ORIANA of 1995: Cruise Experience

Last Night on board ORIANA

Walking through ORIANA on the way to dinner there was while there was something of the same feeling that was on board every evening yet being the end of the cruise there was a slightly melancholy feeling about the ship some of the passengers who had that look about them when something good was coming to an end, which of course it was the cruise itself soon would be consigned to history as we were now only hours away from Southampton.

At various places around ORIANA including the atrium staircase where as we passed by couples queued to have some of their last cruise photos taken while on the staircase landing above the photographers flash was also in full use as posed photos with backdrops were being taken.

Reaching the restaurant it for the last time we were greeted by the Head waiter who nod and a smile welcomed us to restaurant and while most passengers had packed their formal wear away and put the cases outside their cabins the waiters looked as formal and immaculate being as formal and professional and for the last time on this cruise had our seats already pulled out waiting for us

Waiting a few moments for dining companions the waiters brought the menus along and over the course of deciding which drink to have with the meal we were introduced to a trainee wine waiter Raul who had been until this evening a waiter in The Pacific Lounge, he was to be taking over from our waiter Aggie who had been promoted to Barman in Anderson’s and was training Raul to take over his place.

The night was in many ways just like any other on board but beneath the service and despite ORIANA’s relaxed and elegant atmosphere there was something different about the night for many it was tinged with sadness their well-earned holiday at sea on a beautiful ship was coming to an end and in some the fact was reflected in the slightly melancholy look on passengers faces while it was no exaggeration to say that it seemed that somewhere about to cry into their soup

The meal was as I had come to expect on board ORIANA excellent the food was cooked to perfection and was presented in equally beautiful manner.

During the meal the restaurant manager was making sure to visit each table in order to make sure passengers had all had a pleasant dining experience during our time on board and speaking for ourselves we confirmed that we had indeed had an excellent meal every night of the cruise which of course he was happy to hear.

Although it wasn’t the food or the service alone which had made dining experience as much as the crew make a ship ORIANA herself had a part to play the Peninsular Restaurant itself had offered an elegant venue which was always a pleasure to come back to, was it was the light wooden panelling or mirrored ceiling or perhaps it was not something that could be described so much as needed to be experienced, either way it was always a pleasure at the beginning of the evening to come here to enjoy another gastronomic treat.

Being the last evening on board the time honoured tradition of tipping the waiters was performed during the dinner which was politely received by them, tucking it into their waistcoat’s pocket and at no time opening them in front of the passengers.

Earlier in the evening we had gone through the same with our cabin steward Hilary who at attentively kept our cabin always looking immaculate such was the dedication to his work.

While all the time it was yet another not so subtle reminder that our time on ORIANA was slipping away.

As much as we would have liked it to last for longer the dinner came to end and on leaving we took the time to once again thank the waiters and the head waiter before leaving to enjoy the rest of the evening on board.

Like other nights there was plenty of choice of musical entertainment on board starting off with the theatre show of Crazy Songs and Crazy Tunes while not attending I believe that it was paying tribute to music and song.

While other types of musical entertainment was also in full swing in Harlequins Natural High ORIANA’s guest dance band were playing throughout the night with music from all different eras ensuring the dancers among the passengers had more than enough tunes and beats to dance the night away.

Walking aft towards Lord’s Tavern the high presence in the Photo gallery which reminded me to collect the Cruise DVD which was I am sure in years to come I could watch and have fond memories on board.

In Lords Tavern the talk was as mixed and varied as the ages of the passengers who were doing the talking as the music system music played of all different genres from Freddie Mercury declaring he was born to love someone to gravel voiced Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler who was holding out for a hero well according to the lyrics that is, someone I mused was certainly an fan of 80’s

Sitting enjoying a refreshing pint of beer while taking in the atmosphere I was sure that on more than one occasion I heard the name of CANBERRA coming from over near the bar, which in a way I think was good that ORIANA, even a decade after the end of CANBERRA’s career was able to evoke her memory yet have her own distinct personality.

While pondering such things or perhaps getting a little too comfortable with the music, a lady sat down rather suddenly next to me almost catapulting me out of my seat!

Apologising the lady who was rather jovial enjoying the last night on board was more than complimentary at one point calling me the baby in the room in reply I said well to be honest I don’t remember the music which was playing to which she replied she didn’t either she had been too busy in the clubs back in those days, I dared not think in what direction that conversation could go in!

