Piano Land
Piano Land is a Chinese-operated cruise ship formerly known as Oriana.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Piano Land is a cruise ship operated by the Chinese cruise line Astro Ocean and owned by China Cruises. The vessel was built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, and entered service in April 1995 as Oriana for P&O Cruises. It was commissioned as a major new ship for the British cruise market and was named by Queen Elizabeth II. Designed with the appearance and operating profile of an ocean liner, Oriana was intended to support longer-distance itineraries, including world cruises, rather than functioning solely as a short-range resort vessel. The ship was the second P&O and Orient Line vessel to carry the name Oriana. Its design incorporated features intended to appeal to British passengers, drawing on studies of the earlier SS Canberra and on the work of designers including Robert Tillberg and John McNeece. The vessel had a single funnel styled as a visual reference to Canberra, a balcony deck for selected suites and staterooms, and interiors with distinctly British themes. Public areas included Anderson's, Lord's Tavern, the Knightsbridge Shops, the Emporium, Harlequins, a casino, a photo gallery, and several lounges. P&O also secured the historic call sign GVSN after a campaign, allowing the new ship to share the call sign of the first Oriana. At 69,153 gross tons and 260 metres in length, Oriana was among the world's largest cruise ships when introduced and was reportedly the largest vessel built in Germany since 1914. Its four MAN B&W diesel engines produced a combined 39,300 kilowatts and gave it a service speed of approximately 24 knots. The ship could accommodate up to 1,928 passengers and offered about 105,000 square feet of exterior passenger-deck space. From 1995 onward it regularly operated for P&O Cruises in areas including the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands, Madeira, the Baltic Sea, and world-cruise routes. It also held the Golden Cockerel trophy from 1997 as the fastest ship in the P&O Cruises fleet, succeeding Canberra. Ownership changed as the cruise industry consolidated. In 2000, P&O transferred its cruise operations, including Oriana, to P&O Princess Cruises. In 2003, P&O Princess merged with Carnival Corporation to create the present Carnival Corporation structure, although the ship continued to be operated under the P&O Cruises brand. A major refit in 2006 included cabin refurbishment, changes to public spaces, an extension of the Lord's Tavern, and improvements to children's facilities. The vessel was also re-registered in Bermuda, enabling weddings to be conducted at sea. Its food-and-beverage offering included a restaurant associated with chef Gary Rhodes, later replaced by Sindhu, associated with chef Atul Kochhar. A further refit in 2011 remodelled the stern and converted the ship to an adults-only format. Children's play areas were removed and replaced with additional passenger accommodation. During the years before leaving P&O's fleet, the ship also attracted negative attention after repeated norovirus outbreaks, including a particularly large outbreak in 2012. Passengers later pursued legal action over alleged failures to disclose earlier outbreaks. P&O Cruises announced in 2018 that Oriana would leave the fleet in August 2019. After its final P&O voyage in July and August 2019, the ship was sold to the newly formed Chinese cruise line Astro Ocean and renamed Piano Land. The new name refers to Gulangyu, an island near Xiamen associated with music and known as the Island of Music. Piano Land sailed from Southampton in August 2019 and reached Xiamen in September, where it was formally christened. Astro Ocean and the ship subsequently made their Shanghai debut in November 2019. The vessel was laid up during the COVID-19 pandemic. It entered dry dock in May 2022 and remained out of service in Xiamen later that year. It was listed for sale in March 2024, but subsequently re-entered service in July 2024 after approximately four years away from active operations. Piano Land therefore represents both a surviving example of the 1990s generation of large cruise ships and a transition from a traditional British cruise brand to a Chinese cruise operator.
