Ocean Village Fete

Hi,

Michael Lobban here with the final blog from our recent sailing from Barbados-Crete.

Our traditional Village Fete, despite the very blustery conditions and chilly weather on the Atlantic crossing, attracted stalls from every ship’s department with obscure stall names such as “Bat the Rat”, “Hmmmm….. Ahhhh”, “Snake in a Bottle”, “Got Ya!!!”, “Hoop-La”, “Sponge the Officer”, “Medieval Fruit Machine”, “Hook a Duck”, “Horse Racing”, “Thailand Special”, “Wax On, Strip Off”, “Tin Can Alley” and “Techies Challenge”. By visiting each stall in turn, passengers could have their score card marked and collect points for top-notch prizes at the end of the event.

Michael Lobban,

Hotel Director - Ocean Village

Ocean Village's Got Talent

The Ocean Village crew was in the spotlight during our crossing from Barbados to Heraklion - performing in a talent show worthy of Simon Cowell.
Twenty-two members of the ship’s company gave up their time to rehearse, rehearse and rehearse - and we discovered some really professional acts. There was everything from dance routines to classical guitar performances, from vocalists and tribute acts, with each of the acts going all out to impress the audience. Su-Bo watch out!

Check back soon for details of our Village Fete.

Michael Lobban,
Hotel Director - Ocean Village

Making a show of it!

Hi,

The Ocean Village crew pulled out all the stops on the crossing from Barbados to Heraklion.

There was a broad spectrum of entertainment on offer with great involvement from our crew, ranging from Asian Masterclass cooking classes in the Marquee to a seafood lunch sampler buffet in the Village Square, an intriguing demonstration of fruit and vegetable carving (can you see what it is yet?!) and a homage to the noble art of towel folding in the Village Square.

There was also ice carving, a navigational talk from the bridge officers, a Chocoholics’ Buffet with chocolate fountain in the Village Square, and the crowning glory, our very own Ocean Village crew talent show!

Make sure you check back soon for the blog on the Ocean Village Fete and the Ocean Village Crew Talent Show!

Michael Lobban,

Hotel Director - Ocean Village

Ocean VIllage - Farewell Barbados

Hi,

Over the next week I will be blogging about some of the events and activities as we sailed from Barbados to Heraklion for the final time, so make sure you come back to take a look at what happened on board.24th March 2010 in Barbados was a poignant day for Ocean Village and our Caribbean agents, Foster & Ince and The Platinum Agency. With Barbados as the home port of Ocean Village during the winter months, many friendships have been made over the last seven years but now the ship was leaving the Caribbean for the last time and heading across the Atlantic for its final summer season. To mark the occasion, a group from the agency was invited to a special meal in James Martin’s Bistro – thank you everyone for all the help you’ve given us over the years!

Michael Lobban,
Hotel Director - Ocean Village

Ocean Village goes 'Back to School'

Ocean Village has been back to school with high school students from St Adelphi High School, St Vincent and primary students from 25 primary schools across Antigua, in connecting with the local community and its aspiring projects.

Tuesday 9th March saw 16 students from St Adelphi High School, St Vincent come onboard to experience “the cruise for people who don’t do cruises” as part of their tourism and social studies classes. All students are in their final year at high school about to sit their final exams before making tourism and hospitality career choices or deciding to continue studying with further education at Barbados or Trinidad universities.


St Adelphi High School, St Vincent

Monday 15th March Antigua, we boarded 26 students representing 25 primary schools across Antigua. The students were selected top graduates from the islands D.A.R.E programme. The D.A.R.E programme is the islands educational approach to teaching youngsters all about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. It involves workers from the Police force, fire department and ambulance services whom all take classes at the schools and involve all the students in interactive events and projects to guide them to make the correct choices in life. The 26 students had all passed with the highest marks, and as a reward got to experience the Ocean Village brand and ship they see every two weeks on their door step during the Caribbean season.

Ocean Village was delighted to invite them both onboard to let them experience first hand what life onboard is really like, and certainly answered one student’s question “Do all the crew live onboard?”.

The tours started in Village Square where students were amazed with what they saw. Next was down to the main galley where Executive Chef Stuart Pitcher took all students on a culinary master class around all galley sections. All you could here was “WOW” and stomachs rumble, especially when reaching the pastry section! In the larder section Jason Ludovico the ship’s fruit and ice carver demonstrated his unique talent and skill to the students as he carved in front of their own eyes various fruit sculptures with all wanting to take some home for mum and dad.

