Ocean Village Cruises

You could say Ocean Village Cruises was Carnival Group’s experiment. Launching in 2003, Ocean Village fancied itself as “cruises for people who don’t do cruises” or “cruising gone casual.” Their target market was the young, the “dress down” on Friday crowd, the former hostel backpackers, the light packers and the people who love the idea of 24/7 buffets more than fancy balls. Unfortunately, Carnival has announced they will cease operations in the summer of 2010 to “maximize performance from their other assets.” Despite this bad news, passengers who act quickly may be able to score some terrific end-of-the-road deals.

One way that Ocean Village Cruises sets itself apart from other ships is with the food they serve. Some Mediterranean and Caribbean cruises close up shop at night, allowing only minimal snacking options. However, Ocean Village boasts a delicious 24/7 buffet of Mexican, Italian, Thai and American foods. “We don’t believe in set meal times or fixed seating plans,” the website declares. “We don’t believe in formal dress codes either, so you can leave the tuxedo and tiara at home.” You can also feast on fish and steaks under the stars at the pool side restaurant La Luna, where you’ll be personally waited on. Or perhaps you’d like to snag a meal from celebrity chef James Martin. European themed food will be served daily at Plantation, while Waterfront treats you to the Mediterranean cruise thoroughfare. Charlie’s has a cozy cafe atmosphere where coffee and panini sandwiches are served up daily. The Blue Bar features cocktails and pints of imported beer and is a comfortable gathering place.

When you cruise Mediterranean or Caribbean waters, you’ll have no shortage of things to do and places to hang out. Since they cater to a younger crowd, it’s reasonable to assume that Ocean Village Cruises offer a wide variety of bars, lounges, cafes and mingling opportunities. Ocean Village I has standup comedy at Connexions Bar, a romantic three-deck atrium and ocean view at The Blue Bar and a casual pub atmosphere at The Oval. The Splash is a swim-up bar, where you don’t even have to get out of the pool to have your drink served! The Sunweaver Bar lets you enjoy the sunshine or the moonshine, while sipping on your margarita. The Bayside Bar features live sports coverage on TV, while the Marquee Cabart Bar entertains with dance performances. Ocean Village II also has the Connexions Bar, the Marquee Cabaret Bar and the Sunweaver Deck Bar. Additionally, you can see the romantic atrium at The Balcony Bar, hang out in six-seat alcoves with your new friends at The Casbah, enjoy an espresso at Charlie’s or gamble at The Player’s Bar and Casino.

Parents love Ocean Village Cruises because they can send pre-teen children to the supervised Youth program at no additional charge or send babies as young as six months old to the nighttime nursery for a few hours, while they enjoy some of the evening performances and nightlife the ship has to offer. Teens love the video game consoles, internet connections, laser tag and private teen area where they can meet new people. The Action Ashore trips include family-friendly excursions, like water parks, aquarium visits, beach trips and pizza-making. Great Escapes take teen youth groups hiking up Mt Vesuvius or to the Nou Camp stadium, allowing parents time to rest and relax, while their kids have the adventure of a lifetime. Buffet dining ensures that someone will find something they like, at no additional charge, which is as family-friendly as it gets! With circuses, movies, laser shows and a number of entertainment options, Ocean Village offers some of the best Caribbean, Western and Eastern Mediterranean cruises. After summer 2010, look out for these ships on P&O Cruises’ Australian waters tours.