Celebrating ORIANA: Departing Madeira

 Following an overnight stay and full day in port by 6pm on the 13th April 1995 ORIANA was ready to depart Funchal, Madeira and head South to the Canary Islands.
ORIANA's welcome the previous day had as warm as any could and now with preprations completed the city had turned out to wish the ship well as she continued her Maiden Voyage.
At about 6:10pm ORIANA made her way off the berth blowing her distinctive horn as she headed out.
People of all ages lined the sea front to see her sail for some the sight would stick with them for many years.

The scene was certainly one fitting for P&O's new flagship,elegant, modern yet classic, she looked perfectly serene departing and is still remembered many years later with the moment captured in  a photograph which local postcards and ond other keepsakes have featured ever since.

Celebrating ORIANA: The First Port of Call

Having spent 3 days at sea from her successful departure from Southampton ORIANA made her way to first port call, Funchal, Madeira.

ORIANA arrives in Funchal, Madeira 12/4/1995: Luís Filipe Jardim

The Portuguese Island had been an important port for P&O since it's earliest days and since the transition to cruising had been popular among repeat P&O passengers.

As is customary ORIANA and her passengers recived the warmest of Madeiran welcomes, local flowers being presented to the passengers as they stepped off the gangway.
Seeing as ORIANA would be remaining in port overnight a fireworks display in her honour was also put on in the evening.
Being that this was her first call a group of local enthusiasts visited the ship where a plaque commemorating the call was presented to Commodore Ian Gibb, who in turn presented a plaque featuring ORIANA's own Coat of Arms.

Celebrating ORIANA: The Maiden Departure

 Sunday 9th April 1995
It was a fairly grey overcast Sunday as passengers arrived at Southampton's Mayflower terminal, pulling up in cars, taxis and coaches, their luggage dropped off before joing the check in queue.
These are scenes repeated regularly in the port, this occasion however was different for there 1,636 passengers were embarking the Maiden Voyage of ORIANA, ,P&O's newest and first custom built cruise ship, advertised as The First Super liner Built for Britain she perfectly blended modern British cruising tastes with the traditional from teak promenades to her Art Deco/Edwardiana styled interiors.
Behind the scenes ORIANA was also a technical marvel her navigational equipment was the most advanced yet fitted aboard a civilian ship and her intergrated bridge system wouldn't become standard for another 5 years at least.

Departing her berth ORIANA was escorted by a flotila of small crafts wishing her well as she made her way down Southampton water.
Despite the overcast skies and the wind picking up sightseers lined ORIANA's route.
Seen below ORIANA passes Cowes on the Isle of Wight on her Maiden Voyage.

Heading into the English Channel ORIANA turned south and made her way down towards her first port of call Funchal, Madeira.