ORIANA in Funchal from the Caribbean

Currently ORIANA is coming back home on her 35 night caribbean cruise, and arrived at Funchal harbour today by late afternoon coming from the British Virgin Islands.
After a long transatlantic crossing, she'll stay overnight in port only to depart by 6 pm tomorrow, inbound Southampton.
For many years P&O ships have visited Madeira for replenishment, taking advantage of her strategic location in the Atlantic, liners like the SS CHUSAN and her predecessor SS ORIANA on their ocean voyages from England to India and Australia. Nowadays the majority of the fleet visits Funchal for these purposes, presently for cruise service and mostly on transatlantic eastbound or westbound crossings.

My first impression today of ORIANA from where i was. Nice to see her once more in Funchal!Making her way with nice heading and favourable conditionsPassing the Madeira's casinoLot's of viewers watching from the city pier, this great maritime master piece.

Having departed before ORIANA's arrival, the 28,388 GT and 900 passenger BOUDICCA of Fred Olsen, another Southampton homeported ship, made a full day call in Funchal. Left for the UK to finish the present Canary Islands cruise.

Photos by João Abreu.