the oriana cruise ship

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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Photographs on ssmaritime.com, & .net and associate sites are : 1 . By the author. 2 . From the author’s private collection. 3 . Or as provided by Shipping Companies and their Publicity Companies as well as by private photographers or collectors. Credit is given to all contributors whenever possible.

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Oriana’s interior design is reminiscent of English country houses of centuries gone by, while its elegant exterior features a sleek design and white hull. It also has a lot to offer from a technical perspective, cruising through the oceans at an impressive rate of 24 knots. The sheer depth of the vessel ensures incredibly peaceful cruising. When Oriana left the MEYER WERFT docks, it was the most modern cruise ship of its era.

Oriana was delivered to P&O Cruises in 1995, measuring 260 metres in length and featuring 914 staterooms – it was the largest passenger ship that had ever been built in Germany. The cruise liner was the predecessor of Aurora, which MEYER WERFT delivered to P&O Cruises in 2000.

Oriana’s theatre extends over three decks, featuring an orchestra pit, stage lift and revolving stage. With a cinema, ballroom, casino and library, Oriana’s passengers really are spoiled for choice. They can also enjoy a game of tennis or a relaxing session in the luxurious spa. The ship’s hub is the atrium, which extends over four decks and features an eye-catching 12-metre waterfall.

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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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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.

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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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Cruise Ship   Oriana

Cruises On Oriana

Oriana Decks and Cabins

• Deck 7 Prom
• Deck 12 Lido
• Deck 13 Sun
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Built in 1995, the P&O Cruises UK Oriana cruise ship weighs 69K tons and has 941 staterooms for up to 1882 passengers served by 800 crew . There are 13 passenger decks, 6 with cabins. You can expect a space ratio of 37 gross tons per passenger on this ship. On this page are the current deck plans for Oriana showing deck plan layouts, public venues and all the types of cabins including pictures and videos.

P&O Cruises UK Oriana

Last Drydock: Nov 2016

STATEROOM CABINS COMPLETE LIST BELOW

Floor Diagram Suite

Sleeps up to: 3 8 Cabins Cabin: 414 sqft (39 m 2 ) Balcony: 83 sqft (8 m 2 )

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Deck locations, stateroom cabin features, stateroom cabin perks.

Floor Diagram Mini-Suite

Sleeps up to: 3 16 Cabins Cabin: 306 sqft (29 m 2 ) Balcony: 62 sqft (6 m 2 )

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DELUXE BALCONY

Floor Diagram Deluxe Balcony

Sleeps up to: 4 106 Cabins Cabin: 220 sqft (21 m 2 ) Balcony: 30 sqft (3 m 2 ) * Size may vary, see details below.

Important Size Information

Floor Diagram Outside

Sleeps up to: 4 480 Cabins Cabin: 150 sqft (14 m 2 ) * Size may vary, see details below.

 Accessible Info [+/-]

Floor Diagram Inside

Sleeps up to: 4 331 Cabins Cabin: 150 sqft (14 m 2 ) * Size may vary, see details below.

Oriana Deck Page Menu

Click deck pictures to go to individual cruise deck plan pages where you can see all the public areas, venues and stateroom cabins categories for each deck.

Oriana Quick Stats

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Oriana Links

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Former name: P&O Oriana

Cruise line Astro Ocean Cruise China (Small Cruise Lines)

Piano Land current position

Piano Land current location is at China Coast (coordinates 29.78461 N / 122.09713 E) cruising en route to ZOS>CN. The AIS position was reported 13 minutes ago.

Specifications of Piano Land

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Piano Land Review

Review of piano land.

MS Piano Land cruise ship was launched in 1995 as P&O Oriana - the oldest liner in the P&O UK's fleet . Oriana was also one of the company's "adult ships" - together with the fleetmates Arcadia and Aurora . MS Oriana (MMSI 310529000, Bermuda- flagged ) left the P&O fleet in August 2019.

Oriana ship's farewell event was held onboard on August 9 (2019), while the liner was docked in Southampton England after completing its last voyage for the UK company. Oriana left England on August 16. The new shipowner officially took over the vessel on August 17. The arrival in Hong Kong China was scheduled for late-September. For October-November (2019) were scheduled short-breaks from Shenzhen (Shekou) before the homeporting in Xiamen (December).

History - construction and ownership

P&O Cruises is a subsidiary company and two brands owned by Carnival Corporation - P&O UK and P&O Australia. In 2000, P&O Cruises became subsidiary of P&O Princess Cruises, which merged with Carnival Corporation in 2003. PandO is the world's oldest cruise company, starting passenger shipping operations in 1822 on the routes connecting England with Iberia.

The 69,840-ton, 1,882-passenger cruise ship Oriana was the oldest but the fastest cruise ship in the P&O fleet. At the time of its debut, the vessel was among the biggest cruise liners in the world and the biggest ever built in Germany. MV Oriana was christened by HM The Queen of the UK and Commonwealth on April 6, 1995. The ship underwent a couple of major drydock refurbishments . The first one, in December 2006, was for GBP 12 million. P&O Oriana was re-registered from Britain to Bermuda to allow onboard weddings. The second drydock was in late 2011 when the vessel received 27 new staterooms and two new venues for dining. P&O Cruises ' Oriana cruise ship will undergo a 3-week refurbishment at Blohm+Voss Shipyard ( Hamburg ) at the end of November 2016. The refit resulted in a complete renovation of all restaurants, bars, passenger staterooms, public spaces, outdoor decks.

The current shipowner is Astro Ocean Cruises - travel brand and joint venture company of CTS (China National Travel Service Group Corporation Ltd) and COSCO (China Ocean Shipping Group). COSCO is currently ranked as China's largest and world's 6th- largest container shipping line . The other large Chinese joint venture travel company is CSSC-Carnival Cruise Shipping/Adora Cruises (2019-founded).

During the ship's refurbishment in September 2019 were added new shops at the 2-level shopping mall (decks 6-7) with premium international brands specializing in leather goods, designer bags, fashion clothing and accessories, perfumes, skincare products, sunglasses, watches, tobacco, alcohol. Onboard payments can be made in cash, with credit cards and via WeChat Pay and AliPay.

Cruise itinerary program

MS Oriana itinerary program was based on cruises from Southampton , including Caribbean Islands voyages, annual “World Cruise” (roundtrip from the UK), roundtrip from Southampton to the Canary Islands, British Isles, Norway Fjords, Iceland, Baltic, Mediterranean, also Transatlantic repositioning crossings. Next is listed ship's last PandO cruise, before the transfer to the new Chinese owner.

