Oriana Cruise Ship

The cruise on Oriana was one of the best we have been on with P&O ( 25 cruises ).

The food was excellent and our waiter and wine waitress provided excellent service.

The reception staff were very friendly and helpful... wish I could have said that about the reception staff on Oceana... The shows were great and the ship was very clean and all the staff we spoke to were very friendly.

Our cabin was clean and the cabin stewardess was very efficient and polite.

We managed to get on board by 12.00 and we disembarked by 08.45 which was fantastic.

I can't find any thing to moan about so I won't. Well done P&O for a change. The Prichards

Cabin okay but noisy as next to service area. No where to sit in quiet, background music everywhere even the reading room had noise from the bar next door. Food poor... Uninspiring and arty farty portions. Entertainment was the usual crass stuff but there was a cello duo but the recitals coincided with duplicate bridge sessions. Some good talks on Concorde and Henry VIII's navy.

I felt I was on a floating old people's care home. I'm 68 and felt like I was a youngster.

After 4 days I wanted to get off. I was so disenchanted and bored. It was only the daily duplicate bridge that stopped me from jumping overboard.

Excursions were limited for me as my mobility is poor. The trip on Sicily was dreadful. Long, boring and we were meant to have tea at a good restaurant... It was like a transport cafe with awful snack food and dreadful coffee. Bare tables and chairs completed the illusion.

I have done many cruises with Fred Olsen and will never cruise with P&O again. I would advise you to do the same.

This is our worst ever cruise with P&O.

The food was not nearly as good as previous cruises, and the waiters were very inexperienced. The entertainment, day and night was very poor compared with other cruises. There were not enough entertainment officers, and the evening entertainment, they showed a film in the theatre on 3 nights, even though there is a cinema on board, presumably, they hadnt enough stars booked. I have to say the Headliners were brilliant and the best we have seen on any other cruise.

Sadly, the ship is showing its age now and needs a serious overhaul. Our F deck cabin was extremely noisy, it sounded like the anchor was loose. We didnt have a decent nights sleep, and after 35 nights it was extremely tiring.

The cabin had a burst pipe and we had to be evacuated at 11pm.

The embarkation was terrible and took 3 hours, which was the result of not enough staff.

The disembarkation was horrendous, and our luggage could only be located after 3 baggage handlers looked for it, finding our cases on areas for A deck, and E deck, NOT F deck which we were on.

P&O seem to be cutting back so much that it is showing badly, and they don't seem to be the caring company they used to be. Oh dear, we don't think we will cruise with them any more, which is a pity as this was our 10th cruise but it will certainly be our last.

Our cruise was the one that followed the cruise that hit the headlines. We had traveled to Southampton two days before cruise so had not received e-mail re delay in boarding. We were sent into a waiting area for four hours with several hundred other passengers. There were snacks and drinks available which we had to pay for which I thought was bad as we had missed one meal on board.

On boarding we were informed that all service venues were closed and all meals would be taken in dining room which was a bit of a bind. The shops and photo shop you could not touch anything. When they eventually opened self service they had waiters at each station serving food which meant you still did not have the freedom to put size of portion etc. Drinks were also made for you and my husband was not pleased at been handed a cup of hot water and a tea bag when he asked for tea as he likes the hot water to be poured over the bag. They actually reopened everything three days before returning to Southampton almost as if hooped we would forget by the time we docked.

Seemed strange people who were sharing cabins with infected passengers were still around the public areas on ship surely they could be carrying the virus.

Christmas well they waited until Christmas eve to tell passengers who had decorations on their doors to take them off although most had been there since sailing according to the Horizon they were a fire risk. But alright to have suitcases lining corridor most of the last day. The piped music played in the corridor also seemed to stop on Christmas Day. The only Christmas activity during the day was the passenger choir singing carols and other than that it could have been any other day.

Like other comments we have decided in our fifties we are not old enough

for P & O adult only cruises the average was 74.5 with over 50% disabled in fact many were on board for the whole winter a bit like a floating residential home.

Think the main thing that really annoyed us was the way it was the passengers who had to give way all the time and no appreciation shown just being told it was for our own good. The last two days the captain and cruise director kept telling us about all the good feed back they were getting I think hoping to convince everyone that it was good. One passenger said even if they had put a bottle of wine in each cabin as a sign of appreciation for patience shown it would have been something it seemed as if they had got your money and that was it.

We have travelled with P&O in the past and when ever there have been problems they given something to make up for it like a free wine service on first nights meal or credit on cabin bill and just a small gesture could have made all the difference as this was not the holiday we had expected and we are unlikely to travel with P&O again.

I wrote and told them how we felt and the reply was basically they were following procedure so that was it.

I must compliment the waiters for their had work and cheerfulness despite been worn out.

Oriana: January 2013, Transatlantic to Caribbean and back.

I last cruised Oriana in 2003, when it was family friendly and when P&O was not owned by Carnival.

