P&O Cruises announced a new guest experience program for 2019 has confirmed that the 1995-built ‘Oriana’ will leave its fleet next August.
The company did not say where the 1,822-pax ship would operate next but there were rumours circulating that she had been sold to Chinese interests.
P&O Cruises senior vice president, Paul Ludlow, said: “’Oriana’ is an original, and a much loved P&O Cruises ship. Whilst we will miss her, her departure will allow us to focus on our remaining mid-sized and larger ships as the fleet expands with ‘Iona’.
“’Oriana’ will be with us until August next year so there will be plenty of opportunity to celebrate her time with us. Those guests who have sailed on ‘Oriana’ will then be able to enjoy holidays on ‘Aurora’ and ‘Arcadia’, both of which are exclusively for adults and have a very similar on board feel, and experience the re-vitalisation taking place over the next year.”
Meanwhile, the new fleet programme will cover three key areas of investment in shore excursions, dining and entertainment across mid-sized ships ‘Arcadia’, ‘Aurora’ and ‘Oceana’, as well as the larger ships ‘Britannia’, ‘Azura’ and ‘Ventura’.
‘Aurora’ will be refitted next spring, prior to her re-launch as a ship exclusively for adults, when new cabins will be added, as well as fixtures, fittings, soft furnishings and enhancements to public spaces throughout the ship, the company said