18-day "Norway and North Cape"

The Chinese cruise liner Piano Land is homeported in Xiamen (China) , starting operations in mid-October 2019. In 2020, Astro Ocean Cruises introduced a new roundtrip itinerary from Shanghai that visits Naha-Okinawa (Japan) and Ningbo-Zhoushan (China) . From homeport Zhoushan were scheduled 4 departures (in March 2020) on roundtrips to Japan and China.

Oriana has a total of 941 cabins (of which 24 Suite, 106 Balcony, 331 Inside rooms) in 20 grades. Most Oriana staterooms are 150-sq.foot Oceanview rooms (480). The largest aboard Oriana is the Suite (415 ft2).

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Oriana emerged from a month-long dry dock in late 2011, during which a pair of new dining venues were added. The first new restaurant, Marco Pierre White's Ocean Grill, provides cuisine described as new British; menu options include choices like Thai fishcakes, cheese souffle, grilled lobster and wild boar burgers. The 2nd, Sorrento, is an Italian restaurant which is offering pizza, pasta, and seafood. Versions of both dining venues are found on Adonia (now Azamara Pursuit) and Arcadia (kids-free vessel). Cover charges fluctuate by the length of the cruise. For the Ocean Grill, it's 12.95 pounds per person on a route of 8 or more days, 17.95 pounds for 3 to 7 days and 22.95 pounds for 1 to 2 days. Supplements do apply for some items, but in actuality, pretty well everything on the menu is engaged. Sorrento costs 5 pounds (route of 8 or more days), 7.50 pounds (route of 3 to 7 days) or 10 pounds (routes of 1 to 2 days) and also has supplements for some items.

Follows the complete list of Oriana restaurants and food bars.

• Peninsular Restaurant (498-seat forward Dining Room; club dining venue with large windows; offers Breakfast 8:00 - 9:30 a.m., Lunch 12:00 - 1:30 p.m., Afternoon Tea 4:00 - 4:45 p.m., two fixed seatings for Dinner at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m.)
• Oriental Restaurant (500-seat aft Dining Room; club dining venue, with large windows, dinners only, with two fixed seatings at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. The menu is the same as at the Peninsular’s)
• Ocean Grill Restaurant and Bar (speciality dining by celebrity chef Marco Pierre-White; dinner only 6:00 - 10:00 p.m., reservation-only; also serving Suite guests Breakfast)
• Tiffany Court (complimentary restaurant; serves lite Breakfast and Lunch)
• Tiffany’s Lounge and Bar (patisserie with speciality coffee bar by “Costa Coffee”; serves light snacks for breakfast and lunch)
• Sorrento Restaurant and Bar (Italian; speciality dining; Sorrento Bar)
• The Conservatory Restaurant and Bar (buffet-style; provides indoor/outdoor seating; open for Breakfast 6:30 - 7:00 a.m., Lunch 12:00 - 3 p.m., Afternoon Tea and snacks 3:00 - 5:00 p.m., and Dinner 6:30 - 9 p.m.; features themed buffets and self service, complimentary Pizzeria; Conservatory Bar)
• Al Fresco Pizzeria (complimentary indoor/outdoor restaurant).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Evening entertainment starts at 6 p.m. with options like pianists tickling the ivories in the Crow's Nest and Tiffany Lounge and more live music in Lord's Tavern sports pub. The Crow's Nest is the perfect spot to watch passing scenery at sunset over a reasonably priced cocktail of the day (around £3.75). The nightly shows in ship's Theatre Royal, at 8.30 p.m. and 10.30 p.m., are excellent and well supported. The resident Headliners Theatre Company stages a variety of well-choreographed performances. Oriana's Pacific Lounge is more intimate and generally hosts solo singers. The Harlequins venue alternates between ballroom dancing and disco music. The casino with gaming tables and slot machines open at 7 p.m. Additional amenities include Complimentary 24-hour Room-Service, Internet/WiFi access, laundry/self-serve laundromats.

Follows the complete list of Oriana lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• Oriana Atrium (4-decks central open floor area and social hub)
• Knightsbridge (duty-free boutique shop);
• Emporium (general store for candies, chocolate, sweets, books, etc.);
• Florist Desk (special occasions flower shop);
• “Duty-Free” shop (alcohol, cigarettes, tobaccos)
• Anderson’s Bar (named after the P&O’s founder); Lord’s Tavern (sports bar)
• Harlequins Disco and Nightclub; Pacific Lounge and Dance Club
• Theatre Royal (650-seat, featuring large scale shows by “Headliners Theatre Company”)
• Chaplin’s Cinema; Wedding Venue (vow renewals; weddings)
• Monte Carlo Casino; Art Gallery; Photo Gallery and Shop; The Library (with Internet computers); Cyb@Study Online Centre; Medina Room (chapel); Thackeray Room; Crichton’s Card Room
• Terrace Pool; Crystal Pool; Riviera Pool; 4 jacuzzis
• Oasis Spa complex (Treatment Rooms, Steam Rooms, Sauna, Beauty Salon)
• Gymnasium (complimentary equipment, Fitness classes; Yoga and Pilates at surcharge)
• The Crow’s Nest Lounge (dance floor, a stage for live music; with floor-ceiling windows for panoramic views; hosts art classes, quiz games, cooking demos during the day)
• Jogging Track; Traditional deck games area (Deck Chess, Deck Quoits, Shuffleboard); Sports Court (football, basketball, volleyball, tennis, cricket); Table Tennis; four Golf Net cages.

Piano Land - user reviews and comments

Photos of piano land.

Piano Land ship related cruise news

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Piano Land Wiki

In June 2018, P&O UK sold the vessel to the new Chinese (state-owned) passenger shipping company "Well Star Travel Cruise" - a joint venture of CTS (China Travel Services International) and COSCO Group . The new cruise line planned short-break roundtrips from homeports in China to ports in Japan and Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Philippines, Indonesia). The liner (renamed "Piano Land") is homeported in Xiamen China . As of 2019, China's other two 1-ship brands are "Bohai Ferry" and "Diamond Cruise".

MS Piano Land refurbishments review

During drydock refurbishment 2020 (at COSCO Zhoushan Shipyard) the Piano Land ship received major interior and technical upgrades.

New suite categories were grouped in an exclusive (suite-only) complex with its own restaurant and pool deck. New suites' perks include priority boarding-tendering-debarkation, VIP shopping (private experiences), free WiFi, discount-priced Spa treatments. Many existing staterooms were upgraded to "family cabins" (with triple occupancy) by adding a 3rd bed. The 2-deck high duty-free shopping area (decks 6-7) was expanded (tripled in size) and now represents 100+ different brands.