I could have stayed for the rest of the evening but instead decided better of it and continued aft to the Pacific Lounge to see what was going on in there. Here another of ORIANA’s guest performers The John James Trio was playing music from the 50’s & 60’s which seemed to go down as equally well here as the dance music in Harlequins and even managed to get some of the passengers out from the seats on to the dance floor while others of us sat watching with a drink in hand, in this case with a Black Russian no less while a passenger sitting nearby was drinking a Bloody Mary which prompted the question from another passenger , on board QM2 would that be called a Bloody Queen Mary ? With the party like atmosphere the question was taken as it was meant a joke and was met with laughter since no one knew the answer it was logical to assume that no one had the pleasure of trying the delights of Cunard’s flagship or at least if they did had no wish to talk about it.

It was so good to see all around having a great time in some cases people were talking and laughing with others who 10 days before they hadn’t known yet now were talking and laughing as though the best of friends it was truly thrilling to see how ORIANA was able to bring complete strangers together although it would be a little over 2 years later that I would truly appreciate this aspect of the character of this remarkable ship.

With the music from the Pacific Lounge, Lords Tavern and Harlequins the midships to the stern of the Promenade deck was truly a pleasant place to be and with one exception from some years later the place I felt most comfortable socialising and generally enjoying the atmosphere.

Although tempting as it was to stay for the remainder of the evening there was some other nightspots on board which I wanted to explore starting with Anderson’s which in keeping with its style was contrasting with the aft end of the deck was its usual club like atmosphere with the sound of quiet conversation being the only sound to be heard in the room although it was not one of the most exciting rooms on board entertainment it had atmosphere and offered for the evening an excellent venue to reflect on cruise in depth while enjoying a cocktail of the day which happened to be a ‘Chocolate Banana’ or for the sophisticated drinker a brandy or whisky was the order for the day.

From just beyond the side of the rooms the door the sound of the casino was evident as some passengers were having a last night gamble but as to whether they were winning or not that was another matter!

In the atrium passengers who were not at a show or venue was either passing through here or shopping for last minute souvenirs in the Knightsbridge shops or from the tables set out on one level of the atrium souvenirs from the various ports of calls from Post Cards from La Coruna to Embroidery from Madeira while above the sound of piano music was filtering down from Tiffany’s.

One venue which I had wanted to pay a visit to before the end of the night was The Crow’s Nest and with the time a little after 11pm it seemed as good a time as any.

In The Crow’s Nest ORIANA was at her most refined on this evening and surprisingly was fairly empty which was nice on other occasions it had been hard to find a seat near the forward windows but this time was completely the opposite.

Less welcoming was the sight visible beyond the windows the lights in the distance of the South Coast of England, strange I thought from here and in the dark how much better the United Kingdom looked!

How I wished that ORIANA could be my ‘home’ for a little longer at least but sadly on this occasion it wasn’t to be.

On final drink followed by a walk on the promenade deck at just after midnight brought night to its end up ahead of ORIANA Southampton.

According to ORIANA’s Cruise log at around 3:45am Captain Reid rang standby below on ORIANA’s engines as she neared Nab Tower ready to embark the Southampton Pilot which occurred at around 4am.

Proceeding at a slow speed ORIANA continued her transit of the Solent and Southampton passing as she Portsmouth on her Port side before eventually reaching the upper swinging ground to turn her portside to the Terminal.

By the time I awoke we had already docked the view from the portside was of the top of the Mayflower Terminal and below the passenger baggage being offloaded onto trolleys to be taken to the reclaim hall, Now all that there was left to do was wait disembarkation to begin and then for our card colour to be called while waiting in the comfort of the public rooms, maybe it was because it was the end of the cruise but the wait did seem to be a slow one however on time the disembarkation began with a message from Captain Reid wishing everyone a safe onward journey.

Once the disembarkation began it was fairly efficient and quickly the various colours were called ours was only about 4^th and we began our journey from leaving the gangway we were collecting our luggage from the myriad of bags in the hall and soon after passing through the arrivals lounge and to our taxi which was waiting.

Leaving the terminal ORIANA looked as good as ever while looking back at her up decks were bathed in the morning sun with her flags waving in the breeze it was both a good and sad sight, always good to gaze up on but yet a little sad to leave at least I knew that I would be seeing ORIANA again sometime soon.

As we come to the end of our Cruise Experience series on this our 1st anniversary we thank all our visitors from all corners of the globe and hope welcome many more in 2012 with many more interesting posts of facts, information, photos of this truly unique and elegant ship.