P&O Cruises has announced that Oriana will leave the fleet in August 2019.

The mid-sized ship, which joined the cruise line in 1995, will bid farewell following an as yet unannounced special final sailing. The news comes as P&O prepares to welcomes its newest ship, Iona, in 2020, and sister ship in 2022.

P&O Cruises senior vice president, Paul Ludlow, said: “Oriana is an original, and a much loved P&O Cruises ship. Whilst we will miss her, her departure will allow us to focus on our remaining mid-sized and larger ships as the fleet expands.

“Oriana will be with us until August next year so there will be plenty of opportunity to celebrate her time with us. Those guests who have sailed on Oriana will then be able to enjoy holidays on Aurora and Arcadia, both of which are exclusively for adults and have a very similar on board feel, and experience the re-vitalisation taking place over the next year.”

Meanwhile, P&O will expand and introduce new additions to its ship and shore guest experience across the fleet from next year.

The programme will cover three areas of investment in shore excursions, dining and entertainment across mid-sized ships, Arcadia, Aurora and Oceana, as well as the larger ships Britannia, Azura and Ventura.

Aurora will be refitted next spring, prior to her re-launch as a ship exclusively for adults, when new cabins will be added as well as fixtures, fittings, soft furnishings and enhancements to public spaces throughout the ship.

“With the introduction of Iona in 2020 followed by a similar ship two years later, it is also imperative that we continue to elevate the standards of the rest of the fleet,” added Ludlow. “Cruising today is perceived as a contemporary and aspirational holiday, yet it is still one which has very small penetration in the holiday market as a whole. Our vision is to break these barriers by listening to feedback from our loyal guests whilst expanding the audience of new cruisers.”

According to Ludlow, the changes will include new excursions across P&O’s itineraries, as well as “new dazzling theatre shows and daytime activities which reflect today’s trends”.

He added: “We will be investing in Aurora’s refit next year, and Food Hero Eric Lanlard has devised an entirely new afternoon tea for all the ships, which will be very special, as well as refreshed menus and cocktails across the fleet.”

Further details of the new guest experiences will be announced over the next year.