p&o cruise ship oriana photos

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The very Last Orient Liner built, SS Oriana (1960 to 1986) she was then sold to Japan to be come a floating hotel

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With Reuben Goossens

Maritime Historian, Author and Lecturer & Cruise‘n’Ship Reviewer

From Birth to Breakers

The Oriana had the most recognised funnel in maritime history!

Please Note : The SS Oriana feature has 14 Pages, has one brand new page just added.

All of the Oriana pages have all been updated, But I am sure you will find the new page

located in Part One, “Building the Oriana” and it is Page 5, containing the most amazing range of

“Specifications, & Facts” regarding the construction of the Oriana, you may never have heard about!

Introduction:

This fourteen page feature will cover the remarkable history of the SS Oriana , which was a great liner and popular cruise ship she ended her final days as a tourist attraction in Japan and China . These pages also include various experiences by me, as well as those provided to me by past crew members and it makes for interesting reading. In addition this feature is packed with photographs for to reminisce of the days you may have spent on her or stood quayside admiring her.

Although this page covers Oriana from her conception in 1954 to being broken up in 2005, I have a separate three page feature entirely related to her design, building, launching, fitting out, sea trials and maiden voyage which I have received from the wife from one of the ships famous designers the late . Mr. Charles F Morris . The link to this feature can be found in the SS Oriana INDEX at the bottom of this page along with all other pages.

Building Orient Lines largest Liner:

In 1954 Orient Line began planning to build a new liner, a ship that would be the grandest and largest Orient liner ever to be built; however, it was not until 1956 that Orient Lines made the final decision to build a new ship for the Australian trade. With the added costs of fuel consumption, as well as maintenance of their older ships, it was decided that a larger, fast and a more efficient liner would provide a profitable and a far superior facilities.

After two years of careful planning, Oriana’s keel was laid on September 18 1957. This new ship built for Orient Lines, would soon join their already sizable fleet. However, unknown at this stage, the Oriana would be the final great liner to be built for Orient Lines.

Since the Orion, built in 1935, each Orient Line ship’s name commenced with the letter ‘O’. As Orient Lines searched for a new name, an Australian P&O employee jokingly suggested naming the new ship ‘ Orstralia .’ Thankfully, a unique name was decided on, one that was given to Queen Elizabeth I, by the poets of her era – “Oriana”. Orient Line ships all had their own distinctive emblem, and now a suitable emblem was required for the Oriana, the new super liner.

Mr. Milner Grey created an exciting new emblem for the Oriana, in the form of an ‘ O ’ topped with a crown made of pearls, and containing a double ‘ E ’ inside the ‘O’ representing Queen Elizabeth I, and the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II .

The contract to build the Oriana was awarded to Vickers Armstrong Ltd of Barrow-in-Furness . Construction work commenced 18 September 1956. Slowly the unique design of the Oriana became obvious, a new concept yet she retained design similarities of other Orient Lines ships, such as the Orcades, Oronsay, and the newer Orsova. Location of her lifeboats was the most obvious modification. SS Oriana was the largest ship to built at the Barrow yard and as we know, it would also be the last ship they constructed for the Orient Steam Navigation Company.

SS Orsova is the proud predecessor to the SS Oriana

The contract for the £14 million “Oriana” was placed on May 12, 1954, but work on her did not commence until September 18, 1957. The official hull laying plate was numbered, 1061, which many jokingly claimed was her “Maiden Name.”

The laying of the 24½ ton section of the keel. It was decorated with the

Union jack, the Orient Line House Flag as well as a silhouette of the ship

Photograph by Vickers Armstrong Ltd

Then came the big day for on Tuesday November 3, 1959, Princess Alexandra officiated at the launching of Orient Lines super liner - SS Oriana . Countless of thousands attended the launching, including the many proud men who worked so tirelessly on her.

The Oriana seen during the launching ceremony, soon she will glide into the water for the very first time

Photograph provided by Mrs. Pauline Wakefield  wife of the late  Mr. Charles F. Morris

After the launching and she was majestically afloat, the Oriana was taken in tow and she proceeded to her fitting out dock in Buccleuth to complete her aluminium superstructure and her interior fit-out which were done to amazingly high standards and setting new trends for the Australasian service.

The next twelve months saw her turn into a fine ultra modern passenger liner ready for service. Located forward atop the Crows Nest, there was a short radar mast for it is well known that the Orient Line usually did not have a conventional mast atop of their Bridge of their liners. The Oriana had the usual high, but a somewhat more streamlined, central funnel, however, aft there was a strange new somewhat new feature, a rather small dummy funnel.

A perfect view of her unusual upper superstructure and funnel configuration

At 41,915 tonnes SS Oriana was the largest passenger liner to be placed on the Australia / New Zealand service. Her dimensions was , 804ft - 245.1m long, and 97ft - 30.48m wide, having 730 cabins, 17 public rooms, and 11 passenger decks. And she accommodated 2,000 passengers, in two classes with a crew of around 980.

During her speed trials carried out on the Clyde , between 13 and 16 November 1960, she achieved a maximum speed of a remarkable 30.64 knots, and this was during woeful weather conditions. With two sets of Amerada double-reduction geared steam turbines, which generated 80,000 horsepower, were geared to twin screws, giving her a comfortable cruising speed of 27.5 knots. Upon completion of her last trial, she wasdelivered to the Orient Line.

