Turnaround day.

Among the first words on the cruise log given to ORIANA's passengers are: "During the day ORIANA lay quietly alongside her berth whilst passengers embarked and stores were loaded." Given the impression of a quite day in her home port turnaround or Southampton day as it is called quite opposite and is one of the busiest days of a cruise. Beginning early in the morning like any other day, ORIANA is normally alongside her berth by 6:30am after a slow approach from the English Channel and embarking the pilot at the Nab Tower during the early hours of the morning. Once alongside the passengers luggage is of loaded via the ships to be placed in the luggage hall. ORIANA in the designated "swinging grounds" preparing to dock

As the passengers look on their luggage is off loaded.

Waiting on the berth on large pallets is the ships supplies ready to be placed loaded on the ship.

Everything needing to be checked by the crew to ensure that all that was ordered is present and correct and also to be checked by sniffer dogs to make sure nothing illegal is being taken on board.

Generally the longest amount of time in any port, with the exception of a overnight stay the time in spent in Southampton gives ORIANA's engineers and technicians the chance to make any repairs and to preform maintance.

It is also here in Southampton that in the main ORIANA's crew go on leave and new crew members join.

While the new set of passengers and their luggage is loaded ORIANA's officers keep updated on the weather off the Southern English coast in preparation for departure. With a almost impossibly long list of tasks to preform eventually everything is completed and with the pilot back on board ORIANA sails again form her home port for distant shores.

All tasks completed and permission granted ORIANA departs for another cruise.

Having just departed yesterday form Southampton ORIANA will return again on the 3rd May where she will be joined by CELEBRITY ECLIPSE and INDEPENDENCE OF THE SEAS.