ORIANA's Departure from Hamburg

Below we share a video from the website cruisetv.de showing ORIANA leaveing dry dock and heading down the river Elbe 4 days ago

As ORIANA turns ready for her departure she her freshly painted hull made for an impressive sight and with the slight dent to her starboard bow repaired ORIANA again cuts a fine figure of a ship.

ORIANA returns to service

Today sees our ORIANA return to service as she departs the Mayflower Cruise Terminal heading out on a 2 night getaway cruise to Belgium ahead of her Atlantic Island Christmas cruise.
 As she departs she is following her near sister and fleetmate AURORA in down river.

ORIANA follows AURORA down river

To celebrate her return to service P&O today released some further images of ORIANA showing some of the changes which have been on board including one which will immediately apparent upon boarding the replacement of the atrium waterfall with what P&O calls a living wall.

ORIANA's new so called 'Living wall'

Photo Copyright: P&O Cruises

In dry dock with ORIANA

With ORIANA's refit complete and having left dry dock heading back down river we take another brief trip to Germany to have a look at some of the work that took place during the refit.

With her hull cleaned and freshly painted ORIANA waits to return to the water.

ORIANA towers over dock 17 as crewmembers return

Alongside the upgrade to cabins/bathrooms and the revitalised public spaces ORIANA has been undergoing the regular dry dock hull inspections which are required every 5 years and cleaning /maintenance including the ship any work required on the hull, rudders, propellors, shafts and seals.

Under a wintery sky and floodlights ORIANA's hull and windows recive some much deserved attention

Details of cleaning work on ORIANA's hull and rudders.

As mentioned earlier in the year during the refit ORIANA's emergency generators have been undergoing a complete overhaul.
From the cruisers perspective the most important changes are to her accommodation and below share some  images from around the ship showing the work in progress.

The Riviera Bar under wraps

The Terrace Bar being revarnished

One of the biggest changes on board is to the decor and ambiance of the dining venues including most noteably The Conservatory self service restaurant featuring a new look, redesinged service stations and new furniture.

The new look Conservatory nearing completion

The service points ready for their first use.

Staying on the Lido Deck we next head forward to take a look at the new look Fitness Centre and Spa.
Featuring renewed flooring the the Gym/fitness area and new look tiling in the spa.

The fitness equipment ready for a workout

The spa taking on it's new features.

Along with ORIANA her self her lifeboats and tenders have also undergone a complete refurbishment having been lowered from their davits soon after arrival in Hamburg for work by UK based subcontractors Nanotech SST.

Work underway on the lifeboats and tenders.

  After two weeks of work the tenders and lifeboats are now safely stowed back in their bays above the Promenade deck as all remaing work onboard comes to an end ready for ORIANA's arrival back in Southampton ready for her resume her cruise schedule.

ORIANA yesterday awaiting her turn to depart for Southampton the following day.

We would like to extend our thanks to Oliver Tall.

Photo Copyrights:
P&O Cruises/Carnival UK, David Gregorios, Tarun Dabral, Nanotech SST.

ORIANA's refit up close

Today we take a look to Hamburg's  frozen dry dock 17 and at some of the work going on board ORIANA.

ORIANA towers above the dry dock floor.

With shipyard workers and contractors working round the clock to ensure ORIANA is back in service for the 16th December the ship bustles with activity while most of the public rooms all passenger cabins and much of the ship's technical systems receive a makeover and upgrade.

The outward calm contrasts with the hive of activity on board

On board from stem to stern workers are busy about their assigned tasks from stripping seating from the Theatre Royale laying new carpets in the dining venues.

A quiet moment in the Theatre Royale

Work continues in Atul Kochhar on board restaurant Sindhu

To complement the new look of ther dining venues ORIANA will feature all new menus inspired by the ports she has visited over the last 21 years.

Elsewhere the public spaces will take on a new look with new designer carpets and soft furnishings.

The Pacific Lounge and  atrium with dust and dust covers

While the work is on a massive scale and is without doubt the largest refit she has had to date P&O have made sure that all the changes preserve the original feel and key features of the spaces and the ship herself so that returning passengers embarking will instantly feel at home when stepping on board.

Photo Copyrights: Charlie Brown/Cruise.co.uk

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

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.