SS Oriana seen during her sea trials on November 16, 1960

See details regarding photo notes below

Please Note : The photograph of the SS Oriana on her deep sea trials (and others above as noted) was provided to myself to use on ssMaritime.com by  Mrs. Pauline Wakefield . a wonderful lady and the wife of the late  Mr. Charles F. Morris who was one of the finest Orient Line Naval Architect’s, who designed this, the last ever Orient Liner to be constructed, the much beloved - SS Oriana. Many will remember Mr. Morris ’ magnificent book, “ Origins, Orient and Oriana ” and I have a very special edition of this book in my private collection, having been provided to me by Mrs. Pauline Wakefield .

SS Oriana ’s Maiden Voyage:

SS Oriana departed on her maiden voyage from Southampton on Saturday December 3, 1960 and headed for Sydney sailing via the Suez Canal , and she did this voyage in 27 days. She returned to Southampton via New Zealand and the United S tates . She was without a doubt the fastest liner on the UK to Australia service!

The ship simply looks utterly modern, yet still somewhat traditional Orient Line in style

Here we see SS Oriana “The Queen of the Sea” departing Britain and bound for Australia

As can be seen above, SS Oriana retained that distinctive (yet a modern) Orient Lines profile, for which the company was renowned for, yet they were now leaders in overall ship design, for the SS Oriana was unique in so many ways, for she stood out as she was very different to any other ship in the world, yet amazingly beautiful.

SS Oriana arrived in Sydney Friday December 30, 1960, for her very first call

and she would be a regular until her final departure in 1986

Mid 1961, SS Oriana was joined by the P&O Peninsular’s new 45,733 GRT, SS Canberra , which became the largest liner to be placed on the Australian service. Rapidly, Canberra became the ship that received the most publicity. Undoubtedly SS Canberra was an imposing sight, being all white ship, with long sleek lines, and the author enjoyed his voyages on her a good number of times. However, the Oriana soon gained a vast following, with past passengers returning to sail on her many times - ‘Take a ship, back to the home country” was the popular statement in the early days. And it seemed that the Oriana was the choice of many a seasoned traveller!

  With the Oriana finally completed she headed for New Zealand & Australia and she is seen here in Sydney

The author sailed on the Oriana from Auckland , via Sydney to Melbourne in the mid 1960’s then I had a single first class cabin on the starboard side of A Deck just aft of the lobby.

I received the above SS Oriana consumption figures from a relative of an ex cabin steward

Myself and my dear, (sadly now late wife) Betty enjoyed a wonderful South Pacific cruise on the Oriana in 1973, those were the days she operated cruises from Sydney Australia as a cruise ship and, of course at that time she still had a buff hull. We had First Class cabin, in the very first portside “Court” just forward of the first class main lobby on C Deck. It was a great cruise experience and a fine ship.

Sadly, in 1966, what I call the unbelievable happened, for the wonderful and historical name of “Orient Line” or “Orient Steam Navigation Company” hails back to 1870s, but it now this great company would disappear when they merged and together they simply became the “P&O Line”.

The great and much loved SS Oriana had sailed around the world for almost fourteen years. Bus as it was happening with ships worldwide the late sixties proved to serve up difficult times. The truth is that the round the world service started to become unprofitable with a decline of passengers, being due of course to flights to London , or Europe which were being offered at heavily discounted fares, as well as special super cheap charter flights being arranged. Thus P&O had to make a decision on how to handle this new handicap that came about due to declining bookings.

Oriana the superb looking Cruise Ship seen berthed in an unknown port

Sent by a supporter, but the photographer is unknown, Please see Photo Notes at the bottom of the page

With the Oriana having already served as a part time cruise ship, in 1973 P&O announced that she would now become a full time cruise ship. At first, she remained a two-class ship, however, in 1974, P&O decided that the class barrier would be dropped and the Oriana would become, like other P&O ships a one-class cruise ship.

A number of onboard changes were made with the removal on the Silver Grill on A deck, which was replaced with additional cabins, as well as name changes for some lounges. As a cruise ship, both the SS Oriana and SS Canberra were a remarkable success story.

On Thursday November 12, 1981 SS Oriana departed Southampton for the very last time, and she headed for her new homeport, Sydney . From Sydney she commenced a full time cruise programme, and she very rapidly became the toast of Australian cruise lovers, and better still, theOriana became a great success story for P&O!

She cruised the South Pacific, as well as an occasional Asian itinerary’s. Over all, SS Oriana enjoyed an eighty per cent occupancy rate. Her success had other shipping companies enter the market, placing their ships on full and part time cruise duties from Australia . There were Russian, Italian, Greek even a Chinese company who based their ships in the Southern Hemisphere, all vying for that ever increasing cruise dollar.

Sitmar, P&O and CTC cruise Companies were the most successful these cruise operators. After successfully cruising out of Australia , came a shock announcement on 22 July, 1985. P&O announced that the Oriana might be withdrawn from service. The reason obviously being, the competition from Russian and other cruise companies, all offered heavily discounted fares, effecting P&O’s profits.

However their major competitor was Sitmar Cruises which operated the extremely popular TSS Fairstar , and she had become a major player in the Australian cruise market.

Then on August 7, 1985 it became official; SS Oriana would conclude her official cruise duties on March 27 1986. Although at the time, no decision had been made regarding her future.

SS Oriana departed Sydney on Friday March 14, 1986 for her final 14 day cruise; the ships master for this somewhat sad cruise for cruise was Captain Philip Jackson . The Oriana was packed to the brim with ‘Oriana’ enthusiasts, who had cruised on her many times. The great SS Oriana returned to Sydney on Thursday March 27, sailing majestically through Sydney Heads , with countless ship lovers and those who admired her standing up on the north and south heads, watching her pass, all cheering and waving! She looked so very beautiful as she slowly sailed up the harbour and then past “Sydney Opera House” followed by sailing under the “ Sydney Harbour Bridge ”. Finally she gently docked at the Pyrmont Passenger Terminal and the Cruise Director gave a special farewell speech, as her very last passengers disembarked, having had a most enjoyable cruise, but at the same time very sad, for they knew it would be no longer possible! The Oriana had by now sailed some 3,430,902 nautical miles visiting 108 ports during her career, and she achieved a record cruising speed of 29.21 knots.

