A Comic Complaint

While ORIANA's crew try as hard as possible to ensure her passengers have the best cruise possible it is a reality that despite their efforts there will be complaints from some often over the most minor problems they can find from.
At the other end of the scale the Customer Service team based at Carnival House receive some often bizarre letters from passengers.
One such recent case has become somewhat popular on social site Facebook.
The below letter was sent to P&O regarding some "issues" the passenger had with his cruise on board ORIANA

This wannabe comedian begins in a strange way and then continues to point out what the numerous issues he had with the cruise.
To begin with he upset with the fact he had spent his hard earned money on a "timeshare cabin" and when ever he left the cabin in a mess the other "passenger" of the cabin would clean it up for them other issues he found included  "the outrageous prices" of the confectionery in the on board shop and the disgrace that not all passenger are allowed "to drive the ship" despite having asked the wine waiter several times, carrying on with the suggestion that the expensive art auctions should be replaced with "mobility scooters racing on the Prom deck along with other some strange activities.

While many companies would have simpley ignored the letter P&O went one better by playing along with the joke taking the time to reply to each of the points made in the letter.

Not surprisingly in the response the reply was taking any disciplinary action against the ship's crew for the issues raisesd.
Indeed sometimes passengers humour can be a little perplexing !

19 years of Popularity

For almost 20 years ORIANA has taken her passengers to her various ports of call in her signature high class and style, following in the wake of her namesake and famed 'mother' CANBERRA she has visited ports all round the world from ports closer to home such as Bruges to ports of call on the far side of the world such as those in Australia and New Zealand.
And during that time much like CANBERRA before her she has gained her fans who regularly cruise on board.

ORIANA arrives in Funchal, Madeira

Much has changed since ORIANA entered service both in the cruise industry and beyond but in a sure sign that ORIANA is still as popuar in this modern age of the "mega ships", as she ever has been  she continues to receive excellent reviews from her passengers: with comments from her passengers saying that ORIANA is "the friendly cruise ship ,she was immaculate and all Staff looked well turned out" the same reviewer also saying that " We found dining in the Oriental Restaurant was excellent and the waiting staff were very efficient and courteous."
Another cruiser commented that " we had a wonderful time first class service cant wait to go again on ORIANA." while another experienced cruise went as far to say "Cruise on ORIANA, I can honestly say one of the best we have done".
All going to prove that in the age of bigger is better, with ships including all types of novel and often ridiculous features in order to gain new custom, ORIANA still has her place in the heart of British cruising offering her traditional style with great service in elegant suroundings.

Photo Copyright: João Abreu

A cruise of meetings

During ORIANA's current cruise she has had several meetings with her fleetmates firstly OCEANA in Funchal, Santa Cruz de La Palma and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
On the last occasion to the ships sailed towards Gran Canaria almost in tamdem sailing 2.5 nautical miles (4.63 km) as can be seen from the AIS image below.

Today ORIANA was calling in the Portuguese capital of Lisbon where she met with another fleet mate this time AZURA as seen below, the Crown class ship was moored ahead of ORIANA.

To round off the cruise ORIANA is currently on route to Southampton where again she will meet with her fleet mates this time in the form of ARCADIA and ADONIA.

Another day, Another meeting

Today ORIANA once again had the company of her fleet mate OCEANA this time decorating the port of Santa Cruz de La Palma.
ORIANA arriving first despite the fact she departed Funchal yesterday later than OCEANA.
As OCEANA the proud flagship was already docked and was gleaming in the morning sun and was visible via OCEANA's webcam as can be seen in the webcam images below

Tomorrow the ships will again meet as their cruises take them both to Las Palmas Gran Canaria.

A meeting for ORIANA in Madeira

Today finds ORIANA once again docked in the Atlantic Garden which is Madeira where she is joined by fleet mate OCEANA both on Atlantic Isle cruises arriving.

Arriving at 7:30am ORIANA is due to depart a 4:30pm with OCEANA departing half an hour later at 5pm.

Launched in 2000 as OCEAN PRINCESS for Princess Cruises where served until 2002 she is the 4th and last ship of the Sun Class ships.
Transferred to P&O in 2002 with class mate SEA PRINCESS  as ADONIA both were named by HRH Princess Anne, The Princess Royal and her daughter Zara Philips at a world first of a double naming.
Larger than ORIANA  at 77,499 tons OCEANA lacks ORIANA's finess of lines her profile gives a overall less elegant and distinctive look than her fleet mate.

This is the first meeting of P&O's ships in Funchal since 31st December 2010 when ORIANA joined ARTEMIS, now ARTANIA, for Madeira's famed New Year fireworks display.

ORIANA arrives in Funchal with ARTEMIS already docked 31st December 2010.

ORIANA will be joined by OCEANA again tomorrow when both dock in La Palma together.

Photo Copyright: João Abreu

ORIANA the video star

ORIANA always makes a stunning sight when arriving or departing in a port even when the weather is not up to the occasion below is a example filmed during P&O's Grand Event where a rowing boat's crew get a close look at P&O's proud flagship which along with her fleetmates made sure it would be a day to remember.

Meanwhile due to a change in the order of her current Atlantic Island itinerary ORIANA will return to her one of favourite ports Funchal Madeira earlier than planned on the 30th July where she will share the city with fleetmate OCEANA, making the first P&O meeting in the city since the 31st December 2010 when ORIANA met ARTEMIS for the New Year's celebrations.

Advertising a new arrival

The arrival of a new cruise ship into service is for any cruise line's marketing department a massive task which involves many different phases of advertising and often different methods.
When a ship is as CANBERRA as popular was with her passengers  it is obvious that much of that effort would be introducing them to ORIANA the ship which would ultimately be her successor, to ensure that they would continue to cruise with P&O when The Great White Whale was gone.
A rather interesting way P&O did this was by using dining room menus more specifically the covers being adorned with a computer generated image of ORIANA on the front menu and some information and technical details about the ship 
Below is one such menu dated 2nd May 1994.