Funchal's new year's eve of 2002 with ORIANA

On the 31th December of 2002, Funchal was getting ready for another typical new year's eve celebration and like many years of old, the great cruise ship gathering was no exception.
Eleven passenger ships were scheduled to welcome the new 2003 in a phenomenal way, ORIANA among them.
But this time she would only arrive by late afternoon, giving a less time wait for midnight to the benefit of anxious passengers.

Funchal's harbour on 2002 new year's eve prior to the arrival of ORIANA.

Other ships in port were Festival's EUROPEAN STARS and former P&O's SPIRIT OF LONDON, FLAMENCO, THE TOPAZ, MSC's MELODY, Phoenix Reisen's former cunarder the SS ALBATROS, MONA LISA former P&O's VICTORIA recently sold for german interest, AIDA CARA, Fred Olsen's BLACK WATCH, ferry boat LOBO MARINHO and SAGA ROSE.Half an hour before ORIANA's arrival, EUROPEAN STARS left her berth free heading next for the anchorage and at nearly 6:15 pm ORIANA secured her place in port having just arrived from Southampton. She would overnight in Funchal only to depart at 5 pm the next day inbound the Canary Islands.

The city woke up on the first day of 2003 with 5 cruise ships in port.

Once again we thank Nuno Jesus for another great batch of new year's photos.