Royal Caribbean
Independence of the Seas
- Cruises
- 45
- From
- $363
Ship comparison
Independence of the Seas vs Sky Princess
Princess Cruises
Sky Princess
- Cruises
- 72
- From
- $469
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Independence of the Seas is a large Royal Caribbean ship carrying 3,634 passengers, in service since 2008. Sky Princess is a large Princess Cruises ship carrying 3,668 passengers, in service since 2019.
Choose Independence of the Seas if you want a better-rated spa and gym or a lower starting fare: it outscores Sky Princess for spa & fitness (8.5 vs 7.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and its cruises start from $363 (vs $469).
Choose Sky Princess if you want a more romantic trip, more adventure and nature or a more active cruise: it outscores Independence of the Seas for romantic (8.0 vs 4.0), adventure & nature (7.0 vs 4.0) and active (10.0 vs 8.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores.
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Independence of the Seas | Sky Princess | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Royal Caribbean | Princess Cruises |
| Ship size | Large | Large |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2008 | 2019 (better) |
| Last refurbishedmore recent highlighted | 2018 | — |
| Gross tonnage | 160,000 | 141,000 |
| Passengers | 3,634 | 3,668 |
| Crew | 1,360 | 1,350 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 2.7 | 2.7 |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 44.0 (better) | 38.4 |
| Decks | 18 | 18 |
| Length | 1,112 ft | 1,083 ft |
| Beam | 184 ft | 155 ft |
| Speed | 26 mph | 25 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 8 / 10 | 9 / 10 (better) |
| Cruises on sale | 45 | 72 |
| Upcoming sailings | 75 | 122 |
| Cruise lengths | 4 to 9 nights | 4 to 46 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $363 (better) | $469 |
Bliss scores
How they rate, out of 10
Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday. Independence of the Seas leads on 3 of the ten, Sky Princess on 7.
- Active
- Adventure & nature
- Cultural
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Family friendly
- Party
- Romantic
- Spa & fitness
- Staterooms
Royal Caribbean
Independence of the Seas
Meet Independence of the Seas, packed with a long list of onboard activities typical of Royal Caribbean's Freedom class of ships. Highlights include the FlowRider surf simulator, a rock-climbing wall, ice-skating rink, cantilevered whirlpools, Royal Promenade, mini golf course, and more.
Highlights
- Relaxing spa treatments at Vitality Spa
- Four pools in adults-only Solarium
- 30 types of cupcakes from the Cupcake Cupboard
- Broadway-style entertainment in the Main Theater
Sailing now
45 cruises on sale, from $363.
About Independence of the Seas Plan my cruise on Independence of the Seas
Princess Cruises
Sky Princess
Have you ever waited around for someone to meet you on vacation at a specific time? And they are not answering texts? Princess has an app for that.
Sailing now
72 cruises on sale, from $469.
Questions
Independence of the Seas or Sky Princess?
Which is bigger, Independence of the Seas or Sky Princess?
Independence of the Seas is bigger at 160,000 gross tons, against 141,000 gross tons for Sky Princess. Independence of the Seas carries 3,634 passengers and Sky Princess carries 3,668.
Which ship is newer, Independence of the Seas or Sky Princess?
Sky Princess is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2019 against 2008 for Independence of the Seas.
Which has more space per passenger?
Independence of the Seas, with 44.0 gross tons per passenger against 38.4 on Sky Princess. The higher the figure, the more ship there is for each guest.
Which has more crew per passenger?
They are level, with one crew member for every 2.7 passengers.
Which is better for families?
Independence of the Seas scores higher for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 6.5 out of 10, against 6.0 for Sky Princess.
Still deciding?
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