United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
Largest cruise ships ever called Oasis and Allure
The largest cruise ships ever built will be called Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas — thanks to names dreamed up by a USA TODAY reader who lives near Detroit.
Royal Caribbean today said that George Weiser, 53, of Livonia, Mich., has won its four-month-long Name That Ship Contest to title the next two Royal Caribbean vessels.
The automotive designer for Ford Motor Company was the first USA TODAY reader to submit the pair of names during the contest, which was held here at The Cruise Log.
In all, more than 91,000 newspaper readers submitted names during the contest to name the next generation of Royal Caribbean ships — to be called the Oasis class. A panel of five judges named Mr Weiser the winner.
The contest marks the first time that a cruise line has invited the public to name a vessel.
“I don’t think we would have come up with Oasis and Allure on our own,” said Royal Caribbean CEO Adam Goldstein. “They were great names.”
The names of ships traditionally are chosen by top executives in consultation with marketing and sales experts, and Mr Goldstein said opening the process to the public was a risk. The only requirement was that entries end in “of the Seas,” a tradition at the 21-ship line.
The most popular names? Serenity of the Seas, sent in by 2,457 readers, and Paradise of the Seas (2,447). Both of the names already are used by other cruise lines.
The prize-winning names earned a seven-night Caribbean cruise for two on one of the new ships, among other prizes.
David
Mark Jaronski of Explore Georgia on FIFA World Cup 2026
Connecting Small Businesses to Global Tourism Markets: Nate Huff of Tourism Exchange
North Carolina’s Resilience: Wit Tuttell on Recovery and Tourism
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
Craig Ray and the Expansion of the Blues Trail
Presenting Mississippi’s Cultural Trails with Katie Coats
Dozens fall ill in P&O Cruises ship outbreak
BA suspending all Heathrow to Abu Dhabi flights
Turkish Airlines flight in emergency landing after pilot dies
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Woman dies after going overboard in English Channel