A winter cruise with ORIANA

When the cold of Winter sets what better way to escape than on a cruise to warmer climes to escape the pre Christmas rush and this year ORIANA on the 6th December,did just that heading South to the Atlantic Isles and Lisbon,
Thrusting off from the Queen Elizabeth II termianl shortly after 4:40 pm ORIANA headed towards south and out towards the English Channel and towards the open sea like she has done many times over the last 19 years.
As is always the case when boarding ORIANA it is alway a pleasure and no surprise to see that P&O's proud flagship is still looking pristine and well maintained showing hardly any of her 19 years of age. 
Here we share some photos from ORIANA during her cruise beginning with images from the first 3 days at sea on board the most sea worthy of modern cruise liners as she headed to the Pearl of the Atlantic, Madeira and it's charming capital Madeira a journey she has made many times over her career.

 Deck chairs line the deck rails where passengers had spent hours the Atlanic breeze.

The terrece pool closed as the swells start to increase.....

.....Meanwhile some brave passengers enjoy a dip in the Riviera  Pool and it's Jacuzzis.

And a drink is always on hand from the bar.

Even if the sunbathers have disappered from the generous sized decks.

With many passengers getting ready for dinner a few linger on deck to enjoy a beer and wine.

In the late evening sunlight ORIANA's buff funnel makes an impressive sight.

While below decks ORIANA's passenger also settle into life on board.

 The Crow's Nest with it's sweeping views and and ample space always proves a popular choice.

Often from it's full hight windows another ship will come into view such as BLACK WATCH.

While no holiday would be complete without shopping and ORIANA's shops and Photo Gallery make sure passengers take home many fitting souvenirs from their time onboard.

Elsewhere on borad as the first sitting passengers going to dinner have time to admire the culinary delights on offer on board and the read what will be offer the next day either in the Peninsular and Oriental Restaurants or the select dining venues.

With the sun setting and the sea state calming ORIANA's proud bow plows onward through the Atlantic, beyond the horizon lies the first port of call, Funchal, Madeira where a warm welcome awaits her.

Photo Copyrights : Steve Martin

Maiden Departure- Beginning of a New Era

9th April 1995, after over  6 years of careful planning designing, building and the cost of £200 million ORIANA the first ship built for the UK cruise market departed the Mayflower Cruise terminal with 1850 passengers on board for her Maiden Voyage.
Her passengers boarded with the knowledge of being on board the newest most expensive liner, but also the fastest built since the liner era had ended.

Departing from her berth ORIANA's passengers listened as they threw streamers from her decks while below the band on the dockside saluted with music as Southampton's newest resident moved off
 Surrounded by small crafts reminiscent of her arrival one week earlier ORIANA made her way stately down Southampton water her fine lines making an impressive sight  as she sailed.
From her home port her voyage would take her to ports well known to P&O in its long history,
Firstly the Garden Isle of Madeira, where she would overnight, Tenerife, Lanzarote, Casablanca, Praia da Rocha in the Algarve and finally Lisbon, the Portuguese capital was well known to the previous ORIANA who had cruised there in 1960 on a pre maiden voyage shakedown cruise.
Below is a short clip from P&O's official film of the Maiden Voyage showing her departure. 

ORIANA's departure from Port Canaveral

Continuing with our coverage of ORIANA's recent activity in North America we present some webcam images of of her departure from Port Canaveral on 6th March.
Departing shortly after sunset with several blasts from her horn to which fellow Carnival group ship CARNIVAL PRIDE remained silent .

 Following her departure headed to Charleston,South Carolina before her Eastbound Atlantic crossing her next port of call before her return to Southampton is Ponta Delgada in the Azores where she will arrive on 14th March.

Departure from Port Everglade and arrival at Port Canaveral

Below we present a selection of webcam images of ORIANA from her departure Port Everglades yesterday evening to her arrival at Port Canaveral this morning.

Departure from Port Everglades. 
 Originally scheduled to depart at 5:30pm it was nearer 6:15 pm when she finally slipped her moorings and headed astern.
In the webcam images below ORIANA is seen heading astern and turning before continuing on her way and her next destination

In keeping with tradition ORIANA's departure was saluted by locals with whistles and and car horns as she passed to which her distinctive horn replied enthusiastically. 
Arrival at Port Canaveral
Arriving this morning shortly after dawn at Port Canaveral ORIANA joined fellow Carnival group ship CARNIVAL PRIDE who had arrived before hand.
ORIANA is scheduled to remain in dock until 6pm local time where she is due to departure simultaneously with CARNIVAL PRIDE, her next destination, the last port of call before her east bound Atlantic crossing, will be Charleston.

ORIANA in Fort Lauderdale

Having completed her tour of the Caribbean Islands, New Orleans and Key West today finds ORIANA in Port Everglades in South Florida, which is currently ranked as the third busiest cruise port in the world arriving amongst clear skies and sunshine ORIANA looked fittingly dazzling as sailed into port one which she is only a occasional visitor to.
Below is a selection of selection of webcam captures of her arrival,

ORIANA will depart at 17:30 local time for her next call at Port Canaveral.
Its tradition by locals in the nearby condominium to give ships a warm send of  horns and whistles to which the ships often respond from there own horn, a rare visitor such as ORIANA will undoubtedly draw attention as she slips moorings.

ORIANA on a Atlantic Isle Cruise

We thank once again Simon Jones for sharing these excellent photos of ORIANA taken during cruise X613 "Canaries Discovery" in August 2006 many of the ports being ones visited by ORIANA during her Maiden Voyage in April 1995 including the Portuguese ports of Funchal ,Madeira and Praia da Rocha near Portimão on the Algarve.

During the cruises second port the Portuguese capital Lisbon ORIANA was joined by Cunard's flagship QUEEN MARY 2 whose Atlantic liner inspired profile contrasted with that of ORIANA's CANBERRA inspired look. 

ORIANA's next cruise to the region will be next month when she departs on the 15th September on a 10 night Atlantic Island cruise including calls in Funchal and Las Palmas Gran Canaria.

ORIANA in  La Coruña,Spain, 8th August 2006

 ORIANA in Lisbon with QM2, 9th August 2006.

ORIANA at anchor at Praia da Rocha, Portugal,10th August 2006.

ORIANA alongside Arrecife, Lanzarote, 12th August 2006.  

 Docked in Santa Cruz Tenerife, 13th August 2006.

ORIANA in La Palma 14th August 2006.

ORIANA docked in Funchal, Madeira 15th August 2006.

Photos Copyright: Simon Jones

New Cruise Experience-coming soon

While yesterday marked the end of the authors cruise on board ORIANA we will over the course of the next weeks be writing up and sharing our experiences of ORIANA as she cruised effortlessly around the coast and Fjords of Norway as we shall attempt to convey some of the experiences that were on offer to give a small "taste" of whats to come we include below some of the many images taken during this remarkable cruise.

 A proud name.

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 ORIANA at anchor in Geirangerfjord

 ORIANA in Olden

 A glimpse inside ORIANA