It was once a ship having a stern pool complex, brimming with babies laughter and had a class that was quintessentially British and up to date. Food was superb throughout the ship and with dedicated, loyal staff under the genial 'Captain Birds Eye' (the passengers nickname).

Now, after the take over by Carnival, and the refit that has removed the toddler's paddling pool, their play area and the creche, all to enable the construction of a small block of cabins; the ship, with an average passenger age of over 80, has the joyless air of 'God's waiting room on sea', and the reputation of a floating cess-pit of vomit-bugs. The food in the main restaurants is average at best, the choice of wines very limited. The food and drink in the alternative food outlets eg The Conservatory, is totally repetitive and its serving completely marred by the edicts demanded by the disease ridden state of the ship (more of that later). The staff are still going about their tasks with fortitude and good humor, but when gently pressed by the passengers refer to the Captain with many unflattering terms, the mildest of which was Captain B***-S***. I have seen other reviews for this cruise that say that the Captain was the most informative ever; if giving us a long description of the expected and prevailing weather conditions, and how it was only by his own masterly navigation skills that the passengers were saved from an experience of tsunamic proportions, then yes I agree; others I met called him a patronizing BS. He was notable by his absence, only appearing to have his photograph taken along side a passenger!

That covers the faults (to my mind), deliberately brought about by Carnival for monetary gain.

I now come to the Norovirus issue:

As widely reported, eg.

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/norovirus-sweeps-through-cruise-ship-oriana-like-wildfire-8412319.html

Oriana had already had at least two very widespread cases of this virulent disease. On this cruise, at least 4 cases were personally reported to me, with Bills from the medical staff on board running to several thousand pounds. Though the staff refused to discuss it, getting very obstructive, it was rumored that every bed in the medical section was occupied. It was also a fact that one passenger died during the cruise and rumors had a further 4 corpses stored below.

What is known, is that the eating experience in the alternative food outlets was ruined by the staff being forced to wear the same latex gloves during an entire dining session and being forbidden to make any bodily contact with the passengers; this, despite all passengers having to bathe their hands in disinfectant gel.

As we were awaiting disembarkation, on the Prom Deck, we observed trains of white coated and masked staff wielding spray guns pushing through the crowds of passengers, and then huge rolls of carpet being brought up from below. Inquiry yielded the information that the virus had been detected in the carpet below the theater stage and that emergency re-carpeting had been ordered. It then was revealed that members from the Southampton Maritime Health Authority, were on board and that Chief Exec. from Carnival was expected. As there has been no news in the media, I assume that the usual cover-up has prevailed. I have seen that both Carnival and and the Southampton Health Authorities blame new passengers for bringing the virus on board. I find this hard to believe, unless passengers had been scrambling/defecating, under the stage!!

I understand that Oriana is to make only one more transatlantic voyage and that her last cruise is to be in Spring 2014. In my opinion, she is no longer fit for purpose and should be withdrawn from service immediately; it seems obvious that, in view of the advanced age of her passengers, it is only a matter of time before, what is now just a gross inconvenience, becomes a tragedy of epidemic proportion.

My wife has a poorly functioning liver and has to keep herself hydrated at all times. Despite taking 2 litres of water every night, the air-conditioning, set to remove every bug carrying molecule of moisture from our inside cabin, made her lose 2kg on the cruise and to become severely ill on shore. She had to be rushed to hospital semi conscious and had to have 3 litres of saline intravenously.

Just back from our oriana cruise , 24 nights from6th jan to 30th jan 2013 to the caribbean. We had been on this ship 14years ago and thought since we had a great time we would do it again on the same ship,but we were most dissappointed, leaky bathroom dirty marked mattresses,food bad,entertainment poor,apart from headliners they were really good,too many days at sea,only half days on shore ,never again,still nova virus so everone was very worried, also cabin cough from aircondition , could not wait to get back, would not refund or part refund for bad excurtion on st kitts railway they overbook people with no room to sit very poor .

Booked this cruise for our ruby should not have staff not very helpfull ask some one for directions and was told how should l know l am a photographer pitty she can not take good photos should be working in blackpool, this went on for sometime with some of the other staff then one of the staff told us that most of the staff had got on in southampton and it was there frist cruise so why was ther no training given to the new staff the ship is not up to much food was ok nothing like other cruise ships and l am not talking top of the range engines vibrate considring it had been in for a revamp in december 2011 passagers said its been like that for years if it was mine l would be a very worried captin has it rattled all the dinning room tables , toilets out of action , shows not up to scratch could be better Cabin very small a236 no room to store cases no room in wardrobes very small , and to top it all 2days after returning was taken very ill and sent to hospital ect to be checked out this went on for 5months and the consultant said l was very lucky and have notice that this ship is in the press for passagers fulling ill so the virus must have been on there since july and also the aruzra l will not be booking with P&O Again so please take notice of the first comment on there TV ADD (WARNING)I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT so take note think before you book read the reviews they do all not try to cover things up this is a true reviwe

Long delays getting onboard not helped by over zealous security. Worse than at airports. Almost everyone 'take your shoes off', no chairs to sit on. 45 minutes just for this after 90 minutes to check-in not good enough. Nothing said about norovirus until Conservatory and Al Fresco shut on day 2. Welcome as far as I'm concerned cause its just a bun fight in both. All dining in main diningroom. Day 4 at least 100 seats empty per sitting in 2 dining rooms.The cruise should have been abandoned at this stage. People rushing out and falling over in dining room. Crew,especially Officers, noticeable by their absence. Us and them attitude. All other mixed functions(Crew & passengers), including Captains Welcome party cancelled. By day 7 some passengers were almost mutinous. Various unofficial meetings. Captain would not attend any, although invited. All Officers in their ivory tower.

