Date for Release:

20th December 2012

Southampton, UK, A new venue for Cruise Passengers and visitors to the
city opens for the pre-Christmas rush

Oceans, a new experience for cruise passengers and visitors to the city, will open its doors ahead of schedule on Friday, 21st December 2012 to lend a hand with last minute Christmas shopping for local people and passengers onboard the five cruise ships leaving Southampton before the New Year. Visitors and residents of Southampton can stock up on exclusive and unique Christmas presents from Southamptons only souvenir and gift shop, leave their shopping in a secure environment, or pick up a free map on the citys retail areas and local attractions at Oceans Visitor Information Point (VIP). Located a walk away from the historic Bargate (the 12th century entrance to the city) and shopping district including West Quay, Oceans is only a short ride from all four cruise terminals. Open everyday before Christmas, Oceans will have a substantial selection of souvenirs on Great Britain, Southampton, Titanic as well as ocean liner gifts including teddy bears, mugs, stocking fillers and historic memorabilia. Ocean liner publications normally sold only onboard cruise ships will be, for the first time, available to buy on dry land at Oceans. Over 50 titles will be on sale, featuring insights and stories on Titanic, Queen Mary, P&O, QE2, and many more. For those who dont want to walk around the city laden with Christmas shopping or luggage, Oceans secure Storage Baggage Facility will be open for visitors to drop and collect their goods as many times as they choose. A Christmas offer of 2.00 per day, customers are given a token and can leave their gifts at Oceans and are free to come and go for 24 hours. At 10.00am, the town crier, John Melody, will be announcing in the retail district, the opening of Oceans and the invitation to visit the venue. Oceans will formally open in January 2013 with an Exhibition Gallery and nostalgic tearooms. Local artist, Sandie ODonnell, has painted a stunning, full-size mural giving the appearance of looking out to sea onboard a cruise ship. -----------o0o---------

Background: Oceans will be the focal point for the city to celebrate its historic connection with cruise passenger travel. Together with the owners, many historians and over 30 volunteers both locally and internationally, have collaborated to emphasize the nostalgic to present day experiences of life around the docks and on board. Background to Southampton - the UKs largest cruise departure point Southampton will manage around 430 cruise ships coming in and out of the port in 2013. Over 50 will be call-in cruises, which will make a stop to Southampton as part of their cruise itinerary. Over 1.8m people will travel through and/or spend time in the city, an increase of 12% on 2012.

Contact information Press Contact: Melissa Pell 07867 797143 melissaepell@yahoo.co.uk

Oceans Opening Friday, 21st December 2012 Oceans address: 13 High Street Southampton Hampshire SO14 2DF United Kingdom 02381 781017