Why Aurora & Oriana were GAME CHANGERS for P&O Cruises!

Two ships completely revolutionised British cruising. Oriana and Aurora were their names.
As the popularity of cruising grew across the UK, P&O turned its attention to a new cruise ship.
The design called for a 69,000 gross ton, 260m long ship; built at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany. The ship’s keel was laid down in March 1993, and the name Oriana was selected - so named after the popular Orient-Line flagship that sailed from 1960-1986.
The design of Oriana had to balance the needs and wants of P&O travellers, while introducing a suite of features that would enable the ship to compete with other new build cruise ships.
Modern design elements included an entire deck of balcony cabins - something that existing P&O cruise ships lacked. Oriana also boasted a west end style show lounge, the largest of its type on a cruise ship.
But Oriana also carried over some design elements from the beloved Canberra. This includes the Crows Nest Bar - the forward observation bar that has since become a P&O cruises signature room. Like Canberra, Oriana’s lifeboats were set inboard, while the aft decks were terraced creating a huge amount of open deck space for meeting friends, watching sail-aways and sun bathing.
Oriana’s engine layout called for 8 engines, arranged in pairs. Each pair included one larger 9-cylendar engine and one smaller 6-cylander engine in a layout known as a “father and son” configuration.
While most modern cruise ships utilise a diesel electric propulsion system -Oriana employed a direct drive setup. Aboard the ship, the 4 propulsion engines are directly linked to the propeller shafts by gearboxes and couplings rather than feeding propulsion motors. The remaining 4 engines are utilised to generate power for hotel services.
Oriana’s bridge was far more modern than Canberra’s - with electronic systems that allowed the ship to be controlled via a small joystick. Yet the bridge also shares some commonalities with older ships - such as a wooden main-wheel and open Bridge wings - added at the request of the ship’s first master Commodore Gibb.
The completed Oriana entered service in 1995 and immediately transformed the P&O cruise experience. Although the ship suffered from vibrations at high speed throughout her career, in the most part the design of the vessel proved popular with P&O regulars as well as new cruisers and Oriana quickly became a much loved member of the fleet.
Canberra retired from P&O service in 1997, with P&O sourcing additional ships from the Princess fleet. This included Sea Princess, renamed Victoria, as well as Star Princess which joined the fleet, under the name Arcadia.
However with the success of Oriana, P&O turned its attention to building Aurora.
Significant changes included the addition of far more balcony cabins - three decks worth in fact. Oriana had already been superseded by other ships in terms of accommodation - including by P&O-Princess’ Sun Class cruise ships - see: • The ships that REDEFIN...
Aurora entered service in 2000 to a less than auspicious start, with the ship experiencing significant mechanical issues during her maiden voyage - resulting in it being cut short less than 24 hours after departure - not what P&O had hoped for.
Working together, both ships ushered in a new era of modern cruising for P&O. Designed specifically for the British cruise market, their interiors were customised for British tastes, setting them apart from the more-familiar American style cruise ships.
The two vessels also offered year round cruising from the UK - greatly expanding the UK cruise market for the British public.
Carnival Corp. took over management of P&O Cruises following its 2003 merger of P&O-Princess. The move saw Aurora become the last passenger ship built for the venerable Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co.
Both ships remained well maintained and undertook regular refurbishments - with Oriana undergoing a major overhaul in 2016 and Aurora receiving similar treatment in 2018.
Oriana was sold and became a cruise ship in China, the vessel was renamed Piano Land and departed British waters in 2019.
With Oriana retired, Aurora became the holder of the Golden Cockrell, continuing a series of cruises from Southampton until the COVID-19 shutdown rendered the 2020 season a write off.
At the time of upload, Aurora remains in warm layup alongside her fleet-mates in waters off Great Britain, while Oriana - as Piano Land - remained laid up in China.
Oriana & Aurora are important ships in the long heritage of P&O. As the first ships designed by P&O for British based cruising, they transformed the brand into a major cruise brand for the
Image support with thanks to Andrew Sassoli-Walker. Check out Andrew's Oriana & Aurora book here: amzn.to/2IZb0hp
Check out our Aurora book here: amzn.to/31Av4wP
Check out our Oriana book here: amzn.to/34jgxrg
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#cruiseline #cruiseship #cruising

[@paulgilson2347]

Have been on the Canberra, Oriana and Aurora...loved them all.

[@danielgeare3282]

Aurora,my favorite ship since i was 8. A truly classic and unique ship in this modern age of mega ships. Aurora has a certain feel that feels so right.

[@GardeningLadybug]

So true

[@lawrencewilliams686]

In the 1950's I was on board the original Oriana's maiden voyage whilst in the employ of Orient Line as an engineering officer, I also sailed as a passenger in 2019 on the last Oriana's final voyage. Both ship' were remarkable and I have many fond memories of both. Thanks Chris for letting me relive a few of those memories.

[@randybarnes6426]

another great presentation, with the ships of P&0 fleet .and the change of the departed ship, being an Ex RCCL employee , it was hard to see the ship "Empress of the Seas" leave the fleet , with such an interesting history , but was the little ship that became the work horse , of the fleet . Randy Barnes Palm Springs , Ca.

[@smaxwell4062]

Oriana was such a beautiful yacht. Walking alongside her in Auckland Princes wharf she was very tasteful and classy. The Peninsula dining room looked so romantic. Little did I know we would cruise on her less than a year later. Sailed from Cairns to Yokohama. Very fond memories.

[@peterdixon7705]

Sailed on Himalaya on a cruise in 1972 and Oriana out of Sydney on a cruise in 1986 .was one of her last cruises . Worked in the London offices for P&O and BI shipping lines. Were best days ever and enjoyed my years with the company.🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧 👍👍👍

[@janglass1883]

Lovely ships.

