Overall Score

BERLITZ'S RATING
	Possible	Achieved
Ship	500	417
Accommodation	200	157
Food	400	253
Service	400	309
Entertainment	100	82
Cruise	400	293

How this score is created

This ship has a feeling of timeless elegance. It has a good amount of outdoor space, and enough sunloungers for all passsengers. The interiors are gentle, welcoming and restrained. There is a splendid amount of open deck and sunbathing space – an important plus for its outdoors-loving British passengers. It has an extra-wide wrap-around promenade deck outdoors. The stern superstructure is nicely rounded and has several tiers that overlook the pool and children’s outdoor facilities.

Inside, the well laid-out design provides good horizontal passenger flow, and wide passageways. Very noticeable are the fine, detailed ceiling treatments. As it is a ship for all types of people, specific areas have been designed to attract different age groups and lifestyles.

There is a four-deck-high atrium with a soft waterfall. It is elegant but not glitzy, and is topped by a dome of Tiffany glass. The large number of public entertainment rooms provides plenty of choice, with lots of nooks and crannies in which to sit and read.

The L-shaped Anderson’s Lounge (named after the founder of the Peninsular Steam Navigation Company in the 1830s) contains an attractive series of 19th-century marine paintings, and is decorated in the manner of a fine British gentleman’s club.

Atop the ship and forward is the Crow’s Nest, a U-shaped room with one small wing that can be closed off for small groups. A long bar includes a ship model (former P&O ship Ranpura) in a glass case. Two small stages are set into the forward port and starboard sections, and there is a wooden dance floor. The lounge has smoking and non-smoking sections, although smoke lingers everywhere.

The library is a fine room, with a good range of hardback books (and a librarian), inlaid wood tables skillfully crafted by Lord Linley’s company, and some comfortable chairs. On the second day of almost any cruise, however, the library will have been almost stripped of books by word-hungry passengers. Adjacent is Thackeray’s, the writing room (known as the sleeping room in the afternoons); it is named after the novelist William Makepeace Thackeray, a P&O passenger in 1844. The most restful room is the Curzon Room, used occasionally for piano recitals.

Lord’s Tavern is the most sporting place to pitch a beverage or two, or take part in a singalong (rather like group karaoke). It is decorated with cricket memorabilia.

The carpeting throughout the ship is of an excellent quality, much of it custom designed and made from 100% wool. There are some fine pieces of sculpture that add the feeling of a floating museum, and original artworks by all-British artists that include several tapestries and sculptures.

Children and teens have “Club Oriana”, their own rooms (Peter Pan and Decibels), their own daily programming and activities, as well as their own outdoor pool. Children can be entertained until 10pm, which gives parents time to have dinner and go dancing. The cabins also have a baby-­listening device. A special night nursery for small children (ages 2–5) is available (6pm–midnight, no charge; from midnight to 2am there is a charge).

There is a wide variety of mainly British entertainment aboard the ships of P&O Cruises. There is also a program of theme cruises (antiques, art appreciation, classical music, comedy, cricket, gardening, jazz, motoring, popular fiction, Scottish dance, sequence dancing).

Oriana provides a standardized, well organized but some­what bland cruise experience for its UK passengers who do not want to fly to join a cruise ship. However, in the quest for increased onboard revenue, even birthday cakes are an extra cost, as are real espressos and cappuccinos (fake ones, made from instant coffee, are available in the dining rooms). Ice cream and bottled water also cost extra.

A British brass band send-off usually accompanies sailings from Southampton. Other touches include church bells sounded throughout the ship for the interdenominational Sunday church service. The onboard currency is the British pound. For gratuities (optional), you should allow £3 (around US$5) per person, per day.

Oriana is all about British-ness and will be comfortingly familiar for families with children who want to go abroad but take their British values and food preferences with them. Most cabin stewards and dining room personnel are from India, and provide service with a well balanced smile and a warmth that many other nationals find hard to equal.

Passenger gripes include ear-splitting announcements, poorly trained and unhelpful reception desk staff, and poor hospitality from many crew members.

Berlitz Guide © Apa Publishing 2008