The Ocean Village Cruise Ship

A look at the Ocean Village cruise ship that we travelled on 22-29 April 2010.

Ocean Village seen in Rhodes port. Built in France and launched in 1988 as Sitmar FairMajesty, the Sitmar cruise line was bought by P&O cruises the same year and the ship was sold and sailed as Star Princess with Princess Cruises in 1989. In 1997 she sailed with P&O as MV Arcadia and when P&O's less formal brand Ocean Village was launched in 2003 she was named after the brand and was joined by Ocean Village Two on which we had sailed in 2009 up the Adriatic Sea.

Both ships were, despite being seen as a "cheap brand", very well equipped and furnished. Both had structures on the top deck for acrobatic and trapeze acts and these were also performed in the high atrium on both ships.

There was a modern coffee bar on the ground floor of the atrium, for the latte addicts. Coffee from here was not included as part of the usual food entitlement, but had to be paid for.

Reception was also to be found in the atrium.

The atrium rose to cover three decks and descending by stairs required you to walk to opposite ends of the atrium on each floor.

One of the main lounges. These featured entertainment at night.

Our cabin. Compared to cabins we had had on other ships you could have called it a stateroom. Apart from the double bed, we had a three-seater settee.

This was a handy place to read, listen to music or watch TV - something I have never done on a cruise and I'm not really sure why anyone would want to unless they have small children...

The balcony was small, but we hadn't expected to play tennis on it...

A lovely ship. 2019 addendum: Shortly after this cruise, the Ocean Village brand ceased operating. The ship transferred to P&O Cruises Australia, sailing as Pacific Pearl under which name she sailed until 2017 when she was sold to Cruise & Maritime Voyages for whom she is currently sailing as MV Columbus.

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