History
Piano Land was constructed by Meyer Werft at Papenburg in Germany for P&O Cruises and entered commercial service in April 1995 under the name Oriana. P&O had wanted to commission the ship in Britain, but the country no longer had a shipyard capable of completing a project of this scale. The resulting vessel became the largest ship built in Germany since 1914 and one of the largest cruise ships in the world at the time of its introduction. The ship was conceived specifically for the British cruise market and was given an ocean-liner-inspired design that supported longer voyages and world cruises. Designers Robert Tillberg and John McNeece studied SS Canberra to understand the requirements of British passengers and to carry elements of the earlier ship into the new design. Oriana had a distinctive single funnel influenced by Canberra's twin-funnel silhouette, a balcony deck for selected accommodation, and public rooms decorated with British references. P&O also pursued the right to use the earlier Oriana's call sign, GVSN, after a lengthy campaign. Queen Elizabeth II named the ship at its 1995 christening. During its P&O career, Oriana operated in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands, Madeira, the Baltic, and on world-cruise programs. From 1997 it held P&O's Golden Cockerel trophy as the fleet's fastest vessel after succeeding Canberra. The ship was originally owned by P&O, but ownership moved to P&O Princess Cruises when the cruise division was separated in 2000. P&O Princess later merged with Carnival Corporation in 2003, while operational responsibility remained with P&O Cruises. Oriana underwent a substantial refit in Bremerhaven in December 2006. The work included redesigned cabins, expanded or refurbished public spaces, improvements to children's areas, and changes to dining facilities. Its registration was transferred to Bermuda, permitting weddings at sea. Restaurants associated with chefs Gary Rhodes and later Atul Kochhar became part of the ship's evolving food-and-beverage offer. A 2011 refit at Blohm & Voss remodelled the stern and changed the ship's market orientation. Oriana became an adults-only vessel in November 2011, with children's facilities removed and the space used for additional cabins. The ship's later P&O career was also affected by repeated norovirus outbreaks. An outbreak in 2012 reportedly affected about 400 passengers, and further incidents occurred in subsequent years. Passengers later brought legal action in 2014, alleging that P&O had not adequately disclosed earlier outbreaks. In June 2018, P&O Cruises announced that Oriana would leave the fleet. Its final P&O cruise departed on 23 July 2019 and returned on 9 August. In August, the ship was sold to Astro Ocean, a newly formed Chinese cruise company, and renamed Piano Land. The name refers to Gulangyu, an island associated with music near Xiamen. Piano Land departed Southampton on 16 August 2019, arrived in Xiamen on 20 September, and was christened there on 26 September. The ship and Astro Ocean Cruises made their Shanghai debut in November. The COVID-19 pandemic halted the ship's operations. Piano Land was laid up in 2020 and entered dry dock in May 2022, but it remained out of service and docked at Xiamen later that year. It was listed for sale in March 2024. Despite that development, the ship reportedly returned to service in July 2024, continuing its life as an older but historically significant cruise vessel under Chinese operation.
- 2024
Returns to service
[1]After being listed for sale in March, the ship reportedly re-entered service in July.
- 2022
Enters dry dock
[1]Piano Land entered dry dock in May but was still reported out of service and docked in Xiamen later in the year.
- 2020
Laid up during the COVID-19 pandemic
[1]The ship was withdrawn from service during the global cruise-industry shutdown.
- 2019
Renamed Piano Land
[1]Astro Ocean acquired the ship, renamed it Piano Land, and moved it from the British cruise market to Chinese operation.
- 2018
Departure from the P&O fleet announced
[1]P&O Cruises announced that Oriana would leave its fleet in August 2019.
- 2011
Converted to adults-only operation
[1]A Blohm & Voss refit remodelled the stern and removed children's facilities as the ship moved to an adults-only format.
- 2006
Major refit and Bermuda registration
[1]A substantial Bremerhaven refit renewed cabins and public areas, while Bermuda registration enabled weddings to be held at sea.
- 2003
P&O Princess merges with Carnival Corporation
[1]The merger created the broader Carnival Corporation structure, although Oriana continued sailing under P&O Cruises.
- 2000
Ownership transfers to P&O Princess Cruises
[1]P&O's cruise operations were separated into P&O Princess Cruises, taking ownership of Oriana while P&O Cruises continued to operate the vessel.
- 1997
Wins the Golden Cockerel
[1]Oriana succeeded Canberra as holder of the Golden Cockerel trophy, recognizing the fastest ship in the P&O Cruises fleet.
Products and positioning
A large, classic ocean-liner-style cruise ship positioned for international and Chinese-operated leisure cruising, with a heritage rooted in the British P&O Cruises market.
Cruise ship · 2019
Piano Land
The vessel's current identity under Astro Ocean. Piano Land is a 69,153-gross-ton passenger cruise ship measuring approximately 260 metres in length. It can carry up to 1,928 passengers and operates with four diesel engines producing about 39,300 kilowatts. Its facilities include passenger cabins, outdoor deck space, dining venues, lounges, retail areas, entertainment spaces, and a casino. The ship's name references Gulangyu, an island near Xiamen associated with music.