The liner was also upgraded with a new and more powerful marine HVAC (heat-ventilation-air conditioning) system.

Piano Land's April-May 2022 drydock (by Astro Ocean Cruise Line) was conducted in China, at Zthi Zhoushan Zhongtian Heavy Industry Co Ltd's shipyard. The 45-day drydocking project included cleaning and repainting of the hull and superstructure (new anti-rust hull coating), technical upgrades (hardware and software, equipment overhauls), regularly scheduled classification works, hotel upgrades (renovation of public areas), replacement of the ballast water tanks, installation of shore power capabilities .

MS Oriana refurbishment 2016 review

The ship's last drydock refurbishment by P&O UK was in 2016, with refurbishment contractor Richmond International (luxury hotel design firm). The 3-week long project (November 25 - December 15) was done at Blohm+Voss Shipyard ( Hamburg Germany ) and resulted in the following deckplan changes:

• Refurbishment works included a renovation of all staterooms, lounges, restaurants and all indoor and outdoor public spaces.
• All passenger cabins and suites received new soft furnishings, furniture was refreshed (repaired or replaced), bathrooms upgraded, cabin balconies were renovated.
• Among the upgraded venues were Lord's Tavern (sports bar on Promenade Deck 7), Riviera Bar (poolside bar on Lido Deck 12), The Conservatory restaurant (Deck 12), Anderson's Bar (Deck 7), Oasis Spa & Fitness (wellness complex on Lido Deck), also the ship's main lounge "Theatre Royal" (Promenade Deck 7).
• The Conservatory and The Beach House (both located aft on Lido Deck 12) were upgraded with new service counters, redesigned (increased seating, more 2-seat tables).
• Anderson's Bar (midship on Deck 7) received new furniture (bar stools, sofas, tables, chairs, lamps), also new carpets and rugs.
• The Oasis wellness complex received new tiling in the thermal area (sauna, steam room, spa whirlpool, changing rooms), as well as new modern furniture, washbasins, treatment beds. The beauty salon's and gym's equipment were upgraded. Luxurious heated loungers and a living plant wall were added in the spa area.
• Theatre Royal was updated (seating upholstery was refreshed). New sound and lighting equipment was installed.
• The ship's two main dining rooms (Peninsular, Oriental) were updated with new carpets, curtains, lighting (incl new designs), colour schemes.

In January 2018, the Oriana ship entered into 3-week drydock for technical maintenance.

MS Piano Land was officially named in Port Xiamen on September 26, 2019. The christening ceremony was held at Xiamen International Cruise Terminal (dockside) and followed by the maiden voyage (for Well Star Travel Cruise Line) which started in the evening on the same day.

MS Oriana was P&O's first newbuild vessel designed specifically for the UK market. Currently, the ship is P&O UK fleet's oldest. It was named after "SS Oriana" (1959-launched ocean liner operated between 1960-1986 by the "P&O Cruises" predecessors - "P&O Orient Lines", and later by "P&O Line".

Ship's christening ceremony was held on April 6, 1995, and featured HM The Queen of the UK (Elizabeth II/1926-2022) as Godmother. Other PandO cruise ships named by British Royals are Britannia (March 10, 2015, by HM The Queen), Aurora (April 27, 2000, by HRH Princess Royal) and the ships Oceana and Adonia (now Azamara Pursuit) - both were named on May 21, 2003, by HRH Princess Royal and her daughter Zara Phillips.

PandO Oriana proudly holds the "Golden Cockerel" trophy (since 1997) for being fleet's fastest ship . The trophy was previously held by SS Oriana, then passed to SS Canberra (until 1997) when was handed over to Oriana. Both liners were anchored near Cannes France and each sent a tender boat out for the handover ceremony.

In 2006, the ship's flag state/registry was changed from UK (London) to Bermuda (Hamilton) , as the Bermuda flag state allows onboard weddings. Oriana is one of P&O's adults-only vessels - together with Arcadia .

Next tables show the ports sequences of MV Oriana's last cruises for P&O UK (2019) - all roundtrips from homeport Southampton England .

19-day Mediterranean and Adriatic (themed "Italy and Croatia")

16-day "Azores, Canary Islands and Portugal"

13-day "Scotland, Ireland and Guernsey"

7-day "France, Spain and Guernsey"

14-day "Ireland, Iceland and Faroe Islands"

3-day mini-cruise (Guernsey)

P&O Oriana's last Captain was Sarah Bretton, while her first Captain was Ian Gibb. During the inaugural cruise season (1995) the liner had scheduled a total of 17 itineraries (between 12- and 23 nights). The program continued with the 90-night "World Cruise" 2016 (January departure) visiting 28 seaports, including 24 maiden for P&O UK ports.

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Swansong of a Modern British Cruise Ship

The announcement in July 2018 by P. & O. Cruises that their pivotal cruise ship Oriana, completed in Germany in 1995, would be retired in August 2019, as the company continued to modernise and expand it’s U.K. cruise programme, brought an end to 24 years of valiant worldwide cruising by the vessel. She was transferred during the same month by Carnival Cruises, the American parent company of P. & O. Cruises, from the ownership of P. & O. Cruises to a Carnival company with a view to using her in the growing Chinese cruise market for cruising the South China Sea to ports in neighbouring countries. Oriana was the first British purpose built cruise ship, and she has very much served as a benchmark for all the larger cruise ships that have followed her.

Design of Oriana

Oriana was the most traditional of the fleet of large megacruise ships owned by P. & O. Cruises, and carried 1,828 passengers on several hundred long and short cruises after she was specifically designed and purpose built for the U. K. cruise market. Robert Tillberg of Sweden and John McNeece of the U.K. were the two main designers of Oriana, and had spent a considerable time onboard the P. & O. cruise ship Canberra, completed in 1961, investigating the needs of British passengers, so as to include as many as possible of the features of Canberra into the design of Oriana. These features included an engines aft design to allow more passenger space, reduced engine noise, and with the engine fumes dissipated to the wake of the vessel.