Food is now mediocre on all P&O ships, someone described it as good pub grub, thats about right, but service is still very good. Entertainment by Headliners is still very good but is definitely aimed at over 50's.

Other entertainment is poor and on this cruise badly thought out. E.G. deckquoits, shuffleboard, and short tennis on the sun deck advertised everyday in temperatures of zero to minus 5 deg.C. The decks were covered in snow and ice. No alternatives thought out. The cruise director and deputy were more concerned about their quizzes to bother. The rest of the entertainment staff must have had an easy cruise because there was nothing else happening. Port infortmation talks only concerned with selling excursions, not helping those who like to do their own thing. We've been cruising with P&O for 10 years and nothing new has come along, everything including crew look tired, standards have dropped steadily. There seems to be a massive cost saving policy going on.

The attitude on this cruise was that passengers didn't count on this cruise, but lets get everything right for the Christmas cruise. No doubt they did not tell them about the norovirus as we were not told until it was too late. The ship is getting old but still elegant,but what is the alternative. P&O insist on building the bigger ships which if passenger talk is anything to go by are universally hated. P&O provide a unique atmosphere which is very British and liked by most who sail on their middle size ships it just needs tweeking a little. New menus, additional daytime entertainment, refurbishment of cabin bathrooms are all required then just carry on with this size of ship, not the big ones.

Personally I would also like to see some new itineries. In winter some long distance cruising like Dubai or Rio from Southampton with a passenger change over at those detinations to fly home. This and Oceana are warm water cruise ships with no covered pool.

I too was on the same cruise and caught the virus, I believe I contacted in the laundry 6th floor(8th dec) there are four washers, 3 dryers,four irons and boards when I went it was very busy, there is a sink but NO SOAP OR DIPENSER NO HAND TOWELS OR HAND GEL admittedly there is a small plastic tub with sort of surgical wipes but not ones you could use on skin there is a hand dryer but this does not work. I was in isolation until 6.30pm tuesday evening what I do not understand with p&o is that I had to have the "hit squad" to cleanse and make my bed and bring me bland food when I started to improve yet my husband who is disabled and obviously in the same cabin as me was able to have ordinary room service and meals delivered from the restaurant by a regular waiter. My husband also has existing medical problems which p&o were made aware of, I am just so grateful that my husband did not contact virus as he would have had to been hospitalised or worse still could have been fatal, We have travelled many times with the company but they have lost two more clients it was also reported that on the previous cruise when it docked that 89 passengers were still in isolation but disembarked last, My husband and I were on Oriana before 1pm this is not long enough for a thorough cleanse surely they could have advised passengers that there would be a two day delay and that we would miss one of the ports so that Oriana could have been cleaned properly due to the virus. We may well have docked at 3am as reported by sky news but the cleaners were certainly not cleaning then and I also overheard a fellow passeneger say to reception the last night around 11pm that his wife was in isolation until 2.50pm day of disembarkment , the receptionist Ana very matter of fact said to him your wife can stay in the cabin until then, so when would the cleaners be able to cleansed for the next passengers, I went back to the 6th floor laundry on the 12th and the 13th and guess what still NO SOAP, PAPER TOWELS OR HAND GEL AND A HAND DRYER THAT STILL DOES NOT WORK, SHAME ON P&O THE CAPTAIN AND HIS CREW SHOULD HOLD THEIR HEADS IN SHAME but then again maybe they are holding their stomachs or backsides like many of the hundreds of passengers

As the previous review my wife and i were on the ORIANA 4th december baltic cruise,we were told after queueing for 2 hours by staff the long queues were due to everyone turning up at the same time, instead of the truth that it was because of the deep clean.

We were advised that the best way of controling the noroviris was to wash your hands and avoid touching your face. The clean up is a joke as although they were cleaning the tables and chair arms they wer`nt cleaning the undersides where your fingers would grip when moving your chair or leaving your table, and as a smoker had to use deck 7 starboard where the ashtray bins were already full when we boarded till the time we disembarked 14/12/12 with fag butts & packets, if this is not a health and fire hazard i dont know what is.

This is our 19th cruise and been through a lot rougher seas, the captains excuse for not seeing the passengers is rubbish, the ship is supposed to run on auto pilot untill near port.

The list goes on. As many discribed worst cruise ever.