Independence of the Seas (Wallpaper 4) Ship Gallery | OceanShooter

image dimensions : 1092 x 682

Independence of the Seas (Wallpaper 4). Independence of the Seas cruise ship images wallpaper gallery 4. Independence of the Seas cruise ship photos and pictures wallpaper collection 4. Independence is one of three sisters, each dubbed the largest cruise ship in the world, but they will be dwarfed by Royal Caribbean’s 220,000-tonne Genesis, launching next year with room for 5,200 passengers. At the end of last week I was in a shipyard in St Nazaire, France, to watch the keel being laid for the first of two new 150,000-tonne ships, codenamed F3, being built for Norwegian Cruise Line which will each hold 4,200 passengers. This month alone, there have been three new ships named in the UK. Between them, they will hold more than 10,000 people, and there are five more vessels due to launch before the year is out. That’s a lot of berths to fill, and yet there is no sign of panic at the top. Independence of the Seas (Wallpaper 4). Independence of the Seas cruise ship images wallpaper gallery 4. Independence of the Seas cruise ship photos and pictures wallpaper collection 4. Whenever I question whether there is demand for all these big ships, I’m told that a holiday is no longer a luxury, it’s a necessity. I am also told that the number of people cruising has grown every year for more than a decade – the inference being that therefore it will continue to grow - and that retired people with savings, who still make up the biggest chunk of the market, are less affected by the crunch. Really? It’s true that they might not have mortgages but these people still have to buy butter and eggs; many, I’m sure, have cars and use electric or gas to cook. One response was more pragmatic: “We are building these ships; we have to fill them”. Before you start to dream of discounts, I should add that David Dingle, chief executive of Carnival UK, has said that there’s no sign of a crunch in terms of bookings or prices, although he does concede that the amount that passengers spend on board might suffer on the cheaper lines if people start looking after their pennies. But back to Independence, which might be the third in a series – its two sisters launched last year and the year before that – but its sheer size was startling as it towered over Southampton. “After Ventura [P&O Cruises’ new ship, launched April 16], it’s really 'wow',” one couple said. It is certainly more flashy than Ventura – although actually relatively tame compared with the likes of Carnival and Norwegian Cruise Line – and the FlowRider surf wave, ice-skating rink, rock-climbing wall and Royal Promenade are all impressive. It’s just a shame that we’ve seen it all before, several times now. The only thing that makes this ship different from its two sisters is the art work, some of which is notable for all the wrong reasons (look out for the spooky Shakespeare with the moving eyes at the entrance to the Romeo and Juliet dining room), and the heated pools, added in anticipation of another lousy summer in the UK. It’s a shame that they didn’t also put a roof that can be opened and shut over the solarium pool so there is somewhere “outside” to sit when it rains. This is England, after all. Independence of the Seas (Wallpaper 4). Independence of the Seas cruise ship images wallpaper gallery 4. Independence of the Seas cruise ship photos and pictures wallpaper collection 4.