It is worthwhile, as the design concepts of Oriana of 1995 are in many respects the same as the design of Canberra of 1961, to look at the life of the designer of the earlier cruise ship, John West. He was born on 13th August 1927 in Hebburn on Tyne and won a scholarship to Jarrow Grammar School and then studied naval architecture at King’s College in Newcastle. He joined P. & O. at the age of 25 years and two years later he became Assistant Manager in charge of technical and design work. He was promoted to be in overall charge of the design and supervision of newbuildings, with the order for the new cruise ship Canberra going to the Belfast yard of Harland and Wolff Ltd. The vessel was yard number 1621 and was launched on 16th March 1961 by Dame Patti Menzies, wife of the Australian High Commissioner in London. She cost a staggering £16 million in 1960 with the interiors of her public rooms designed by Sir Hugh Casson and hung with canvasses by a young artist named David Hockney. John West received many awards and medals for the design of Canberra and the many other ships he designed, and became a Visiting Professor to two English universities. He was a very committed Christian and lived long enough to see his beloved Canberra replaced by Oriana, and he died on 4th November 2003 at the age of 76 years.

Three interior designers for Oriana were engaged in Robert Tillberg of Sweden, John McNeece of London and Petter Yran. John McNeece and his team of designers gave the unique touches to rooms such as Anderson’s Lounge, the Knightsbridge shops, Harlequins disco and nightclub, the Pacific Lounge, the photo gallery, casino and related public spaces, as well as the onboard information graphics. Oriana has ten decks for passengers, four decks in her hull and six superstructure decks, with the Promenade Deck given an extra wide wrap around walking space, with her sixteen lifeboats being placed inboard on ‘D’ deck. The cruiser stern was tiered above to overlook the aft deck, pool and children’s play facilities. The elegant four deck high atrium and waterfall was topped by a dome of vibrant Tiffany glass, an Art Deco feature, and the central walkways leading to it gave good passenger flow. The base of the atrium consisted of a set of stairs flanked by two black painted elegant flower bouquet holders. The décor of her public walkways, shop fronts, and the corridors on each deck leading to the staterooms were restrained and conservative, and in no way ‘glitzy’.

Oriana obtained the high speed of 26.2 knots on trials with her service speed of 24.0 knots giving her the ability of keeping to schedule on long distance voyages to Australia, the destination of many of P. & O. liners of the past. Oriana holds the ‘Golden Cockerel’ trophy for the fastest ship in the P. & O. fleet, previously held by the Barrow built fleetmate of Canberra, the Oriana of 1960 with her twin ‘pepper pot’ funnels and a speed over the measured mile on trials of a fast 30.64 knots. The award passed to Canberra on the retirement of the first Oriana in 1986. The ‘Golden Cockerel’ was handed over to the new Oriana from Canberra when both ships were anchored off Cannes and each ship sent boats over to perform the handover ceremony. Oriana of 1960 had a very successful maiden voyage out to Australia after sailing from Southampton on 3rd December 1960. She then moved to the Transpacific service from Sydney (NSW) to Auckland and then under the Lion’s Gate Bridge at Vancouver before finishing at San Francisco.

Oriana is powered by four M.A.N.-B & W L58/64 diesel engines of 47,750 kW combined capacity driving two controllable pitch propellers through two Renk-Tacke gearboxes. The gearboxes are coupled to engines via Vulkan-Rato couplings. The diesel engines comprise two nine cylinder centre engines and two six cylinder wing engines built at Augsburg with a total power of 54,040 bhp. This type of wing engine arrangement gives flexibility in the amount of power transferred through to the propellers, and thus control of fuel consumption. The propulsion system also integrates three bow thrusters, one stern thruster and two rudders. Oriana has very large stabilisers for the comfort of passengers, these covering a surface area of 21.5 square metres and reduce the rolling motion by 90% at a speed of nineteen knots. Two auxiliary steam boilers for heating and ancillary equipment use, four M.A.N.-B & W 6L40/54 generators to provide electrical power, and other pumps and equipment completed the engine room outfit, with compartments in the double bottom and alongside the engine room containing 2,400 tonnes of fuel oil bunkers.

P & O. would have wanted a British yard such as Harland and Wolff Ltd. of Belfast to build the ship, but fitting out such an important ship was problematic in a British yard, so the order went to the Meyer Werft yard at Papenburg in Lower Saxony in Germany. Construction in the large Building Hall was by a series of 500 tonne prefabricated sections, with her funnel and forward navigation mast fitted alongside the fitting out quay.

The single funnel was designed to look like the twin elegant funnels of Canberra, the basic design of both vessels being very similar with lifeboats being carried at the same deck level. She was laid down on 11th March 1993 and launched on 30th June 1994, making the slow two day passage down the river Ems to the sea when fitted out by March 1995. She was named by H. M. The Queen on 6th April 1995 at Ocean Dock in Southampton, and was towed stern first dressed overall with flags to the Western Docks two days later, passing Canberra, which was about to sail on a cruise and was also dressed overall with flags.

Oriana has an overall length of 853.02 feet (260.0 metres) with a moulded beam of 105.64 feet (32.2 metres) and a loaded draft of 25.92 feet (7.90 metres), and is equipped with forward and stern thrusters for manoeuvrability in port. Oriana was designed to have accommodation for 1,828 passengers on a cabin capacity basis of two passengers, with a total of 914 cabins (594 outside and 320 inside) with 112 single cabins, 118 balcony cabins on one deck, and eight cabins reserved for wheelchair passengers.

The Balcony Deck is on ‘B’ deck and comprises the most spacious and elegant Suites, Mini Suites and Deluxe Balcony staterooms sleeping up to four persons, with the other outside and inside staterooms normally for two person occupancy. The gross tonnage worked out at 69,153 with a net tonnage of 36,829, and she carries a crew of 794, with British officers and international stewards and dining staff. Oriana cost the expensive amount of over £200 million to build, and her name refers to Queen Elizabeth I, in the same way that Gloriana was used to refer to her in poetry.

Public Rooms of Oriana

The exemplary public rooms and facilities onboard comprise three outdoor swimming pools, the Oasis Health and Spa Club, a casino, three main Dining Room choices plus two speciality restaurants and two other dining options, and six entertainment choices, and other multi-purpose rooms. These are:-

Swimming and Health

Riviera Pool is situated forward on Lido Deck with the pool surrounded by a bandstand, two whirlpools, a bar and many sun loungers. A raised walkway above on Sun Deck extends around both sides of the ship for walking and jogging exercise.

Crystal Pool is further aft on Lido Deck, and at one end of the pool is a bronze sculpture by Andre Wallace of a man in a boat beside a reclining woman in another boat.

Terrace Pool is at the stern of the vessel on ‘D’ deck and has its own whirlpool. The open decks of Oriana feature a sports court, golf nets, shuffleboard and teak wooden promenades.

Oasis Health and Spa Club was originally run by Champneys and is located high on Lido Deck towards the bow of the vessel, offering massages, facials, and health and slimming treatment. The Spa also has a whirlpool, thermal chairs, steam rooms and saunas.

