ORIANA and the Golden Cockerel

When ORIANA met with CANBERRA off of Cannes in 1997 near the end of the veteran liner's final cruise ORIANA recived from her mother one of the most prestigious honours a P&O ship can receive the Golden Cockerel awarded to the fastest ship in the fleet, which CANBERRA herself had received from the previous ORIANA.

 ORIANA and CANBERRA meet for handover of the Golden Cockerel, Copyright  P&O Cruises

  

The Golden Cockerel on the starboard bridge wing proudly displayed, Copyright P&O Cruises

As well as being the fastest in the fleet ORIANA is also the third fastest ship within the Carnival Group portfolio being marginally beaten by COSTA VOYAGER and QUEEN MARY 2. 
When compared to her forerunners ORIANA's capabilities become even more impressive, while her maximum service speed is 24 knots with the right conditions and run to maximum she is able to attain a speed of 30 knots equal to the maximum reached by her namesake as well as other famous ocean liners and is a slightly faster speed then was reached by CANBERRA, her maximum being 29.27 knots during her sea trials in 1961.
Even with less than favorable conditions ORIANA can still exceed her maximum, during her own sea trials the brand new ship reached 27.2 knots in rough seas she encountered in the North Sea and on her return to Southampton in April this year ORIANA was averaging 25.6 knots in what was initially seas with 6 metre waves all proving that an excellent design was created for P&O's most prestigious and beautiful ship.