Royal Caribbean announces 2019 ex-uk sailings

Royal Caribbean has announced that Independence of the Seas will be homeported in Southampton in 2019, following its return to the UK this year.

The ship, which underwent a multi-million pound makeover ahead of its ex-UK season, will be joined by Explorer of the Seas, which will replace Navigator of the Seas.

As part of the ex-UK season, Independence of the Seas will sail to Ibiza in August and September for the first time in four years.

Next year’s Western Mediterranean itineraries for both Independence of the Seas and Explorer of the Seas will see the ships call at Florence and Naples, Italy.

Also new for 2018, Explorer of the Seas will be sail to Stockholm, Sweden, for the first time with three sailings across July and August.

The ship will also visit Olden, Norway, for the first time in three years.

In February, Royal Caribbean announced the new onboard features for Independence of the Seas, including a new virtual reality experience named Sky Pad.

This will see guests strapped into a bungee trampoline and fitted with a VR headset, and will then be transported to places such as the Moon’s surface.

There will also be a paid-for escape the room experience called Puzzle Break. New restaurants on board include Fish and Ships (a fish and ships restaurant) and Sugar Beach Candy & Ice Cream Store.