Rumours about ORIANA

In 2008 with the entry in to service of VENTURA and the announcement of another crown class vessel to be delivered 2 years later rumours began to spread on the Internet that it was possible that one of P&O's existing fleet would be transferred to one of the other brands of Carnival.
One of the most repeated of these began on P&O's website Forum section where a passenger who claimed to have contacts within the company said that they had heard that ORIANA was to be transferred to the infomal Ocean Village brand as OCEAN VILLAGE THREE.

Of course there was no truth behind the rumours and a year later it was announced that the brand would be discontinued with the existing ships being transferred to P&O Cruises Australia as Pacific Jewel and Pacific Pearl respectively .

Although the notion of ORIANA herself in such a role is a strange one, her former fleet mate ARCADIA (1997) became the first OCEAN VILLAGE in 2003.

Below are two photographs taken by Nuno Jesus of ORIANA & ARCADIA docked together in Funchal, Madeira on the 9th October 2001.

Photos Copyright : Nuno Jesus.

Quiet evenings onboard ORIANA

Although ORIANA offers a lively nightlife on her clubs and bars from time to time passengers will prefer a more relaxed laid back night.
This of course is always a option as ORIANA offers many areas where passengers can go to gently unwind with or without a drink.
These include The Crows Nest on Deck 13 and Tiffany's on Deck 8 surrounding the top of the atrium, where passengers can enjoy a relaxing drink under the Tiffany style glass celling with the sound of the waterfall in the background and occasionally the accompaniment of lounge music from the pianist.

Stunning views and relaxing surroundings in The Crows Nest.

A traditional bar scene in Andersons.

Always a elegant venue-Tiffany's.

Images Copyright: P&O Cruises.

Celebrating a cruising legend onboard ORIANA

On the 15th November 1998 ORIANA played host to the launch of the book telling the story of the educational cruise ship UGANDA built in 1952 for P&O's subsidiary company British-India for their East Africa service.
After major modifications made in 1968 she began a new career as a educational cruise ship offering many school children their first experience of sea travel among these was the current managing director of P&O Cruises Carol Marlow.
In later years UGANDA served as both a troop ship and hospital ship in the Falkands War.
UGANDA was broken up in 1992.

Book Cover.

A contrast of 60s & 90s cruising styles ORIANA & UGANDA.

It is fitting that ORIANA with her classic style was avalible for another legends story to be told.

Photos: SS UGANDA Trust and Steve Martin

Onboard ORIANA

The Library

For the literature lover the place to be onboard ORIANA is the ships Library and The Thackeray Room located amidships on Deck 8
Like most of the other rooms onboard ORIANA they are designed both to be timelessly elegant and also to fit in with ORIANA’s combination of classic and modern facilities.
Theses areas continue ORIANA’s royal connections by featuring furniture designed specifically for her by Viscount David Linley nephew of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Viscount David Linley.

With the exception of a few other modern cruise liners including fleet mate AURORA, a dedicated library space is becoming quite a rarity with the modern trend tending to be a smaller room which also features computers creating more of a combined Library/Computer Study space.
In its character the library is another of ORIANA’s rooms which continues the ocean liner feel which is prominent throughout many areas of the ship it is achieved here by having the room panelled in a dark wood with all the wooden bookcases set into the walls, of note is the light fixtures in the room which bare more than a passing resemblance to those featured on the Olympic class liners of the early 20th century, its dark green carpet completing the classical relaxing effect.
The Library invites passengers to linger around its large octagonal table which often can be found with a large jigsaw puzzle on it for passengers to work on at their own leisure.
Like many of the public spaces onboard ORIANA there is subtle reminder to passengers that they are indeed on a ship, in The Library this is done by the inclusion of a Atlas on its own dedicated table, always available for the passengers to look at the destinations being visited the cruise.
Like any good Library there is on offer a good mix of both Fiction and non-Fiction books for passengers to indulge their literary passion, with a selection of books being available for purchase.
During the last days of a cruise onboard is usual for the library staff to have a book sale normally in the atrium which includes books of all genres and for all ages.
During the hours the library is open the desk is manned by a Liberian who is more than willing to help with any enquiries passengers may have.
The Library is open for borrowing from 8am to 8pm on sea days and open 8am to 1pm and then again from 4pm to 9pm on port days.

After choosing a new book to read or seeking a restful place to write a diary entry or letters home passengers might choose to relax in the refined writing room The Thackeray Room named for the renowned 19th century author of Vanity Fair William Makepeace Thackeray who travelled on several of the company’s vessels for a free cruise to Egypt in 1844.

William Makepeace Thackeray.

The room features more of Viscount Liney’s furniture including a elegant grandfather clock.
It continues with a similar theme to The Library with the predominate colour being green with wooden highlights, adding to the country house feel.

The room invites passengers to read with its high back comfortable chairs or to write with its elegant writing tables and desk lamps,
The Thackeray Room is the perfect place to find a quiet comfortable place either before or after dinner to relax having a good read.
On the opposite side of The Library is Crichtons a venue which hosts another Ocean liner tradition - card games.
Named for one of P&O’s former directors Sir Andrew Crichton, it is popular with many of the more senior passengers for whom the card tournament is still a must ,although no longer played for reward it is a past time that generations ships passengers have enjoyed.

