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Independence of the Seas vs Freedom of the Seas
The Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas was built in 2008. It was renovated in 2018. It's 2 years newer than the Freedom of the Seas, which was built in 2006 and renovated in 2020.
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. The Independence of the Seas and the Freedom of the Seas are in the same class, which means they're sister ships. For the most part, they're similar in terms of size and layout; although they may have different features and attractions on board.
Number of Passengers
Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas holds about the same number of passengers as the Freedom of the Seas based on double occupancy (two people per room). When you look at the "Space Ratio," or tons of ship compared to number of passengers, the Independence of the Seas has the same amount of space per person as the Freedom of the Seas.
| Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas | Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas | |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Freedom | Freedom |
| Gross Tonnage | 154,407 | 156,271 |
| Length | 1,112 | 1,112 |
| Beam/Width | 185 | 185 |
| Passenger Decks | 14 | 14 |
| Passengers (double occupancy) | 3,858 | 3,934 |
| Crew | 1,440 | 1,447 |
| Passenger to Crew Ratio | 2.7 | 2.7 |
| Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger) | 40 | 40 |
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 18 different dining options like Vintages Wine Bar, Sorrento's Pizza, and Fish & Ships. Of those options, 9 are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other 9 options have an additional fee.
The Freedom of the Seas has 1 more dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Chops Grille, Playmakers, and Chef's Table. 10 of these restaurants are complementary and the other 9 have an additional fee.
The Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas has about the same number of dining options as the Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas.
Both ships have a similar number of paid versus included dining options.
Restaurants on Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas & Freedom of the Seas
| Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas | Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Cafe Promenade | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Chef's Table | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Chops Grille | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Cupcake Cupboard | ✗ | ✓ | |
| El Loco Fresh | ✗ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Fish & Ships | ✓ | ✗ | Learn More |
| Giovanni's Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar | ✗ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Giovanni's Table | ✓ | ✗ | Learn More |
| Ice Cream Parlor | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Izumi Hibachi & Sushi | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Johnny Rockets | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Main Dining Room | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Playmakers | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Sorrento's Pizza | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Vintages Wine Bar | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Windjammer | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
Bars and Drinks
The Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas has 1 more bar than the Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas.
| Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas | Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas | |
|---|---|---|
| Boleros | ✓ | ✓ |
| Casino Bar | ✓ | ✓ |
| Champagne Bar | ✓ | ✗ |
| English Pub | ✓ | ✓ |
| Olive or Twist | ✓ | ✗ |
| Playmakers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pool Bar | ✓ | ✗ |
| R Bar | ✗ | ✓ |
| Schooner Bar | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sky Lounge | ✓ | ✗ |
| Solarium Bar | ✓ | ✓ |
| Star Lounge | ✓ | ✓ |
| Suite Lounge* | ✓ | ✓ |
| The Lime & Coconut | ✗ | ✓ |
| The Plaza Bar | ✓ | ✓ |
| Viking Crown Lounge | ✗ | ✓ |
| Vintages | ✓ | ✓ |
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 Freedom 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 problem is that with thousands of people on a ship, there's not always room. If you want to spend all day for 7 days in a pool, a cruise isn't for you. You would have a much better bet choosing a resort with a huge pool complex. That being said, a quick dip in the pool can be nice on a hot day.
The Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas has a total of 3 pools and 7 hot tubs. Tired of loud kids and splashing? 1 of the pools and 2 of the hot tubs are adults only.
The Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas has the same number of pools as the Independence of the Seas and fewer hot tubs.
| Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas | Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Pools | 3 | 3 |
| Pools - General Access | 2 | 2 |
| Pools - Adults Only | 1 | 1 |
| Pools - Exclusive | 0 | 0 |
| Total Hot Tubs | 7 | 5 |
| Hot Tubs - General Access | 5 | 3 |
| Hot Tubs - Adults Only | 2 | 2 |
| Hot Tubs - Exclusive | 0 | 0 |
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 Freedom of the Seas, 80% of the activities are included at no additional cost.
| Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas | Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Only Relaxation Area | ✓ | ✓ |
| Arcade | ✓ | ✓ |
| Basketball | ✓ | ✓ |
| Casino | ✓ | ✓ |
| Climbing Wall | ✓ | ✓ |
| Escape Room | ✓ | ✗ |
| Fitness Center | ✓ | ✓ |
| FlowRider | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ice Skating | ✓ | ✓ |
| Laser Tag | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mini golf | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pool-side Movies | ✓ | ✓ |
| Shows - Broadway play | ✓ | ✗ |
| Shows - musical review | ✓ | ✓ |
| Spa | ✓ | ✓ |
| Splash park | ✓ | ✓ |
| Water slides | ✓ | ✓ |
| Learn more | Learn more |
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. To get a good idea of how the pricing compares, visit Royal Caribbean's website to price out the separate cruises or consult a travel professional.
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 | |
|---|---|
| Base Daily Gratuities* (Per Person Per Day) | $18.50 |
| Tip added to drinks & services | 18% |
| Soda Price | $3.50 |
| Domestic Beer Price | $8.25 See drink menus |
| Drink Package Price | $70 - $125 Learn more |
| Internet Plan | $17 to $30 per device per day |
| *Daily gratuities for a standard cabin. Suites or specialty rooms may have higher rates. | |
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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