It had been announced that SS Oriana would be replaced by the 20,000 GRT Island Princess. She would cruise from Australian ports six months of the year.

However, with the massive popularity of Sitmar Cruises in the UDA as well here in Australia , in 1988, P&O Princess Cruises decided to purchase Sitmar Cruises and their four ships currently in operation, three from US ports and the Fairstar in Australia . P&O decided to use the popular Fairstar as their permanent Australian based cruise ship and she was yhe only ship not to be renamed, whilst ships in the US others were transferred to Princess, as well as three ships that were still being built, which became the MV Star, Regal and Crown Princess.

 Oriana at anchor during a Pacific cruise

The next day after her return from her final cruise, Friday March 28, Oriana was moved to Pyrmont wharf 21, were she remained laid up for two months. Then on May 7, it was announced that the Oriana had been sold to Japanese interests for the use as a floating hotel, museum, and as a restaurant venue.

Oriana is bound for Japan a One Way Voyage:

Oriana’s final departure from Sydney was hampered by strikes; however she finally departed Sydney on the afternoon of Thursday May 29, 1986. Her departure from Sydney became a sombre event, as thousands of past passengers and those who had come to know her distinctive profile whilst in port, looked on with great sadness. A tug sailed ahead of her, spouting her fire hoses, as many small vessels accompanied this great ex Orient Line Passenger Liner to Sydney Heads . The great lady of the sea looked such a sad sight, for her decks were devoid of passengers, and there was no sign of life to be seen anywhere except on her Bridge.

  The much loved SS Oriana says goodbye to Australia

Rather than sailing by her own, four tugs moved her to Sydney Heads … “the tug leading the ship in the photo taken off the Opera House was attached via a towing bridle made up of Oriana's  starboard anchor cable that was secured inboard and led forward through the fore most fairleads. In harbour the bridle was shortened but at the Heads it was lengthened to its catenary length and the ‘Lady Lorraine ’ towed the Oriana to Japan .” Provided by ex P&O crew member and Sydney Ferry man Colin Pursehouse . The ship that was so lovingly known as “The Queen of the Sea” arrived at Osaka , Japan three weeks later.

The Oriana arrived in Japan at 3.00 pm on Tuesday June 24, 1986. She docked at the Hitachi Zosen Shipyards Repair Works at Sakai in Osaka where she was refitted for her new role.

At the Hitachi Zosen Shipyards her propellers as well as her rudder were removed and they were placed on the fore deck by the past crew’s swimming pool. When the renovations were completed she was towed to Beppu Bay .

Official postcard of the Oriana is seen here at Beppu bay, Japan

Although the Oriana as a well built ship, she would obviously have remained afloat, but her new role certainly would not! Soon she became a sad sight, especially when the Japanese owners painted her funnels pink a little later, to Jazz her up. It soon became obvious that the hotel venture failed.

Heading for Shanghai :

In 1995 the Oriana was sold to a Chinese company “Hangzhou Jiebai Group Co Ltd”, and she was towed to Chinwangtao ( Qinhuangdao ) in China where she served as an accommodation centre for the Chinese Government as well as a general hotel.

Then in November 1998, the “Hangzhou West Lake International Tourism Culture Development Co Ltd.” purchased the ship for US$6 million from Qinhuangdao with the latter retaining an 85% stake.

On November 15, she was towed by five tugs from the Qinhuangdao to Shanghai . The refit would take place iat Zing Hua Harbour for the Oriana to once again to become a British style floating tourist Centre. The subsequent US$3.63 million restoration project included new elevators, alarm systems, and climate control throughout the ship. After a media tour on board, a press release stated the following

“ the ship will maintain the traditional British style and elegance of its earlier years. Original furniture, ornamental objects, and even old newspapers will be maintained in the cabins”.

She was taken once again undertow and she arrived and was placed along the Huangpu River at Shanghai ( Pudung District) in early 1999. The all new Oriana was opened to the public on February 16, 1999 with hotel accommodation, a swimming pool, a miniature golf course, a wedding chapel, and a 20,000 square metre exhibition hall. The pubic was most enthusiastic, for it even had a Museum of World-Famous Ship Models . During her early days she received an average of 3,000 visitors per day.

Oriana seen in 2001 as a floating tourist attraction now located in Shanghai

She was attached to her moorings, as can be seen in this photograph

Holding a 85% stake in the ship (15% was held by Hangzhou Jiebai Group Co Ltd), Hangzhou West Lake International Tourism Culture Development Co Ltd announced on August 15, 2000, that they would auction its holdings in the Oriana. Even though Oriana had more than 500,000 visitors, somehow she was not making the profits originally anticipated. Thus finally it was decided to sell their shares at auction, which took place on September 28, 2000.

Hangzhou based Song Dynasty Town Group succeeded to net an 85% stake for a price of US$7.25 million from one of the liner's major shareholders at the said auction. Mr. Huang Qiaoling who was a member of the board of directors, revealed that the future operation of the liner will focus on its features as a “British culture and a palace at sea.”

Oriana’s Final Port Dalian China :

In December 2001 we heard that she would be bound for Dalian in China and that she would be refitted to turn her into a floating theme park, a maritime museum, with banquet halls and restaurants and cafes, perfect for tourists and locals alike.

