Offering a fresh take on cruising, casual line Ocean Village is expanding its horizons with new fly-cruise destinations in the Mediterranean for summer 2009.

New itineraries, including the iconic cities of Cairo, Istanbul and Venice, are featured in next year’s fly-cruise programme.

The new sailings show how easy it is to combine an easy-going cruise with a mix of culture, beach excursions, city sights, retail therapy and the chance to get active. 

Ocean Village Two will make its debut in the Eastern Mediterranean from Heraklion in Crete between April and October 2009. 

The Venice itinerary becomes a fortnightly fixture throughout next summer. The ship will follow a Cairo itinerary in April and September and then offer the Istanbul option in peak summer - May to August. 

The original Ocean Village ship will be based in Palma, Majorca, for the first time in three years, operating two different seven-night itineraries.

Seven and 14-night fly-cruise holidays in the Western and Eastern Med on board Ocean Village and Ocean Village Two feature in 2009 together with new ‘Stay and Cruise’ options with pre-cruise hotel stays in Palma and Crete.

Besides impressive spa facilities, both ships feature bistros devised by TV chef James Martin.

Ocean Village also runs island-hopping Caribbean fly-cruises in winter.