New Details of ORIANA's upcoming refit

Today P&O released new details about ORIANA's upcoming refit with a brief look at the changes instore for the Oasis Spa and Conservatory self service restaurant both of which are located on Deck 12.
 For the Oasis Spa and Salon new furniture will adorn the already relaxed waiting area and  the treatment rooms will recieve a new pedicure station and the latest treatment beds and the hair salon new washbasins and seats allowing for the utmost comfort while enjoying shipboard pampering.

Mood board showing concepts for the Oasis Spa area

In keeping with the overall theme of the refit new materials will be used to create a relaxed yet elegant ambiance in the case of the spa new tiles and natural woods and the use of planets to offset the feeling
The Gym will also see a revamp with new equipment allowing fitness fanatics new ways to work all their muscles to burn off the calories being added from the sublime onboard dining.

Heading aft on the Deck the Conservatory self service restaurant and Beach House alternative dining venue will be having a facelift featuring new a colour scheme and light fixtures offering a new feel to one of the first spaces passengers see after boarding.

Moodboard showing concepts for the new look of the Conservatory

New tables and chairs will add to the cosmetic changes and a improved seating arrangement is also being introduced allowing a overall better flow of passengers.
The Self service stations will also be upgraded and replaced allowing for a greater number of meal options.

Reaction to refit announcement

With the affection many of her passengers have for ORIANA it is no surprise that the announcement of the first details of her winter refit have been met so far with mixed reactions.
For the most part the scale of the refurbishement has been seen as positive move showing P&O's investment in ORIANA and her continued service with the fleet for many years to come.
As with all ship's for one reason or another there are passengers who ORIANA doesn't suit and they too have had their opinons such as ' It's a waste of money they should be investing in newer ships' and 'What P&O need is a new medium sized cruise ship rather than updating a dated one.'
However on the whole most reactions have been in favour of the changes with comments such as ' Great news so I will look forward to be on her when she has had her freat makeover' and
'Did a half world cruise on her in 1997 she was new and gleaming subsequently travelled on her 2015 and 2016 she is a proper ocean liner not a floating block of flats' as well as 'Glad to hear of a refurbishment, look forward to my next trip.'

ORIANA drydocked during her previous refit, December 2011

While for some although seeing the refit as an opportunity to improve the on board experience also hope that the planned changes do not change the ship's unique character these concerns stem from the involvement of Richmond International whose work on BRITANNIA has had it's fair share of critics, in relation to   their work on ORIANA's refit one passenger commented  'A smaller clone of BRITANNIA then? Shame! Love ORIANA just as she is'.
Which sums up ORIANA nicely a unique and elegant ship reflecting the liner era and offering her passengers a sophisticated cruise experience which stands apart from the modern trend of mass market mega ships.

ORIANA's 2016 Refit

Following 5 years since her last refit and conversion to an adult only ORIANA will head on the 25th November to the Hamburg yard of  Blohm + Voss to undergo a 3 week refit and refurbishment.
Along with the standard drydocking required every 5 years and work to overhaul or replace various  machinery as required ORIANA will also recive a complete make over of her bars, entertainment venues restaurants public spaces and cabins while keeping all of ORIANA's unique features.
To quote P&O themselves
"We’re excited to announce that at the end of November, ORIANA will sail to Hamburg to undergo a refit to improve the overall cruise experience for our guests."
Teaming up once again  Richmond International of London who worked on the design of BRITANNIA's publics spaces and cabins P&O continued by saying
 "After listening to your feedback, we’re collaborating with leading cruise-industry architects Richmond on a refit programme that will encompass updates to the cabins, suites, entertainment areas, restaurants, bars and public areas to bring ORIANA up to the high standards that we hold across our entire fleet. We will of course be retaining ORIANA’s most distinctive features, but guests can look forward to enjoying new luxurious materials, soft furnishings and carpets, upgrades to furniture, improved lighting, rich colour schemes and the ultimate in comfort and relaxation."
From the details released so far it can be seen that both the Peninsular and Oriental restaurants will have significant changes made to them including colour schemes and decor.

Concept for new colour schemes, seating and carpets for the main restaurants

Another area annouced today to undergo an upgrade is the passenger cabins which will receive new lighting,  new classically styled lamps, furniture carpets and a compeltely upgraded and modernised bathroom etc.

Cabin concept

As more details are revealed they will be posted on P&O's dedicated ORIANA refit page found here
 We will also post any updates on this blog.
Following her return from refit ORIANA will return to service on the 16th December with a 2 night mini cruise.
Image Copyright: P&O Cruises