Next was a tour of the restaurants starting at James Martin’s Bistro. Believe it or not, James’ fame stretches even to the Caribbean with at least three students saying they had heard of him.

Students then put Chef’s skills to the test in The Plantations Restaurant as they enjoyed a hearty lunch. One student did comment to a restaurant crew member that they enjoyed it very much but you can’t beat our school cook’s, chicken and bread.

The children couldn’t come onboard and not visit the command and communications centre that is ‘The Bridge’. Students were amazed and desperate to push every button as third officer Michael Kearney explained how life-like it is to “Pirates of the Caribbean”. We certainly saw some aspiring deck officers with one student commenting he now wants to be a Captain when he grows up.

Finally we ended up in the ship’s ‘Marquee theatre’ with a question and answer session. Here the students got a chance to revise and ask those burning questions in preparations for their projects and essays when they got back to school the next day.

My favourite question was “Why does Ocean Village have to go? It’s the best ever”, which really sums up the way people feel about “the cruise for people who don’t do cruises”.


D.A.R.E winners representing 25 primary schools, Antigua

The students certainly had an enjoyable and educational day where they learned and experienced a lot with all determined not to leave and asking how they can book to come on their holidays. All students left with a souvenir photo of their group in the Village Square by our onboard photo team which, I am sure will appear on bedroom walls and mantle pieces all over St Vincent and Antigua. Thanks were given to all the ship’s company, as everywhere they went onboard the core values of cruise were demonstrated to the highest degree in making this a memorable and educational day for all the students to cherish for years to come.

Martin Bell,
Restaurant Operations Manager,
Ocean Village.

Farewell Sailing - The Big Goodbye

Keep an eye on your letterbox and inbox from Monday for exciting details of Ocean Village's Farewell Sailing - The Big Goodbye!

Ocean Village give Christmas cheer to St Kitts' Oprhanage

Once again Ocean Village pulled out all the stops to ensure that the children of the St Kitts' Orphanage had a great start to the Christmas period.

The Ocean Village Youth Team, headed up by manager Jade Dimech, took the reins and headed up an action-packed day for the children and carers who visited Ocean Village during our call to St Kitts on the 20th of December.

Prior to the visit collections had been made amongst the crew, where the bar department collected $400 and purchased Bijoux Terner watches for each child, and the restaurant department collected $500. The photographers donated 10 large picture frames to the Youth department and after a very talented painting competition from the passenger’s children, ten paintings and frames were auctioned off in the Village Square before our ‘Big Night Out’ celebrations, raising a total of $617! Over 150 Christmas gifts were purchased (using some of the donated money as well as crew member’s own purchases) then wrapped by the Youth Team and given out to the children during the Santa Claus’ visit. The balance of the funds was then handed over to the carer for the charity for orphanage repairs and upkeep.

The children’s day began as they were met in the port at 10.30, where they were taken on board and escorted up to the Splash Bar to be given sport soda bottles, which were duly filled by the bar staff. After a session of face painting, PlayStation and fun and games in Base Camp and sport nets it was time for lunch in Plantations, after which Paddington Bear came to visit and walk them to Sunweavers for ice cream and another soda bottle refill.

Next the children were entertained with a fantastic hour-long variety performance in the Marquee by the Freedom 2 Move cast and Jayne Middleton as Annie Lennox, which was hosted by our zany magician Gary Keates as Manuel Martinez. After the show it was down to the MovieDrome to watch the “G Force Space Guinea pigs” movie before Santa Claus arrived for his annual visit to hand out the presents! In addition, each child received a rucksack containing a watch (from the bar staff), sunglasses and other small items before lining up for a group photograph. We then presented the group leader with an envelope containing over $900 and also gave 4 boxes of donated, good quality, clothing, two pallets of crockery and other items no longer in circulation on board.
The day finished when sad and somewhat tearful farewells were said around 16.45.

The Ocean Village Officers and Crew sincerely hope that, as we shall not be around in the Caribbean for Christmas 2010, another P&O vessel would consider taking over this very rewarding event.

Michael Lobban,

Hotel Director

Ocean Village helps passenger become an Officer and a Gentlemen

Hi,

Clandestine planning and coordination across departments, brands and seas was called for recently when first time cruiser Michael Watson sought Ocean Village’s help as he prepared to ask the biggest question of his life.
Michael, who lives in York, had considered many different ways to propose to his girlfriend Sharon Fox but it was catching the end of the film “An Officer and a Gentleman” one night that sparked his imagination.