[@CruisingWithMatthew]

Fantastic video Chris! As you know Oriana was my first ever cruise ship in 2006 so it was so interesting to learn more about her! She definitely vibrated in her aft MDR 🤣 But I wouldn't change her for the world! I cruised on Aurora in 2019 and I really felt she built upon the success of Oriana! I do hope they keep her in the fleet post COVID-19. It would be a massive shame if they don't

[@sarahcarroll4723]

Looking forward to embarking Aurora in October 2022. 🤞🏻

[@abacuscalculator7478]

Love Aurora

[@robynjackson348]

Great to hear about P & O. Great work and very informative as always.

[@lynnedouglas4065]

Hello Chris, thank you for very informative video. I remember seeing the Canberra pulling into the Overseas Passenger Terminal in Sydney Harbor numerous times. In 1972 spent my 21st on Arcadia for South Pacific cruise and 6 weeks later sailed on her to Southampton. Was booked on cruise to Norway to have sailed 3 weeks ago. Cruise cancelled and no planes flying out of Australia. Fingers crossed for next year. Lynne.

[@AcerDyan]

Had the pleasure of sailing on Aurora for Christmas and my birthday in 2015.

[@thatcarguy9.379]

In 2019 I passed the oriana on my cruise on the adventure of the seas

[@johnplod8984]

Very informative and interesting to listen to - thank you

[@ChrisFrameOfficial]

Thanks John!

[@JulieWallis1963]

Nice to see this. Very interesting content, I first cruised on Aurora, and that was it, I was addicted to cruising.

[@Mustang00007]

Sailed on the Aurora in 2015 half world cruise, then again to China, Asia, fell in love, with that ship me and the wife.

[@simontravelstheworld]

I worked on Canberra and did the maiden voyage on Aurora!

[@RCKodak]

Aurora ♥️♥️♥️

[@lindaridd4393]

Thank you Chris for posting some more info on my favourite ship Aurora, I have spent such wonderful times on her, she has the most beautiful atrium together with the Lizzie Riches paintings, when they send her for scrap I shall be heart broken, was due to sail on her on 30 October to Norway, feel sorry for P and O, even though they clobber me with single supplements !

[@jevans2384]

When cruise vessels looked like ships not floating blocks of flats... Aurora is still beautiful and comfortable, and refurbishment/updating has been well done. Just hope she's not discarded to make room for the next mega-ship, as Oriana and Oceana have been with the arrival of Britain's and now Iona

[@andropaterno5167]

MV Aurora was my ship i was disembark as a crew when this COVID19 triggered the whole world. I miss you AURORA❤️❤️🗺️🌎😘

[@michaelrennie4589]

Thanks man !!

[@heenihona6670]

My mother and her sisters 👯‍♀️ went on the Oriana in the Sixties cruising awesome she said it was Amen 🙏😇💜✝️

[@christopherrose7321]

Excellent thanks Chris. I remember watching the original Oriana set sail on her maiden voyage when I was 11 years old from Southampton!

[@johnnyhollis9977]

A brilliant ship! Cruised on her 3 times in the 70's. A really fast ship that still had little signs of her conversion from a class ship to open class. Usually enabled cruisers to get one extra port of call in extra compared to a similar cruise on the Canberra! Happy days! ;-D

[@PaulThomasHarris]

I always enjoy your videos.

[@roberthamilton1301]

Thanks !

[@kathyg8535]

Yes those ships were a radical departure from the earlier less glamorous and more functional P&O vessels. I remember the heavy lifting equipment on the SS Oronsay which did the UK-Australia route which was necessary as people were emigrating and taking their entire possessions with them. My parents were able to bring back a car and furniture onto that ship after living in California for a year - unimaginable now!

[@JuanGarcia-vb3du]

P and O should have kept their traditional colors.

[@RCKodak]

Agreed

[@XabiExplores]

Nah

[@francesm5976]

Well done. I must confess ignorance on the origin of the P & O name. You've likely covered this somewhere but I missed it.

[@ChrisFrameOfficial]

It was originally Peninsular Steam Navigation Co. as the line was originally sailing to the Iberian Peninsular. When they set their sights on Asia it was renamed Peninsula and Oriental (P&O).

[@nathanstenner1794]

Can you do a video on why the rms Olympic was scraped ?

[@rioshound1668]

Now moored at Torquay

[@GardeningLadybug]

😎

[@joanmatthews7968]

I got can't wait to get away, Iona.

[@howardhdavidson]

I find watching this very sad..However I have fortunately traveled on all the old P&O and Orient Line ships from Chusan to Iberia,Arcadia,All the O boats,including the Canberra,Old Oriana,Aurora,and The last Oriana.All I can say is that these were the last of the real cruise ships and were all elegant wonderful ships .Unlike today’s floating shopping malls carrying Thousands of people.The closest thing today is I guess Regent and Silversea which I find are smaller and more personal with a reasonable amount of passengers.Otherwise for me the modern cruise concept leaves me cold.I loved cruise ships and cruising now not so much..

[@lynnedouglas4065]

P.S. So sad to see Oriana leave the fleet.

[@peterdixon7705]

Na not the P&O of the past ,it uses the brand but is American owned and similar to the other lines Carnival own. Today they resemble floating theme parks with all the atractions , Love cruiseing but avoid those ships with over the top kids stuff. One or two lines offer a more leasurly traditional type cruise . Also some are just to costly for many to travel on.

[@johnnyhollis9977]

P&O's unique historical identity was quickly eroded by the Carnival takeover. ;-(

[@rosethefirechieftess1683]

Pianoland……sounds funny but okay