The Fitness Centre is within the Spa and runs exercise classes, personal training, with many exercise machines, free weights, treadmills, bicycle exercisers, and other equipment, with also an area for aerobics. The Salon is also in the Spa and offers hair styling, barber shop, make-up and manicures.

Entertainment

Theatre Royal with 664 seats is the largest entertainment venue with well known guest entertainers as well as productions by the ship’s own entertainers. The theatre was designed by John Wyckham and is decorated in rich red plush seats, curtains and fittings to give the feel of a West End theatre with high technology audio and lighting equipment to give good acoustics plus a revolving stage and orchestra pit. The seats are individually air conditioned to give guests a memorable experience in a very beautiful theatre.

Chaplin’s Cinema seats 189 and shows both classic and recent film releases, with the room also used for lectures and talks on Promenade Deck.

Harlequin’s Disco and Nightclub seats 230 has a very large dance floor for both daytime ballroom dancing and a late night disco dancing on Promenade Deck.

Pacific Lounge seats 430 and is located at the aft end of the Promenade Deck, and in the evenings hosts cabaret with stand-up comedians, magicians, British singers and acts, and musical performances. There is a full service bar, and it is also used during the daytime for a range of classes and activities.

Curzon Room named after Lord Curzon of India fame hosted classical music concerts and sessions for 140 guests, but was replaced in the 2006 refit at Bremerhaven costing £12 million of the ship by the new Oriana Rhodes restaurant for 96 diners designed by chef Gary Rhodes, after the success of the Arcadian Rhodes restaurant on her fleetmate Arcadia.

Oriana was re-registered at Bermuda at the time of the refit so that weddings could be held by her Master at sea.

Monte Carlo Casino is an intimate club style casino offering roulette, card and other games, with the gaming tables hosted by professional croupiers, and the room is also surrounded by slot machines.

Peninsular Restaurant is ‘midships on ‘E’ deck and, as with the very similar Oriental Restaurant aft on the same deck, seats are allocated according to cabin grade and chosen cabin. It seats 524 and offers open seating breakfast, lunch and dinner, the latter being limited to passengers who have opted for P. & O. Cruises flexible dining system who can arrive at any time. There are tables for two, four, six and eight, with excellent decorated treatment of the ceilings, chandeliers and décor with Art Deco touches.

Oriental Restaurant is the same size as the Peninsular Restaurant but seats 454 and has fabulous views over the stern and wake of the vessel, with windows on three sides, and is usually open only for dinner with passengers assigned to a specific table according to cabin grade and chosen cabin for either the first or second sitting. The menu includes signature dishes by Anton Mosimann for this excellent and much recommended dining experience.

Conservatory Buffet Café is a self service buffet restaurant with plenty of natural light through full length windows on each side, and offers good panoramic views over the sea. It is open throughout the day and well into the evening as the third major restaurant on the ship, serving continental breakfasts, afternoon luncheons and snacks, to themed evening buffet dinners. The beverage stands are also self service but this does not detract for many passengers who enjoy a more casual ambience. Al Fresco Dining space is located forward of the Riviera Pool and offers self service Mediterranean outdoor dishes on its full menu.

Tiffany Court offers light snacks and pastries and is located next to the Tiffany glass ceiling of the magnificent atrium.

Sindhu Indian Restaurant is a speciality restaurant that was introduced after the ship had been in service for a number of years at the request of passengers who wanted a wider choice of food. The Indian cuisine was developed in co-operation with celebrity chef Atul Kochhar and is located ‘midships on ‘D’ deck near the atrium, with a cover charge payable on entering.

Beach House Buffet is another speciality restaurant in a section of the Conservatory Buffet Café for evening dining. This a very relaxed dining option offering a wide range of grilled meals and with panoramic views of the sea.

Shops, Children’s Rooms And Library

Knightsbridge Shops are located in a curved area and row on Promenade Deck near the atrium, and offer everything from expensive, high end jewellery to more modest priced fragrances, fridge magnets, duty free liquor and tobacco. The Photo Gallery is nearby, as is the Plaque Room where many plaques and treasured mementos have been placed after being gifted by Ambassadors and leaders of the many countries that Oriana has visited during the last 24 years.

The Library is a beautiful light brown wood panelled room with ten bookcases filled with hardback books, two reading tables, comfortable armchairs, reading lamps and a lectern, and was designed by Viscount Linley. There are also the usual bridge, chess, and backgammon for serious players of these games, and the cyber study has fast wi-fi and Internet access with again beautiful wooden armchairs. This room is a joy for all serious readers to while away a few hours on a long day at sea with no port calls.

Children’s Rooms include the Decibels teenage disco with very loud music, as well as indoor and outdoor facilities for the younger children. The rooms were refurbished during the 2006 refit, and then converted in 2011 to cabins during her transformation to an adult only cruise ship.

Multi-Purpose Rooms

Thackeray Writing Room is a traditional writing room lit by lamps on each table and with relaxing furniture and armchairs, and was also designed by Viscount Linley. The room is named in honour of author William Thackeray (1811-1863), a P. & O. passenger during the early days of the company in 1844 and who wrote many books and magazine articles.

Crichton’s Room is used for card games, board games e.g. bridge, chess and backgammon tournaments, as well as evening quizzes and is named after the former P. & O. director Sir Andrew Crichton.

Medina Room is located next to the Crow’s Nest bar on Sun Deck and is used for multi-purpose meetings and other uses.

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Red Kestrel

A review of 24 years of P & O's Cruise Ship Oriana

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1960 – 2005

Looking back at the 20th century, the 1940s must be the one filled with most contrasts. The first half, from 1940 to 1945, was a time of great conflict, with the Second World War raging across the globe. This was a war of total destruction, and when peace was finally achieved in 1945, the tolls had been catastrophic. In terms of human lives, millions had perished, either in battle or through the cruelties of concentration camps. Materially, both sides had suffered immensely. Entire nations in Europe had been furiously bombed, and were by now severely crippled.

On the maritime side, things were not much better. A great number of merchant ships had been lost in the war, falling victims to torpedoes, bombs, mines or even scuttled by their own crews. Now that the world was ready to rebuild, ships were needed to get the commerce up and running again. But with resources close to depleted and a massive labour shortage, building new tonnage was easier said than done.

