Are P&O, Others Courting “Dressed Down” Ocean Village Cruise Passengers?
Source: Cruise Critic UK When ultra-casual cruise line Ocean Village ceases operations next fall, U.K.-based travellers who prefer Hawaiian shirts to monkey suits may be scrambling to find a new line that fits. You may recall that P&O Cruises UK, owner of the two-ship Ocean Village, has announced that it will shift both Down Under to P&O Cruises Australia. Ocean Village Two will join P&O Cruises Australia this fall;Ocean Village, its original vessel, will become a member of the Aussie brand next fall. Though Ocean Village has, perhaps, been the U.K’s best-known casual cruise line, there are others. Thomson Cruises, part of massive U.K. tour operator TUI Travel, offers budget fly-cruises from Marmaris, Corfu and Palma de Mallorca on oft-scrubby (though most refurbished to some extent) middle-aged ships. The line is a bit of a traditional-casual hybrid, with some ships offering set-seating dining (Thomson Destiny and The Emerald) and others (Thomson Spirit and Thomson Celebration) going
