Independence of the Seas christened: Travel Weekly

Royal Caribbean International named the Independence of the Seas, its third Freedom-class vessel, in a ceremony in Southampton, England, on April 30.

The ship will be based in Southampton for its inaugural season.

The ship was named by Elizabeth Hill, a British woman chosen through a contest to select a godmother that has made an extraordinary contribution to causes that help youth.

Hill set up the Gamelea Countryside Training Trust on her husband's farm in the Derbyshire countryside. The charity helps young people with physical or learning disabilities and those who have failed in school and are in danger of social exclusion.

To contact reporter Johanna Jainchill, send e-mail to [email protected].

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