Sir Andrew Crichton.

The room offers a elegant and quiet venue with many tables to socialise over a game of cards or for one of the number of board games on offer.

Copyright: Beyondships.com
Use of Chichtons is mostly unsupervised for card and board games with most being families or groups of friends arranging games amongst them selves.

Of organised activities during the cruise there is various card tournaments and a nightly syndicate quiz with the prize at the end of the cruise being a bottle of P&O’s own label wine.
With many of her fleet mates lacking a games room, the activities traditionally associated with such a room are usually found another often unsuitable venue.

Image Copyrights : P&O Cruises

Traditional past times on ORIANA

Amongst ORIANA's high tech entertainment and shows and in keeping in line with her predecessors ORIANA features some past times which have long been associated with sea travel.
Dedicating a considerable amount of her open deck space to deck quoits, Shuffle board and also located forward on the Lido deck is a large Deck Tennis court.
With the newer and more sophisticated entertainment venues that ORIANA boasts the deck games are no longer as popular as they once were onboard the older liners but these activities do contribute to ORIANA's appeal to passengers seeking a ship with more character and individuality than is offered by many of the modern "mega ships" .

Deck Quoits by the Terrace Pool.

Shuffle Board in action.

The Deck Tennis court visable forward of the Oasis Spa.

Photos Copyright : P&O Cruises

Midday announcement

Like all the ships in the P&O cruises ships ORIANA upholds the tradition of the midday announcement from the bridge on sea days.
The announcement begins with the officer of the watch announcing the time and ringing the ships bell 12 times before proceeding to describe ORIANA's movements including distance travelled since the previous port of call.
The officer then describe a different aspect of the about either the ship, company or area around ORIANA.

A view from the bridge .

Very different from the traditional use of the ships bell its original use was to indicate to the crew onboard a change over of shifts .

Onboard ORIANA

Andersons

Perhaps no room onboard ORIANA bespeaks her British design better than Andersons located just aft of the promenade deck level of the atrium.
Named for P&O’s founder Arthur Anderson its design inspired by the London Gentlemen clubs that were made popular in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries.

Andersons location on the forward promenade deck.

To give a club like touch to the exterior it is designed with a faux brick effect
When entering Andersons passengers are welcomed by a set of wooden double doors and granite floored entrance.
In keeping with its name Andersons pays tribute to its namesake by featuring a bronze bust of Anderson himself which was commissioned by P&O from images held in their archive the room also features many classical styled art work that adorns the walls including a portrait of Anderson’s co-founder Brodie Wilcox.

Andersons entrance.

To create its traditional ambiance the whole room is panelled in light wood with club chairs and deep sofas to welcome passengers to come and relax in its refined elegance.
Prominently on display is three what appears at first look to be book cases containing classic books and P&O decorative plates and cups however a closer look reveal these to be trompe l'oeil images which concealing fire fighting and life saving equipment
Continuing the classic theme the wooden bar is surrounded with red leather seats and a matching padded surround on the bar.

A view across the bar showing traditional styling elements.

Although not strictly used as venue for any organised entertainment it’s location on the promenade deck make it the perfect lounge to stop and relax in while going in between entertainment or alternatively the perfect place for passengers to meet up for a pre dinner drink.

A scene reminiscent of the ocean liners...

During the course of the cruise the room is also used for the hosted chat for the travelling alone passengers.
Another frequent use of Andersons is for users of the adjoining Monte Carlo Club casino to have a rest from their lucky or often unlucky run on the tables and slot machines.
Along with The Crows Nest Andersons is the one of only two venues which has a strict dress policy insisting that after 6pm all passengers be attired in the dress code for the evening.
Andersons opens daily from 5pm until the early hours of the following morning

When not relaxing in Andersons passengers might enjoy , if they are winning a turn in the Monte Carlo Club ORIANAs fully equipped casino which is situated next door and features all the facilities of top class casino ashore.
Due to the strict regulations surrounding gambling all the onboard croupiers who staff the tables in the casino are independently trained and registered.
Also due to regulations under 18s are not allowed to use the casino.
In comparison to the casinos onboard her fleet mates the Monte Carlo Club is considered to be relatively small although like all good casinos it offers passengers amble opportunity to lose their money on one of the table games of blackjack poker and roulette or alternatively slot machines.
Although its small size might be a distraction to some who prefer the mass appeal of larger casinos as found on other ships, to others it offers a smaller relaxed and sophisticated atmosphere to try their luck in.

Gaming tables in Monte Carlo Cub.

As originally designed Monte Carlo Club did not feature the slot machines these were located further aft in the Jackpots room which had been next to Lords Tavern, these were moved during her refit in 2006 to allow the extension of the popular venue.
As built the Casino featured 5 gaming tables with 51 slot machines in the Jackpots area.

Roulette always a popular pass time.

The Monte Carlo Club opening times are 5pm until the early hours of the morning on port days and 1 pm until 5 pm and then 8pm until the early hours the morning on sea days.
The slot machines are also open for passengers to use from 5pm to the next morning on port days and are open 24 hours a day while at sea.

Image copyrights P&O Cruises.