Oriana sunbeds

[sha1955]

Hi

We are a group of 9 adults and 8 teenagers ( 17-23) thinking of booking the Oriana during summer school holidays next year.

How difficult was it to get sunbeds on the ship particularly for sea days. Is it like Princess. Also, is the ship ok for the teenagers and can the 18 year olds go to the Casino. Many thanks

[Britboys]

Hi there,

 

I am probably not the best person to answer as I don't travel with kids of any age - I have however been on Oriana this year. Sunbeds will be a bit of a problem if you want to be together and if you want to be by one of the pools. It is the usual story really - there are too many of us brits who want to lie in the sun :). I normally found it easy to get a sunbed up in front of the gym/spa area but that is away from the pools etc.

 

Oriana is one of the most traditional-style ships in the P&O fleet and as such, may not really be to the taste of 17 - 23 year-olds. All of the decor is very understated and classical. Very good quality but certainly not contemporary.

 

If you haven't already done so, I would also check out Ventura and Azura as their style and facilities will probably appeal much more to the younger members of your party.

 

Hope that is helpful.

[kdee69]

I would definitely look at Ventura - it sailed full in July and there was no issue with sunbeds, plus don't forget there is a much stricter dress code on Oriana than Ventura which may suit the 17-23 year olds more

[thranite]

I would definitely look at Ventura - it sailed full in July and there was no issue with sunbeds, plus don't forget there is a much stricter dress code on Oriana than Ventura which may suit the 17-23 year olds more

 

Yes, but at least on Oriana the sunbeds remain on the ship. I understand that Ventura's are thrown overboard from time to time.

 

:eek:

[Tomato666999]

Yes, but at least on Oriana the sunbeds remain on the ship. I understand that Ventura's are thrown overboard from time to time.

 

:eek:

 

With or without the occupants?

[Norfolk Brit]

With or without the occupants?

 

No fun without...

 

Sir Martin

[PRIORY ROAD]

Just returned from Oriana - and I would say that yes there is a problem with sunbeds. There are plenty, but the ones around the pools go very early - also the ones at the back of the ship around the terrace also get taken early. We had no problem finding beds away from these areas, but sometimes it required a bit of a hunt in order to get two together, and we sometimes had to move them around. The only problem with beds up on the higher decks is if the winds pick up, the captain will close these decks down and therefore everyone has to look elsewhere. I think that it will be incredibly difficult for you to get so many beds altoghter and you may have to go into smaller groups. What we did notice is that some people think that they have a right to a bed in a particular area, you would always notice the same people in the same place every day. I guess that they got up very early to grab these. Personally I can't be doing with this when I am on holiday, and we take pot luck, so far we have always been lucky. Would agree that beds are more of a premium during school holiday times, but this can be said of hotels etc. As regards facilities for teenagers, mine have all grown up, but agree with the comment that they might prefer facilities on Ventura which is more geared to families etc. Oriana is a lovely ship, but is very traditional.

[LibraLass41]

I agree with Priory Road, its hard to find 2 sunbeds together after 9.30am around the pools or aft decks let alone a group of them. If only the unoccupied sun beds were policed by the stewards... We went looking for sunbeds after breakfast and all the best ones were reserved with a towel/and or personal belongings. The staff don't seem to do anything about it sadly.

[Pontius Navigator]

Why do I think people are trying to send a group of 17 to Ventura?:D

 

As Mrs PN has said, are you sure you would actually want to be a group of 17 or 4 separate families meeting up? Even dining will be tricky as tables seat 8 and there will probably not be 2 x 8 together. We have cruised as 3 families of 2 and even then it was often difficult to get 6 seats anywhere.

[Fireflyuk]

I can't understand what the problem is with sunbeds on the Oriana. This picture was taken on her only last week and as you can see there are plenty of empty sunbeds! :D :D :D

 

 

Actually I have just looked closely at the picture below which was taken about 06.45 and I see that two of the sunbeds are already reserved!! :eek:

 

[PRIORY ROAD]

FireflyUk, so this is the time I have to get up to get my pick of sunbeds!! I think not, I'm on holiday, but there are many that do. Like us, you would have noticed that at the stern of the ships, the sunbeds and chairs always seemed to be occupied by the same people throughout the entire cruise. Its as if they think they have a right to these.

[Fireflyuk]

I am not a great lover of lying in the sun so the sunbed problem does not directly effect me which is just as well as I am not known for my early mornings whilst on holiday! The pictures were taken by my wife who is more of an early riser than I am! :)

 

The perennial sunbed problem is something that is not going to go away unless P&O is prepared to have staff remove towels from beds that have been unoccupied for a long period of time.

 

On a couple of occasions I did notice a considerable number of unoccupied sunbeds by the Terrace Pool at 10.00AM. This was on sea days with the sun shining brightly so I think that there are sunbeds to be had, just that they are not always in the prime locations.

[Pontius Navigator]

Like us, you would have noticed that at the stern of the ships, the sunbeds and chairs always seemed to be occupied by the same people throughout the entire cruise. Its as if they think they have a right to these.

 

Yes and no.

 

There was one family that 'owned' a set of 4; we weren't too upset about this as it was on the smoking side. Near them however was a mother and daughter - they needed space for 3. Every day they would rearrange the sunbeds to give themselves additional space witha table between them. The two discarded beds would be left in the middle of the deck.

 

And the 'no'. We were close to the A-deck sundeck and it was both nearest and least windy apart from the Lido. We would usually 'claim' sunbeds in that area although we often had to go to the deck above and often could not get a sunbed until gone noon. The stern was our regular slot although we found the prom deck was warm and sunny too.