Largest Cruise Ship on Order

The partly Norwegian-owned cruise line Royal Caribbean is going ahead with an order for another huge ship from a Norwegian-owned shipyard in Finland. The new vessel will be able to carry more than 5,000 passengers. Royal Caribbean's huge Freedom of the Seas made waves when it set off on its maiden voyage last May. Now it will be smaller than the line's new ship. Royal Caribbean has been expanding its fleet for years, and has built several of its ships at the yard in Finland that recently has been part of the also-Norwegian-owned Aker Yards shipyard group.

Each new vessel seems to be bigger than the one before it. Freedom of the Seas, for example, was dubbed the world's largest cruise ship when it was launched just last year. It features 15 decks, 1,815 cabins and can carry more than 4,000 passengers. Royal Caribbean's new ship will have capacity for 5,400 passengers.

It will cost about USD 1.2 billion to build, which equates to about USD 260,000 per berth. The deal is contingent on completion of a "customary financing", according to the owner. Delivery is set for August 2010.