Fortunately, there was help available. During the second half of the decade, with the aid of the Marshall-plan, Europe was able to turn destruction into recuperation and rise to its feet again. With prospects of better times to come, the shipping companies now started looking into the possibility of commissioning new ships. One of these companies was Britain’s Orient Line, which was one of the dominants on the Australasian run. Starting in 1948, Orient Line put three new 28,000-ton ships into service over a period of six years. The Orcades came first, followed by Oronsay in 1951 and the trio was completed with the Orsova in 1954. These ships were clearly built for the post-war world, since their passenger accommodation was divided into two classes only; First and Tourist. They also sported a very modern appearance, with a single funnel perched atop a stepped-up superstructure. The novelties were taken one step further with the third ship – Orsova– which became the first major liner to dispense with the traditional mast entirely. All necessary rigging was instead attached to the funnel.

So, in the 1950s, this trio headed the Orient Line fleet, which also included some older World War II survivors like the Orontes of 1929 and the Orion, which had entered service back in 1935. And the future looked promising, indeed. While the more glamorous North Atlantic service was being subjected to the grim aeroplane competition, the Australasian route was booming. The reason to this was emigration, just as it once had been on the transatlantic run.

While things had certainly improved in Europe since the armistice, there were still millions of Europeans who were tired of the post-war austerity. So, just like many of their countrymen before them, they were now seeking a new life in a new country. But the United States were no longer the most common destination. Now, Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand became the popular destination. Australia, which saw the opportunity to increase its population, even went as far as to introducing a unique government-assisted passage scheme. For just £10, one could purchase a ticket to a new life and a fresh start. But to get there, you had to travel halfway around the world.

And so, in the mid-1950s, with these prospects in mind, the Orient Line began planning for a new ship for their Britain-Australia run. However, there were many questions to be answered about the specifications of the future liner. The main issue was if they should go for a fourth sister of the Orcades-class, or set out to build something larger and faster.

It was not an easy decision to make. Orient Line approached the Barrow shipbuilding yards of Vickers-Armstrongs and asked them to investigate the matter, and after having gone over the aspects of fuel consumption, maintenance, staff costs etc, it became apparent that a large and fast ship was the best option. By offering a faster round trip, the ship would in it self make up for the higher costs of operating such a large and fast vessel.  With the decision made, a contract was signed with the Barrow yard to build the new liner. A further two years was spent pondering and refining the blueprints, until the first keel plate on the yard’s number 1061 was laid on September 18th 1957. With work now underway, it would still take more than two years before the new liner could be launched.

Then, on November 3rd 1959, the day of launch had finally arrived. It was a festive occasion, since this was the yard’s largest ship ever and, at the time, the largest yet built in England. Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra had agreed to christen the new liner, and by pulling a handle she released the bottle of champagne which then crashed onto the ship’s bows. The name she gave the new liner – Oriana – was a name with many meanings. For one thing, it was a reference to the Elizabethan name used for Queen Elizabeth I who was in poetry called ‘Gloriana’. There was also the derivation of the name, which in ancient Greek means ‘East’ and in Latin ‘Dawn’. Then of course, it began with ‘O’ – conforming to the Orient Line’s traditional nomenclature.

When the classic ceremony had been performed, the massive hull started moving and slid down the ways into her proper element. The Orient Line house flag hoisted on her superstructure fluttered in the wind, and the powerful moment was accompanied by ‘Fanfare for Oriana’, specially composed for the occasion by Sir Benjamin Britten himself. Once the massive hull had been brought to a halt, it was then berthed at the fitting-out quay in Buccleuch Dock. Here, the still uncompleted Oriana would go through her metamorphosis to become a grand Orient liner.

As work progressed, Oriana came nearer to completion by the day. But as the ship’s appearance changed, so did circumstances around her. On May 2nd 1960, P&O and Orient Line went together and pooled their passenger ships in the same subsidiary company, which became known as the P&O-Orient Lines. It was however agreed that the two companies would retain their separate house flags and liveries. Indeed, P&O already owned a large share of the Orient Line, which it had obtained already in 1919.

Six months later, on November 13th 1960, the Oriana had been completed and was now to go through her sea trials. These were carried out on the Clyde, and were most satisfactory. Oriana had been built for speed, and her two sets of Pametrada geared turbines did not fail to deliver. In adverse weather conditions, the ship managed to reach a top speed of 30.64 knots. Since she had been designed for a service speed of 27.5 knots, these results were indeed pleasing to the company board.  So, some five years after the original decision, Oriana was now finally ready to enter service as the new Orient Line flagship. After having taken on provisions, she left Southampton on her maiden voyage on December 3rd 1960, bound for Australia. This was a divergence for the Orient Line, whose ships had earlier sailed from London. The tradition was partially maintained though, as London was Oriana’s official port of registry, as could be read on her stern.

The port of Southampton had witnessed many maiden departures in its days, but surely none of such a peculiar-looking ship. Oriana had come out of the shipyard with a most unusual profile, and there were in fact a number of people who looked upon her as plain unattractive. Following the Orient Line trend set by the Orsova in 1954, she had no conventional mast but only a short radar mast. The bridge was situated almost amidships, crowning the welded aluminium superstructure’s series of terraced decks and the long, graceful bow. Her lifeboats were carried in special lifeboat bays in the hull, with several full-width decks above them. But the most odd feature must have been the two funnels. According to some, they looked like flowerpots stood upside-down. Differing slightly in design, the aft funnel was a dummy and was situated in a lower position than its forward counterpart. Oriana had also been built with bow and stern thrusters, making her more easy to manoeuvre.

But although there were many novelties that might have been hard to embrace at first, there were also many appealing features. Being an Orient liner, Oriana sported the wonderful corn-coloured hull of the company. The bow was adorned by a special bow decoration, consisting of two entwined ‘E’s’, representing two Elizabethan eras – the Tudor one after which she was named, and the Windsor one in which she was built. The ship’s name was spelled out in what must be some of the largest letters ever put on a ship and internally, she had been designed both for the Australian run as well as the growing cruise market. Her accommodation was divided into a First and a Tourist Class, with many comfortable public rooms at their disposal. The restaurants, the Princess Lounge, the Red Carpet Room and the Silver Grill to mention a few, they were all done in a typical 1950s style – elegant and functional, as opposed to gaudy and glitzy. In addition, every cabin was equipped with a radio – grand luxury in 1960!

Sailing via Suez, Oriana arrived at Melbourne for the first time on December 27th and in Sydney three days later, on the 30th. There she celebrated the New Year’s, and departed on January 5th 1961 from the new International Terminal at Circular Quay on a pleasure cruise to Auckland, Vancouver, some American West Coast ports and back to Southampton. During these premiere voyages, Oriana was warmly appreciated in spite of her unconventional looks. Upon her first visit to San Francisco on February 5th, the city council announced that the day henceforth would be known as Oriana Day.

