The behemoth, whose massive hull is roomy enough for 4 375 passengers and 1 p360 crew, has just been launched and is being shown off in Norway - excesses and all - before entering into service.
"I am the mayor of a small town. I have to tend to 5 700 people," Teo Strazicic, the ship's Croatian captain, says from the bridge with a magnificent view of Oslo's harbour behind him.
The vessel is the third of three Royal Caribbean sister ships, after the Freedom of the Seas and the Liberty of the Seas, that together hold the title of the biggest cruiseships ever built.
And the numbers are staggering.
The Independence of the Seas, built by a Finnish shipyard in Turku, has a gross tonnage of 160 000, or the equivalent of more than 80 000 cars or 32 000 adult elephants. It measures 339 meters, equal to five Boeing 747s lined up end to end.
"In the beginning I was skeptical about ships this size. But now I know this is the thing," says Strazicic.
The massive size enables cruiselines to make economies of scale, especially when it comes to crew-to-passenger ratios, and gives passengers a broader range of activities.
'But now I know this is the thing'
On board, there's plenty to choose from: a climbing wall, ice skating rink, mini golf, surfing simulator, a boxing ring, a gym, art gallery, video games, casino, discotheque, karaoke corner, pools, shooting gallery and even a chapel for lovebirds who want to tie the knot at sea.
In the centre of the ship is a main strip lined with boutiques, a hairdresser and eateries of all kinds, whether you're in the mood for an Italian pizzeria, English pub, or even a French champagne bar.
The Independence of the Seas aims to please all tastes with a wide-ranging selection of offerings.
But the delicate mix of styles all concentrated in one place, as well as the occasionally out-of-place looking artwork - a giant Ancient Greece inspired golden urn hangs over the shopping area - and the pastel tones everywhere risk creating an eyesore for some.
The aesthetically inclined may prefer to seek refuge in their roomy cabins, most of which have a balcony with an ocean view.
'This place is like a market place'
From a logistics aspect, serving 18 000 meals a day while out at sea is a challenge.
"During rush hours this place is like a market place. It's so crowded," says Satheesh Panneerselvan, an Indian chef, guiding visitors through one of the three enormous kitchens where a total of 160 chefs and 300 waiters work.
The ship appears to have a healthy appetite: each week passengers and crew will put away about 90 000 eggs, 75 708 litres of milk, 60 tonnes of fruit and veggies and 18 000 slices of pizza.
Now ready to enter into service, the Independence of the Seas will spend its summers cruising the Mediterranean and the North Atlantic from Southampton, its home port in the southern England, and its winters in the Caribbean.
However, its reign as the biggest cruiseship in the world will be shortlived: next year will see the presentation of the Genesis, with a gross tonnage of 220 000 and accommodating 8 400 passengers and crew.