Ocean Village Two takes to the seas
Sister-ships Ocean Village and Ocean Village Two met for the very first time as the casual cruise line’s latest vessel, named Ocean Village Two by Jodie and Jemma Kidd on Tuesday, sailed to Gibraltar on its maiden voyage. At 1.20pm on Saturday April 28, the two ships passed in Mediterranean waters just off Europa Point in Gibraltar. As a British Colony, it was a fitting venue for both British registered ships to meet, passing just half a mile apart, and ceremoniously sounded the ships’ whistles.
With the addition of Ocean Village Two, the holiday company has doubled in size in the fast-growing UK cruise market. With its emphasis on informality and its blend of both relaxation and high adrenaline activities, Ocean Village has helped inspire the UK’s growing love affair with cruising, attracting a younger audience to the sector. The numbers of Britons taking a cruise holiday has doubled in a decade to 1.3m last year and the Passenger Shipping Association predicts a further 8% growth this year and 15% in 2008.
Ocean Village Two was named on April 24th, becoming the first UK ship to boast two Godmothers. Sisters Jodie and Jemma Kidd joined a select band of ship’s Godmothers, including members of the Royal family and Dames of the realm, when they stepped forward to officially name the ship after a dramatic and acrobatic show on deck, setting off a storm of confetti and waterjets.
After calling at Gibraltar, Ocean Village Two will continue on its Maiden Voyage to Palma in Majorca to begin its first summer season. From Tuesday May 1, the ship will offer two 7 night itineraries around the Western Med – the ‘Marinas and Medinas’ itinerary will call at Tunisia, Naples, Florence and Pisa, Monte Carlo and Corsica while the ‘Villas and Vineyards’ cruise visits Tunisia, Rome, Genoa, St Raphael and Barcelona.
After leaving Gibraltar, the original Ocean Village ship will visit Sardinia and Naples before arriving in Crete for the start of its very first season in the Eastern Med. Sailing from Heraklion on Thursday May 3, the ship will offer a full summer season of two exciting 7 night itineraries – the ‘Temples and Tavernas’ cruise will visit destinations such as Dubrovnik, Corfu Cephalonia and Athens, while the ‘Olives and Ouzo’ itinerary calls at Cyprus and a goodie-bag of gorgeous Greek islands including Rhodes and Mykonos.
Report by Chitra Mogul
Monday, 30th April 2007
Chitra Mogul
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