Fire tugs welcomed the Independence of the Seas which shares the title of the worlds biggest cruise ship along with her two sister ships Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas as she arrives in the UK for the first time in Southampton. The 160,000 tonne vessel was built by Royal Caribbean International and will operate from Southampton for the rest of the year.

She will share the Guinness Book of Records title for the ‘world’s largest cruise ship’ with sister ships Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas and will be offering cruises out of Southampton throughout the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.