But then I had heard that the “Hangzhou Songcheng Group”, a company from east China ’s Zhejiang Province had invested almost 300 million Yuan, being US$ 375,000 to purchase the ship in 2001 and refit her.

Oriana was towed to the port of Dalian , arriving there on June 30, 2002 and she was placed at a permanent berth at Xinghai Bay . With her new internal and external refit completed, all the observers clearly stated that the Oriana now looked better than she had for a very long time, being freshly painted and bedecked with flags. She looked more like the Oriana the people knew. The event was covered on television, and she became the talking point in Dalian . She soon opened to the public in her new popular resort role and she was a huge hit with the locals and International tourists alike.

A press release stated that: “Visitors will be able to see the ship’s original bridge, VIP hall, post office, hospital and museums, and enjoy films and artistic performances.” The Oriana was finally a actual ,   and I do mean a real success! “May she have many more great years” was our wish for her! BUT.

The Oriana at Dalian was certainly magnificent, I only did not like the red lifeboats, but the ship was a Chinese Masterpiece!

But as I said, sadly just two years later a tragic end came to Oriana’s newfound success!

On Wednesday June 16, 2004 the region of Dalian and of course the Oriana was struck by the one of the most vicious and powerful typhoons and she was badly damaged. She took on a great deal of water due to her being holed at bow that saw her lower decks flooded, and very soon she was listing to port.

Although attempts were made to right her and the owners even considered restoring her, however the cost proved to be far too great.   All that could be done is temporarily concrete the holes and stop the water entering and pump out as much water as possible, which they did. It could only have happened on Friday the 13th . of May , 2005 … SS Oriana departed Dalian and undertow to “ Wayou Breakers” scrap yard at Zhangiagang China , where our beloved SS Oriana the ship that was once “The Queen of The Sea” was sadly broken up, aged 45 years since her maiden voyage.

ex Crew member,  Simon Lockyer , provided us with this excellent photograph of the Oriana

For this is how we like to remember her as a popular cruise ship

Photograph by & © Simon Lockyer

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SS Oriana - Main Index :

PART ONE …

Designing & Building the Oriana - ONLY available to ssmaritime.com:

Images from the naval architect & designer of the SS Oriana :

Page 1:        The building of SS Oriana

Page 2:        The launching and fitting out of SS Oriana

Page 3:        Sea trials and Oriana’s maiden voyage

Page 4:        Deck Plan, Rare Photographs and other Images

Page 5:        Countless Specifications & Oriana Facts (NEW)

PART TWO …                                  

Oriana’s General History Pages :

Page 1:        History and Images of the Oriana  

Page 2:        Oriana Postcards issued in 1960

Page 3:        Oriana Photo Album - Page 1

Page 4:        Oriana Photo Album - Page 2

Page 5:        Oriana “Lady of the Sea” by Neil Whitmore

Page 6:        The Paul Oliver & Colin Pursehouse Collection

Page 6b :        Paul Oliver Story

Page 7:        Dalian  - See the sad photographs of SS Oriana damaged during a storm

Page 7b:        Oriana at Zhangiagang shipyard in China - Taken 29 July & 9 September 2005, the demolition of a liner

This is recommended reading!

“ Orient Line – A Fleet History ”

Is available for £23.50 plus p&p from “Ships in Focus”

email : [email protected]

Also Visit our Features on the following Orient Lines/P&O Ships

Orient Lines: RMS Orcades – SS Oronsay - SS Oriana - RMS Orion

P&O: RMS Strathaird -  SS Iberia - SS Canberra

********************************

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Cruise Ship Odyssey

Oriana (1995)  – piano land (2019).

• June 17, 2023

Oriana  is the first purpose-built cruise ship commissioned for P&O Cruises and the first cruise ship especially designed for the British cruise market. P&O is the world’s oldest cruise company, starting passenger shipping operations in 1822 on routes connecting England with Spain and Portugal. Their  Ceylon  which was converted from liner to cruise ship is said to have undertaken the first ever cruise in 1881. The company became a subsidiary of Princess Cruises in 2000 and is now (since 2003) one of the brands (actually two: P&O UK and P&O Australia), being owned by Carnival Corporation.

Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany built  Oriana  at a cost of 200 million pounds. She was the largest passenger ship ever built in Germany when launched in June 1994 and entered service in April 1995.  P&O had been searching for a suitable yard in the UK to build her, but no yard was found capable to do the job at the time, so they were forced to choose a foreign yard.

Oriana  was christened by HM Queen Elizabeth II on April 6, 1995 departing for her maiden voyage from Southampton on April 9, 1995.

She was the predecessor of  Aurora , also built by Meyer Werft and delivered to P&O Cruises in 2000.  Oriana  was the fastest cruise ship in the P&O fleet and for this she received the Golden Cockerel in 1997, P&O’s trophy awarded to their fastest vessel. It was previously held by  SS Oriana , then passed to  SS Canberra  before it was handed over to  Oriana . Both liners were anchored near Cannes, south of France and each sent a tender out for the official handover ceremony.

In 1995, her first year in service, she sailed on 17 cruises of longer duration, ranging from 12 to 23 nights, followed by a 90-day world cruise starting January 1996, during which she called at 28 ports, 24 being maiden calls for a P&O ship.

Oriana  was an outstanding cruise ship at the time of her introduction, having the largest swimming pool at sea. Also, she had the largest outdoor deck area and the largest stabilizers ever fitted to a cruise ship, which were able to reduce rolling by 90% at a speed of 19 knots.

She is powered by four MAN B&W L58/64 diesel engines driving two controllable pitch propellers.  The engines have an output of 37,750kW giving her a service speed of 24 knots.

