Paddington the well travelled bear, is to join Ocean Village and Ocean Village II, heading out into Mediterranean cruise land this summer.

The loveable little bear has enthralled children since he came to London by ship from Peru in 1958, and now 50 years later he’s setting sail again with the Ocean Village fleet.

Paddington will be making regular appearances at Ocean Village’s children’s club ‘Base Camp’ where photo opportunities will be more than welcome for kids and the young at heart. Who, after all, would miss the chance to have tea and marmalade with Paddington Bear?

There have been 70 Paddington Bear books, translated into 30 languages with a distribution of 30 million copies throughout the world.

Another children’s much loved character, Bagpuss stowed away aboard the Ocean Village ships last year, and became a firm favourite.

Ocean Village is committed to providing good quality family cruise holidays, enjoyable for kids and adults alike.

Children’s facilities are already brimming with excitement on board the Ocean Village fleet of cruise ships, with Base Camp and the teenage Hideout Zone, a night nursery and qualified youth team. SEGA Village on Ocean Village II will provide gaming fun and an unforgettable holiday for children and young teens so mum and dad can relax. Ocean Village has got to be the choice for your family cruise holiday.

During Paddington Bear’s first Caribbean cruise season, 2008/09 Ocean Village is offering free child places on Ocean Village and Ocean Village II for one or two kids when they share with two adults paying the full fare – flights included. This offer does not include cruises over Christmas, New Year and other public holidays and is subject of availability, the offer ends on 31st May 2008.

Ocean Village, part of Carnival Cruise Lines, has excitedly ventured into the world of Sonic the Hedgehog, welcoming SEGA on board its second cruise ship, Ocean Village II, to launch a unique entertainment village.

SEGA Village will amuse and enthral a new generation of kids on Ocean Village II, after the concept was withdrawn from Europe and the UK a few years ago.

Sonic the Hedgehog and other much loved SEGA games, together with the newly created After Burner Climax – a fighter jet simulator – and Let’s Go Jungle – a jungle jeep simulator – will be included onboard Ocean Village II.

The fully licensed entertainment and amusement centre has been a joint development by SEGA and Ocean Village, creating 19 arcade style games in the SEGA Village and 6 more games in the teenage area, ‘The Attic’ on board Ocean Village II.

In the Ocean Village II SEGA Village, kids will have chance to dance their way into their own favourite sensational music video, using the ‘Let me Dance’ booth, which produces the finished recording onto a CD.

Ocean Village, once again, comes up with the goods - another relief for parents!

Princess Cruises has announced its Southampton departure cruise itineraries for 2009.

They will have more presence in Europe than ever before with a total of five ships cruising throughout the continent.

The Crown Princess (3,110 passengers) will embark on 12 day cruise sailings from Southampton around Britain and to the Fjords. The first of these cruises will be 25th June.

The Grand Princess (3,100 passengers) sails out of Southampton to the Western Mediterranean. The first if these 14 night cruises departs 25th April.