Give Me … Liberty of the Seas!

Royal Caribbean International’s Newest Freedom-class Ship Arrives in New York and Introduces Highly Anticipated Onboard Programming

Royal Caribbean International welcomed the line’s 21st ship, Liberty of the Seas, to the United States today. Sharing the title of world’s largest cruise ship with sister ship, Freedom of the Seas, Liberty will be the first Royal Caribbean ship to roll out enhanced onboard programming in wellness, weddings, and family and teen activities. The new programming includes the Vitality wellness program, promoting a healthier lifestyle with new, well-balanced fitness, spa, shore excursions and culinary offerings; Explorer Weddings, for couples looking to tie the knot in extreme style; and new family programming introducing Adventure Theater, Scratch DJ 101 classes, Chef’s on Deck, and the Crown & Anchor Society Youth Program.

At 160,000 GRT with a capacity of 3,634 guests, double-occupancy, Liberty features cruise-industry innovations such as the FlowRider surf simulator, cantilevered whirlpools suspended 112 feet above the ocean, the H2O Zone water park and the Royal Promenade entertainment boulevard. The Presidential Family Suite, which sleeps up to 14 people, is another revolutionizing Freedom-class concept catering to multi-generational family-cruising. In addition, guests will enjoy more than 20 restaurants and lounges aboard Liberty, as well as the line’s award-winning entertainment.

Godmother Donnalea Madeley will officially name the line’s newest ship May 18, and Liberty’s will sail her maiden voyage May 19 from her home port of Miami. Liberty will depart on Saturdays and alternate between seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries. Liberty’s Western Caribbean itinerary will call at Cozumel, Mexico; George Town, Grand Cayman; Montego Bay, Jamaica; and Labadee, Royal Caribbean’s private destination in Haiti. The Eastern Caribbean itinerary will call at San Juan, Puerto Rico; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and Labadee, with a third day at sea to take advantage of all that the ship is offering.

The two Freedom-class ships will be joined by a third, Independence of the Seas, when she debuts in Europe in May 2008. Sailing from the United Kingdom, she will be the largest ship to be home-ported in Europe.