Measuring 69,153GRT,  Oriana  has an overall length of 261m, beam of 32.2m and a draft of 8.2m. With a crew of 800, her maximum passenger capacity was 1,928.

She had a total of 941 cabins: among them 24 suites, 106 balcony staterooms, 331 inside staterooms and (most of these) 480 Oceanview rooms being 150 ft2. Of course her suites are the largest measuring 415 ft2.

Oriana ’s public spaces were reminiscent of English country houses with the intimate atmosphere British passengers like. Well-known interior designer John McNeece was instructed to create this British atmosphere on board and he designed multiple public spaces like the Pacific Lounge , Anderson’s, Lord’s Tavern, , the Emporium, Harlequins, the Casino, the Knightsbridge Shops, the Photo Gallery. Robert Tillberg from Sweden was also involved in desiging  Oriana . Both architects spent time aboard the  Canberra  finding out what passengers wished in the new ships interiors. It is said that  Oriana ’s funnel is a near copy of the twin funnels of  Canberra .

Starting on her top deck, The Sun Deck accommodates pools, the sports court and the Oasis Spa and salon offering thermal lounges, a steam room, treatment rooms and even an aerobics floor.

On the Lido Deck the Conservatory restaurant, Terrace Grill and Al Fresco Pizzeria are situated.

D deck features the Pacific Lounge which hosts cabaret acts and doubles as a lecture room, as well as Chaplin’s cinema and the Terrace Pool.

One deck down, on Promenade Deck, Theatre Royal, Harlequin’s bar and nightclub, Monte Carlo Club casino, Knightsbridge and Anderson’s bar can be found. Both two main dining rooms the Peninsular and Oriental (each seats 500 guests) are on E deck, again one deck down. Two other eateries on the same deck are the Sorrento, an Italian restaurant offering pizza, pasta and seafood and Ocean Grill serving British cuisine.

So apart from her sports facilities, bars and restaurants,  Oriana ’s passengers have an impressive theatre extending over three decks at their disposal and show lounge/ ballroom, cinema and library as well. The ship’s focal point is her atrium, four decks high featuring a spectacular 12 meter high waterfall.

During her career,  Oriana  was refitted several times, for the first time in December 2006 for £12m, her first major overhaul and in the process she was re-registered from Britain to Bermuda to make on board weddings possible. She received a new restaurant, the Oriana Rhodes restaurant, being the former Curzon Room. This restaurant was created by celebrity chef Gary Rhodes (this was later changed to the Sindhu Restaurant  by chef Atul Kochhar). The Lord’s Tavern bar was enlarged. Finally her staterooms were redecorated (new furniture and colour schemes).

Five years later she was drydocked for a month for yet another upgrade in November 2011.  Oriana  was converted to an adult-only ship. Her stern was rebuilt. She was given an additional 27 new cabins on deck eight aft where before the children’s play area had been located.

Oriana  underwent a 3-week refurbishment at Blohm + Voss Shipyard in Hamburg in November 2016. She was thoroughly renovated: not only her outer decks but also all public rooms, bars, restaurants and staterooms were redecorated with new carpets, furniture, lighting. Theatre Royal received new lighting and sound equipment.

In January 2018 she was drydocked for technical maintenance.

Between 2011 and 2014 she suffered outbreaks of norovirus, in some cases affecting hundreds of passengers and she was nicknamed  “the plague ship” at the time as these outbreaks kept coming back.

After a 24-year career with P&O Cruises UK, the  Oriana  was sold to new owners in China and completed her final sailing for P&O ( an 18-day cruise from Southampton to Faroe Islands – Lofoten – Honnigsvag – Spitsbergen – Tromso – Alesund – Belfast  and back to Southampton) returning on August 9, 2019.

At the time she was the oldest vessel in the P&O (UK) fleet. She was one of their adult ships together with fleetmates  Arcadia  and  Aurora .  During her service with P&O  Oriana  followed a repeating schedule sailing mostly out of Southampton to the Canary Islands, British Isles, Norwegian Fjords, the Baltic, Iceland and the Mediterranean, but she also did Caribbean cruises, an annual world cruise and transatlantic repositioning cruises.

After her sale  Oriana  was chartered back to P&O until mid-August 2019 before she would be handed over to her new owners.

During her final sailing her first captain, Ian Gibb was on board. She was under the command of Captain Sarah Bretton, who, together with P&O President Paul Ludlow presented Gibb with a sword that had originally been given as a gift during her naming ceremony by Queen Elizabeth II in April 1995 and had remained on board ever since.  Oriana ’s farewell event was held on board on August 9, while she was docked in Southampton after completing her last voyage for P&O.

Oriana  left England on August 16 and was handed over to her new owners on August 17.

Her new owner Astro Ocean Cruises is a joint venture company between China Travel Service (CTS) and China Ocean Shipping Group Company (COSCO) and this is their first venture in the cruise industry. Up till then COSCO which currently is the 6 th -largest container shipping line in the world gaining a majority stake in Piraeus Port Authority in 2016 and their Zhoushan Shipyard completing several cruise ship refurbishments had been their only link to passenger shipping.

Astro Ocean Cruises will compete with the other large Chinese joint venture travel company CSSC Carnival Cruise shipping, founded in 2019, partners are China Investment Corp. and Chinese State Shipbuilding Corp..  Costa Atlantica  and  Costa Mediterranea  are the first two vessels shifted to the new company, two further vessels will follow in 2023 and 2024, they will be newbuildings based on the Vista class vessels.

V-Ships Leisure has been given the contract to handle technical and hotel operations management of the  Piano Land  as  Oriana  has been renamed. The name refers to the Chinese island of Gulangyu, known as the ‘Island of Music’.

