This was our second cruise on this ship and our 5th cruise in all. It was without a doubt the best cruise holiday we have ever been on. The ship was emaculate, the entertainment was varied but ok, the food was suberb especially the Bistro (James Martins Restaurant).The main plus on this holiday was the staff, this included the Bar staff, restaurant staff etc they could not do enough and always fad a smile on their faces. The only downside was the so called entertainment staff, They do not go out of their way to talk and seemed to cling to eachother especially one called marilyn whos voice was excrutiating. I would recommend this cruise ship to anyone as it attracts all age groups contrary to the hype of it being only young people.

We have just booked our second cruise on OV leaving in the 2nd January 2007. We previously cruised on the Transatlantic cruise from Barbados to Palma in April/May this year.
Just thought i'd have a nose through some of the reviews as i personally found our last cruise to be excellent. The key to OV is expectations which is why you should read the brochure carefully - It is all there in plain English, so if you fall outside the age brackets you cannot expect for instance the entertainment to all be to your taste.
The Cruises are sold as informal and whilst some passengers took this to the extreme I found it more an excellent environment.
Butlins it is not but equally so neither is it the QE2, although to OV's credit it doesn't claim to be.
If you want a relaxing holiday where you can be yourself and not have to 'act' as something you not normally are then OV is for you.
For the complainers - Read the brochure and alter your expectations if you have cruised with formal companies previously. OV will never make everyone happy and certain people will always complain, but i guess some people don't feel like they have enjoyed theirs unless they complain. The Noro virus was present was on our last cruise with OV but only for three days. This was down to the efficient and serious way in which OV dealt with it. With so many people together in such a confined space it is sometime inevitable that some will suffer - however 20 out of 1500 passengers is good. At the end of the day, if all passengers took their own self hygeine seriously then it would be less of a problem.
Overall - Staff excellent, food plentiful, excursions excellent although sometimes expensive and cleanliness superb. Recommended - Ages 26 and 27.

This was the first time my husband and I have travelled on OV and found the whole experience truly enjoyable overall. We flew to Barbados(long flight but a few movies to choose from,good food and a travel pack which included earphones). We flew with Thomson Fly and found the plane to be spacious and comfortable with ample leg room. No waiting around the airport in barbados as coaches were waiting to transport us to the ship. Embarkation was swift and well organised and luggage was delivered to the room a couple of hours after our arrival which gave us chance to wander around the ship checking out the facilities. We had an outside cabin with balcony on A deck which I highly recommend unless you have children as they could easily fall overboard! We mainly ate in the Plantation restaurant which offered a wide variety of food 24 hours a day. Plenty of fresh fruit and salads for the weight conscious amongst us too!! Saying that, both my husband and I managed to put on a few pounds during the fortnight. We tried the Waterfront restaurant a couple of times but found it a bit too formal in the evenings(not that we went to dinner in shorts and t shirts!!!). La Luna is a nice eaterie with free dining during the day but a surcharge in the evenings(around £5 per person). Try the surf and turf, its a must. The entertainment was varied and the shows in the marquee were very enjoyable but a little short we felt. The moonshow on deck was spectacular with great acrobats and singers taking part. Freedom 2 move were the resident dance team who's energy left us feeling quite breathless. Connexions bar would have comedians and quiz nights after the marquee shows but we were often without a seat as the room cannot accomodate the entire marquee audience. Nevertheless, we would find a spot and still enjoy ourselves. There was a small outbreak of the novovirus which resulted in staff serving us our food and extra cleaning onboard. This was handled swiftly and professionally and after two days everything was back to normal. I believe that the passengers must play as much an important role in operations like this as the ship's personnel in order to contain a virus quickly with little interruption. We booked all our offshore activities directly with OV, but quickly realised that the same trips and excursions can be done independantly for half the cost or more sometimes. However, the trips we went on were all superbly organised albeit a bit on the expensive side! I strongly recommend the helicopter trip in St Lucia, taking in the Piton mountains and volcano. Take plenty of photographs!! We enjoyed receiving the daily newsletter listing a full itinary of events for the following day(delivered to your cabin every evening). Lots of activities are repeated on a daily basis but also packed with loads of information about the island you will be visiting the next morning. We are booked onto OV again for November 2007 and will definitely save ourselves a few pounds this time around as we have learned from a couple of niggles from the first time. Like doing excursions independantly and buying soft drinks offshore for instance. Obviously there are people out there who haven't enjoyed the OV experience but I believe that the people in question haven't really done their homework and expect the cruise to match maybe a trip on the QE2. There's not much point in complaining about certain things when the brochure clearly speaks for itself. I believe that we all have to make the most of our holiday aboard OV and never forget that if things go wrong, nine times out of ten its our fault!!! Anyway the good comments far outweigh the bad so hooray to OV and long may we sail on her!!!!!!!!!!

