Most noticeable to me was the plenitude of drawer and wardrobe space. This is of great importance on a ship which is to be annually employed on 'round-the-world cruises of more than three months. The three full-length wardrobes and nine drawers, of assorted sizes, assure that you have ample space for the needs of two people for a long term, in comfort. A vanity table/writing desk, 2-seater comer sofa, remote-control TV/radio, safe, hair dryer and refrigerator round out the furnishings.

The bathroom was well arranged with tri-view-style mirrors having ample toiletries space enclosed behind both side wings. The shower was ample, with easily understood and adjustable controls. Although I was traveling alone, it was apparent that two could be quite comfortable in this minimum-grade outside cabin.

The vessel's interior activities decks are anchored from the "courts" atrium area which extends up through four deck levels and is placed somewhat forward of midship.

Ten elevators provide the vertical lift needs, well positioned forward, midship and aft with good, wide stairwells opposite.

Starting with the topmost deck level (deck 13), we find the observation lounge, the Crow's Nest, a sweeping 270-degree venue, forward for superb viewing of the sea and horizon. Appended are two private meeting or party rooms which can also be opened out to expand the size of the Crow's Nest. A bar and dance floor are also included here.

Moving down to deck 12, forward is the extensive health and beauty center with hair salon, three saunas, gymnasium and an aerobics disco, with seven individual rooms for health and beauty therapies.

Next aft is the open-deck midship pool areas, with two large pools and whirlpool spas, plus a bandstand for light music. Moving forward brings us to The Conservatory, an informal restaurant offering all-day casual dining right through from breakfast to dinner. It offers seating for 310 inside and 370 outside on open decks forward and aft.

Decks 11, 10 and nine are all devoted to cabins, staterooms and suites.

Aft on deck eight we encounter an extensive array of deck and room areas devoted to the children: Outer Space, a games arcade; Decibels, the teenagers' disco room with added "self service" video music; Peter Pan's, run by qualified hostesses catering to 2- to 1l-year-olds, and an open-deck area aft with a terrace pool, paddling pool, children's Jacuzzi and a play area including climbing frame and miniature ship.

We then come to Chaplin's Cinema with two life-sized Chaplin sculptures welcoming you to view first-run and classic films in a 189-seat theater.

An attractive complex of three rooms encompasses a well-stocked library; Crichton's, a card and table-games room focusing on bridge lessons and tournaments during a bridge cruise, and the Thackery Room, one of the most attractive and comfortable rooms on the ship, devoted to writing and reading with sinfully comfortable chairs.

We progress forward to the Curzon Room, a venue for classical concerts and afternoon teas, with rare artworks recalling P&O's links to India.

This next brings you to Tiffany Court. An elegant Tiffany glass dome covers this topmost level of the 4-deck atrium with a sweeping staircase and full 4-deck waterfall plus a full-service bar and afternoon tea facilities seating 110.

Moving down one deck level to the Royal Court on deck seven, forward, is the entrance to Theatre Royal, the main showroom for the big productions. Most beautifully designed with excellent viewing lines, a quality sound system and superb lighting, it is as fine a showroom as I have encountered.

Upon leaving the Theatre Royal and walking aft through the Royal Court, we encounter the Tours Office; the upper level of the Knightsbridge Shop; Monte Carlo Club, a casino offering roulette and blackjack, and Anderson's, a 150-seat club-style lounge primarily designed for that pre-lunch or post-dinner libation, with displays of some outstanding P&O silverware pieces and memorabilia.

You next are confronted by a pair of handsomely executed life-sized Harlequin figures who invite you into a versatile dance lounge of that name, Harlequin's. Designed for ballroom dancing and other activities during the day and early evening, it can also serve as a late-evening nightclub or disco.

Passing through The photo gallery and photo shop, you reach the center for machine gaming addicts, Jackpot, with all of the usual clatter but situated in a well-soundproofed room with a unique laminated ceiling depicting a roulette wheel. It seemed enigmatic that this machine gaming room should display a roulette motif on the ceiling while the Monte Carlo Club, separated therefrom, is where roulette is played.

Lord's Tavern is a tribute to the world-famous Lord's Cricket Ground. A life-sized mural of that sport venue decorates one wall, and photo montages of some of the most famous cricketers create a sort of hall of fame. It has a feeling of a good English pub, and it became a pre-dinner cocktail site for me as there was a large TV here which featured a good world news program.

The Pacific Lounge anchors the aft of this deck. Very versatile, it is well equipped for full show productions as well as day lectures, conferences and classes.

It should be noted here, for the healthy, perambulating crowd, that this deck (deck seven) has a full open circuit allowing strolling around the entire ship.

Deck six is primarily devoted to your gustatory delight, with two beautiful restaurants flanking the galley. The same one-class menu and service are offered in both, of course, but they are of definitely different decors, one named Oriental, with lots of cut-crystal decor, and the other Peninsular, featuring a pendant-dome light and mirrored ceiling and individual dome table lamps.

Although I was assigned to the Peninsular room, I managed to take one meal in the Oriental. I found the same excellent, efficient service in both. Four or five entree offerings were the norm for dinner, with extensive choices for the ancillary courses and everything well prepared and at appropriate temperatures. While some of the offerings were unknown to me, I am always willing to try new things and never encountered anything that was not fresh and tasty.

During the course of this writing, a notice, just came over one of my shipping news channels informing that just prior to the Oriana's arrival at Vancouver, she underwent the usual CDC (Centers for Disease Control) inspection during her stop at Hawaii. The result? One of the very rare scores of 100.

This is a real accomplishment and indicative of outstanding attention to sanitation standards. Sometimes many months will pass with no ship achieving such a perfect scoring. Kudos to Oriana!

The Queen's Court and two shops round out this deck level.

I sadly disembarked in San Francisco wishing that another five or six days had been possible but happy that I could renew my experience with P&O. I traveled on this cruise as a guest of P&O and provided my own land and air connections.

An appended box shows the statistics for Oriana.

The 2002 World Cruise programs for Oriana and her slightly larger and newer sister ship, Aurora, which was just launched in April, will be available by the time of this publication. These globe-circling adventures offer exceptional chances for some unusual cruise opportunities. The several other ships which are marketed only in Britain, continental Europe and Australia also offer some fine shorter cruise selections.