They have set up a new branch in China to support this and are the first shipmanager to do so in China. Of course V-Ships has an impressive legacy in the cruise industry when it comes to managing passenger ships and are the perfect company for the job.

Piano Land  was christened by Ni Chao, who is director of the Xiamen Municipal Committee and also the Free Trade Commission on 26 September 2019.

Immediately,  Piano Land  was refurbished by her new owners in September 2019 resulting in new shops at the 2-level shopping mall (situated on decks 6-7) and a choice of premium brands is on offer specializing in high-end products like leather goods, designer bags, fashion clothing,  perfumes, sunglasses, watches, tobacco, alcohol etc.

In April 2020, with their ship out of service because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was decided to send her to the COSCO-yard in Zhoushan for some further upgrades during a month long refit. A new class of luxury suites will be added with their own dining area, similar to other examples seen more often on large cruise ships, where passengers live in their own luxury “bubble”, like for example Norwegian Cruise Line’s The Haven.

To encourage families cruising with  Piano Land , specific staterooms will get a third berth, encouraging family travel, according to Astro Ocean. Also, the ship’s shopping area, which had already been expanded in her 2019 refit, will now triple in size offering over 100 international brands .

Regarding to COVID-19, several measures were taken,  for example specific staterooms will be set up and reserved for any medical emergencies, and if  Piano Land  will return to service, all interior staterooms will remain empty to lower the number of guests on board, Finally, a new HVAC system  is installed allowing frequent circulation of fresh air, coming close to 100 percent fresh air.

She is homeported in Xiamen, China and started sailing in October 2019. In 2020, Astro Ocean Cruises planned to introduce an itinerary from Shanghai and Zhoushan to ports in Japan (Naha-Okinawa) and China (Ningbo), but the COVID-19 pandemic has cut her season short. Astro has firm plans to add more ships as soon as possible to strengthen its position in the Asian cruise industry.

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P&O Oriana – Cruise Ship

Oriana is the first cruise ship commissioned for P&O Cruises. Built by Meyer Werft, the vessel entered service in April 1995 as the first ship designed for the UK cruise market.

Cruise ship

Start of Refurbishment

November 2011

December 2011

Passenger Capacity

1,818 (regular), 1,928 (maximum)

Maximum Speed

Oriana is the first cruise ship commissioned for P&O Cruises. Built by Meyer Werft, the vessel entered service in April 1995 as the first cruise ship designed for the British cruise market.

Oriana was constructed at Meyer Werft’s shipyard located in Papenburg, Germany. It was launched in June 1994. The cruise ship commenced her maiden voyage from Southampton on 9 April 1995.

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Oriana underwent a £12m refit in December 2006. The ship was upgraded with the new Oriana Rhodes restaurant. The Lord’s Tavern bar was expanded. The staterooms were restyled with new colour schemes and interiors. Oriana was also re-registered from Britain to Bermuda in the same year to host weddings at sea.

The 69,000grt cruise ship has an overall length of 261m, beam of 32.2m and a draft of 8.2m. Oriana can complement a crew of 800. The maximum passenger capacity of the ship is 1,928.

Oriana cruise ship refurbishment

Oriana entered the dry-dock for a multimillion pound makeover in November 2011. The one month-long refurbishment transformed the ship into an ‘adult-only’ vessel. Oriana was given an additional 27 new cabins on deck eight aft and the Ocean Grill restaurant.

The refit also resulted in a second restaurant, Sorrento, with an outdoor dining area. The aft deck and its bar saw design changes and décor in the public areas and Oasis Spa was revamped.

The Mediterranean-style café, Al Fresco, has been reinvigorated with new looks. The completely refurbished Pacific Lounge received new seating and carpeting, as well as new hand rails to the seating rows.

The new lighting and multimedia equipment have been installed in the Theatre Royal. The Low Carbon Leather supplied by Andrew Muirhead & Son and the Bridge of Weir Leather Company was used in the makeover of leather interiors.

P&O Cruises’ Oriana facilities

The refurbished cruise ship offers 909 passenger cabins located over ten decks. The room categories available include: inside cabin, outside cabin, deluxe balcony cabin, suite and mini-suite.

All rooms are provided with a TV, radio and telephone, hair-dryer, refrigerator, a safe, tea / coffee makers, air conditioning, writing desk and chair, wardrobe and drawer space.

The Peninsular and Oriental are the two main dining venues located on the E deck. Each dining venue offers seating for more than 500 guests. Ocean Grill serves modern British cuisine with a wide range of menu options. The Sorrento is an Italian restaurant offering pizza, pasta and seafood. The Lido Deck has the Al Fresco Pizzeria, Terrace Grill and The Conservatory restaurants.

The D deck features Chaplin’s Cinema and the Terrace Pool. The Pacific Lounge hosts cabaret acts and is also used as a lecture room. Entertainment venues, such as the Theatre Royal, Harlequin’s bar and nightclub, Knightsbridge, Monte Carlo Club casino and Anderson’s bar, are located on the Promenade Deck.

The Sun Deck provides plenty of space to accommodate pools, sports court and golf nets. The Oasis Spa and salon offers new thermal lounges and a dedicated aerobics floor. Other facilities include a steam room and treatment rooms.

Propulsion of P&O’s improved cruise ship

Oriana is powered by four MAN B&W L58/64 diesel engines driving two controllable pitch propellers through two Renk-Tacke gearboxes. The gear boxes are coupled to engines via Vulkan-Rato couplings. The engines deliver a combined power of 37,750kW.

The propulsion system also integrates three bow thrusters, one stern thruster and two rudders.

