Oriana

[Dorset Cruiser]

Need some information on Oriana please 😄. Just back from 23 days on Arcadia and have done 47 days on Aurora in 2013. Its a rainy day today, with a recuperating other half and we are a little bored so have been looking at cruises. Just found 50 days on Oriana next January - Caribbean and US return sailing from Southampton and we are very tempted. Has anyone been on her recently?

 

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[PurpleMoonlight]

Yes.

 

Bloody awful.

 

Never again.

[daiB]

Need some information on Oriana please [emoji1]. Just back from 23 days on Arcadia and have done 47 days on Aurora in 2013. Its a rainy day today, with a recuperating other half and we are a little bored so have been looking at cruises. Just found 50 days on Oriana next January - Caribbean and US return sailing from Southampton and we are very tempted. Has anyone been on her recently?

 

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Yes excellent no hesitation at all. However she is due a refit at the end of 16. When the minor problems should be resolved.

 

It could have helped that we were upgraded to a suite. :)

[MrsTW]

My favourite P&O ship. :D last on her in April and back on her next week.

[indiana123]

My favourite too!

[daiB]

My favourite P&O ship. :D last on her in April and back on her next week.

 

 

I do not have favourites, they all have to take their turn. So its Arcadia next then Britannia then Ventura, then Azura and back to Arcadia. :)

[MrsTW]

I do not have favourites, they all have to take their turn. So its Arcadia next then Britannia then Ventura, then Azura and back to Arcadia. :)

 

Yes last P&O cruise was Oriana and next is ........ Oriana. ;)

 

Have to say there is something special about Oriana though.....Crows Nest, wrap around prom deck, designated cinema and those wonderful tiered aft decks. :D

[P&O SUE]

We were on her in November - she is a lovely ship. We had a small scratch in our bathroom sink but I didn't let it spoil my break! :p

We were in an outside cabin on E deck midships if this helps. We spoke to someone who had eaten in the MDR at the front of the ship (oriental) and they said the movement was so bad they had to leave. We were in the Peninsular restaurant midships (just a little way from our cabin) and can honestly say we had no movement at all.

Oriental is used for Club Dining and Peninsular for Freedom so you might want to choose Freedom.

[thames_side]

I think the Oriental is in the stern.

[Dorset Cruiser]

We were on her in November - she is a lovely ship. We had a small scratch in our bathroom sink but I didn't let it spoil my break! :p

We were in an outside cabin on E deck midships if this helps. We spoke to someone who had eaten in the MDR at the front of the ship (oriental) and they said the movement was so bad they had to leave. We were in the Peninsular restaurant midships (just a little way from our cabin) and can honestly say we had no movement at all.

Oriental is used for Club Dining and Peninsular for Freedom so you might want to choose Freedom.

 

We would be doing Freedom. Long time to share a table 😱

 

 

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[Dorset Cruiser]

Yes.

 

Bloody awful.

 

Never again.

 

Well we got that response when we asked about Aurora and Arcadia but had a good time on both. Nothing constructive to add 😉

 

 

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[PurpleMoonlight]

Well we got that response when we asked about Aurora and Arcadia but had a good time on both. Nothing constructive to add

 

 

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Aurora is lovely, no issues with her. I've not been on Arcadia so can't comment.

 

Oriana has her good points, I liked the separate cinema and I liked the specialised restaurants, the evening pop up Italian one especially.

 

But, for me the negative outweighed the positive. The cabin structure was so damn noisy that I didn't get a single nights decent sleep in a 24 night cruise (I came back shattered). The plumbing stopped working three times. The food portions in the MDR were very small, for example the highlight meal of the cruise, Christmas dinner, had one, yes one, roast potato, and an apple crumble was served without the crumble cooked!

 

The only really positive side was that we had a more than 50% win rate at bingo :D

Edited March 28, 2015 by PurpleMoonlight

[P&O SUE]

I think the Oriental is in the stern.

 

I knew it was one end :D

[thames_side]

The blunt end.

[majortom10]

Done 2 cruises on Oriana and would never set foot on her again whatever the cruise itinerary or price IMO she should be sold or scrapped.

Edited March 29, 2015 by majortom10

[Host Sharon]

My favourite ship. Sailed 6 long cruises on her with another in September. She is the perfect ship IMO - teak decks, separate cinema, good size and built for long cruises.

[Dorset Cruiser]

Its amazing the conflicting views being expressed. Like Marmite 😄

 

 

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[MawganTr]

Trying not to panic as I read these replies...first ever P&O trip begins on Tuesday on Oriana. Only travelled with Cunard before. Quite prepared for it to be different.

 

 

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[Scuttlebutter]

I wonder what Oriana is doing from 4-1-17. Could it be a World cruise?

Edited March 29, 2015 by Scuttlebutter
punctuation error

[Mysticalmother]

Don't panic.

 

I haven't actually been on Oriana, but I know lots who have. I understand she is older than the other ships but has a charm and traditional feel that the new modern ships don't have.

 

A friend came off her 2weeks ago and said that the food, staff , service and ambience on board was lovely. He reported that some of the decor was a bit tired , but was still spotlessly clean. It's just not modern and bland!

 

I would have no hesitation in booking on her if the itinerary and timing was what I wanted.

 

Go with your glass half full and you will have a wonderful time.

[MawganTr]

Thank you mystical other - you've put my mind at rest. We are really looking forward to it. Hoping for calm seas!

[Dryce]

Trying not to panic as I read these replies...first ever P&O trip begins on Tuesday on Oriana. Only travelled with Cunard before. Quite prepared for it to be different.

 

We were on board several months ago and she was fine.

 

I'd happily go back.

 

There was a bit of wear and tear in the bathroom (a corroded panel on the side of the bath) and some light scuffs and marks on the woodwork in the cabin but it was kept clean. The public areas were being well looked after.

 

The crew was great. The atmosphere was good. The other passengers (the age bell curve peak probably was at about 70) were fine and though we were a bit younger than most we didn't feel out of place.

 

Yes the Oriental restaurant at the stern can vibrate (it seemed to vary a bit dependent on sea conditions and speed). But the only people who seemed to be unhappy were those sensitive to movement when the sea was rough - which is just the downside of the location at one end of the ship.

 

People look for different things when cruising. Oriana is adults only. So that sets an atmosphere some will like and some will not. She was modern 20 years ago but now feels traditional to some - old fashioned to others. There are no gimmicks - maybe that makes her boring - and for others it means straightforward and no nonsense. For me Oriana and Aurora are the "Goldilocks" ships in the fleet - not too small - not too big and they feel like 'proper' ships and not floating apartment blocks.

Edited March 29, 2015 by Dryce

[thames_side]

One of the best things is those lovely cascading decks at the stern. Great place to sit and watch the wake with a g&t in the evening. These days they stick cabins all down the back.

[cruiseluvva]

The only ship my husband flatly refuses to ever set foot on again. Personally, I though she had a very odd layout and tiny cabins, so I would also be reluctant. Nice cinema though, so one redeeming feature.

 

But many others think differently.

[Clodia]

Been on Oriana 3 times; near the start of her life, in the middle, and last summer. Enjoyed all 3 cruises and loved the ship. There isn't the glitz of the newer ships but she's still a lovely elegant lady, even if her age is showing a bit now.