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P&O Cruises

MV Oriana

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Reviewed by: Angela Hill
# previous cruises: 3
Date of Trip: February 6, 1999
Itinerary: World Cruise Segment

The entertainment on board was great, lots of live music and theatre. The food was good and well presented, but not enough salad/greens. The central atrium was disappointing but the public rooms were spacious and tasteful. Buffet area was chaotic. Cabins, service, cleanliness great. I would do it again.

The public rooms were so many and varied that you could choose to suit your mood. Favourite was the Crows Nest, fabulous views very comfy. The walk around promenade felt very old worldy, lovely wood underfoot with some solid wooden benches along the way. There were 3 big pools, all very inviting, the casino is closed away so that if it doesn't interest you it's not intrusive. Slots had a room of their own. Harlequins was well set up for dancing the night away, as was the crows nest. The library was delightful and many of the quieter rooms also.

The service was really great. They baked rye bread for me daily because I only once asked if they had any. The food was delicious and well presented but a little short on greens and salad, if you asked they got it for you. Catered for the British tastes, a lot of the Americans on board were not happy with the menu. The waiters were mainly from India and a little more serious than waiters I have encountered on other cruises. I really didn't like the buffet as the set out was not very orderly, trays and people heading in all directions. I gave that a miss as much as possible. The pizzaria was not at all inspiring, give that a miss too. Australian pizzas have heaps of topping and I have yet to find anywhere that matches my home fare in that area.

The cabin we had was very comfortable with heaps of cupboard space, safe, padded coat hangers etc. The cases fit under the bed!! The bathroom was small but functional with a full size bath and shower over the bath. Good storage in the bathroom also. We had a balcony which we really enjoyed for a quiet spot of sun and fresh air. The cabins were spotless and the service friendly and almost unseen. Noise wasn't a problem except if there was a party next door.

The shows were a highlight of the cruise. The entertainers worked really hard and presented a professional, fun and varied assortment. There was something for most tastes. The Stadium Theatre Company was first rate, P&O should be congratulated on that one. The theatre on board was extremely well set up, red plush seating, good air conditioning,a treat. The cinema was less flashy but good. The show room on the other hand seemed a little under done. Not the best venue for a show. There were many venues on board each night with live music ranging from classical to popular. The cruise we were on had more oldies than young ones so there wasn't a lot of live younger style music. There was a disco every night though. The cruise staff were all good at what they did and made for a great trip.

There are so many trips ashore that you can choose one to suit your needs/fitness level. Bali was very pushy as far as the locals trying to sell things. The tour guide in Bali was very well informed and managed to give us cultural and historical background to the many places we visited. The art work in Bali is beautiful and the people seem very friendly and outgoing. Australia is my home so when we docked in Fremantle, Western Australia it brought a lump to my throat. We had a special welcome here with a girls school band playing and lots of people to greet the ship. Perth and Fremantle would have to be one of the most attractive cities to visit. The trip on the Swan River was a memory I will cherish for a long time. Definitely a place to revisit. Hobart in Tasmania is so different from Perth that the two are like seeing both sides of the same coin. Visit the interior of Tasmania if you can and see the farming areas and some of the history of the place. Sydney is and exciting city with lots to do, very busy and the harbour is amazing. Again it is worthwhile getting a view from the water.

There were many retired people on the World cruise, we only managed a two week segment. I was not expecting as many seniors as were on board. They were good value and all had interesting tales to tell. Most were very active and liked to get involved in the activities. It felt a little odd at times being on the younger end but that was OK. There was an incident one night were words were had between two gents one American and one English about the biased British content of the entertainment. On the whole though friction was not evident.