Has anyone else any news.

We have had translation problems in the past with news from China when it was said that the s.s. Oriana had sunk when damaged in the typhoon which hit Dalain but which later proved to be incorrect.

This information has not been confirmed as yet so any other news on the s.s. Oriana would be appreciated !

This could be the end for another very popular British built passenger cruise ship which will be sadly missed.

Dispite the changes made to her inside accomodation over the years, the outside still remained much as she was built which made her recognizable around the world with what appeared to be her two funnels.

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Neil Whitmore ( Bob ) wrote:
I have heard today via the Australian Maritime website and their contact in India that the s.s. Oriana may shortly be towed to Alang for scrapping.

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This has been on the cards for a while so it was only a matter of time (and I think in your heart you knew this). The info came from ssMaritime.com.

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Mr. Rajesh Shah of Kumar Steel at Alang has advised us that SS Oriana has been sold to Indian breakers and is due to depart for Alang soon.

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Sad, but she's going to the right place. RIP.

******

An example of what can be done with an old ship was the Stockholm ( launched about 1948 ) which had been used in a static role as an accommodation ship after being in service as a passenger ship and then rebuilt in Italy into a modern cruise ship and now sailing as the mv Athena for Classic International Cruises.

[ 08-29-2005: Message edited by: Neil Whitmore ( Bob ) ]

With the passing of "Oriana" does this mean that all the former British "Blue Water Liners", to use an euphemism for colonial liners have gone, nwo that Windsor Castle and Kenya Castle are also gone ?

I can't really believe that the former Belgian CMB" Charlesville", now in a precarious state in Rostock, so it seems, is the last surviving example of an European colonial liner?????

Tahitien etc has also gone. There should be more...

The Topaz now used by the Japanese Peace Boats movement was British built in 1956 as the Empress of Britain and there is also the Regel Empress built in 1953 which started life as the Olympia for Greek Lines.

[ 08-29-2005: Message edited by: Neil Whitmore ( Bob ) ]

In that sence i would ad that the Oriana was a horrible ship frome the outside. She was totally unactractive. i never understand why Orientel deside to go ahead with this design.

Other wice she have a very beatifull interior very very handsome. Thats the odd whitte this vessel.

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Originally posted by Ernst:
...talking about colonial liners....

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m.s. Willem Ruys the last colonial liner build in the Netherlands Schelden yard, fore Royal Rotterdam Lloyd. She was a beauty.

Greetings Ben.

Simplon PC / Royla Rotterdam Lloyd.

[ 08-31-2005: Message edited by: Maasdam ]

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Originally posted by Maasdam:
Other wice she have a very beatifull interior very very handsome. Thats the odd whitte this vessel.

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Ben, what I have seen of her interiors (from the time it was still thought she was saved from scraping) There isn’t anything left of those wonderful 60’s interiors anyway it was all replaced making it look like a Chinese restaurant.

From the latest pictures received the ships cinema was still much the same as when she was built and also the stern gallery but large areas of the top deck cabin areas were cleared to create exhibition areas when she was purchased by the Japanese company for use at Beppu Bay in Japan.

All the Chinese had done was to use some of these
areas for a different purpose including creating a theatre night club.

The latest news received today from Dalian states that some scrapping work has started at the Zhangiagang Shipyard in China. ( They call it trashing ! )

This now puts some doubt on what is happening to her.

Are they just stripping out the inside and sending an empty hull to India to be broken up or will they complete the job themselves.

More news is awaited.

[ 08-31-2005: Message edited by: Neil Whitmore ( Bob ) ]

quote:

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Originally posted by Neil Whitmore ( Bob ):
Hi

From the latest pictures received the ships cinema was still much the same as when she was built and also the stern gallery but large areas of the top deck cabin areas were cleared to create exhibition areas when she was purchased by the Japanese company for use at Beppu Bay in Japan.

All the Chinese had done was to use some of these areas for a different purpose including creating a theatre night club.

[ 08-31-2005: Message edited by: Neil Whitmore ( Bob ) ]

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Bob, they were created multiple purpose hall and convention center on Verandah deck although they remained the cabins for exhibition on Stadium deck.

[ 08-31-2005: Message edited by: Ocean Liners ]

I have the original Japanese brochure for ss Oriana when at Bepu Bay which has also been translated into English by a friend of mine.

This clearly shows all the decks and the areas cleared and what some of the original public rooms were used for after the conversion.

In the old cabin area on deck A was the Oriana Memories section with old ships newspapers and menus etc. on display

On B deck cabin area was the main Oriana museum with P&O company uniforms and the main exibition of life at sea, life on the ship and ports visited.