Michael contacted Ocean Village to ask if the team could help him dress up as an officer and propose during the couple’s cruise over a meal in the Bistro? The answer could only be yes, and we set about coordinating the enterprise. A suitable uniform was tracked down and sent across to the Ocean Village ship, a table was booked in the Bistro, music was organised and photographers arranged. The plan was in place!

Once the couple arrived on board, preparations were finalised while keeping everything under wraps from Sharon.

As Saturday 12 December dawned, the couple went swimming with dolphins ashore and the plan swung into action on board. By evening, the music was set, photographers were placed on a table close by “celebrating a birthday” and the officer’s uniform was hidden away in the back.
Michael and Sharon took their places in the Bistro and began their meal. Between courses, Michael excused himself for a few moments. In the Gent’s bathroom, a couple of helpers aided Michael’s transformation into a vision of an Officer and a Gentleman that would do Richard Gere proud. As Michael emerged, “Love Lifts Us Up where We Belong” came over the music system, and the whole restaurant seemed to hold its breath as he approached their table and gently touched Sharon on the shoulder. Sharon’s surprise and delight as she turned to see Michael resplendent in his uniform lit up the room. Michael got down on one knee and with the ring on a silver salver, asked if she would marry him. Without hesitation, Sharon said yes, to fulsome applause from all the Bistro diners and restaurant staff. The photographers whipped out their cameras to capture the moment.
Everyone at Ocean Village wishes the Michael and Sharon all the very best for their future together.

Alyn Baker,
Hotel Director, Ocean Village

Diamond Anniversary with Ocean Village

After 59 happy years of marriage, Joseph and Brenda Jones wanted to celebrate their Diamond Anniversary in a very special way.

The couple from Runcorn cruised with Ocean Village in 2008 to see if they would like it. They enjoyed it so much they came back a year later and we had the pleasure of making it an anniversary to remember.

A celebration meal in James Martin’s Bistro was organised to celebrate 60 glorious years of marriage, and to top it off a personalised card from HRH The Queen was delivered while they had Champagne breakfast on the Bridge with our some of our senior offices which included Captain Angelo Vago and Hotel Director Alyn Baker.

The couple met in 1948 when Joseph had left the army as one of Joseph’s friends was married to Brenda’s sister. They met at a leaving party for that friend and immediately started courting.

After 12 months of courting, Joseph popped the question in the unlikely place of a “Top Deck Bus” on the way back from a shopping trip to Warrington. Brenda said yes straight away but Joseph had the daunting task of seeking permission from Brenda’s father who luckily also said yes.

The wedding took place on the 10th December 1949 at St. Michaels Church in Runcorn and was a white wedding in a funny sort of way. Brenda wore blue, but outside it had been snowing so everywhere else was covered white! From there, they celebrated the marriage with a honeymoon in Blackpool.

Joseph says the secret of the lasting marriage is there are no secrets, a bit of give and take is needed and they are best friends. They have both lived in Runcorn all their lives and are both active especially when they both go sequence dancing which keeps them fit.

One of the reasons they chose Ocean Village is the informality of the cruise, the fact it is so easy going and you are not tied to times for the meals - “It’s fantastic” they both said.Alyn Baker,

Hotel Director, Ocean Village

Children in Need

Hello from Ocean Village,

Even though Ocean Village has just finished a busy Atlantic crossing to the Caribbean and commenced our first Caribbean ‘Beaches & Boardwalks’ cruise, we managed to put time aside to plan and organise a charity event for BBC’s Children in Need Appeal.
The event was carried over 2 days and featured some great events including:
· Art ware auction of our passengers children pictures,
· Sale of Ocean Village flip flops
· Guess the name of the Teddy
· A sponsored spin-a-long on a bike
· Slippery pole competition
· A main auction which included a sail away on the bridge with bubbly and an engine control
room visit along with dine with an officer
· Raffle
The Ship’s Company supported the event by dressing up as Little Brittan Characters and we even had Paddington bear helping us out as Pudsey was busy in the UK.

We managed to raise a fantastic total of £3604.80, which shows a great demonstration of team work and commitment from all departments to ensure that the whole event was successful.
The above picture shows two couples with Captain Hutley on the sail away, which raised a total of £750 alone.

Alyn Baker,

Hotel Director, Ocean Village