The Port of Miami may be the cruise capital of the world, but Fort Lauderdale is vying for bragging rights as home to the world's largest cruise ship.

Port Everglades and Royal Caribbean Cruises are in talks about a $37.4 million expansion of Terminal 18 to accommodate the line's Project Genesis ships that will be launched in 2009 and 2010.

The 220,000-ton ships -- the first of which will cost $1.2 billion and the second of which has a $1.4 billion price tag -- will each carry 5,400 passengers and 2,100 crew members.

That will make the mammoth vessels some 40 percent larger than today's biggest, Royal Caribbean's 160,000-ton Freedom class vessels. They carry 3,634 passengers and offer over-the-top amenities like an onboard surfing simulator, a boxing ring and a 14-person family suite.

On Wednesday, the Broward County Commission will consider whether to authorize Port Everglades' director to negotiate an agreement with Royal Caribbean aimed at bringing the giant vessels to the port.

At this point, Royal Caribbean is keeping its options open. The Port of Miami, currently home to the world's largest vessels -- Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas -- also has been in the running for a Project Genesis ship. In a statement, the Port of Miami said, 'We are working with [Royal Caribbean] and provided a proposal for the Genesis. We are aware of the responsibility that comes with being the recognized `Cruise Capital of the World.' ''

It isn't clear whether other ports are competing for the moniker ''home of the world's largest ship.'' Royal Caribbean has said only that ``we have held preliminary, fact-finding discussions with several ports regarding home-porting options.''......