Happy Birthday ORIANA

Today marks the 17th year since ORIANA entered service a milestone in the history of her owners as their first dedicated Cruise liner for the British market made her way out of Southampton on her Maiden Voyage.

At the time one of the largest purpose built cruise vessels in service ORIANA while being a modern concept ship had the history of P&O in particular elements of forerunner CANBERRA.

ORIANA departs Southampton on her Maiden Voyage.

While things have changed since 1995 for P&O and the cruise industry ORIANA remains as popular as ever.
In terms of her qualities as a ship her elegant design which melded perfectly tradition and modernity with her long beautiful bow fine lines and her well balanced profile has only been equaled by AURORA in 2000 and has yet to exceeded.
Coincidentally ORIANA "celebrates" her Birthday while on route from Madeira the reverse of the route she took on on her maiden cruise.
Below is a short video of ORIANA's maiden departure from Southampton.


On their Facebook page P&O have compiled a small photo gallery showing ORIANA in various ports around the world which can be viewed here:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150711538615782.422865.179746530781&type=1

Happy Birthday ORIANA!