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*Update:

According to asap Travel, Royal Caribbean has started taking reservations from members of Royal Caribbean’s Diamond and Diamond Plus Crown & Anchor programs for the Oasis of the Seas maiden voyage in December 2009.  Starting August 28th, any passenger that has sailed on a Royal Caribbean Cruise will have a chance to book a reservation followed by everyone else September 3rd.

The article reads:

The cruise line is doing its share to make sure everyone knows that Oasis of the Seas is ready to start taking reservations.  Rzymowska said “On 3 September we will be direct-mailing 200,000 households — people who have inquired about Oasis, past passengers and Crown & Anchor members. And on 6 September we start a nationwide press campaign, which will run until mid-October.

*Original Post

Illustration courtesy Royal Caribbean

Cruise editor Gene Sloan is the host of USA TODAY’s Cruise Log Blog. His blog brings the latest headlines and news stories from the Cruise Ship industry to people around the world. Today, Gene is bloging live from New York City where he is attending the unveiling of the latest plans for Royal Caribbean new ship, Oasis of the Seas — the largest, most innovative cruise ship ever built. Here is Mr. Sloan’s report

It’s a big day for Royal Caribbean fans — the day they finally find out what gee-whiz marvels the line has dreamed up for its next ship, Oasis of the Seas.

The company that pioneered rock climbing walls, ice skating rinks and surfing pools on the high seas will unveil its plans for the much-awaited vessel — the largest ever built — at an event in New York.

RELATED ITEMS: Royal Caribbean ships will feature “Central Park”; Royal Caribbean’s next ships will be Oasis, Allure

The 220,000-ton giant, which will launch in late 2009, will be more than 40% larger than the largest cruise ship afloat, and Royal Caribbean already has said it’ll include such innovative features as a massive “Central Park” with live trees and outdoor restaurant seating. The ship will hold 5,400 passengers at double occupancy — a number once thought unthinkable in the cruise business.

Want to be among the first to hear the news, which will include the official launch date and itinerary for the ship? Check back here starting at 12:30 PM EST as we blog live from the event in New York’s Nokia Theatre. Live Blog

Here’s your opportunity to name a ship! This, however, isn’t just a random ship, Royal Caribbean is asking YOU to name the world’s largest cruise ship. USA Today tells us;

Are you ready to win a cruise? Launching in 2009 and 2010, respectively, the much-anticipated, 5,400-passenger vessels will be the largest in the world — 40% larger than today’s biggest cruise ships — and cost a record $1.2 billion a piece. So the chance to name them is quite an honor.

If your suggestions are picked, you’ll win a seven-day cruise on one of the new ships, among other prizes. If you’re one of five finalists, you’ll win a two-night inaugural cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas, debuting in May.

Of course, you have to come up with a winner of a name — two, in fact, that are related to each other. And that’s harder than it looks. Just ask Royal Caribbean’s president and CEO, Adam Goldstein.

“Naming ships is one of the most challenging aspects of the business,” Goldstein told us this week. “I’ve seen times when (the process of) naming a ship took longer than ordering it.”

Click HERE for our story on this amazing vessel then head over to USA Todays to enter the contest: Name That Ship.

Genesis Facts:

• The building of the biggest floating resorts in the world is a two-billion-euro assignment
• The Genesis is almost a full quartermile long
• The construction is a huge 3-dimensional puzzle
• 30.000 drawings are needed in designing this ship
• The yard is supported by a vast network of professional suppliers

Source: Aker Yards