Royal Caribbean International’s Independence of the Seas welcomed a group of special VIPs onboard when the ship visited Cobh on Bank Holiday Monday (3rdJune 2013). Maura Fahy of Fahy Travel in Galway was chosen as the winner of a recent agent-only competition and sailed away with invites for her daughters to enjoy a Barbie party onboard the ship.
Maura’s daughters joined five other families that won invitations to the fun-filled day in a Sunday World competition. After a Teacups and Tiaras party and a Mermaid dance class, the highlight of the day saw the ship’s Captain Teo joining in to present the girls with goody bags.
Independence of the Seas was also in Ireland to welcome Irish guests on board for a cruise to the Norwegian Fjords. The guests were clients of Cork-based Lee Travel, which scooped an industry exclusive to offer the ship’s first cruise holiday starting in Ireland. The ship returns on Monday 9th September 2013 for another Norwegian Fjords cruise.
Independence of the Seas arrived in Ireland from a recent two-week long, US$7 million makeover that has seen the addition of innovative family-focused attractions including a giant outdoor cinema screen; the exclusive Barbie Experience with Barbie decorated staterooms, an invitation-only tea party, mermaid dance class, fashion design workshop and fashion show; a new baby and toddler nursery; flat-panel TVs in staterooms; the introduction of The Cupcake Cupboard; the addition of Giovanni’s Table, an Italian trattoria and an enhanced digital way finding system.
The 15-passenger deck, 160,000 gross registered tonnes (GRT) ship’s many other attractions include a Flowrider surf simulator, ice skating rink, rock climbing wall, the Adventure Ocean dedicated kids and teen clubs and a 1,320-seat theatre for Broadway-style shows, as well as three pools, six whirlpools, over eight restaurants, a spa and fitness centre.
