Goodbye Indy…

Breaking news today from Royal Caribbean, they have released the news that Independence of the Seas will no longer be sailing from Southampton in 2020!

This has come as a big surprise and will affect thousands of customers already booked for next year, on the 17 cruises which were planned! The reasons behind this decision to no longer sail from Southampton is that she will be moving to Fort Lauderdale in Florida, as Royal Caribbean’s newly renovated private island Perfect Day at CocoCay which is located in the Bahamas has become a big hit with passengers which has just opened a few days ago and will be fully open by December this year.

Royal Caribbean have said that the UK market continues to be important for them and they are still going to be offering Anthem of the Seas from Southampton in 2020, who know’s if they will decide to bring another ship to the UK, we will have to wait and see!

For any guests that are booked for Independence of the Seas they will be offered a full refund and a Future Cruise Credit to use on an alternative sailing which will be for 25% of the cruise fare paid on the cancelled sailings.

I think other cruise lines such as P&O will be happy of this news as passengers will be seeking alternative cruises, especially those who do not like to fly, P&O offer lots of UK sailings which maybe suitable for passengers to book instead. Although this may not suit everyone.

I’m sure there will be lot’s of disappointed people hearing the news today, it has certainly took me for surprise! What are your thoughts? Has this affected you?