She then set course back to Sydney, and was back in Southampton on March 25th 1961. Her owners could now summarise the successful maiden voyage. Not only was she the largest Orient liner ever, but she was also the largest ship operating in the Pacific Ocean. In addition, Oriana’s speed had certainly not disappointed. The passage from Southampton to Sydney via the Suez Canal had earlier been measured in about a month, but Oriana had completed the stretch in 21 days flat. The following June, she again set a new speed record when she sailed from Auckland to Sydney with an average speed of 27 knots – the fastest trans-Tasmanian sailing so far. In the month that followed, on July 31st 1961, she passed through the Panama Canal for the very first time on a return voyage to Southampton and again setting a record of sorts – she was the largest liner to transit the canal since Norddeutscher Lloyd’s Bremen in 1938.

However, in the midst of all this success, Oriana soon suffered her share of misfortune. On December 3rd 1962, while sailing in dense fog just off Long Beach, California, she collided with the veteran USS aircraft carrier Kearsarge. The Kearsarge’s aft starboard side was penetrated, resulting in a 25-foot gash. Oriana on the other hand, also received damages. A 20-foot hole was torn up near the bow, and a small fire broke out in her boiler room. This was quickly extinguished however, and luckily the incident did not result in any fatalities. When the damages had been assessed, Oriana was taken into Los Angeles for repairs.

The years that followed were much happier for the Oriana. On September 17th 1963, Sydney’s Mayor Henry Frederick Jensen presented the keys of the city to Oriana’s master during a ceremony held at Circular Quay. And being the speed queen that she was, Oriana set yet another speed record in 1964 when she completed the passage between Auckland and Sydney in 45 hours and 24 minutes at an average speed of 27.76 knots.  But there were great changes waiting in the future. In 1965, P&O acquired the remaining shares of the Orient Line, and all the Orient ships were transferred to P&O registry. With this, Oriana lost her lovely corn colour, as she was repainted in P&O white. In October of 1966, the name P&O-Orient Lines was dropped, and restyled to just P&O. With that, the Orient Line passed into history.

Nevertheless, Oriana steamed on, still being a very stately lady. But in 1969, she again suffered bad luck when she was transiting the Panama Canal. While manoeuvring the ship through the tight locks of the canal, the ship struck the side of the basin and severely damaged one of her two propellers. Although repairs were carried out, it has been said that one of the ship’s drive shafts was so badly misaligned in the accident that she never again was able to reach her top speed of 30 knots.

The misfortunes seemed to continue into the next decade. In August of 1970, Oriana left Southampton on yet another routine voyage to Australia and New Zealand. But shortly afterwards, while the ship was still in Southampton waters, a fire broke out in the boiler room switchboard. The damage caused Oriana to lose all power, and had to be towed back into port. She now had to spend two weeks out of service while repairs were carried out, but at least the company could happily report that no one had been seriously injured in the fire.

When Oriana returned to service, her future deployment was not at all certain. As on the North Atlantic in the ‘50s and ‘60s, air traffic was now becoming a serious competitor on the Australasian route. It soon became apparent that Oriana, which had been built with occasional cruising in mind, soon would have to earn her living by doing pleasure cruises full-time. In 1973, her passenger accommodation was altered to cater for 1,677 passengers in one single class. From now on, Oriana’s deployment would be cruising, nine months out of Southampton and for three months from November based at Sydney, with positioning voyages via Panama in each direction.

Luckily, this did not mean bad times for Oriana. Since she was very much suitable for doing cruises, she continued to turn a profit in spite the fact that line voyages had been more or less abandoned. The task of cruising did not hinder the ship from seeing further dramatic events, though. In May of 1978, while Oriana was on a Caribbean cruise, the P&O headquarters received an anonymous letter when the ship was three days out of Southampton. The letter was an ominous one, warning that a bomb had been placed on board the ship. A bomb disposal squad was flown out to rendezvous with the ship, but upon their arrival a thorough search of the ship had revealed nothing. The whole thing was obviously just a hoax, and the bomb squad was never required to parachute on board.

A few years later, the Oriana’s long-time acquaintance with the port of Southampton ended in 1981, when she became permanently based at Sydney for South Pacific cruising. However, this service was only to last for another few years. In 1985, P&O announced that Oriana would be taken out of service and sold out of the fleet the following year. On March 27th 1986, she completed her final cruise for P&O and was then laid up at Sydney, awaiting her future. As a working ship, she had steamed 3,430,902 nautical miles and she had visited 108 ports over her illustrious career.

Two months later, on May 21st, the ship was sold to the Japanese company Daiwa House Sales. Their intention was to transform Oriana for use as a hotel, museum and leisure centre. One week after the sale, Oriana left Sydney bound for the Hitachi Zosen shipyard where she was to go through the conversion. Since she was to be used in a static role, the ship’s rudder and propellers were removed and placed on the fore deck by the old crew’s swimming pool. On August 1st 1986, Oriana was moored at Oita, near Beppu, a resort on the Japanese island of Kyushu. By now, her funnels had been painted pink and the ship had been secured to the wharf by means of welding. She would stay there for another nine years.

By mid-1995, the Daiwa House venture had collapsed, and the ship was sold to the Hangzhou Jiebai Group Co. Ltd., a Chinese department store operator. Oriana was loosened from her welded moorings and towed to Qinhuangdao in north China, where she was put to use as an accommodation centre and hotel. Sadly, she was not maintained very well, and soon fell into deep disrepair. In November of 1998, she was again sold, this time to the Hangzhou West Lake International Tourism Culture Development Co. Ltd., for the price of US$6,000,000. On November 15th, five tugboats towed Oriana from the port of Qinhuangdao to Shanghai.

As the ship was now in very poor condition, she was given an extensive overhaul, which included alarm systems, new elevators and climate control. It was announced that the ship would maintain “the traditional British style and elegance of its earlier years”.  On February 16th 1999, the ship was once again opened to the public. After a US$3,630,000 refit, the ship included features such as hotel accommodation, a swimming pool, a miniature golf course, a 20,000 m2 exhibition hall and a wedding altar on the ship’s bow, inspired from the famous ‘bow-scene’ from James Cameron’s movie ‘Titanic’. At first, the project was highly successful, with a daily average of 3,000 visitors. Starting on December 24th, a nine-day millennium celebration was held on board, including theme dinners, symphony concerts, fashion shows, auctions, garden parties and buffets.

