Ways To Watch

Ocean Village Photogs go ‘snap-happy’ at Giza!

waystowatch — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 10:01:10 +0000

Here at Ocean Village we like to combine business with pleasure where we can and a day at the world-renowned Pyramids was the ideal chance for our on-board photography team.

At 07.00 the photographers produced for a strange sight as they boarded their bus in Port Said armed with cushions and pillows – vital items for a day of snapping passengers, landmarks and ships of the desert!

The team split up at the Pyramids to make sure they got the very best shots of our passengers but they did get a brief break (pictured below) to appear on the other side of a lens!

Michael Lobban
Hotel Director – Ocean Village

Boat Buddy Cruise Blog

The historical highlight and must-snap Acropolis of Athens

waystowatch — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 23:56:53 +0000

As we set sail from Piraeus to Crete on the evening of Wednesday 28th April , a stunning Nikon D60 camera equipped with a fairly high powered 18-250 Nikon lens was sitting on ‘The Bridge’ , where a shot too excellent to miss was there be taken!

The camera belonged to Gary Lugg our 1st Officer (Navigator) and the budding David Bailey was our Deputy Captain Darius Balana.

For those passengers that didn’t make it ashore to check out the Parthenon in Athens, this holiday-album shot really does put the size of the Parthenon into perspective – up close it looks like a giant guarding the ancient capital below however, as seen from the photograph, the surrounding landscape makes it miniscule.

Do not forget to check back later in the week where I’ll be blogging about Ocean Village’s recent birthday celebrations.

Michael Lobban,
Hotel Director – Ocean Village

Boat Buddy Cruise Blog

Two Martins and a Rachael!

waystowatch — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 02:55:40 +0000

For five days, Ocean Village became the glamorous set for director Martin and cameraman Martin from the film and video production organization Tigervision, as properly as Ocean Village’s shoreside Brand Manager Rachael Hallett. They joined us on board to produce a farewell DVD, which is to be given to all of our crew as a great reminder of what makes Ocean Village such a exclusive brand. For as soon as, it was not so significantly about our passengers as it was about us – “smile for the camera” requests had been not needed as this attribute is what we do very best on Ocean Village.
What a excellent team to have on board! It was fun to have the film crew with us and we now look forward to viewing the results of their efforts and their endless patience when putting up with us budding movie celebrities!

Thank you!

Michael Lobban,
Hotel Director, Ocean Village.

Boat Buddy Cruise Blog

“Hip, hip, hooray” – Ocean Village celebrates its 7th birthday

waystowatch — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 15:08:07 +0000

On 28th of April 2003, Ocean Village was named by Ulrika Jonsson in Southampton and 7 years on in Piraeus, the gateway to Athens, we gave three cheers for Ocean Village’s 7th birthday.
Our passengers toasted the UK’s very best-loved informal cruise brand throughout the day and continued partying into the evening as our “Big Night Out” party was combined with true Ocean Village-style birthday celebrations.

Even though the guests had been celebrating on deck, behind the scenes we had been busy organising a birthday barbecue for our crew. We chose the day at sea on the 30th April, following departing Heraklion, for the celebrations.

The birthday barbecue was a actual success with a fantastic turnout. Guest chefs for the occasion, keeping the grills topped up, had been Food and Beverage Director Michael Shambley and yours genuinely!

A wonderful event and enjoyed by all.

Michael Lobban
Hotel Director – Ocean Village

Boat Buddy Cruise Blog

A busy day on the water as we sailed into the architectural jewellery box that is Venice!

waystowatch — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 07:52:20 +0000

Sailing in – or out – of Venice is constantly a highlight of any cruise and Sunday the 16th of May possibly was no exception for our eagerly awaiting passengers on board Ocean Village.

It was a busy day as we shared neighbouring berths with some of Carnival’s bigger cruise ships, which created it like a huge family members reunion. Carnival’s other ships were: The Ruby Princess (Princess Cruises), the Westerdam (Holland America) and the Costa Serena (Costa Crociere. Also alongside were the MSC Musica and the Windstar.

