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Ocean Village is to run its first departures from Jamaica with 14-night sailings in winter 2007-08 as it doubles capacity with two ships in the region.

The casual cruise line will have new vessel Ocean Village Two operating from Barbados, allowing the original ship to offer two itineraries from Jamaica to Mexico and South America.

The line's winter 2007-08 preview brochure out today features departures from Montego Bay.

The 'Reggae and Rainforests' voyage covers Cartegena in Colombia, Colon for the Panama Canal, Limon for Costa Rica's cloudforests and Ocho Rios for Jamaica's beaches before spending a day in Montego Bay. The cruise continues to Cozumel off Mexico, the Mayan ruins at Costa Maya in Mexico, Belize, the island of Roatan off Honduras and Grand Cayman.

The 'Toucans and Tequila' itinerary covers Cozumel, Costa Maya, Belize, Roatan and Grand Cayman, returning to Montego Bay to sail on the second week to Cartagena, Colon, Limon and Ocho Rios.

Prices start at £1,189 per person for two weeks including return flights to Jamaica from Gatwick or Manchester with a supplement.

Ocean Village Two will offer seven and 14-night cruises as well as 14-night cruise and stay options from November 14, 2007 to April 16, 2008. The French Caribbean island of Martinique is included for the first time.

Prices start from £849 for seven nights including flights from Birmingham with Gatwick and Manchester available at a supplement.

The line's head of marketing Gill Haynes said: "The addition of our two week cruises from Jamaica means we have full spectrum of Caribbean options.

"The 14-night Jamaica sailings are designed with customer booking patterns very much in mind. Seventy per cent of our current passengers book for two weeks in the Caribbean and we know there's pent-up demand for new and different itineraries that give people the chance to go beyond the more familiar Caribbean islands."

(Travelmole)

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