But this giant party turned out to be the peak just before a downhill. In July of 2000, it was reported that the liner had failed to generate the expected profits and she was shut down the following August. Once again, new owners were sought, and a public auction was held on September 28th. This time, the Song Dynasty Town Groups managed to acquire an 85% share of the ship for the price of US$7,250,000. They announced that the ship would once again be refurbished for static use, but many were, quite rightly, sceptical to those plans.

So from then on, Oriana sat in Shanghai, moored on the Huangpu River. During her time there, she was touted as the ‘Titanic of Huangpu River’, ‘the sister ship of Queen Elizabeth’, ‘a British Imperial Cruiser’ and ‘one of the four most famous luxury boats of the contemporary world’. Not much was recognisable from her glory days with the Orient Line and P&O, except for the bridge, which had not been altered much from its original layout. In many deck areas, the Asian climate had been hard on the old girl, where plywood planks have warped and crumbled. The ship’s library still remained more or less untouched, but unused and left to decay. The Lido Pool had been plated over, after having been utilised as a carp pond for a period of time.

But amazingly, her owners lived up to their promises, and showed that the thought of a refurbished Oriana was not just a pipe dream! Having been towed to the Chinese port of Dalian in the summer of 2002, the old ship went through a massive refit that transformed her into the main attraction of the Dalian Theme Park & Entertainment Center. Now boasting for instance a maritime museum and an 800-seat banquet hall & showroom, the Oriana quickly became a popular venue. Tours of the ship were offered, so that visitors could experience the engine room and the bridge first-hand. Things had really taken a turn for the better, but sadly, it was not to last. On June 16th, 2004, the Oriana was struck by a severe storm and was badly damaged. She took on a great deal of water due to her being holed at the bow, and as a result her lower decks were flooded, and the ship quickly took on a dangerous list to port. Attempts were made to right her and the owners even considered restoring her, but naturally the cost proved to be too great. And so, on May 13th 2005, the old Oriana departed and was towed to the Wayou scrap yard in Zhangiagang, China to be scrapped. Time had finally caught up with her, and just like so many other great ladies of the sea, she ended her days under the cutting-torch of the breakers, a sad shadow of what once was a magnificent vessel.

Specifications

• 804 feet (245.6 m) long
• 97.1 feet (29.7 m) wide
• 41,915 gross tons
• Six Pametrada geared turbines turning two propellers
• 27.5 knot service speed
• Passenger capacity of 2,134 people

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6 thoughts on “ Oriana ”

• 6 Comments

I am trying to find a record of a trip I did on Oriana for Christmas 2018/jan 2019 from Sydney, Australia around the Indian Ocean. We had NYE in Singapore. Thank you

Wrong Oriana , I’m afraid. If your voyage took place in 2018/2019, it must have been on the successor, MV Oriana , built in 1995. You seem to have sailed on her towards the very last stretch of her service with P&O. Soon after that, she was sold to a Chinese operator and renamed Piano Land . More info here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Piano_Land

My dad crashed the Oriana in 1962

I was a cadet on Oriana back then. Peter Ballantyne

I have such fond memories of working there as a photog from 1974 on. It really was a very happy ship. both for crew and pax.

are there any pictures of the damage done to her starboard prop i was one of the two fitters that work on her in the dry dock in southampton the tail shaft and prop was pulled out about 14ft and bent upwards we worked 21days none stop to do the repairs

• 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:

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One of the most famous and devastating events in cruise history occurred in this decade. Dubbed "unsinkable" by the White Star Line's vice-president, the Titanic set out from Southampton on her maiden voyage on 10 April 1912 to much applause. But just four days later, she collided with an iceberg in the North Atlantic: the compartments in her hull filled with water and she tragically sank. The disaster claimed the lives of more than 1,500 people.

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1910s: First World War

1920s: cruising’s golden age continued

1920s: setting the bar high

1920s: a festive feast

1920s: the first round-the-world cruise

Another major milestone came in the 1920s: the very first round-the-world cruise. The Cunard Line's RMS Laconia (pictured here leaving Liverpool circa 1920) sailed around the globe in 1922, calling at 22 ports along the way, and taking 450 lucky passengers with her.

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1930s: all games on deck

1930s: making a splash

1940s: post-war cruising

1950s: the post-war decades

Come the 1950s, cruise ships had another phenomenon to compete with: jet planes. Commercial air travel boomed in this decade, with comfier aircraft and improved routes enticing travelers into the skies. Many cruise liners underwent swish post-war refits in an attempt to stay afloat: this 1950s photo shows the opulent dining room of French liner SS Île de France after a dramatic post-war makeover.

1950s: going Down Under

1950s: the Blue Riband record breaker

Though formalized in the 1930s, the Blue Riband – the award for the passenger cruise liner with the fastest Atlantic-crossing time – has its roots right back in the 19th century. The record is still held by SS United States of United States Lines, which first sped across the Atlantic in 1952. She's pictured here on 9 July 1952, docking in Southampton.

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1960s: the Jet Age

1970s: The Love Boat

As flying became more commonplace, the popularity of cruising looked set to dwindle. However, one particular TV series is often credited with keeping travelers' passion for cruising alive. The Love Boat – aired from the 1970s – was a comedy series that followed the crew and passengers of luxury liner SS Pacific Princess. Such was its popularity, some say it brought cruising back into the mainstream once more. This shot shows Cunard Line's Queen Elizabeth 2 in 1975. 

1970s: cruising opens up to the masses

1980s: the cruise to nowhere

The 1980s is thought to be the decade that pioneered the "cruise to nowhere", where the ship really was the destination. The SS Norway (pictured) – a lavish mega ship with room for thousands of passengers and amenities like a casino – embarked on a no-docking cruise in this decade.

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1990s: Disney takes to the water

2000s: making waves in the modern world

The 2000s saw larger-than-life, no-expense-spared, mega cruise ships sail onto the scene. This sunset snap shows Cunard Line's Queen Mary II as she completes her first trans-Atlantic voyage in January 2004. At this time, she was the largest and most expensive cruise ship ever constructed with room for 2,200-plus passengers, a theater and even a planetarium, setting the bar for the ships of posterity. 

2010s: bigger, better and healthier

2020s: off to a rocky start

The 2020s got off to an eventful start. The COVID-19 pandemic halted almost all cruises, with some passengers and crew marooned onboard while testing and entry protocols were debated. In 2021 rife cancellations, last-minute border changes and variant outbreaks persisted. However, 2022 (and onwards) has indicated a return to pre-pandemic popularity, with 300 cruise ships departing in April 2022 – pretty impressive compared to just 22 departing in April 2021. Cruise lines have incorporated more health and safety protocols, such as advising passengers to control their TV, light and temperature via an app instead of touchpoints. 

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