- Over 140 Action Ashore adventures for passengers to choose from -

Casual cruise line, Ocean Village, today reveals details of its highly anticipated 2009/10 on-shore Caribbean programme with Action Ashore options for the farewell season starting from as little as £20 per person.
 

Catering for all tastes and paces - from action-loving adrenaline junkies to sun worshippers and culture-vultures - the winter 2009/10 programme offers a choice of over 140 tropical on-shore adventures. Chill -seekers looking for an authentic taste of the Caribbean can soak up the sun at the Islands’ most iconic and treasured hot spots, whilst thrill-seekers can experience the more extreme and lesser known side of the Caribbean – if they dare!

Highlights of Ocean Village’s new 2009/10 Action Ashore programme include:

BRAND NEW FOR 2009! Aerial Zip-Line Adventure in St Kitts – Passengers with nerves of steel can put on a harness and whizz up to 1,400ft through the St Kitts forest to see the island in a whole new light – and from a whole new height!

BRAND NEW FOR 2009! Snuba Adventure in St Lucia – It’s like scuba diving minus the heavy tank on your back. Passengers can explore the underwater sights and colours of the tropical ocean whilst breathing through a regulator attached to a floating mobile raft via a 20 ft line. Stunning Pigeon Island National Park is also featured as part of this excursion

VOTED CUSTOMER FAVOURITE! Highlights By Harley in St Maarten – Passengers can slip on their shades and slide into the saddle of a 1450cc Harley Fat Boy or classic Harley Heritage motorbike and cruise along the coast for a revved-up ride of a lifetime

VOTED CUSTOMER FAVOURITE! River Tubing in Grenada – Float along Grenada’s ‘Great River’, taking in the sights and sounds of the in the current, skimming over rapids and sliding through natural water pools. This activity is fun for all of the family.

Gill Haynes, Head of Marketing Communications for Ocean Village, comments: “Our farewell Caribbean Action Ashore programme is like a compilation of our ‘greatest hits’ - activities which have thrilled and chilled Ocean Village passengers since we launched in 2003. Our last season among the islands this winter looks set to offer people the most fun yet.

“We are featuring brand new options like the St Kitts zip-wire ride in addition to popular favourites such as the Harley Davidson ride around St Maarten, swimming with dolphins in Tortola and kayaking through the mangroves of Antigua. Passengers joining us on Ocean Village’s final Caribbean season will have the chance to get the most – and best – from each island they visit.”
Ocean Village is offering 14 night Caribbean itineraries between November 2009 and March 2010, featuring a mix of classic and ‘off the beaten track’ islands, all chosen in response to customer feedback. Prices for two week holiday start from just £1,298 including flights and transfers.

Calling at a new tropical destination almost every day, passengers can make their Caribbean holiday a whole series of unique mini-adventures. Additional on-shore options include getting up close and personal with turtles in Barbados, flightseeing by helicopter from St Lucia, and a 3,000 foot hike up Mount Liamuiga Volcano on St Kitts as well as glamorous escapes to Mustique, the privately-owned island boasting hillside villas owned by celebrities including Mick Jagger and Tommy Hilfiger.
 

Basil Brush joins entertainment line up on board ship

The most famous fox on the box, Basil Brush, will join casual cruise line Ocean Village this summer to perform an exclusive, fun family show on-board – his first ever season of live shows at sea! The legendary puppet will join the original Ocean Village ship in July 2009 for a summer sailing around the Western Mediterranean.*

On-board fans of the foxy “fella” - both young and old - will be treated to live shows in the ship’s Connexions Bar from July and will also have a special opportunity to have their photo taken with Basil, complete with his trade mark tweed cape, waistcoat and cravat.

Basil first hit British TV screens back in 1963, regularly pulling in over 13 million viewers for his Saturday evening show. After over 40 years in the business, his popularity remains high and he is one of the most treasured and recognisable children’s characters of all time – and certainly the cheekiest!

Basil joins two other firm family favourites on-board Ocean Village this summer, Bagpuss and Paddington Bear. These timeless cult characters are already both Ocean Village residents, with the iconic pink cat entertaining the young – and young at heart – with his longstanding combined puppet and TV story time performances. The marmalade - and latterly, Marmite - munching Paddington currently hosts his own regular children’s tea party in the kid’s ‘Base Camp.’

Gill Haynes, Head of Marketing Communications for Ocean Village comments “We think parents will be as amused as their children to find Basil on board – his shows make great family entertainment and reach across the generations.

Ocean Village is delighted to welcome yet another member of children’s TV royalty to our entertainment line-up on board. This trio of retro children’s icons is sure to charm the kids and send parents hurtling down memory lane!”

Basil will perform on the original Ocean Village ship throughout the 2009 summer holiday period. Prices for a seven night Western Mediterranean sailing with Basil in July start from £749** for adults and £349 for children** including flights, transfers, buffet dining, kids clubs, modern evening entertainment and tips on board. Ocean Village also features a night nursery, a dedicated youth team and supervised on-shore ‘Great Escapes’ excursions for 9-17 year olds whereby they can leave the ship – and their parents – to spend the day ashore.

Ocean Village offers super Smooth summer sailing with the King of the Jungle

Tony Blackburn, the voice that launched a thousand hits and the inspiration behind the current movie, The Boat that Rocked, is trading air waves for ocean waves this June, hosting an exclusive seven night Smooth Radio cruise aboard casual cruise ship, Ocean Village. Fans of the Smooth Radio DJ will have the chance to join the King of Soul on the 2 June 2009 for a seven night poptastic sailing around the Western Mediterranean.

Blackburn’s return to sea plays tribute to his early days on off shore ‘pirate’ radio stations, including Radio Caroline which is currently being captured on the big screen in Richard Curtis's The Boat that Rocked. From top deck to spinning the decks, Blackburn will once again ‘rock the boat’ this June hosting an exclusive ‘old skool’ soul and disco night onboard Ocean Village for his guests.

Blackburn comments: "I always feel at home on the ocean and I can’t wait to get back behind the decks at sea and share some quality time with my listeners as well as reconnecting them with some of my favourite tracks.”

Having spent over 40 years on UK air waves, the award-winning DJ is perhaps the best-known voice on UK radio. He helped to launch Radio Caroline and was the first voice heard on Radio 1 in 1967. He is widely credited with bringing classic soul tunes from the likes of Diana Ross to the UK public’s attention.

Says Gill Haynes, Head of Marketing, Ocean Village, ‘Tony will go down a storm onboard. His mix of charm, charisma, corny jokes and classic tracks make the perfect ingredients for a great holiday night out.’

The seven night Smooth sailing on 2 June 2009 follows Ocean Village's 'Tapas and Togas' Western Med itinerary. After a flight to Palma, Tony and his group will be able to explore Tunis, Rome, Genoa, St Raphael and Barcelona before returning to Palma. Prices start from an enticing £715 per person for an ocean-view cabin,* including flights, transfers, buffet dining on board and tips.

The Smooth cruise is available exclusively through Cruise Thomas Cook on 0800 975 6099 and callers must quote Smooth to ensure they are part of Tony’s exclusive group. For further details visit www.oceanvillageholidays.co.uk/smooth