Thanks to Derek for this cruise review of P&O Cruises Oriana in the Fjords.

Oriana.  June 7th. 2007. Land of the Vikings (Norwegian Fjords)

Cruising’s for wrinklies – boy was I wrong!  It was my 60th. birthday in June, so my wife and I, both virgin cruisers, went on the Oriana to the Land of the Vikings.  The best cabin available was an outside twin with picture window.  Despite the fear of temperatures approaching zero, I wanted a balcony cabin and was happy to pay an upgrade if one became available.  With persistence, and my best chat-up lines, I eventually got an upgrade to a DA balcony stateroom.

The efficiency of the check-in at Southampton left air travel in the dark ages.  Before even entering the building, our bags had been whisked away for us to be reunited on board at our cabin.  The cabin was spotless, with a cabin steward who attended to our every need.

Being the newbies, we went as high as possible at ‘the front end’ to watch us leave the quay.  With champagne glass in hand, the ship’s horn sounded deafeningly just above us.  The adventure had really begun.

The balcony cabin was worth every extra penny.  As the weather was so good we spent many evenings there, looking for the elusive whales, even as far north as Spitzbergen with its glaciers and snow covered landscape, 600 miles from the north pole.  The winter woollies never left the suitcase.  Forty of us even went for an arctic dip in the ship’s pool, where, although the water temperature was 24 degrees, the air temperature was very little above freezing.

In contrast to the bleak, tree-less Spitzbergen, the Norwegian scenery has to be seen to be believed.  We took many of the optional excursions.  The full day ones included lunch of the high standard we had come to expect on the Oriana.  At some of the locations we had to go ashore in the tenders, but this was so efficiently arranged, I doubt if anyone felt held back in any way. Before each port day, there were information lectures in the main theatre, but these were recorded and put out over the information channel on the cabin tv for those just too busy with everything else going on around the ship.  There was never a dull moment whether in port or at sea.  We took up on-board dancing lessons with Paul and Jean on the ‘at sea’ days.  The evening entertainment was first class ranging from musical reviews to comedy from ‘Fingers’ Henry, and Tom O’Connor.

I feel really spoilt having been on such a fantastic holiday, and look forward to my next one on the Oriana in September ’08.

Derek