Former cruise-ship identity · 1995
Oriana
The ship's original identity from its 1995 entry into service until its transfer to Astro Ocean in 2019. As Oriana, it was positioned as a premium British-market vessel with an ocean-liner profile, world-cruise capability, British-themed public rooms, and later an adults-only operating model.
Controversies
2014
Passenger legal action over outbreak disclosures
Passengers took legal action against P&O Cruises after expressing anger that they had not been told about earlier norovirus outbreaks associated with Oriana.
2012
Norovirus outbreak aboard Oriana
An outbreak reportedly affected about 400 passengers during a 2012 cruise. Similar incidents were reported over four consecutive years, damaging the vessel's reputation and prompting the nickname 'the plague ship'.
Marketing campaigns
- 2019Piano Land Chinese-market introduction
China · United Kingdom
Astro Ocean introduced the former Oriana to the Chinese cruise market under the Piano Land name. The name drew on Gulangyu's musical associations, while the ship's transfer voyage from Southampton to Xiamen marked the change in operating market.
Outcome. The ship arrived in Xiamen, received a formal christening, and made its Shanghai debut in November 2019.
- 1995Oriana naming and British-market launch
United Kingdom · International
P&O launched Oriana as a major new ship designed specifically for British cruise passengers. Queen Elizabeth II conducted the naming ceremony, reinforcing the vessel's British-market identity and connection to the historic Oriana name.
Outcome. The ship entered P&O service as one of the largest cruise vessels in the world and became a prominent part of the company's fleet.
Brand decisions
2024
Return to cruise operationStrategyBackground
The ship had spent several years laid up following the pandemic and was listed for sale in March 2024.
Action taken
Piano Land reportedly re-entered service in July 2024.
Aftermath
The reported return preserved the vessel's active status despite its age and prolonged period out of service.
2019
Transfer to Astro OceanM&ABackground
Astro Ocean was establishing a Chinese cruise operation and acquired the former P&O vessel.
Action taken
The ship was sold to Astro Ocean, renamed Piano Land, and repositioned for Chinese service.
Aftermath
Piano Land was transferred to Xiamen, christened there, and presented in Shanghai later in 2019.
2018
Retire Oriana from the P&O fleetStrategyBackground
P&O Cruises announced that the older vessel would leave its fleet after more than two decades of operation.
Action taken
P&O scheduled the ship's final cruise for July–August 2019 and prepared it for sale.
Aftermath
The vessel moved to Astro Ocean and received the Piano Land name.
2011
Move to an adults-only operating modelStrategyBackground
P&O repositioned Oriana toward adult leisure travelers during a major refit.
Action taken
Children's play areas were removed and the ship's stern was remodelled; the vessel became adults-only in November.
Aftermath
Oriana operated with an adults-focused proposition for the remainder of its P&O career.
2006
Re-register the ship in BermudaStrategyBackground
P&O wanted to enable weddings to take place at sea aboard Oriana.
Action taken
The ship was transferred from British registration to Bermuda registration during its 2006 refit.
Aftermath
The change allowed onboard wedding ceremonies and coincided with a broad refurbishment of cabins and passenger facilities.
Recent events
- 2024
Piano Land listed for sale[1]
Other
The ship was reported as listed for sale in March 2024 while still associated with its post-pandemic period of inactivity.
- 2024
Piano Land re-enters service[1]
Other
After roughly four years out of service, Piano Land reportedly returned to operation in July 2024.
- 2020
Piano Land remains laid up during the pandemic[1]
Other
The ship was taken out of service during the COVID-19 pandemic and remained inactive for an extended period.
- 2019
Oriana sold to Astro Ocean and renamed Piano Land[1]
M&A · Leadership change
The former P&O Cruises vessel Oriana was sold to Astro Ocean, renamed Piano Land, and transferred to Chinese cruise operations.
- 2019
Piano Land begins transfer from Southampton to China[1]
Other
After its renaming, Piano Land departed Southampton in August and arrived in Xiamen in September for its new Chinese operating career.
- 2019
Piano Land formally christened in Xiamen[1]
Other
The ship was christened in Xiamen in September 2019 by Ni Chao, a municipal and free-trade-zone official.
- 2019
Piano Land makes Shanghai debut[1]
Other
Astro Ocean Cruises and Piano Land presented the ship in Shanghai in November 2019, including its maiden call at the port.
Sources1 sources
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