It was a tight fit passing bridge on bridge with the Ruby Princess as we reversed out of the berth! In the background, although not actually clear in the photograph were the snow capped peaks of the Alps – no wonder some passengers had been wrapped in fleeces!

This picture shows Costa’s Serena as she made her passage out to sea and dwarfed the buildings to her port and starboard sides.

The below picture shows Piazzetta San Marco, which as usually was a hub of activity with the Basilica of San Marco and the Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale), a splendid example of Venetian Gothic architecture. The Doge’s Palace was the seat of government of the former Venetian Republic and the principal facades of the palace overlook the Piazetta. The Bridge of Sighs (just out of shot) is adjacent to the Doge’s Palace, where legend says that from this bridge 1 could hear the sighs of the condemned as they had been becoming led to prison.

The atmosphere as we sailed out past these magnificent sights was enhanced by some amazing music ranging from classical by means of Andrea Bocelli and on to Sarah Brightman as passengers sipped away at glasses of Moёt et Chandon Champagne on board that had been on give in the course of our special sail-away promotion!

Michael Lobban
Hotel Director – Ocean Village

Boat Buddy Cruise Blog

Olympia? Wine Tasting? Or a stroll ashore for lunch!

waystowatch — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:52:14 +0000

Here we are alongside in Katakolon with the prospects of a lovely sunny day in this modest, idyllic Greek port. The day has began nicely – there’s not a breath of wind in the air and the thought of a nice Greek salad lunch is on the cards!

For our passengers this ought to be a highlight as the port is a hop, skip and jump to Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games believed to have originated back in 776BC. Here you can don your trainers and sprint along the original track in the stadium where the marble beginning blocks are still in place – so hopefully the passengers will be able to take some far more fond memories – and holiday snaps – back property when they return to the UK.

The less energetic (or those who’ve observed Olympia prior to) have the alternative of a casual stroll via the vines and pine woods overlooking the sparkling Ionian Sea at the nearby Mercouri vineyard. What a way to spend a leisurely morning with the added bonus of becoming able to sample their wines accompanied with some nearby cheeses and hams.

For me nonetheless, with most passengers ashore, I’m taking the chance to appreciate a brief stroll and a light Greek salad, tzatziki, huge fresh grilled prawns, golden fried calamari, chicken souvlakia and a saganaki before returning on board to continue with my duties.

This was the view from our table in the restaurant (photo courtesy of Jeff Talbot Chief Engineer with technical help given by Gordon Morgan SETO).

Michael Lobban
Hotel Director – Ocean Village

Boat Buddy Cruise Blog

Alternative Kusadasi Tour

waystowatch — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 17:44:54 +0000

A lovely warm early morning arrival with not a breath of wind to flutter our flags, heralded our arrival into Kusadasi and one more mini highlight of the cruise as passengers opted for the wondrous sights of the ancient city of Ephesus.

Passing Pelican Island on our approach, the sea looked so inviting even though, being still Could, the word “looked” was almost certainly the operative word!

Ephesus is really an wonderful location where you can drink in the culture of days of yore as you pass the Library of Celsus and the Temple of Hadrian or check-out the massive Grand Theatre where St Paul preached and walk along the Arcadian Way following in the footsteps of Anthony and Cleopatra.

Nonetheless there is an, insiders’ tip, an “alternative tour”! When the morning rounds have been completed, meetings have been put to rest and the paperwork has been caught up on, a general feel-very good factor creeps in and this feeling needs to be fed further and what better way than a fast run ashore for a proper Turkish shave in a conventional father and son barber’s shop.

We gents look at ourselves in the mirror each morning and shaving becomes a chore that needs to be completed as part of our morning ablutions. It doesn’t have to be a chore even so and, to anybody who hasn’t experienced it yet, I can thoroughly recommend the expertise of lying back in the barber’s chair and letting a true skilled deftly wield a cut-throat razor over your chin. Not as soon as but twice does he perform this task in order to make certain a skin as soft, smooth and supple as a freshly born baby’s bum!

