Ocean Village Holidays' latest ship the 69,845grt Ocean Village Two finally arrived in a warm and sunny Southampton fresh from conversion in Bremerhaven on the 19th April 2007. She was meant to arrive at noon on the 18th which was subsequently changed to 4pm and 2pm then the 19th at 1am, 2pm and 2.20pm. Originally ordered for Sitmar Cruises along with a sister which would become Regal Princess (now Pacific Dawn for P&O Australia) she, like all on order, went to P&O after their takeover in 1988. She became Crown Princess (I) from 1990 until 1992 when she was transferred to P&O's new German Market cruise line, A'ROSA and was renamed A'Rosa Blu. After Carnival's takeover of P&O she was renamed again as AIDAblu (I) for P&O's other German cruise line, Aida where she did mainly Canary Island runs until the beginning of 2007 when she was replaced by AIDAdiva. On the 30th October 2008 it was announced Ocean Village Holidays would be wound up with Ocean Village Two going to P&O Australia in autumn 2009 to be Pacific Jewel and Ocean Village following a year later. The marina wasn't too packed but there were quite a few people out to see her arrive. Aound 12.30pm she was spotted coming around Calshot.
|