P&O's MV Oriana (1995)

[RMS Queen Elizabeth 2]

What does everyone think of Oriana? Obviously she's no QE2 or QM2. But is she a better looking liner than the floating flates we see now?

To me she does look a nice ship.

[Matt]

Yes the Oriana and Aroura are about as beautiful as cruise ships get, They are nice, they look the part! I do like them indeed!

[Peter Mugridge]

Funniliy enough, I was looking at my photos yesterday of Oriana's maiden voyage 15 years ago and I agree - she looks a lot better than the modern lot do.

I think there are three reasons for this:

1) She doesn't have balconies - or if she has they are disguised in the manner that I suggested on another thread should be done for QM2.

2) Her bow shape is narrow like a traditional liner rather than a blunt cruise ship shape.  ( I guess it's not strong enough to count as a liner bow though? )

3) Her stern is tiered rather than every deck ending in a huge unsightly block at the back.

[singlemalt]

I also agree she's a fine looking ship!

I had the pleasure of seeing her, Saga Ruby and Boudicca 'up close amd personal' in Madeira watching the fireworks on NYs Eve 
I'm afraid I was in uber ship geek mode having such lovely old ships around me

Huge shame I was on QV - she looked like a big ugly sea monster in comparison!
I'd quite happily have jumped ship onto any of those for a wee bit of wandering around on teak decks 

I've not tried Oriana but she's definitely one on the list.
Does anyone know if she's one P&O's child free ones? (Not that I dislike children  but just work with them and so quite like to escape from them in the holidays)

Any thoughts / experiences of her from other members?

[Matt]

I also agree she's a fine looking ship!


I've not tried Oriana but she's definitely one on the list.
Does anyone know if she's one P&O's child free ones? (Not that I dislike children  but just work with them and so quite like to escape from them in the holidays)

 She is not a child-free ship in the P&O Fleet. Only Artemis and Arcadia are child-free at the present time.

Matt

[Twynkle]

I also agree she's a fine looking ship!

I had the pleasure of seeing her, Saga Ruby and Boudicca 'up close amd personal' in Madeira watching the fireworks on NYs Eve 
I'm afraid I was in uber ship geek mode having such lovely old ships around me

Huge shame I was on QV - she looked like a big ugly sea monster in comparison!
I'd quite happily have jumped ship onto any of those for a wee bit of wandering around on teak decks 

I've not tried Oriana but she's definitely one on the list.
Does anyone know if she's one P&O's child free ones? (Not that I dislike children  but just work with them and so quite like to escape from them in the holidays)

Any thoughts / experiences of her from other members?

Hi Singlemalt_Ali
For some inexplicable reason we got an invitation to spend £20 and visit any of P&O's ships and have lunch on board too.
So not wanting to appear rude by refusing , having chosen the Oriana - today we had a lovely time!
QE2 she isn't - however she has a certain style and qualities that retain the feel of the classical P&O ships; with Teak Decks, fabulous lights, a stern to die for*!
Perhaps best of all, all her wood is wood - with a wonderful mix of colours and textures about it too.
The service at lunch was well up to White Star standard - and although we weren't able to do anything more shippy than look at the deck plans - the people who work on board were only to happy to describe some of the places that were out of bounds to visitors.

The poshest suites were exceptionally well appointed - coming with a butler ('whether you like it or not!') and double french windows
The plainer inside bargain-basement cabins were certainly good enough - the rule of thumb being, 'Can I imagine 3 days stuck in here together with the N-Virus?' - Think so - although the mini suites were more appealing!
There is a large area for children - including their own swimming pool
(I remember being forced into leaving the children on the Arcadia in the 1960s, we never saw them.
I doubt whether this would still be the case - however it might be worth inquiring before booking)
She is a lovely ship, don't miss out - spend time on board!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/watch_keeper/sets/72157624346041161/
Rosie.

PS *with few exceptions, including the lovely Saga Ruby (ex Caronia/Vistafjord)

[Chris]

Lovely to hear your thoughts of Oriana Rosie.

I remember when she first came into service in 1995 I didn't like her - she seemed too boxy for me.

Today, I think she is one of the most lovely ships around. Her sister Aurora followed us when we sailed from Sydney - Fremantle on QE2 back in 2002.

I say 'followed' but in reality Aurora left first from Adelaide but QE2 overtook her in the bight.

[Cruise_Princess]

We sailed ojnOriana in her maiden year and yes she was lovely...haven;t sailed on her since...went on the Old Arcadia and Aurora and a few years ago Artemis but felt the P/O experience had deteriorated so we haven't gone back ...but admittedly Oriana still looks like a ship...hence the company will now say she is somewhat dated.....but she looks good from the outside....no doubt a lot of changes since then on the inside.  I wonder how long P/O will keep her?

[richc1977]

According to Souuthampton's Daily Echo the Oriana will be adult-only a year from now once the Adonia is on board, so to speak.

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/business/shipping/shippingnews/8669052.Oriana_to_be_adults_only/

[Cruisemarsh]

I sailed on my first ever cruise in 1995, aged 8 onboard Oriana. She was a wonderful ship and had great kids facilities.

I have also been on Aurora too and I have to say she is a much nicer looking ship than Oriana. She is more streamlined, whilst the Oriana is beginning to look a bit stiff now. Having said that, the Oriana is a nice looking ship and when compared with the likes of Oasis of the Seas and the new Celebrity ships, there is no comparision.

[Clyde Paddler]

Oriana has been on my list for a while, too, and I have now booked a cruise for mid-April.  It's quite a lengthy one and, with 7 port days and 9 sea days, I am hoping for considerably better weather than I got during my Marco Polo voyage in April last year, which had one nice day and 11 wet ones!

Yes, she is to be 'adults-only' following her refit this autumn, so you'll be safe after that, Ali - are you suggesting you get enough of the little dears during term time?!!  Actually, I'm hoping there won't be too many of them on this cruise, though I've never seen so many walking sticks and zimmer frames in one place, as there were on Marco Polo last year - there must be a happy mediium ...

[Cruisemarsh]

Oriana has been on my list for a while, too, and I have now booked a cruise for mid-April.  It's quite a lengthy one and, with 7 port days and 9 sea days, I am hoping for considerably better weather than I got during my Marco Polo voyage in April last year, which had one nice day and 11 wet ones!

Yes, she is to be 'adults-only' following her refit this autumn, so you'll be safe after that, Ali - are you suggesting you get enough of the little dears during term time?!!  Actually, I'm hoping there won't be too many of them on this cruise, though I've never seen so many walking sticks and zimmer frames in one place, as there were on Marco Polo last year - there must be a happy mediium ...

We were on Oriana during the school holidays (summer) and there were around 300 kids onboard. Mid April I would anticipate that there won't be too many onboard then. Enjoy the cruise when it comes.

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Here is a picture of Oriana and QE2 together :

P&O’s new Oriana passing Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth 2, Eastern Docks, ABP Southampton, May 1995.

http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/from-the-cin-archives/5279-archives-oriana--qe2.html

[Rob Lightbody]

Ian McNaught told us about this event... in his 'Ask the Captain' - QE2 rather splendidly overtook Oriana at high speed, after Oriana had been heavily markted as the faster liner for 25 years....

[Bob C.]

This is a great photo but very sad to see a cargo ship sitting at the pier where the Ocean Terminal once; where QE2 and her predecessors regularly called.  To see QE2 further down and also know all the history that parked at OT as well is a bit in the depressing side.