ORIANA and P&O's Grand Event

Taking short trip back in time to 2012 we take a brief look at ORIANA during P&O's 175th Anniversary  year.
Fresh from her refit in December 2011 ORIANA complete with a new "duck tail" stern and now an adults only ship she started  2012 with  a 97 night world cruise, on the first leg of the voyage while transiting the Gulf of Aden she was escorted by RFA WAVE KNIGHT due to potential pirate activity in the area.  

Photo: Royal Navy.

During the course of the circumnavigation ORIANA made her  maiden call in Muara, Brunei.

However perhaps the highlight of the year was the celebration of 175 years of P&O's heritage and this was celebrated in many ways on board from having 175 year heritage sailaway parties to displays around the ship detailing the history of the company.

While in Sydney, Australia ORIANA celebrated the role assisted passage scheme played in the company's history and welcomed on board some special guests, many of those who had travelled to Australia on board ORIANA and CANBERRA in the 1960's under the scheme joining them as well was Carnival Australia's CEO Ann Sherry and  AZURA's God mother Darcey Bussell.

Later in the year as the Flagship of the fleet ORIANA was centre stage for the climax of the year's celebrations on the 3rd July the entire fleet met for the company's Grand Event including  a review by Her Royal Highness, Princess Anne, The Princess Royal and the Masters of Trinity house including ORIANA's first Captain, Commodore Ian Gibb.
Below we share some footage from Simon Jones a passenger on board ORIANA for her Grand Event cruise ,shot that memorable day firstly we see ORIANA and her fleet mates arriving and docked and then later some footage shot from on board.