We have just come back from our cruise with Ocean Village and enjoyed out two week holiday. We were looking at the reviews and were a little concerned but found it was one of the best holidays we have ever had.

The ship was very nice, clean, friendly, expecially the waitressing staff they had fixed smiles. The food was very good as we are vegetarian they catered for us well, The bistro is nice but you pay a little extra.

Our room was a good size and cleaned every day, overall the ship was nice, and you meet so many nice people. (hi to sally and John)

The entertainment was good, marqueen is a great venue with shows, tributes and bingo. Resident band was good some singers were a little week but confident.
The acrobats , dancers and singers were very good.

Another venue is connections this is more of a comedy venue, Itchy feet were good musicians they sang the cranberries, eagles,doobey brothers etc all the music styles i love they also did one of their original songs that was catchy, also great image. Elliot frisbey was good on the acoustic with a sweet voice and popular with the country fans with songs like sweet caroline and Lizzy was a brilliant singer. The comedy was good.

The weather was perfect and the destinations were good, the best part is exploring new islands we'll never forget this holiday and will book again in the future maybe next time in the med as the flight was long.

The negative points if you want to be negative on such a beautifull holiday is the nightclub is ok for relaxing but if you want to dance its not loud enough to get a party going, I think more people would dance if the volume was louder.

Travelled with Thomson from Birmingham direct to Barbados. Good flightm alittle long but good leg room in standard seats and food good. Given a little travel pack as well and took off on time which was good. Only niggle was coach to meet ship more or less met us straight off the plane and no fag for over 8 hours already. Then no smoking in building where we had to wait in ques to get on the ship.

Getting on ship though and getting cards for buying drinks etc on ship much better than one we had been on before. Pretty painless and done within a short time. Cases were not outside the cabin till a little later but we didnt mind.

Cabin was good size. II grade, obstructed view, by lifeboats but the view was pretty good having said that and we could see as much as anyone else.

Food was good. Alternated between Plantations and Waterfront restaurants. Waterfront better for night times. Also had one meal in James Martins Bistro which was well worth the extra as it was our Silver Wedding Anniversay on that day.

Paid for Absolutely Fabulous Celebration package and it was worth it. Not ripped off at all.

Drinks priced about the same as at home. You can buy your duty free on the plane and take on board but every other port if you buy they will take off you. They have x ray machines same as airport as you board the ship. You can buy cans of coke ginger ale etc for your bottle of whisky from the cafe and take them back to your room

Entertainment wasnt too bad. Comedians were generally good apart fromt the Australian one. Over used Selina the singer, in fact got sick of seeing her in the end and avoided the bars where she was singing. Red Mick, tribute to Simply Red was brilliant and so was George Michael tribute. The resident band are also very good.

Went to the night club but it is more like a crew bar really, full of staff !

Ports of call were good. Went on one excursion off the ship. Expensive though and you can arrange yourselves without too much fuss. Every port of call you go to there are taxi drivers there only too eager to take you to places of interest or nice beaches.

Staff on board in restaurants are very polite. Mainly Indian or Phillopino. They are only too eager to please and always similing despite their long hours.

Weather was brilliant. Beware of trying to get a sun bed when you have a day at sea. Also beware of the sun at sea. We were both tanned from a recent holiday to Tenerife and yet still burnt.

