Ocean Village switches ships for 2009

**Ally** · 04-11-2008, 06:07 AM

Ocean Village switches ships for 2009 - Travel Trade Gazette

**Ally** · 04-15-2008, 03:19 PM

Full press release.....

Quote:

Ocean Village Announces New Summer 2009 Itineraries

- Brand new destinations include Venice, Cairo and Istanbul -

- Ocean Village Two sails the Eastern Med for the first time -

- Seven night Mediterranean sailings from just £599* -

Ocean Village, the cruise for people who don’t do cruises, has announced brand new summer 2009 itineraries welcoming Venice, Cairo and Istanbul to the casual cruise line’s Mediterranean programme for the very first time. Ocean Village Two will make its debut in the Eastern Mediterranean offering cruises to these iconic destinations from Heraklion, Crete between April and October 2009.

With bookings opening on 21st April 2008, the brand new 2009 preview details exciting new seven and fourteen night holidays in the Western and Eastern Med aboard Ocean Village and Ocean Village Two, and details new ‘Stay and Cruise’ options with pre-cruise hotel stays in Palma and Crete.

Ocean Village Two debuts in the Eastern Med

Ocean Village Two will undertake its first Eastern Med season, offering three brand new 7 night itineraries from its summer base in Heraklion, Crete. Venice, Istanbul or Cairo are featured as a headline destination in each of the new itineraries which mix big-hitter, wannasee cities with scenic islands and favourite beach locations. The Venice itinerary becomes a fortnightly fixture throughout summer 2009, whereas the ship will follow the Cairo itinerary at the start and end of the season (April and September) when the weather is more temperate, and then offer the Istanbul option in peak summer (May to August).

Holidays can be taken as 7 night or 14 night sailings or as 14 night stay and cruise options with a week in Crete at a three or four star hotel before joining any of the three 7 night cruises.

Combinations of sun-baked beaches, sensational cities and scenic islands are featured on the following itineraries:

‘Palaces and Pyramids’ takes in Egypt’s iconic Pyramids and Sphinx in new destination Cairo (from Port Said). The ship then sails to Limassol (Cyprus), Rhodes, Ephesus (from Kusadasi, Turkey) and Athens (from Piraeus), before returning to Heraklion. Seven-night cruises start from just £619* per person.

‘Gateways and Gondolas’ showcases Croatia’s picturesque coastline with a call at Dubrovnik before moving onto Casanova’s playground – Venice – for a day in this most celebrated of cities. The next port of call is the pretty Croatian island of Korcula, before the ship sails for Greek islands of Corfu and Zakinthos. On selected dates, instead of Dubrovnik, the ship will call at Split – another Croatian time-capsule – and in place of Zakinthos, will visit the birthplace of the Olympic Games, Olypmia from Katakolon in Greece. Seven-night cruises start from just £699* per person.

‘Myths and Minarets’ blends cultural highlights with beach resorts and a touch of the exotic. From Heraklion, the ship sails for Istanbul – renowned for its Blue Mosque, St Sophia museum and glittering Topkapi Palace – before moving onto the lush Greek island Lesbos, Ephesus (from Kusadasi, Turkey), Athens (from Piraeus) and Rhodes. Seven-night cruises start from just £749* per person.

14 night combinations of the Venice itinerary with either the Istanbul or Cairo option start from just £1039* per person.

14 night Stay and Cruise hotel and cruise options begin from as little as £919* per person.

The original Ocean Village ship returns to Palma:

The original Ocean Village ship will make Palma, Majorca its summer base for the first time in three years and will visit some of the Med hippest, hottest and most happening places on its two seven night itineraries.

‘Tapas and Togas’ mixes Riviera favourites and timeless cities. The ship sails from Palma to Tunis, Rome (from Civitavecchia), Genoa, St Raphael and Barcelona. Seven night cruises start from just £699* per person.

‘Emperors and Espresso’ offers big city highlights plus the glitz and glamour of jetset resorts. Calling at Tunis, Naples, Florence and Pisa, Monte Carlo and Ajaccio, passengers can practice their bargaining skills at the souks in Tunis and then go billionaire spotting in chic Monte Carlo. Seven night cruises start from just £599* per person.

Again, Stay and Cruise options are available combining a week-long hotel stay in Majorca with a week onboard - options start from just £819* per person. 14 night sailings that combine the two itineraries are available from just £975* per person.

Nick Lighton, Managing Director at Ocean Village comments: “These new calls at Venice, Cairo and Istsanbul will create a real buzz of excitement with agents and passengers alike. They show how easy it can be to combine an easy-going, high-quality cruise with a shot of culture, time out on the beach, big-city sights, retail therapy and the chance to get active – all at a great value-for-money price. The Ocean Village philosophy has always been to offer a fresh take on cruising and these new holidays are a wake-up call for everyone who hasn’t yet realised the how much fun a cruise can be, as well as a great reason to come back for more for people who’ve already lost their cruising virginity.”

For more information or to book, see your ABTA travel agents for details, visit Ocean Cruise Holidays - Cruises UK - Mediterranean & Caribbean Cruises - Ocean Village Holidays - Ocean Village Holidays or call 0845 4567 888.

Press release - Ocean Village - Ocean Village Announces New Summer 2009 Itineraries - 14/04/2008 - Ocean Village Holidays