5 reasons you’ll LOVE the P&O Aurora Cruise Ship!

Of all the cruise ships in the P&O Cruises fleet, Aurora is the only one that offers a one-off design. Aurora isn't part of a class of ships in the P&O or Carnival Cruise line fleet – with her own layout and personality.

Aurora’s internal design and her smaller size have made the ship a favourite with many repeat P&O travellers, including me!

Aurora is one of my favourite ships, so here are the five things I love about Aurora – make sure you tell me your favourite things about the ship in the comments below.


1) In a world where cruise lines have multiple ships in the same class, Aurora really stands out. While Aurora was built as a sister ship to Oriana, her deck plans were different from Oriana’s making Aurora a true one-off. The ship’s design is full of interesting quirks, including hide away bars and lounges as well as interesting staircase access between Prom Deck and the Medina Restaurant, Glass House Bar and Raffles Bar. Because the ship’s design is different to all other P&O ships, first time Aurora cruisers will need some time to get their bearings. Getting to know the layout of a cruise ship is half the fun of cruising on a new ship. The excitement of discovering a new cruise ship is something that is far too rare these days; with so many ships sharing the same deck plan; so Aurora’s design gets a big thumbs up from me.

2) Aurora’s Atrium definitely makes my top 5 list. Being the oldest ship in the P&O fleet you might expect Aurora to have the least impressive atrium, but this isn’t the case. While Aurora’s atrium only spans four decks, it is a buzz of activity - because it actually has a purpose! The atrium links the reception area with the ship’s shops, Charlie’s Bar, Sindhu and the popular Raffles Coffee Bar. The main focal point of the atrium is a 10.6 metre high sculpture and water feature that flows from D Deck all the way down to F Deck. The water feature remains on while the ship is underway and is only switched off in very rough seas.


3) Aurora has a Cinema: Rare aboard cruise ships today, Cinemas were popular places on the ocean liners of the 1950s and 60s as well as aboard many cruise ships in the 1970s and 80s. Aurora’s cinema is called The Playhouse and is found on D Deck. The Playhouse has terraced cinema-style seating, surround sound and a big screen and shows several movies a day. One of the other benefits of this space –and the reason it makes my top 5 list - is it doubles as a smaller lecture venue. This means Aurora’s entertainment team can host guest speakers in the Playhouse while the primary show lounge – the Curzon Theatre – is in use for things such as rehearsals or musical recitals. I have personally lectured in here on a few occasions, with the smaller space being a great way to connect with the audience during and after the talk.


4) The Medina and Alexandria Restaurants: The two main dining rooms aboard Aurora are found on E Deck. The Medina Restaurant is named after the P&O steamer Medina, which in 1911 was requisitioned by the British Government for use as a Royal Yacht. During its Royal Service, the ship transported King George V and Queen Mary to India. The Alexandria Restaurant is named after the Egyptian port-city, which was a key port for the P&O service throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. Given my love of maritime history, the inclusion of these historic names aboard Aurora makes me happy, and each restaurant’s décor hints at the origins of its name. Aboard Aurora, the Medina restaurant is used for freedom dining – no reservation required, while the Alexandria restaurant offers a more formal set seating. Both offer nice views of the ocean – with the Alexandria restaurant besting the Medina in this regard given its views over the back of the ship.

5) The final and perhaps my favourite, favourite thing about Aurora as the ship’s terraced aft decks! When you look at Aurora, she stands out among the modern cruise ships because of the shape of the ship. While boxier than the ocean liners that she replaced, the ship features several design traits that were popular on ships of old. One of those features aboard Aurora that really stands out are her aft decks, which are terraced from Sun Deck all the way down to D Deck. This offers a huge amount of space for passengers to enjoy – with venues such as the Pennant Bar and Terrace Bar providing drinks.

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Images in video:

HMY Medina - Henderson & Cremer
Bath Icon: Juan Pablo Bravo, CC BY Attribution
Cross Icon: Jardson Almeida CC BY Attribution
Arrow: Matt Scribner, CC BY Attribution
Second Thumbnail: Andrew Sassoli-Waker https://solentphotographer.com

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