This was a brilliant holiday I would recommend it to any one. It is well worth the money and they do a good job. Much nicer than travelling with a stuck up cliente and having to sit at your evening meal with some couple you dont like for the whole trip.
Have a good one

Cruising is not something I have ever wanted to do! Ocean Village has changed this. We had a brill holiday the ship was very clean and food surpassed our expectations. I'm veggie and there was an amazing choice. Cabins were larger than I thought they would be,we were on B deck with a window. I can't comment on the entertainment as the only thing we watched was the moon show but this was excellent.
Staff were very helpful and cheerful.
My only niggle would be some of the beach trips could do with being a bit longer, for instance the trip to baths of virgin gorda, by the time we got sat on the beach it felt like time to head back and I couild have done with a couple more hours sunning myself! You must try wave riders on st martins it is fantastic!
My other niggle - the flight (hate flying anyway) very uncomfortable and cramped (and I'm only small)! we flew with thomson fly. This aside it hasn't stopped us booking again for next year!

This was our second time on OV.Went on it March 05.(our 1st ever cruise)had such a great time booked again March 06.The ship is kept spotlessly clean.We had restricted view cabins (D numbers both times )They are a good size ,loads of storage Safe, TV,Tea & coffee & a good bathroom. You can eat 24hrs if you want.Breakfast you name it everything We ate in the Bistro a couple of times and really enjoyed it. The drink prices were good, pub prices depending where you live.We found the entertainment OK Some were better than others. We liked the way that they flew fresh acts in every few days so that you were not watching the the same ones for two weeks. The Staff were a credit to the ship .They worked very very long hours but they always had a smile and nothing seemed too much trouble, if you asked them for something (There were a lot of the same staff on our 2nd year as our 1st and they seemed pleased to see us again) The on shore trips could be a little pricey but were well organised.We did some of them and sorted some out ourselves when we went ashore.There are always lots of locals after your business.All in all we had a really great time. we would have gone back again this year but could not get a flight from Manchester In march or in may for the greek islands. If you do want a suited and booted cruise this is not for you but if you want an informal one We say YES

We have just returned from a weeks holiday to the carribean, aboard ocean village. We went to celebrate my 40th birthday. The whole holiday was fantastic. The ship is extremely clean, our cabin, an inside double on e deck was superb. The staff on the ship are wonderfull, they can't do enough to make sure that your holiday is special. We enjoyed the food on board. We tended to have breakfast from plantations and eat on the deck, lunch from either plantations or la luna, and dinner in the waterfront. We chose to eat at la luna on the evening of my birthday and it was excellent. We enjoyed the entertainment in connections in particular the commedy nights. Mick Miller was so funny. Also the entertainment during our sail away from Barbados out on deck was great and a really good start to the holiday. We loved all the islands and found the local people to be very friendly.

Antigua - we took a taxi to Dickenson Beach, it was fantastic, paradise! In the afternoon we hit the shops in Antigua and bought my birthday pressie.

Dominica - just shopped in the local market, and spent the day on board chilling with a glass of wine in the jaccusi.

Grenada - Took the water taxi to Grand Anse beach, paradise again.

Isle de Margarita - ship excursion today, to coche island, the sand was pure white, booze all the way to the island, once on the island the boat crew set up the bar on the beach, and served us refreshements for the next 3 hours. Then we sailed back to ship and the dancing and rum punch continued until we reached the port. It was a fantastic way to celebrate my 40th.

Tobago - Taxi to Pigeon Point beach, once again paradise.

I can honestly say it was the best holiday I have ever had, I have no complaints other than the flight is 8 hours long with very little space. However when you consider how wonderful the carribean and ocean village is, it was worth it.

Can't wait to go back, I have been well and truly bitten by the cruising bug.

We have just returned from our 4th magnificent trip on OV. We have done the Carribean 4 times and the Med once.

OV is fantastic is you are aged 30-50(or older if young at heart) and can cope without flunkies following you about tending to yor every need. If you are independant, flexible and free-spirtited OV is for you. If not pay through the nose for one of the P.O or Cunard ships- but don't forget your £300 plus tip!

