If the usual hotel break just doesn't float your boat any more and you're looking for something a bit different - an Ocean Village cruise could be the answer. It's as action-packed or laid-back as you like and as dressed-down as you choose to make it. And as much about exploring ashore as being on board - perfect for trying things you've never done before.

'In August 2006, my partner Lee and I flew to Majorca and embarked on a fortnights' cruise around the Mediterranean on board Ocean Village. Below you can find out what our initial impressions were and what we thought about the whole experience.'
By Katie Hamilton.

'After flying into Palma, Majora, we were transferred straight to the the ship, and as we approached the port twenty minutes later I thought Ocean Village looked fantastic - large and bright. We quickly checked-in on the quayside and were greeted with friendly, smartly dressed staff as we boarded. We entered the ship at the Village Square, the heart of the ship spanning three decks - here we found shops, bars, the reception and the cyber café. The interior décor was light and colourful which immediately made us feel relaxed.

We chose an outside cabin on A deck, perfectly located for all amenities. The cabin was larger than average with a good-sized window offering magnificent sea views. In the bathroom we were provided with Molton Brown bath products and a surprisingly spacious shower cubicle. Our friendly cabin steward Hassan came to greet us as soon as we arrived at our cabin, and nothing was ever too much trouble for him. This hospitality was present with all staff throughout the cruise.

Ocean Village boasted both a family pool and an adult only pool, next to which were two jacuzzis. With it being the summer holidays there were a number of families travelling, so it was nice for the children to have a pool of their own. There were plenty of sun-beds around the Sun Deck, and during the day the entertainment team put on various events here too. From quizzes and games to spa presentations and music there was a whole host of activity if you wanted. There were also enough quiet areas for those who didn't wish to participate.

Children were certainly happy on board as they had a dedicated Youth Team keeping them occupied with numerous fun activities for 2-17 years from 9am till late. Along with their own 'Base Camp' room there was a wall of free video consoles with beanbags to slouch in, plus ball pools, soft play zones and a stretch of netted deck. Older kids also have their own area to hang out in and do whatever teens do.

Entertainment was in abundance on board. The bars and lounges were colourful with welcoming staff. We particularly enjoyed the stand-up comedians fresh from the national circuit in Connexions Bar. For a quieter drink there was the Blue Bar - a contemporary-style bar looking out over the three-deck atrium one side and with ocean views the other, or you could sit round the pool bar for a drink under the stars.

On an evening we would visit the Marquee show-lounge and watch contemporary acrobatic productions, live bands, talk shows (we saw Roxanne Pallett from Emmerdale) and tribute acts - my favourite was Robbie Williams!
The range of entertainment seemed to have a good mix, with family-friendly events earlier in the evening, ending with later, adult-aimed comedy etc. The events team were fantastic, and worked hard to make sure everyone was having a good time. Again, I must reiterate there were quiet bars with none or low-key entertainment too.

The dining options were perfect for us as on board we were free to eat when it suited us - 24/7. And with no formal dress codes, we could leave the bow ties and ballgowns at home. This made for a relaxing environment on board, whether we fancied a long, leisurely lunch or a quick bite by the pool, a midnight feast or a late, lazy breakfast we really could do what we wanted when we wanted. There were two main buffet-style restaurants to choose from both offering excellent food and a great choice of themed evenings. Alternatively La Luna restaurant by the pool meant you could dine under the stars, with waiters serving fabulous steaks and 'fish of the day'. Or for a more formal occasion you could visit Le Bistro, created by celebrity TV chef James Martin. This carried a small charge but I can personally recommend it - the food was absolutely mouth-watering.

We sailed to some sensational ports around France, Spain, Italy, and Tunisia. The hot weather was perfect each day as we visited beautiful places like Villefranche, and spotted yachts in St Tropez and Monte Carlo. Ocean Village operated an excellent choice of shore excursions which took in the highlights of each port. I would recommend this cruise to those who are less mobile too as there were only two ports out of ten which were visited by tender.

Our overall opinion is that Ocean Village is a great size ship with plenty to offer and something for everyone. If we compare an Ocean Village holiday to a standard land-based holiday complex it really does make for excellent value. Where else can you visit six new destinations in one week and experience professional entertainment and first-class food in one holiday? There's a choice of Mediterranean itineraries throught the summer, and the winter programme cruises around the Caribbean. Families and first-time cruisers would particularly love Ocean Village for a casual, fun-packed holiday. Try it!'

About Ocean Village Holidays

Ocean Village leapt into the world of cruise holidays back in 2003 with a mission to shake the industry up with a holiday at sea that broke all the conventional cruise rules and appealed to people who had never cruised or considered cruising before.
Just three years on and we have an additional ship, Ocean Village Two, and a number of awards under our belt including the Best Cruise Line award for the 2006 Observer and Guardian Newspaper Travel Awards. Up to 60% of our passengers are new to cruise, and at an average age of 43 in the summer season, over ten years younger than the industry's average traditional cruiser.

Ocean Village ship facts:

• Port of Registry: London
• Gross tonnage: 63,500 tons
• Length overall: 247 metres (811 feet)
• Crew: 514
• Service speed: 21.5 knots
• Passenger decks: 11
• Passengers: 1,578 regular passenger capacity
• Passenger cabins: 801; 64 outside cabins with balcony, 552 outside cabins. Including 10 wheelchair accessible, 185 inside cabins

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