Gibraltar Explosion Update And Video

As you read yesterday, there was an oil tank explosion at the Port of Gibraltar near Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas. Updated reports put the number of injured passengers at twelve and an additional two people injured on the pier.

Here is an eye witness video showing the fire and Independence of the Seas' hasty departure from the scene.

Explosion in Port of Gibraltar next to Independence of the Seas

I just read a report from Cruise Critic that there was an explosion at the Port of Gibraltar right alongside Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas which was docked there at the time.  There were reports of minor injuries to about 10 passengers onboard and more serious injuries to a couple of people onshore.  It doesn't appear that there was any damage to the ship itself and she has since left Gibraltar and is currently underway to the next port of call.

You can check out the full article here - Oil Tank Explodes in Gibraltar Near Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship

Independence of the Seas ahead of schedule.

Royal Caribbean has announced that the next "Freedom Class" ship, Independence of the Seas, will commence sailing two weeks earlier than originally scheduled. The ship was orginally scheduled to have it's maiden voyage on May 17, but the shipyard informed Royal Caribbean that they will be completing the ship ahead of schedule. Good news for RCI but not so good, I imagine, for those booked on the May 17th cruise hoping to be on the maiden voyage.

The new maiden voyage will be on May 2nd and those booked on the original date are being offered the chance to switch dates. Then, on May 6th, there will be an 11 night cruise to the Canary Islands.

That will conclude the current plan for the "Freedom Class" but I have heard rumors that there may be another in the series. Now the focus turns to the "Genesis" twins already under construction.

Independence of the Seas to depart from Ft. Lauderdale

I just read a report that Royal Caribbean will reposition it's newest Freedom Class ship, Independence of the Seas, currently under construction in Turku, Finland, to Ft. Lauderdale once she is done with her maiden season in Europe. She will sail in Europe until November 6, 2008 when she will depart on a 13 night transatlantic repositioning cruise to Ft. Lauderdale and commence on a series of six night Western Caribbean and eight night Eastern Caribbean voyages throughout the winter of 2008 and spring 2009. Independence will be the largest ship to call Ft. Lauderdale home.

The report also indicates that Ft. Lauderdale is also vying to be the home port of the upcoming first ship in the Genesis Class. In addition there is mention of a new passenger ship terminal in Jamaica that will be able to handle not one, but two Genesis Class ships at once. The port in Falmouth, halfway between Ocho Rios and Montego Bay, will supposedly be ready by the time the first of the 220,000 ton, 5,400 passenger mega-ships is completed in 2009.