Surprising news today that Ocean Village are being phased out by Carnival and wont be around after 2010. They are moving over to Australia for P&O's Australian market. 1 ship goes next year and the other 2010.
More info on the press release on Ocean Village website.
What a shame. I much prefer the Ocean Village ships to any of the other big named ones.
Islands cruises won't be about either.
How sad.
Islands cruises won't be about either.
How sad.
It all means much less choice for the uk cruisers who don't like huge mega ships, or "formal" cruising. Especially when you add in Carnival pulling out of Europe next year, and Fred Olsen's Black Prince going. 
kate
kate
Ocean Village to be phased out
Ocean Village, the line that coined the motto ‘cruises for people who don't do cruises', is being shut down.
The Carnival UK brand's two ships are to be transferred to Australia in 2009 and 2010.
The first ship will transfer to P&O Cruises Australia in time for Christmas 2009, followed by the second a year later.
Ocean Village will operate a single ship in the Caribbean in winter 2009-10 and the previously published programme will be adjusted, with existing bookings amended accordingly, parent company Carnival UK said.
A European programme will be operated in 2010. P&O Cruises will take delivery of the 3,100-passenger Azura in March 2010 and the new 2,100-passenger Queen Elizabeth will join Cunard in October 2010.
Increased fuel costs are understood to have been a large part of the reason for the decision, rather than declining revenues, but it is believed the company feels it can get a better return operating the ships in the Australian market.
Carnival UK CEO David Dingle said: "In reviewing the most effective deployment of our ships, we have recognised the major growth potential in the Australian market and the profit opportunity which awaits.
"Clearly it is disappointing to wind down our Ocean Village operation which has been superbly created and delivered by an excellent management team, but we must recognise the need to maximise profit performance from our assets.
"Ocean Village has done much to change the face of British cruising, and all our UK brands have benefited from this.
"The arrival of new ships for P&O Cruises and Cunard in 2010 and the continuing development of Princess Cruises in Britain will ensure that Carnival UK continues its growth despite the redeployment of the Ocean Village vessels."
The announcement comes less than a month after Island Cruises, the UK's other cruise line dedicated to attracting first-timers, was taken over by TUI Travel, resulting in one of its two ships being transferred next spring.
The closure of Ocean Village will mean that by the end of 2010 four ships dedicated to UK passengers will have been withdrawn - Ocean Village One and Two, Island Cruises' Island Star and Fred Olsen Cruise Lines' Black Prince, which is being retired in September 2009. Additionally, Cunard's QE2 is to become a floating hotel in Dubai after its final voyage ends on November 26.
Ocean Village was launched just five years ago in an attempt to break the mould of traditional cruising by emphasising no fixed timetables or formal dress codes.
It sought to attract "thirty-to-fifty-something's" combining cruises in the Mediterranean in summer and Caribbean in winter with activity-based shore excursions.
Seven-night Ocean Village fly-cruises in the Caribbean this winter were being advertised by cruise agencies for less than £700 this week.
With permission from TravelMole
Ocean Village, the line that coined the motto ‘cruises for people who don't do cruises', is being shut down.
The Carnival UK brand's two ships are to be transferred to Australia in 2009 and 2010.
The first ship will transfer to P&O Cruises Australia in time for Christmas 2009, followed by the second a year later.
Ocean Village will operate a single ship in the Caribbean in winter 2009-10 and the previously published programme will be adjusted, with existing bookings amended accordingly, parent company Carnival UK said.
A European programme will be operated in 2010. P&O Cruises will take delivery of the 3,100-passenger Azura in March 2010 and the new 2,100-passenger Queen Elizabeth will join Cunard in October 2010.
Increased fuel costs are understood to have been a large part of the reason for the decision, rather than declining revenues, but it is believed the company feels it can get a better return operating the ships in the Australian market.
Carnival UK CEO David Dingle said: "In reviewing the most effective deployment of our ships, we have recognised the major growth potential in the Australian market and the profit opportunity which awaits.
"Clearly it is disappointing to wind down our Ocean Village operation which has been superbly created and delivered by an excellent management team, but we must recognise the need to maximise profit performance from our assets.
"Ocean Village has done much to change the face of British cruising, and all our UK brands have benefited from this.
"The arrival of new ships for P&O Cruises and Cunard in 2010 and the continuing development of Princess Cruises in Britain will ensure that Carnival UK continues its growth despite the redeployment of the Ocean Village vessels."
The announcement comes less than a month after Island Cruises, the UK's other cruise line dedicated to attracting first-timers, was taken over by TUI Travel, resulting in one of its two ships being transferred next spring.
The closure of Ocean Village will mean that by the end of 2010 four ships dedicated to UK passengers will have been withdrawn - Ocean Village One and Two, Island Cruises' Island Star and Fred Olsen Cruise Lines' Black Prince, which is being retired in September 2009. Additionally, Cunard's QE2 is to become a floating hotel in Dubai after its final voyage ends on November 26.
Ocean Village was launched just five years ago in an attempt to break the mould of traditional cruising by emphasising no fixed timetables or formal dress codes.
It sought to attract "thirty-to-fifty-something's" combining cruises in the Mediterranean in summer and Caribbean in winter with activity-based shore excursions.
Seven-night Ocean Village fly-cruises in the Caribbean this winter were being advertised by cruise agencies for less than £700 this week.
With permission from TravelMole
Now I'm glad that we 'took the plunge' and booked our first Ocean Village cruise for next year!
Just hope that this news doesn't have a negative impact on the quality of the cruise next August ...
Just hope that this news doesn't have a negative impact on the quality of the cruise next August ...
my wife and i are booked to travel in june 09,hope its not going to be a case of paying and then finding out that the is no ship to run the cruise
Hi,
There is quite a debate going on on Cruise Critic - see link below
http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=472
Must admit we are getting really twitchy as we dont want to end up on one of the last cruises on OV2 with a crew that dont care and them spending as little as possible on repairs etc etc before the ship moves to 'pastures new'
Perhaps we're worrying for nothing - anyone any thoughts --- encouraging ones appreciated!
There is quite a debate going on on Cruise Critic - see link below
http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=472
Must admit we are getting really twitchy as we dont want to end up on one of the last cruises on OV2 with a crew that dont care and them spending as little as possible on repairs etc etc before the ship moves to 'pastures new'
Perhaps we're worrying for nothing - anyone any thoughts --- encouraging ones appreciated!
you could look at cruise reviews for other ships that no longer exist if you can find them and see what the last few reviewers said for each one.
Fat Andy is just back from Thomson Emerald's last cruise with Thomson's and had no complaints.
luci
luci
Thanks both of you
Must admit, we have been thinking about a cruise for years and have finally taken the plunge after a lot of research and messages on HT ! Just dont want to be disappointed
We'll just have to keep our fingers crossed ..............
Must admit, we have been thinking about a cruise for years and have finally taken the plunge after a lot of research and messages on HT ! Just dont want to be disappointed
We'll just have to keep our fingers crossed ..............
Post a Reply
Please sign in or register an account to reply to this post.
Similar Topics