"The ORIANA was the first cruise liner to be specifically designed and built for the British cruise market.With this ship, P&O continued its long tradition of technical innovations in the field of shipping.
The underlying idea behind ORIANA is to combine state-of-the-art technology in navigation, consumer electronics and on-board hotel management, with the comfort and time-honoured British style of an ocean liner.
In keeping with her major role for the British merchant fleet, the ORIANA was christened in Southampton on April 6, 1995 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
The ship was not only one of the largest and most beautiful to sail under the British flag. In 1995, her maximum speed of 26,6 knots made her the fastest cruise vessel of the past decades at the time. Her high speed and special design mean that her owners can deploy the ORIANA for cruises between the World's most beautiful and far-off destinations.
Whether in the calm waters of the Caribbean, the rough seas in the Bay of Biscay, or across the Indian Ocean to Australia, the ORIANA offers a unique cruise experience in typically British surroundings.
For Meyer Werft, the construction of the ORIANA was an extremely important project. The shipyard was able to further increase its shipbuilding know-how. The ship's journey down the Ems River in February of 1995 attracted over 100,000 spectators to the dykes. The strong public interest was an impressive vote in favour of Papenburg as a shipbuilding location."
Taken from the book "Luxury Cruise Ships for P&O" by Meyer Werft Papenburg.
