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 marine and air 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.

It is hoped that the company’s 26 UK staff will be absorbed within Carnival UK as additional ships are added.

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The closure of Ocean Village will mean that by the end of 2010 four ships dedicated to UK passengers will have been withdrawn – Ocean Village One and Two, Island Cruises’ Island Star and Fred Olsen Cruise Lines’ Black Prince, which is being retired in September 2009.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.

by Phil Davies