated blue-and-green nautical carpets and curtains