Celebrating ORIANA - The Maiden Voyage begins

9th April 1995, Berth 106 Southampton - With all the celebrations around ORIANA's naming behind them her crew now faced their and ORIANA's first true test, her first true meeting with the public as her first passengers made their way on board.
Despite the overcast sky it didn't dampen the excitement of those making their way to Southampton to board the first British superliner among them many P&O cruising veterans from both CANBERRA and almost 200 who had sailed as passnegers and crew on the previous ORIANA including one couple who had first met while working on board the older ship.
From the experienced  passengers to the youngest 8 month old Stephanie Donahoe.
For these passengers were not only leaving British shores for 2 weeks to enjoy the sun in the Atlantic Islands and the Iberian Peninsula, they were sailing on the Maiden Voyage of ORIANA not only the new flagship of the P&O fleet and the British merchant navy but the first ship custom built for the rapidly growing UK market she was P&O's £200 million gamble into the future of cruising.
On a technical level ORIANA was also a masterpiece of martime design being the fastest passenger ship built for 25 years and the fastest purpose built cruise liner in the world while at the same time her design remained somewhat traditional giving her passengers the best of both worlds.
Boarding ORIANA a letter awaited in each cabin a welcome from Commodore Gibb and a first opportunity to share a little of the affection that he and the crew had already developed for the ship.

Commodore Gibb's welcome letter

And for regular passengers  there was also a welcome from P&O's loyalty club

"The P.O.S.H Club" welcome

It wasn't only for those on boarding who were anticapting ORIANA's sailing ship spotters and enthusiasts were eager to see her sail and to that end P&O published the times at which they estimated ORIANA pass certain points on her journey down the Solent and to the sea as shown
below.

Route and estimated times of ORIANA's departure

 With passengers boarding at 4pm the first entertainment held onboard ORIANA for her passengers began with Piano music on offer in The Crow's Nest some or for different tastes there was also music being played in both Harlequins and The Pacific Lounge.
The obligatory safety drill was held at 5pm and shortly after 6pm as The Band of the Royal Corps of Signals played as ORIANA sounded her horn lifting off the berth
Streamers flew and cheers from both the ship and shore could be heard as ORIANA, once again was  joined by small flotilla of little boats, made her way down Southampton water.

To begin ORIANA's sea going career her first port of call would reflect P&O's history and heritage, leaving Southampton behind ORIANA 2 days at sea would follow before reaching Funchal, Madeira one of P&O's most popular ports call, here she would spend overnight allowing the passengers to take in the beauty of the city and islands while a local Folkloric group would be boarding to entertain the passengers with local dance and tradition.