June 23, 2008 - Full details of new summer destinations, transatlantic cruises from Barbados to Crete and Majorca and savings of up to 45 per cent on full brochure prices and cabin upgrades feature in Ocean Village's revamped Winter 2008/09 - Summer 2009 brochure.

The brochure offers a fresh, high quality feel and features full details of the new Summer 2009 itineraries including Venice, Cairo and Istanbul for the first time.

New Transatlantic cruises from Barbados to Crete and Majorca in spring 2009 also feature.

Ocean Village has re-styled to better reflect the quality of the cruise as passengers experience it. The new design retains the brand's off-beat feel but involves a greater use of white space and bigger pictures to create a more laid-back mood and a sense of accessible but aspirational style.

The itinerary spreads have also been re-formatted to give a more succinct presentation of destination information and more descriptive photographs.

Says Nick Lighton, managing director at Ocean Village: "These new calls at Venice, Cairo and Istanbul are already creating a real buzz of excitement with agents and passengers alike. They show how easy it can be to combine a laid-back, 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."

Summer 2009 - Ocean Village Two in the Easter Med

Ocean Village Two will undertake its first Eastern Med season from its summer base of Heraklion, Crete, offering three brand new seven-night itineraries. Venice, Istanbul or Cairo are featured as a headline destination in each of the new itineraries which mix big-hitter, wanna-see cities with scenic islands and favourite beach locations.
The Venice itinerary becomes a fortnightly fixture throughout summer 2009, while 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 seven 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 seven-night cruises.

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 the 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, it will visit the birthplace of the Olympic Games, Olympia (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 on to 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 £1,039 per person. 14 night Stay and Cruise hotel and cruise options begin from as little as £919 per person.

The original Ocean Village 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’s 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 jet set 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 £899* per person.

Brand new transatlantic sailings for 2009

From April 2009 the original Ocean Village ship will be offering a brand new 14-night transatlantic crossing from Barbados to Palma, Majorca, taking in St Lucia, Dominica, St Maarten, Madeira, Cadiz and Palma, Majorca. 14 nights start from £979pp and flights are from Gatwick, Birmingham or Manchester.

Ocean Village Two will also offer a new transatlantic option including a 15- night cruise from Barbados to Heraklion, Crete. Sailing from Barbados, the itinerary visits Dominica, St Kitts, Antigua, Madeira, Malaga, Palermo (Sicily) and Heraklion, Crete. 15 nights start from £1,029pp and flights are from Gatwick, Birmingham and Manchester.

Super savings

Ocean Village are offering fantastic savings of 45 per cent on full brochure prices. Book early and you can save a further £80 per person with the cruise line's early booking discount on 14 night Stay & Cruise holidays.

Upgrade to a balcony cabin from just £239 per person on any seven-night, Ocean Village Two cruise in the Med or Caribbean. Or, if you're travelling as a group of four, share and save more with Ocean Village's 3rd/4th passenger offer - those sharing a cabin will save up to £250 each per week.

Kids won't miss out on the action with children's prices for Mediterranean 2008 holidays starting from just £99 for any under 14 travelling on a seven-night sailing from Crete - excellent value with flights included and free use of the popular Base Camp children's centre on board.

Can you get there under your own steam?

Discounts of between £200-£300 per adult are available on seven and 14 night Summer 2009 Cruise Only holidays from Crete or Palma, whereby the cruise is booked without Ocean Village's flights or transfers between the airport and the port.

Winter 2008/2009 cruises start from as little as £879 per person for a seven night sailing. Passengers can choose from 4 itineraries across the Central and Southern Caribbean. One week itineraries can be combined to form a 14 night sailing starting from £1, 209 or passengers can opt for a Stay and Cruise option, combining a week’s hotel stay with a week onboard, from just £1,309 per person. New for 2008/2009, the 3* Barbados Beach Club joins the brochure. Early bird bookers can save up to £70 per person on 14-night Stay and Cruise holidays.

For more details go to the Ocean Village website or call 0845 4567 888.