Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas Offers Fresh New Feature

So maybe Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas is the third in the fleet's Freedom class of ships, and passengers have already sampled its nifty newbies like the rock-climbing wall, boxing ring and H2O Zone water park. So what if this latest sibling, which launches in May 2008, will feature identical cabin layouts, restaurant options, and double-decked nightclub?

Independence of the Seas will still have at least one cool new feature -- and this one trumps not only its Freedom-class brethren but pretty much every other mega-ship in cruising. Get ready for ... heated pools.

Two freshwater pools -- the main pool and a smaller sports pool -- will be heated throughout the ship's six-month season of cruises from the U.K. to the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands. As well, the H2O Zone, the whimsical kids' water park, will also be heated.

The 3,634-passenger ship is 70 percent constructed at a shipyard in Turku, Finland.

For more information on the Independence of the Seas, visit us at www.CruiseCafe.com or call 1-800-788-2545.