Independence of the Seas vs Allure of the Seas

The Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas was built in 2008. It was renovated in 2018. It's 2 years older than the Allure of the Seas, which was built in 2010 and renovated in 2025. Allure of the Seas underwent a $100 million renovation in 2025 where they added water slides, a dry slide, new restaurants, and bars.

Comparison Overview

• Ship Size
• Number of Passengers
• Food and Restaurants
• Bars and Drinks
• Pools and Hot Tubs
• Ship Features and Activities
• Cruise Costs
• Onboard Costs

Ship Size

The Independence of the Seas is considered a large size ship. Coming in at 1,112 feet long and 185 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 3.1 football fields, as wide as 3.5 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 14-story building. Compared to the Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas, the Independence of the Seas is 31% smaller in terms of overall tons.

Number of Passengers

Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas holds 30% fewer passengers than the Allure of the Seas based on double occupancy (two people per room). When you look at the "Space Ratio," or the total tonnage of a ship compared to the number of passengers, the Independence of the Seas has less space per person compared to the Allure of the Seas.

The Allure of the Seas uses a neighborhood layout to break up large crowds across the ship, often making it feel less crowded.

Food and Restaurants

Food is a big part of any cruise, and the ship you choose can make a huge difference in your food experience.

The Independence of the Seas has thirteen different dining options like Vintages Wine Bar, Izumi Hibachi & Sushi, and Giovanni's Table. Of those options, nine are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other nine options have an additional fee.

The Allure of the Seas has nine more dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Dog House, Starbucks, and Izumi Hibachi & Sushi. fifteen of these restaurants are complementary and the other thirteen have an additional fee.

If you like having a variety of places to eat, the Allure of the Seas might be a better choice. It has 69% more dining options than the Independence of the Seas.

If you're looking to avoid extra money while on board, the Allure of the Seas might be a better choice then the Independence of the Seas. More of the dining options are included in the base cruise fare, potentially saving you money.

Restaurants on Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas & Allure of the Seas

Bars and Drinks

The Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas has 4 fewer bars than the Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas.

In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. Both ships serve the Coca-cola family of products. That means Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barqs Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship. Most Royal Caribbean ships also have Coke Freestyle machines where you can make 100 different flavor combinations.

You can check out recent the bar menus for the Independence of the Seas and the Allure of the Seas below.

Pools and Hot Tubs

Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas has a total of 3 pools and 7 hot tubs.

Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas has more pools than the Independence of the Seas and fewer hot tubs.

Worried about lots of kids onboard? Visit The Solarium, an adult-only area for guests 18 and older only. The Independence of the Seas has a full-depth adult-only pool, while the Allure of the Seas has a wading adult-only pool. Independence of the Seas’ adult-only area is not enclosed, while Allure of the Seas’ is is open to the elements with some wind breakers. The Independence of the Seas’ adult-only area is in the middle, while the Allure of the Seas’ is in the front.

Cruise Coloring and Activity Books for Kids
Get your kids ready for their cruise or keep them entertained while on board with our custom made coloring and activity books. These are the Royal Caribbean editions with places like Studio B and Sorrento's featured.

Cruise Ship Coloring Book for Kids 3-5 - Royal Caribbean Edition

Let's Get Cruising Activity Book for Kids 6-8 - Royal Caribbean Edition

Ship Features and Activities

Both ships have lots of activities to keep you busy throughout your cruise. Below you'll see a list of some of the major features on these ships. You might up paying more while on board the Independence of the Seas. Only 72% of the activities below are included in your cruise fare. On the Allure of the Seas, 82% of the activities are included at no additional cost.

Cruise Costs

Royal Caribbean is a mainstream cruise line. Mainstream cruise lines cater to a variety of guests, hoping to provide something for everyone. These typically cost about $100 - $350 per person per day.

Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year.

Onboard Costs

Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests can also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.

Typically guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.

The table below will help you understand what you might spend onboard a Royal Caribbean ship.

Royal Caribbean uses dynamic pricing, which means the pricing for many things will vary per sailing. The daily gratuities and tip are consistent across the fleet, but the pricing for the drink package, internet, and excursions will change. The only way to know your price is to consult the Royal Caribbean cruise planner once you're booked.

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