With Reuben Goossens

Cruise’n’Travel Journalist / Cruise Reviewer & Maritime Historian

P&O Cruises

(A Carnival PLC Company)

The diverse venues & facilities of Oriana

Oriana has a host of wonderful venues, including; Chaplins Cinema – Card Room – Library – Readng & Writing Room – Shops – Lotus Spa & Gym – Casino – Cyb@Study

All photographs on this review are © Copyright & taken by Reuben Goossens & Mr. Hun-Eng Tan

Please Note: Cruise-Australia is a non-commercial and privately owned cruise site. The author has been in the passenger shipping industry since 1960 and is currently semi-retired, but continues to write cruise and ship reviews and articles in order to better to inform cruise and ship enthusiasts and provide information for those intending a cruise in the future.

Chaplins Cinema

Entrance to Chaplins Cinema – Port, looking forward

Cinema’s main entrance – port, looking aft to starboard

The Cinema, which is also used for Port and other lectures

A cheeky Charlie Chaplin keeps an eye on the movie buff’s – port, looking forward

Crichton’s Card Room, Library & Thackeray Room

Like most English ships, Oriana has a large card room and even this was too small for the world voyage. Port side aft of Crow’s Nest became thye second card venue , which was also packed out daily. Crichton’s could also be called the green room, as the photograph below shows.

Crichton’s Card Room – starboard, looking aft

The Library and the Thackeray Room is simply elegant. The Library has a vast selection of books covering every possible interest. The centre table and the grandfather clock in Thackeray’s were built by Lord Lineley, Princes Margaret’s son. Both these rooms, as the photographs reveal, are simply elegant.

The Library – looking aft

Thackeray Room – port, looking aft

Knightsbridge & Emporium Shopping Gallery

The Emporium and Knightsbridge shopping Gallery is located on decks 6 and 7 at the Atrium. The variety of goods was excellent; however, the ships souvenir selection was poor. Each day tables would be set out outside the shops with specials of the day, mush like a market place and was very popular as goods were keenly priced.

Above & Below: Knightsbridge and Emporium Shopping Gallery

Photo Shop

Lotus Spa & Gym

The Lotus Spa is a magnificent venue in everyway. Besides the hair salon and massage therapy rooms, which are available at an additional cost, there is a host of facilities to enjoy, all included in your fare. Star with the dressing rooms with showers and lockers. Then head for the steam room, sauna or hop in one of the two Jacuzzi’s. On the starboard side there is a space for aerobics’ and floor exercise. In addition to all this, there is a large superbly equipped gym, overseen by professional instructors.

Lotus Spa aerobics’ floor (front). Deckchairs and cane furnishings are ideal for quietly lounging around

The waterfall. Behind is the entrance to the change rooms and sauna. Steam Room is located to the left

Sheer elegance

There is a Jacuzzi at each side. The aerobics’ space is seen with the TV and sound equipment

Above and below: This is a superbly equipped Gym

Monte Carlo Casino & Jackpot’s

Monte Carlo’s is the main casino with tables for Roulette and Blackjack etc. This room is located starboard side of the ship just aft of the Atrium’s Royal Court. Jackpot’s is for those who love slot machines. This venue is on the portside aft adjoining Lords Tavern.

This scene comes alive at night

This photo was taken whilst in port, usually it is packed

Cyb@Study

I have been on many ships with internet services available, however, the service in Cyb@Study was the slowest I have experienced. Notices were placed in Oriana Today and at each computer saying that the service could be slow due to positioning. However, it operated at the same speed as we experienced at sea as it was in all ports, thus, no excuses about being in the middle of nowhere. On top of this, compared with other cruise lines Cyb@Study charged a whopping £10 per hour. Combine this with the speed, which meant that some emails cost up to £4 each to send. Ridiculous! I suggest that you head for an Internet Café in port, if you have to. I found most charged between US$2 and US$3 per hour.

Cyb@Study

View the Deck Plan

Return to Page One of the Oriana Review

All photographs on this review are © Copyright & taken by Reuben Goossens & Mr. Hun-Eng Tan

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