ORIANA's refit continues

Four days after her arrival at the Blohm+Voss yard ORIANA's refit is well and truly underway.
As shown in the webcam captures we present below ORIANA devoid of her lifeboats and with her terraced decks undercover makes for an impressive sight her destinctive profile standing out against the grey rain filled winter afternoon.

ORIANA's hull and funnel stand out in the distance.

ORIANA lit by shipyard floodlights makeing for an impressive sight

Also showing in the next images is Fred Olsen's Black Watch docked in dry dock 11, which makes for an interesting contrast to ORIANA.

ORIANA with BLACK WATCH's funnel showing amidships

ORIANA and BLACK WATCH

ORIANA in dry dock

Following her arrival in Hamburg ORIANA has spent her first day in dry dock 17 at the beginning of her 3 week refit.
Below we present some webcam captures showing ORIANA dock.

ORIANA in the late afternoon sun with BLACK WATCH just visible.

ORIANA's illuminated hull makes an impressive sight in the floodlit industrial andscape

ORIANA arrives in Hamburg

Later than scheduled ORIANA eventally arrived at the Blohm + Voss yard in the early hours of this morning.
Throughout the evening yesterday she made at an average speed of 13 knots up river.

ORIANA's current position in dry dock 17

Under the cover of darkness on her approch to Hamburg she made a tug assisted turn to port before continuing the short journey to the shipyard astern.

ORIANA makes her turn

ORIANA continues astern

 Joining Fred Olsen Cruise Lines' BLACK WATCH at the yard ORIANA made her way to Dry Dock 17, the third largest dock in Germany.

ORIANA this morning in Dry Dock

ORIANA departs for Hamburg

Following her arrival from the Azores this morning at around 4am after 34 nights cruising across the Atlantic to the Caribbean and USA, ORIANA earlier this afternoon departed Southampton bound for  Hamburg and her 3 week refit which will see a overhaul of her on board systems and a revamp of many of her cabins and public spaces.
Currently in the English Channel ORIANA at and making her way at a steady 17 to 18 knots she is expected to arrive in Hamburg shortly before 8pm she will make her way up the river Elbe to the Blohm + Voss shipyard.

ORIANA at aroud 5pm heading east  of the Isle of Wight

  Joining ORIANA in Southampton during her passengerless stay was fleet mates ARCADIA and OCEANA. 

ORIANA in the English Channel

ORIANA in Port Canaveral

Today found ORIANA as one of four ships calling in the Florida port of Port Canaveral, alongside fellow Meyer Werft built DISNEY FANTASY, NORWEGIAN EPIC and AIDA VITA.

ORIANA and DISNEY FANTASY

ORIANA remained in port until 5:30pm when she pushed of her berth and headed past DISNEY FANTASY swinging to port as she passed .

ORIANA underway from her berth.

ORIANA turns to port.

With sun setting as she departed ORIANA's pristine white hull was bathed in a warm orange glow as the last of the day's sunlight reflected from the Lido Deck's windows.

A sunset departure.

 As ORIANA sailed the webcam captured some of her passengers and crew members taking the last views of the port as she headed back to sea.

Crew members on the starboard bow observation platform.

ORIANA heads back to sea.

With Florida behind ORIANA is now heading to Charleston, South Carolina where she will arrive tomorrow.

P&O talk about ORIANA's forthcoming refit.

With just over 2 weeks until ORIANA heads to Hamburg and refit on the 25th November P&O's Senior Vice President Paul Ludlow talks about the changes coming to ORIANA and about the high regard the ship  has among P&O's loyal  passengers
Why do you think ORIANA is so well loved, with such a loyal following?
ORIANA is a unique ship with an incredible character; I think that’s what guests love about her. She’s exclusively for adults and offers all of the traditions and charms of cruising with an intimate atmosphere and a calm elegance. Also, one of the many benefits of a cruise on ORIANA is the fantastic range of itineraries available. She has such a loyal following of guests who come back every year, more so than any of our other ships.

ORIANA has a long history, how does this contribute to her popularity today?
ORIANA was named by HM The Queen on 6 April 1995, so next year marks 22 years of loyal service. There are many things during this time that have made her so special and popular. ORIANA still holds the prized Golden Cockerel Trophy, awarded to the fastest ship in the fleet, with a maximum speed of 30 knots. When she entered service, ORIANA was also one of the largest cruise ships in the world (so you can see how times have changed!). However, size is not everything and ORIANA’s tradition and charm remains throughout. The refit at the end of this year will not alter this but will just refresh her beauty.

