On the warm morning of 21st August 2010 the picturesque city of Funchal began a day of celebration for the 502nd anniversary fittingly arriving that morning in port was ORIANA, having visited the port many times including her maiden port of call.
After an early walk through the waking city's streets to a vantage point in the morning twilight as ORIANA's distinctive shape appeared on the horizon although without her funnel illumination the lights that shone from her windows and Promenade deck reflected in the calm water water around her.
Docking, her passengers made their way ashore either by foot or taking one of the waiting coaches on trip to various parts of the Garden Isle while ORIANA herself dressed overall and looking little different than she did on her maiden visit 15 years previously was given care and attention as her crew cleaned her distictive funnel.
After a beautiful day spent in Madeira ORIANA departed by early evening with her lines clear a single blast from her horn ,which was inaudible from our position announced her departure first thrusting from the berth she headed slowly headed forward and passing the break water increased speed and set a course to the horizon.
While her passengers had almost certainly had a pleasant day on Madeira it had been for me a pleasure to see the great ship on a island I had come to know well with friends I had made because of ORIANA.
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