The cruise ship is installed with stabilisers to reduce the rolling motion by 90% at a speed of 19kt. The shipboard power is provided by four MAN B&W 6L40/54 auxiliary diesel generator sets. The propulsion system provides a service speed of 24kt.

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Oriana has become one of Britain's most popular cruise ships, following her launch by HM the Queen in 1995. Known as a ship which displays timeless style, Oriana is ideally suited to the sophisticated and experienced traveller who isn’t totally wedded to gourmet cuisine. The décor is superb, featuring elegant furniture, wonderful carpets and flooring and rooms that don’t echo with ambient noise. She has been specifically designed to suit British tastes and the cultural heritage of this traditional-style vessel runs through it like the wording in a stick of rock. Following a multi-million facelift in 2011, Oriana was launched as an adult-only ship and the original offering was enhanced rather than radically altered. The refurbishment saw the addition of 27 new cabins, including balconies and singles, in place of the previous children's area, a refreshed spa and a new seating area where the children's pool used to be. Other changes included the addition of new restaurants.

These new dining options include Marco Pierre White’s Ocean Grill restaurant, which replaced fellow celebrity chef Gary Rhodes’ dining venue, and the Italian-themed Sorrento restaurant. The latter specialises in all things Italian with novel dishes such as the ‘cook your own' fillet of beef, which is brought to the table on a sizzling slab of Italian lava rock and you leave the meat in situ until it's done to your liking. You can also enjoy the Mediterranean styled Al Fresco and Oriana's special Club Dining experience in the Peninsular or Oriental restaurants, where you'll make new friends as you recount all the fun you've had during the day.

Of course, holidays should be about relaxing and Oriana is the perfect place to do so with the beautiful Oasis Spa and salon. The salon features Elemis products and a good selection of beauty and pampering treatments, including more specialist therapies such as Ayurveda and acupuncture. Along with the usual sauna and other facilities the spa also has two cosy thermal loungers, installed as part of the 2011 refit. However, if you prefer to be a little more active whilst on holiday, you’ll find a state of the art gym onboard. The L-shaped gym is surprisingly big with a fleet of modern high-tech cross trainers, running and rowing machines, free weights and other fitness equipment. As well as the deck walking and jogging track, play a game of shuffleboard, deck tennis, five-a-side football or pad up in the cricket nets and practice your cover drives.

Evening entertainment options include pianists tickling the ivories in the glass-roofed Tiffany Lounge and more lively music in the Lord's Tavern sports pub. One of the stand-out features onboard Oriana is her Crow’s Nest bar, which is the perfect spot to watch the passing scenery at sunset and enjoy a cocktail or two. You can also pick up a new-release movie in Chaplin's Cinema, take in a show, listen to live music or see if Lady Luck is on your side in the Monte Carlo Club Casino.

Line: P&O Cruises Launched: 30/06/1994 Tonnage: 69153 Length: 260 Total Crew: 794 Occupancy: 1928 Ship Rating:

Life on Board

Entertainment

• Chaplins Cinema
• Body Composition
• Fitness Ball
• Nutritional Consultants
• Personal Training
• Slimming Treatments
• Step Classes
• Tennis, Yoga

Food and Drink

• Anderson's
• Bistro Jardins
• Lords Tavern
• Oriental Restaurant
• Peninsular Restaurant
• 4 x Restaurants
• Riviera Bar
• Terrace Bar
• The Crow's Nest
• Art Gallery
• Explorers Tour Desk

Recreational

• Deck Cricket
• Deck Football
• Deck Quoits
• Knightsbridge
• 3 x Outdoor Pools
• Shuffle Board
• Table Tennis
• Tiffany's
• Balinese Head Massage
• Beauty Treatments for Men
• Cloud Walking
• Conservatory
• Curzon Room
• Facial Treatments
• Hand and Foot Rituals
• Hot Stone Therapy
• Medina Room
• Pacific Lounge
• Reflexology
• Tanning Treatments
• Thackeray Room

Deck 4 - G Deck

Cabin Codes

NA - Inside Stateroom with Bath/Shower (Inside)

Two lower beds convertible to king-size bed Bathroom with bath, shower and WC or shower and WC Three single wardrobes and drawer space Two seater corner sofa, chair and table Vanity table/writing desk TV and radio Safe, hairdryer and refrigerator Direct dial telephone Large picture mirror

NB - Inside Stateroom with Bath/Shower (Inside)

OB - Inside Stateroom with Shower (Inside)

OC - Inside Stateroom with Shower (Inside)

OD - Inside Stateroom with Shower (Inside)

EA - Deluxe Outside Stateroom with Bath/Shower (Outside)

Two lower beds convertible to a king-size bed Bathroom with bath, shower and WC or shower and WC Three single wardrobes and drawer space Two seater corner sofa, chair and table Vanity table/writing desk TV and radio Safe, hairdryer and refrigerator Direct dial telephone Large picture window Fully air-conditioned.

KB - Outside Stateroom with Bath/Shower (Outside)

KC - Outside Stateroom with Bath/Shower (Outside)

LB - Outside Stateroom with Shower (Outside)

LC - Outside Stateroom with Shower (Outside)

DA - Deluxe Balcony Stateroom with Bath/Shower (Balcony)

Two lower beds convertible to a king-size bed Bathroom with bath, shower and WC Separate sitting area with sofa, chair and table Two double wardrobes and drawer space Vanity table/writing desk TV and radio Safe, hairdryer and refrigerator Direct dial telephone, floor to ceiling patio doors leading to balcony with chairs and table.

