ORIANA's Final Voyage: Last Port of Call

We have often reminisced about ORIANA's first land fall, that April day back in April 1995 when she proudly  arrived amongst much jubilation  in Funchal, Madeira.
Today bookending with that great day ORIANA made her final port of call in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Docking in the Belfast Cruise Ship Terminal not too far the famous Harland & Wolff shipyard builders of CANBERRA among other great liners and whose future is now also in doubt.

Views from of the Harland & Wolff shipyard and it's two cranes from ORIANA's Promenade and Sun Decks

Throughout this Final Voyage among the passengers on board ORIANA has been a Mr Carl Tian, the Vice President of Astro Ocean Cruise  International along with a group of other Chinese reps and he  has in conversation revealed that the group also has it's eye on Aurora a possible purchase at a later date.

ORIANA still looking every bit the British cruise liner.

And so after a day in port Oriana slipped her moorings for the last time under the P&O house flag.

Like so many times before the beautiful Terraced stern decks turnout for a sailaway party.

Like so many others over years this one of course was different for this is the last time for and her and her loyal passengers.

The last of many sailaway parties.

As ORIANA heads towards home port for the very last time as an era comes to a premature end it is beyond any doubt ORIANA, The First Superliner Built For Britain has single-handedly done more the British cruise market than any other ship, from the outset she epitomised 'Britain at sea' in the era of cruising, and proudly took her passengers whether from the British Isles or beyond to the four corners of the globe in grace and style.

Now all is said and done, and the sun has almost set on her we can say Thank you for the memories, Thank you for the laughs and for the emotions, Thank you ORIANA. 

All Photo Copyrights: Bob Bowler