Piano Land

MS Piano Land cruise ship was launched in 1995 as P&O Oriana - the oldest liner in the P&O UK's fleet. Oriana was also one of the company's "adult ships" - together with the fleetmates Arcadia and Aurora.

MS Oriana (MMSI 310529000, Bermuda-flagged, registered in Hamilton) left the P&O fleet in August 2019. The farewell event was held onboard on August 9th, while the liner was docked in Southampton England after completing its last voyage for P&O UK. Oriana left England on August 16th. The new shipowner officially took over the vessel on August 17th.

The arrival in Hong Kong China was scheduled for late-September. For October-November (2019) were scheduled short-breaks from Shenzhen (Shekou) before the homeporting in Xiamen (December).

History - construction and ownership

P&O Cruises is a subsidiary company and two brands owned by Carnival Corporation - P&O UK and P&O Australia. In 2000, P&O Cruises became subsidiary of P&O Princess Cruises, which merged with Carnival Corporation in 2003. PandO is the world's oldest cruise company, starting passenger shipping operations in 1822 on the routes connecting England with Iberia.

The 69,840-ton, 1,882-passenger cruise ship Oriana was the oldest but the fastest cruise ship in the P&O fleet. At the time of its debut, the vessel was among the biggest cruise liners in the world and the biggest ever built in Germany. MV Oriana was christened by HM The Queen of the UK and Commonwealth on April 6, 1995.

The ship underwent two major drydock refurbishments. The first one, in December 2006, was for GBP 12 million. P&O Oriana was re-registered from Britain to Bermuda to allow onboard weddings. The second drydock was in late 2011 when the vessel received 27 new staterooms and two new dining venues. P&O UK' Oriana ship underwent a 3-week refurbishment at Blohm+Voss (Hamburg) at the end of November 2016. The refit resulted in a complete renovation of all restaurants, bars, passenger staterooms, public spaces, outdoor decks.

The current shipowner is Astro Ocean Cruises - a travel brand and joint venture company of CTS (China National Travel Service Group Corporation Ltd) and COSCO (China Ocean Shipping Group). COSCO is currently ranked as China's largest and world's 6th-largest container shipping line. The other large Chinese joint venture travel company is CSSC-Carnival Cruise Shipping/Adora Cruises (2019-founded).

During the ship's refurbishment in September 2019 were added new shops at the 2-level shopping mall (decks 6-7) with premium international brands specializing in leather goods, designer bags, fashion clothing and accessories, perfumes, skincare products, sunglasses, watches, tobacco, alcohol. Onboard payments can be made in cash, with credit cards and via WeChat Pay and AliPay.

Cruise itinerary program

MS Oriana itinerary program was based on cruises from Southampton, including Caribbean Islands voyages, annual “World Cruise” (roundtrip from the UK), roundtrip from Southampton to the Canary Islands, British Isles, Norway Fjords, Iceland, Baltic, Mediterranean, also Transatlantic repositioning crossings. Next is listed ship's last PandO cruise, before the transfer to the new Chinese owner.

18-day "Norway and North Cape"

The Chinese cruise liner Piano Land is homeported in Xiamen (China), starting operations in mid-October 2019. In 2020, Astro Ocean Cruises introduced a new roundtrip itinerary from Shanghai that visits Naha-Okinawa (Japan) and Ningbo-Zhoushan (China). From homeport Zhoushan were scheduled 4 departures (in March 2020) on roundtrips to Japan and China.

After a nearly 4.5-year hiatus, Astro Ocean Cruises restarted/resumed revenue operations with the Piano Land ship on July 25th, 2024, out of Shanghai (4-night roundtrip to Jeju and Shimonoseki). The roundtrips are with lengths 4-night/5-day and 5-night/6-day and visit destinations in Japan (Shimonoseki, Naha, Sasebo, Kagoshima, Nagasaki, Fukuoka, Kochi) and Korea (Jeju).

Cabins

Oriana has a total of 941 cabins (of which 24 are suites, 106 are balcony, and 331 are inside rooms) in 20 grades. Most Oriana staterooms are 150-sq.foot Oceanview rooms (480). The largest aboard Oriana is the Suite (415 ft2).

