Oriana Review
A great week exploring Norway and the fjords on P&O Oriana
Rating by category
Additional details
SUMMARY We are a 30-something couple and this was our first P&O cruise. We had cruised once before on Celebrity Solstice so it was interesting to compare British vs American, Traditional vs Modern and Small vs Big ships. There are positives and negatives of each type and I wouldn't say one is better than the other - it all depends on your personal preferences.
We were happy with Oriana in general. As it is a smaller, older ship it lacked some of the polish and facilities of a larger, more modern ship but we liked the traditional style and nostalgic feel. In particular, the aft (back) of the ship - with the large, open terrace areas -- was great and we spent a lot of time there. On the more modern ships a lot of this aft space is taken up with balcony cabins.
The quality of food was similar, although there was a lot more variety on Celebrity.
Cabin Review
Outside Twin with Window
We had an outside cabin (A310) which was basic but clean and spacious enough with a large window and plenty of storage space. We brought from home a few extra coathangers, which came in handy, and there was a small safe. The TV was small and there was a lack of channels but at least there was the BBC and Sky News to keep us updated with events back home.
The bathrooms need updating and this is where the cabins show their age but the shower was still good. The White Company toiletries were a nice touch. Our cabin was only a few doors away from the open balcony at the aft (back) of the ship and we went there often to admire the views.