Okt.20-2018 The new owners of the cruise ship Oriana are a joint venture company between CTS (China Travel Service) and Cosco (China Ocean Shipping Group Company), who recently purchased the 1995-built vessel from P&O Cruises.Oriana is currently sailing on a bareboat charter back to P&O in Europe, and will be handed over to the new joint venture mid-August 2019. The vessel will start operating ex-China cruises around middle September 2019. New name: Piano Land new company Astro Ocean
Astro Ocean has officially taken over the Piano Land, the former 1,822-guest, 1995-built Oriana from P&O Cruises All P&O signage has been removed and the ship will get a new livery and new logo in Greece during a technical stop later this month, according to a source familiar with the matter. The company is a joint venture between CTS (China Travel Services) and COSCO (China Ocean Shipping), with V.Ships as the vessel manager.
April 2020 Astro Ocean Cruises has confirmed it will spend a month to refurbish the Piano Land, taking the opportunity with the ship out of service to make some key upgrades prior to a planned resumption of service later this spring. Heading to a drydock in Zhoushan operated by COSCO for the work. Among major interior upgrades, Astro Ocean is adding a new class of suites to the ship that will also offer their own dining area, similar to other "ship within a ship" concepts in the market. Other staterooms will get a third berth, encouraging family travel, the company said. The ship will also receive a completely new HVAC system that allows 100 percent fresh air circulation if needed. The company said specific staterooms will be set up for any medical situations, and that they may also re-enter service without any interior staterooms available for guests, which would trim occupancy on the ship. The ship's duty-free shopping area, which has already been expanded, will now triple in size.