MV Oriana (1995)

Oriana in Tallinn, 2012
History
Name:	Oriana
Namesake:	SS Oriana (1959)
Owner:	Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company (1995–2000) P&O Princess Cruises (2000–2003) Carnival UK (2003–present)
Operator:	P&O Cruises
Port of registry:	1995–2006: London, UK 2006 present: Hamilton, Bermuda
Builder:	Meyer Werft Papenburg, Germany
Yard number:	636
Launched:	30 June 1994
Christened:	6 April 1995 by Queen Elizabeth II
Acquired:	2 April 1995
Maiden voyage:	9 April 1995
In service:	9 April 1995
Identification:	Call sign: ZCDU9 IMO number: 9050137 MMSI number: 310529000
Status:	In service
General characteristics
Type:	Cruise ship
Tonnage:	69,153 GT 6,715 DWT
Length:	260.00 m (853.02 ft)
Beam:	32.20 m (105.64 ft)
Draught:	7.90 m (25.92 ft)
Decks:	10 (passenger accessible)
Installed power:	2 × MAN-B&W 9L58/64 & 2 x MAN-B&W 6L58/64 47,750 kW (combined)
Speed:	26.2 knots (48.5 km/h; 30.2 mph) (sea trials) 24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph) (service)
Capacity:	1,822 (normal) 1,928 (maximum)
Crew:	794

MV Oriana is a cruise ship and ocean liner of the P&O Cruises fleet. The ship was built by Meyer Werft at their shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. At over 69,000 GT, Oriana is the seventh largest of eight ships currently in service with P&O Cruises. She officially entered service with the company in April 1995 and was named by HM Queen Elizabeth II. Oriana holds the Golden Cockerel as the fastest ship in the fleet. She is also the longest serving ship in the fleet, as well as being the oldest.

Overview

When she was built in 1995, Oriana was the first new ship commissioned for P&O Cruises, and the first to be designed specifically for the British cruise market. She was also designed in the style of an ocean liner to facilitate long distance voyages and world cruises. She is the longest serving ship in the fleet, having been in continuous service with the company since she was launched. She is the second ship to carry the name Oriana, and is named in tribute to the SS Oriana, which served for Orient Line and P&O from 1959 until 1986. After a lengthy campaign, P&O Cruises were permitted to allocate the new Oriana with the call sign 'GVSN', which is the same call sign as the former SS Oriana.

From 1995 when she was built, until 2000, Oriana was owned by the Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company. In 2000, P&O de-merged its cruise ship operations, with ownership of Oriana transferring to the new company, P&O Princess Cruises. In 2003, P&O Princess merged with Carnival Corporation. Despite these changes of ownership, Oriana has been operated by P&O Cruises throughout.

In 2006, she was re-registered to Bermuda so that weddings could be conducted on board, and as a result, her call sign was changed to ZCDU9. From the 30 November 2011, following a refit, Oriana has become a ship exclusively for adults. She along with the Arcadia & Adonia are adult only ships.

Statistics

Oriana is 260 metres (853 ft) long, with a beam of just over 32 metres (105 ft), and a draught of 7.9 metres (26 ft), which varies up to 8.2 m depending on load. She has a 69,153 GT and a maximum passenger capacity of 1,928. Outside passenger deck space is 105,000 square feet (9,800 m²). Power is provided by four MAN B&W Diesels generating a total of 47,750 kW giving her a service speed of 24 knots (44 km/h).

Design and construction

P&O wanted the new Oriana to be built in the United Kingdom, but unfortunately there appeared to be no British shipyards left capable of completing such an order so P&O Cruises were forced to look overseas.

Two of the three main designers, Sweden’s Robert Tillberg and British designer John McNeece, spent a considerable amount of time on board SS Canberra investigating the needs of British passengers, so as to include as many of Canberra’s features as possible into Oriana’s design. Oriana's single funnel is designed to have a resemblance to Canberra’s twin funnels. She has a single deck of balconies reserved for suites, mini suites and staterooms to cater for the growing desire for balconies on board.

John McNeece and his London based team of designers were engaged by P&O specifically to bring the elegant British look to the high-revenue generating interiors of the ship, such as Anderson’s, Lord’s Tavern, the Knightsbridge Shops, the Emporium, Harlequins, the Casino, the Photo Gallery, the Pacific Lounge, and related public spaces, as well as on-board information graphics.

Service history

When she entered service Oriana was one of the largest cruise ships in the world, and also the largest ship built in Germany since 1914. Since then tonnages have boomed as the economies of scale dictate that a larger ship generates more profit. Nowadays most new cruise ships have a GRT of around 100,000 tonnes. Annually undertaking World cruises with fleetmate Aurora, she normally operates cruises within the Mediterranean, the Canaries and the Baltic seas.

In December 2006 the Oriana underwent a £12 million refit in Bremerhaven, Germany. Coinciding with the refit she was re-registered from Britain to Bermuda in order to enable Weddings at Sea to take place on board. Due to the success of the 'Arcadian Rhodes' restaurant on board the Arcadia, a new Oriana Rhodes restaurant was introduced, replacing The Curzon Room. Oriana Rhodes was designed by celebrity chef Gary Rhodes and can accommodate 96 passengers. Other modifications included the extension of the popular Lords Tavern bar, festooned with cricket memorabilia and refurbishment of the children's play areas. In addition all of her cabins were restyled to include one of four new colour schemes, new curtains, carpets, beds, linen and duvets.

Golden Cockerel

MV Oriana holds the Golden Cockerel trophy for the fastest ship in the P&O fleet. Previously held by SS Oriana it passed to SS Canberra on retirement of the first Oriana in 1986. On Canberra's final cruise in 1997 the Golden Cockerel was handed over to the new Oriana when both ships were anchored off Cannes and sent boats out to perform the handover.

External links

• Official website at P&O Cruises
• Oriana of 1995- Postcards
• Photos