Gadling

When I think of a cruise ship deck, I think a swimming pool, shuffle board and lounge chairs--maybe a tennis court. I'm not that imaginative, but those who design ships for Royal Caribbean certainly are. The latest undertaking of this company that already boasts the world's largest luxury cruise liner is another ship that will be large enough to have a park as big as a football field. Think town square with eateries, entertainment and large trees. This deck will be only one of the ship's fifteen others, according to this article published in The Daily Mail.

When complete, this liner will weigh 220,000 tons. And by the looks of one of the mock up drawings, if placed on the Thames River, it will dwarf London. St. Paul's Cathedral looks small next to it.

Gallery: Very Cool Cruise Pictures

As the airline industry is going through its woes due to fuel costs, and whatever else seems to be ailing it each week, cruise lines are doing swimmingly swell. Passengers' desires to enjoy luxury and the wow factor when they head out on the high seas are adding to the push for bigger and bigger cruise ships.

Genesis, being built in Finland, will be ready to set sail in 2009. Its home port will be Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Join the other 5,399 paying customers who'll be climbing aboard. There will be space since it can hold 5,400 passengers. I don't think you'll have a hard time spotting it because it will be 40% bigger than the other ships--until someone gets the urge to build a bigger one.

If you have an urge for a monster cruise ship trip before then, here are other options.

• Queen Victoria, Cunard
• Ventura, P&O Cruises
• Independence of the Seas, Royal Caribbean

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