Royal Caribbean Cruises on Monday ordered its second ?€900 million (US$1.2 billion) 'Genesis' cruise ship, the world's biggest and most expensive cruise liner, from shipbuilder Aker Yards.

The Norwegian cruise line said it would exercise an option for the 5,400-guest, 220,000 gross-ton vessel, to be built by Aker Yards in Finland and delivered in August 2010.

It previously announced an order for the first liner due in 2009.

Norway-based Aker Yards will deliver the first giant 'Genesis class' vessel in the autumn of 2009 as Royal Caribbean expands its fleet to compete against U.S.-based Carnival, the world's largest cruise line.

"The Genesis-class cruise ships will be the biggest in the world," Aker Yard Cruise and Ferries President YrjoJulin told Reuters.

"The price of approximately euro900 million is the same for the second vessel as it was for the first."

The ships

Aker Yards said the ships will be 360 metres long, 36 metres longer than th of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and weigh 12 times as much. The Genesis-class vessels will be 47 metres wide and accommodate 8,400 passengers and crew.

"The company estimates the all-in cost of the ship will be approximately US$260,000 per berth," Miami-based Royal Caribbean said in a statement.

The contract depends on com-pletion of financing.

Aker Yards said it has four Royal Caribbean cruise vessels on order for 2007-2010 deliveries. One of them, 'Liberty of the Seas', will leave its yard within weeks, it said.

Reuters