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Oriana emerged from a month-long dry dock in late 2011, during which a pair of new dining venues were added. The first new restaurant, Marco Pierre White's Ocean Grill, provides cuisine described as new British; menu options include choices like Thai fishcakes, cheese souffle, grilled lobster and wild boar burgers. The 2nd, Sorrento, is an Italian restaurant which is offering pizza, pasta, and seafood. Versions of both dining venues are found on Adonia (now Azamara Pursuit) and Arcadia (kids-free vessel). Cover charges fluctuate by the length of the cruise. For the Ocean Grill, it's 12.95 pounds per person on a route of 8 or more days, 17.95 pounds for 3 to 7 days and 22.95 pounds for 1 to 2 days. Supplements do apply for some items, but in actuality, pretty well everything on the menu is engaged. Sorrento costs 5 pounds (route of 8 or more days), 7.50 pounds (route of 3 to 7 days) or 10 pounds (routes of 1 to 2 days) and also has supplements for some items.

Follows the complete list of Oriana restaurants and food bars.

• Peninsular Restaurant (498-seat forward Dining Room; club dining venue with large windows; offers Breakfast 8:00 - 9:30 a.m., Lunch 12:00 - 1:30 p.m., Afternoon Tea 4:00 - 4:45 p.m., two fixed seatings for Dinner at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m.)
• Oriental Restaurant (500-seat aft Dining Room; club dining venue, with large windows, dinners only, with two fixed seatings at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. The menu is the same as at the Peninsular’s)
• Ocean Grill Restaurant and Bar (speciality dining by celebrity chef Marco Pierre-White; dinner only 6:00 - 10:00 p.m., reservation-only; also serving Suite guests Breakfast)
• Tiffany Court (complimentary restaurant; serves lite Breakfast and Lunch)
• Tiffany’s Lounge and Bar (patisserie with speciality coffee bar by “Costa Coffee”; serves light snacks for breakfast and lunch)
• Sorrento Restaurant and Bar (Italian; speciality dining; Sorrento Bar)
• The Conservatory Restaurant and Bar (buffet-style; provides indoor/outdoor seating; open for Breakfast 6:30 - 7:00 a.m., Lunch 12:00 - 3 p.m., Afternoon Tea and snacks 3:00 - 5:00 p.m., and Dinner 6:30 - 9 p.m.; features themed buffets and self service, complimentary Pizzeria; Conservatory Bar)
• Al Fresco Pizzeria (complimentary indoor/outdoor restaurant).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Evening entertainment starts at 6 p.m. with options like pianists tickling the ivories in the Crow's Nest and Tiffany Lounge and more live music in Lord's Tavern sports pub. The Crow's Nest is the perfect spot to watch passing scenery at sunset over a reasonably priced cocktail of the day (around £3.75). The nightly shows in ship's Theatre Royal, at 8.30 p.m. and 10.30 p.m., are excellent and well supported. The resident Headliners Theatre Company stages a variety of well-choreographed performances. Oriana's Pacific Lounge is more intimate and generally hosts solo singers. The Harlequins venue alternates between ballroom dancing and disco music. The casino with gaming tables and slot machines open at 7 p.m. Additional amenities include Complimentary 24-hour Room-Service, Internet/WiFi access, laundry/self-serve laundromats.

Follows the complete list of Oriana lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• Oriana Atrium (4-decks central open floor area and social hub)
• Knightsbridge (duty-free boutique shop);
• Emporium (general store for candies, chocolate, sweets, books, etc.);
• Florist Desk (special occasions flower shop);
• “Duty-Free” shop (alcohol, cigarettes, tobaccos)
• Anderson’s Bar (named after the P&O’s founder); Lord’s Tavern (sports bar)
• Harlequins Disco and Nightclub; Pacific Lounge and Dance Club
• Theatre Royal (650-seat, featuring large scale shows by “Headliners Theatre Company”)
• Chaplin’s Cinema; Wedding Venue (vow renewals; weddings)
• Monte Carlo Casino; Art Gallery; Photo Gallery and Shop; The Library (with Internet computers); Cyb@Study Online Centre; Medina Room (chapel); Thackeray Room; Crichton’s Card Room
• Terrace Pool; Crystal Pool; Riviera Pool; 4 jacuzzis
• Oasis Spa complex (Treatment Rooms, Steam Rooms, Sauna, Beauty Salon)
• Gymnasium (complimentary equipment, Fitness classes; Yoga and Pilates at surcharge)
• The Crow’s Nest Lounge (dance floor, a stage for live music; with floor-ceiling windows for panoramic views; hosts art classes, quiz games, cooking demos during the day)
• Jogging Track; Traditional deck games area (Deck Chess, Deck Quoits, Shuffleboard); Sports Court (football, basketball, volleyball, tennis, cricket); Table Tennis; four Golf Net cages.