ORIANA showing her unmistakable lines

What makes ORIANA different to the other ships in the fleet?
ORIANA offers traditional cruising at its best and brings to life everything about the luxuries of being at sea. Her signature tiered stern decks are reminiscent of ocean liners of the past, and the broad teak promenade and lido decks add a rich, classic feel to the ship. Her most recognisable feature is the stunning atrium with the Art Deco Tiffany glass ceiling. Coming on board ORIANA is like stepping into the golden age of cruising, but with many contemporary touches and dining choices – a combination that is unique to ORIANA.

The plans for the refit have taken into consideration guest feedback. Why do you think this is so important?
At every stage of a guest’s journey with us, from consideration through booking to the holiday itself, we aim to go above and beyond expectations. That’s why it’s so important for us to know what our guests are thinking – they are the whole reason our ships sail the world over, so their feedback is invaluable. We know that it’s time to give ORIANA the attention she deserves. Her refit will take into consideration guest feedback on all aspects of the ship, from the public spaces and bars to the cabins, bathrooms and much more. We want ORIANA’s guests, both returning and new, to feel that they are sailing on the most elegant and charming ship in the fleet. From what our guests have told us, we know that retaining these traditional elements that are unique to ORIANA is as important as rejuvenating the ship. So that’s what we’re aiming to do.

Focusing on the public areas and cabins, how will the refit be balanced between the need to modernise and the desire to retain ORIANA’s much-loved classic cruise feel? What added touches of luxury will there be?
We’ll be rejuvenating the public areas and cabins with a range of subtle upgrades that will have a big impact without losing ORIANA’s unique charm. New carpets will enhance ORIANA’s elegance while improved lighting designs will add to the atmosphere of traditional cruising. We’ll also be upgrading furniture and making changes to cabin bathrooms to ensure they meet the standards for P&O Cruises guests.
 What’s most important, though, is that none of the changes will take away any of what makes ORIANA so special. In fact, all of our plans aim to emphasise her unique and traditional charm – from the furniture choices to the fabric for our new soft furnishings and the chosen carpet designs, everything has been selected to complement and emphasise ORIANA ’s traditional feel.

One of the main changes in recent years is the wide range of dining available on ORIANA. What further changes will there be?
Significant changes will be noticeable in the Conservatory buffet restaurant, which will become a much brighter, modern space where guests will be able to enjoy casual all-day dining. We will also be refurbishing the space of our hugely popular Beach House restaurant, which offers relaxed evening dining at great value. 
The Peninsular and Oriental main restaurants will also have fresh new looks, with specially designed carpets and new furniture throughout giving these popular dining experiences a new lease of life in keeping with the tradition of ORIANA.
 For those all-important holiday cocktails and refreshing beers, ORIANA’s pubs and bars will be upgraded to ensure there is something to match every mood. The quintessential British sports bar, Lord’s Tavern, will have new carpets and furniture, and the plans for Anderson’s include replacing old furniture as well as introducing new lamps and stylish new carpets and rugs, all with the intent of retaining and upgrading Anderson’s classic elegance.
 Of course, holidays are about relaxation and pampering too, so to offer guests the best in salon treatments we’re planning to upgrade salon equipment such as the washbasins and treatment beds, as well as refurbishing the spa and relaxation areas to rival your favourite spa on dry land. We’ll be uplifting the sauna, steam-room, whirlpool and changing areas with new tiling, modern furniture and contemporary equipment. An improved layout will mean that guests can focus on pounding the pounds in the gym area, while the relaxation areas are all about escaping to a calming retreat with soothing natural décor such as a living plant wall.

Where will ORIANA be going next year?
In 2017, ORIANA has a wide range of itineraries, all sailing from Southampton. Highlights include the 50-night Caribbean & Amazon Adventure, which includes 13 different countries and covers over 14,000 nautical miles. This includes two full days in New Orleans to explore Bourbon Street and really pick up the musical vibe of this diverse city; two full days in Manaus in Brazil on the Amazon; an overnight stay in Fort Lauderdale; and extended time in Bermuda to relax on the pink sand beaches. There are also two Northern Lights cruises, which are always very popular, an Iceland cruise and seven long Mediterranean cruises. If you are short on time, then you could see the Iberian coast instead or have a quick chocolate, shopping and foodie break to Bruges or Amsterdam.

ORIANA back in the Caribbean

Today ORIANA made her first call in the Caribbean  following her latest transatlantic crossing in port of Philipsburg, St Maarten. arriving 6:15am local time.
Following her departure in the early afternoon ORIANA is now spending a further day at sea before arriving at Ocho Rios, Jamaica on Thursday.

ORIANA departs Philipsburg

While her passengers enjoy themselves onboard during this her last cruise before going into refit later this month P&O have revealed a few more details of the refit which including some changes to the Andersons bar including new carpets, rugs and bar stools.

Concept drawing  for Anderson's new look

In the cutaway below we can see some of the other changes which are going to be happening on board.