There was also an Entertaimnet section on this deck and a Blue Ribbon area selling model ships.

The area used for the exibition areas on board was 3,000 sq. metres.

The Plough Tavern became the Tea Restaurant serving light meals.

The Lookout Bar was the Queens bar.

Monkey Bar became a seafood restaurant.

Ocean Bar was made into a Barbecue area with a beer garden.

The Princess Room had seating for 600 for shows or seating for 300 if tables were used, and also had a display of model ships and folk art for sale.

Plymouth Room became a convention centre.

The Carnival Room was used for temporary exhibitions.

The Stern Gallery was a casual restaurant serving a selection of dishes for the family.

On A Deck aft was seating for 300 for sporting
events.

The original cinema became a theatre and remained unaltered
.
There was four shops on board selling various items plus an ice cream and soft drinks bar.

Outside the ships old wardroom was displayed a propeller, rudder and anchor.

One of the swimming pools was converted into a model boat pool with remote controlled boats.

The stadium area became a small golf course.

There was also an archery area on the stadium deck.

The Captains cabin and office plus the bridge, radio room, chart room and hospital remained untouched as did the special suite on stadium deck.

The ships printing presses were also on display and there was tours of the engine room.

This has been compared with the deck plans for the ss Oriana when she was on the final series of Australian cruises in 1986.

[ 08-31-2005: Message edited by: Neil Whitmore ( Bob ) ]

[ 08-31-2005: Message edited by: Neil Whitmore ( Bob ) ]

quote:

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Originally posted by Neil Whitmore ( Bob ):
Many thanks for your comments

I have the original Japanese brochure for ss Oriana when at Bepu Bay which has also been translated into English by a friend of mine.

This clearly shows all the decks and the areas cleared and what some of the original public rooms on the promanade deck were used for after the conversion.

This has been compared with the deck plans for the ss Oriana when she was on the final series of Australian cruises in 1986.

[ 08-31-2005: Message edited by: Neil Whitmore ( Bob ) ]

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I also have the original Japanese brochure for ss Oriana when at Bepu Bay and the Brochures "Take me away, P&O."

The wheelhouse, chart room and captain's day room was opened for exhibition.
The Plough Tavern was converted into Tea/Restaurant.

The Lookout converted into Queen's bar and Stadium was used as mini golf link and Open air deck area.
The Radio room and cabins opend for exhibihition.

The Princess room, Plymouth room , Monkey Bar and Ocean bar used for multiple use hall, Convention center, Seafood restaurant respectively.
Aft open deck area was used for Beer garden and BBQ.

On "B" deck, forwrad area was used for game corner, New Oriana theater was located former carnival room and Stern gallery was transformed into Casual restaurant and rest of the "B" deck was used for Museum zone.

[ 08-31-2005: Message edited by: Ocean Liners ]

Snap -

quote:

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Originally posted by Neil Whitmore ( Bob ):

The Carnival Room was used for temporary exhibitions.

The original cinema became a theatre and remained unaltered
.

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Hi,

I don't think the Carnival Room was used for temporary exhibitions.

The midship bar used for a part of musuem and theater lobby, the carnival room and a few aft cabins(off piccadilly shop) on "C" deck and "D" deck(off ladies hairdressing room) were convereted into New Oriana theatre for showing 3-D movies.

[ 09-01-2005: Message edited by: Ocean Liners ]

The original cinema was built on A and B decks and extended through the two decks.

On B deck it was slightly forward of the Midships Bar and on A deck forward of the Bureau and Currency Exchange offices

If you look your brouchure, the original Cinama shown in Pink Colored and two stories(Balcony was on "A" (4F) as a museum while theatre lobby and New Oriana theatre is colored by red.
Original cinema is(?)/was sutiated just few decks below dummy funnel.

New Oriana theatre was sutiated just below aft section of beer garden & BBQ(Green Colored).

[ 08-31-2005: Message edited by: Ocean Liners ]

I think what became the Wardroom was originally the First Class childrens Playroom, great spot for kids with a view over the foredeck.

quote:

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Originally posted by Neil Whitmore ( Bob ):

Plymouth Room became a convention centre.

Monkey Bar became a seafood restaurant

Ocean Bar was made into a Barbecue area with a beer garden.

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Plymouth Room and adjoining Monkey Bar used for convention center.

Ocean Bar was transformed into Seafood Restaurant.

quote:

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Outside the ships old wardroom was displayed a propeller, rudder and anchor.

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There were fan rooms and a crew pool on crew deck(foredeck).

These displys were placed just aft crew pool/fan rooms and replaced two cranes.

[ 09-01-2005: Message edited by: Ocean Liners ]