Then of course there’s the “ear waxing”! Ow ……..! This procedure rids your outer ears of all the tiny hairs that you’d never be able to reach your self. Some barbers do this with a modest burning cotton pad on a wooden stick and, with a flick of the wrist, burn the very same hairs! The “stingy” bit is still to come although and, with fresh, lemon cologne, a face, head, shoulder and arm massage ensues just before you head off into the clean fresh air outside feeling like a million pounds.

A quick cursory glance at the watch tells us that, yes, we have time for a light fresh fish and salad lunch soon after all!

Michael Lobban, Hotel Director

Boat Buddy Cruise Blog

Jumping for Joy at the Pyramids

waystowatch — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 23:07:47 +0000

Port Said (gateway to Cairo) – Saturday the 22nd of Might saw the same tired group of blue-shirted travelers clutching their pillows and heading off in their mini bus for Cairo. The travelers had been our beloved photography team and the early morning begin turned out to be nicely worth it. Passengers were properly informed as to who to look out for at the pyramids and were delighted that the photographers had been able to capture their cultural knowledge. The Ocean Village Photography Team had been literally jumping for joy and the day was acclaimed as being a great success for all!

Michael Lobban, Hotel Director

Boat Buddy Cruise Blog

Ship of the First Quarter 2010 and Gold for Ocean Village

waystowatch — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 10:26:33 +0000

Triumph again for Ocean Village as she swept a Gold award off the table in the rewards for ship of the very first quarter of 2010.

The competition was challenging as the option was made between all of the ships inside the P&ampO fleet and the competition is set to hot up and get even harder as Cunard enter the frame as of the second quarter 2010.

We were awarded the Gold award and received £500 to invest on the ship’s organization. One of our criteria, amongst a host of other people, was that we had continued to deliver an outstanding performance based on the outcomes as seen from the Consumer Service Questionnaires and achieved the highest and most consistent scores for the period.

A heartfelt thank-you goes out to any past, present and repeat passengers who contributed to this result! Maintain giving us a “Great”!

In order that all crew could benefit, it was once again decided to hold another lunchtime crew barbecue on our day at sea on Friday the 4th of June as we sailed up to the start of our passage via the Dardanelles on our way to Istanbul. It is usually a difficult decision what to do with gifted funds but I think all enjoyed the few beers, wine or soft drinks and the respite from busy function schedules in the firm of fellow colleagues.

Once once again the celebrity chefs from “Chefs ‘r’ Us” were out in force to make sure high quality standards were kept up ……..

Michael Lobban, Hotel Director

Boat Buddy Cruise Blog

Having Fun with Online Casinos

waystowatch — Tue, 31 May 2011 00:35:55 +0000

The world of online entertainment is booming and is the main source of entertainment. There is a great source of free online entertainment including free movies online, popular television series. Another area, the rapid expansion of online entertainment is the game and now even online gambling legal

Not a game for everyone online if you know where to go. There are sites online casual games, role plays and the process of joining the online gaming community is fun and easy. An online game site is more than addictinggames.com – most games are free and players can choose a unique, interactive and multiplayer games. If you want to get really wild, you can even bet money while playing. Online gambling is legal and is growing in popularity every day. Online gambling is like gambling in a casino and you have to know your local law online gambling before you sign on a site. For example, in the online casino you can go to the beginners guide to online and read through the FAQs. They have detailed definitions of gambling online exactly what it is, different types of casinos and different types of games. For starters, know the law. Online gambling is technically illegal, that is, that online casinos can not process gambling transactions, however, can process the casino sites allow players to put in and take your money according to the standards area. You are fully responsible for ensuring they are following the law in all online casinos, a council is to seek the flag next to your state and click payment options.

OnlineGamblingOffers.com.au has become one of the most popular online services that could help you in many ways to play in the best online gambling sites, they are really good in what they do to make it easy for you to play and have fun in the best gambling. I highly recommend this website if you need an extra nformation about gambling or bookmakers

Nice day