OV is spotless. The food is good, LA Luna and the bistro are excellent.

The entertainment is good, if you want musical style shows - this is not for you, if you enjoy tribute shows and comedians it is.

I have read many of the reviews and totally dispair at the British publics inability to read brochures. What you read is waht you get. Nothing is a suprise. Nothing is hidden.

The woman who calims to have had a room under the marquee and was woken by Robbie Williams every night should get a life and start telling the truth. I have had that room. The Marquee ends at 11.00pm- surely no-one goes to bed on a cruise before 11.00pm???? and Robbie Williams is only on for 1 night per fortnight.
I have NEVER heard the staff shouting at each other either, they we as quiet as mice and lovely with it. People will say anything for compo.

If you enjoy a nice relaxed hoilday which includes visiting a different place and getting a new experience daily- OV is for you. If however you are a miserable so and so and get your kicks from moaning OV is not for you.

By the way... the trips may seem expensive .. but take it from someone who has tried both methods... they are worth every penny- and the boat won't go without you if you are late.

We are booking again. We hope that we don't meet some of the moaning types who input onto this website.

Best holiday ever on OV. Two weeks 31st Jan to 14th Feb 06. The Thomas Cook plane had very narrow seats and the food on the plane was dreadful. But the cruise more than made up for that. Everything was run so efficiently and we were on board by 4.00pm and after a wonder round the ship and a lesson on safety, we went back to our cabin to find our suitcases had arrived. The cabin was spotless, it was as if nobody else had slept in it. It was much bigger then we expected and very comfortable with fridge, hair dryer, queen size bed, TV and a very good power shower. Plenty of space for clothes storage too. We had a window and I have to be honest and say I would not have like to be in an inner cabin as it was so nice to look out in the mornings and see the ship sailing into port.

The food was incredibly good and hot with loads of choice. There were no set places to eat so we ate breakfast outside on deck of the Plantation restaurant and evening dinner in the Waterfront. It is the first holiday where tea, coffee and water were on offer all day and evening, even during evening dinner. Be warned the puddings were so delicious that any thoughts of keeping slim and not having puddings went straight out the window. By the second week we were having two puddings, because it was too hard to choose between the hot pudding or the cold. All excellent.

The staff were so friendly and very helpful. If you wanted clean beach towels you only had to ask. The captain made sure that he wondered around chatting to everyone, he was such a friendly man.

The shows on board were excellent, wish they had gone on a bit longer though. The dancers were brilliant and put so much effort in to their dancing. We particularly enjoyed the Moon show. Fantastic. It was hard to get into the Connections bar in the evenings and the only way to get a seat was to sit there from very early evening. But then you can find that in any hotel.

Watching the ship docking at a new island each day was so exiting, so you get a new island to experience every day. We didn't do any of the trips that the ship offered as it wasn't necessary. When you get off the ship on every island there are queues of mini buses and large taxis waiting to take people on trips. We never ended up having to go on our own as there were always people asking to share taxis with us, so you spend each day with different people and by the end of the fortnight knew lots of lovely people.

It is hard to say which island was best, they all were fantastic and offered something new to do each day. On Tortola we went with about 16 people in an open sided sort of truck with bench seats, round the island, it is such a pretty island with great views. St Maartins had a great beach walking distance from the docks, the sand was made up of tiny pretty shells. Mayreau was like a party day on the beach with bbq put on by the ships caterers who took all the food and equipment to the beach from the ship.

Dominica had the rain forest, we had a great day and Isle Magaritta had the Mango Groves and we was red star fish, sea horses, pelicans and a sea eagle.

Tobago was good too and very clean, we went to Pigeon Point beach and Ken went on a glass bottom boat and also snorkelled.

We are left with the most wonderful memories of our holiday. Each day was as exiting as the one before and can't wait to go again. Thank you Ocean Village for giving us the most wonderful time. Leaving the ship was like leaving Big Brother House, we didn't want to leave.