DB - Deluxe Balcony Stateroom with Bath/shower (Balcony)

AB - Suite with Balcony and Bath/Shower (Suite)

Separate bedroom with two lower beds convertible to a king-size bed, walk-in dressing area, two double wardrobes, drawer space, trouser press and ironing board Bathroom with jacuzzi bath, shower and WC Separate lounge with sofa, armchairs and table Writing desk and chair Two TV's, video and radio Safe, hairdryer and refrigerator/bar cabinet Direct dial telephone Floor to ceiling patio doors leading to balcony with two loungers, chairs and table Guest bathroom with WC Fully air-conditioned

BA - Mini-Suite with Balcony and Bath/Shower (Suite)

Two lower beds convertible to a king-size bed Two double wardrobes, drawer space, trouser press and ironing board Bathroom with jacuzzi bath, shower and WC Separate sitting area with sofa, armchairs and table Writing desk and chair TV, video and radio Safe, hairdryer and refrigerator/bar cabinet Direct dial Telephone Floor to ceiling patio doors leading to balcony with two loungers and table Fully air-conditioned.

• Dining: Two dining rooms plus several casual eateries and a Gary Rhodes premium pay-extra dining venue
• Main Penninsula Restaurant offers Freedom Dining, available to passengers booking Select Price fares. Just arrive any time between 1800 and 2130, and you'll be seated as soon as practical. Menus for dinner run to five courses, and six courses on Gala Nights. Afternoon tea is also served here
• Oriental Restaurant showcases traditional, two sitting dining. Choose from first sitting at 1830, or second sitting at 2030. You'll be seated at the same table every night to enjoy a five course dinner. This venue also serves a daily afternoon tea
• The Conservatory offers relaxed, upper deck dining at any time of the day for all main meals, and a selction of hot and cold snacks through until six in the morning
• Al Fresco offers poolside breakfast and lunch with something of an Italian twist
• Sindhu is a P&O signature restaurant, offering chef Atul Kochhar' signature English/Indian fusion food. Extra supplement applies
• The Beach House is set within an indoor/outdoor area of The Conservatory, and offers up steak, seafood and other grilled fare either indoors or outside. Extra supplement applies
• Top accommodation: Eight suites, with private balconies, whirlpool baths and separate bedrooms, but still on the small side at 500 square feet
• Entertainment and facilities: Great ballroom dancing on the many wood floored lounges onboard, and good programming of British acts in the theatre and other lounges
• Tipping: At your discretion

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Cruise Ship   Oriana

Cruises On Oriana

• The Last NORTH ATLANTIC Ocean Liners
• Last Ocean Liners to AFRICA & LATIN AMERICA
• To AUSTRALIA, FAR EAST & AROUND-the-WORLD
• SAILING SCHEDULES January to December 1966
• RANK & COMPARE the Last Ocean Liners

The Last Ocean Liners

P&o-orient lines, orcades / oronsay / orsova / himalaya / chusan / arcadia / iberia / oriana / canberra / cathay / chitral.

To the ship profiles

Air travel was making its impact on the ocean liner, and so new ideas were needed to attract passengers to travel by sea. Accordingly, the seven newer ships were refurbished and refitted with complete air-conditioning. The distinctive corn colored hulls of the Orient liners were painted tropical white to match the P&O ships. Entertainment became a major feature of the voyage.

By 1963, the last of the pre-World War II ocean liners were retired, including P&O's Strathaird , Strathnaver , Strathmore and Stratheden as well as Orient Line's Orion and Orontes . Himalaya and Orcades were then reconfigured as all tourist class, leaving P&O-Orient Lines with an all modern fleet.

In the early 1970s, with the inevitable decline in point-to-point sea travel and a dramatic increase in fuel prices, P&O ceased most of its line voyages. First, the Cathay and Chitral were transferred to a P&O subsidiary in 1970 for further service between Australia and the Far East. Then they quickly retired and scrapped Iberia , Orcades , Chusan , Orsova , Himalaya and Oronsay . The Arcadia was used for both cruising and line voyages until 1979. That left only Canberra and Oriana , which were redeployed as full-time cruise ships.

Sample minimum one-way fares from Southampton to Sydney: First class $840; Tourist class $518; from Southampton to Yokohama: First class $934; Tourist class $583; from San Francisco to Southampton: First class $560; Tourist class $439; from San Francisco to Sydney: First class $504; Tourist class $405; All fares are per person in U.S. dollars.

Go to P&O-Orient Lines sailing schedules or select schedules by ship below:

Oriana Closes Out P&O Cruises Career

• August 11, 2019

After a 24-year career with P&O Cruises UK, the Oriana is now heading to new owners in China and completed her final sailing for P&O on August 9 when she returned to Southampton.

The 1,822-guest ship will be renamed the Piano Land and is expected to start operations from Xiamen, China, later this year.

A ceremony was held aboard during the Oriana’a final sailing as her first captain, Ian Gibb, was aboard to discuss his career and the Oriana.

Her final sailing happened under the command of Captain Sarah Bretton, who, along with P&O President Paul Ludlow, presented Gibb with a sword that he originally accepted during the ship’s April 1995 naming by Queen Elizabeth II and had remained aboard since.

The ship launched in 1995 and was built at Meyer Werft at a cost of 200 million pounds.

She had the largest swimming pool at sea when she debuted in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean in 1995.

In addition, she had the most outdoor deck area and the largest stabilizers ever fitted to a cruise ship.

Her inaugural 1995 deployment was made up 17 cruises, ranging from 12 to 23 nights, followed by a 90-night world voyage that departed in January 1996, that included 28 ports and 24 maiden calls for P&O.

Built with a cruising speed of 24 knots, she was said to be the fastest cruise ship built in the last 25 years when she debuted in 1995.

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