Capturing a historic moment on board ORIANA

Available on board ORIANA for her passengers to purchase during her maiden year alongside other momentos was this particularly impressive photo taken on her Terreced decks it shows ORIANA's officers and company assmbled for her offical handing over to P&O decked out in their uniforms and ORIANA herself dressed for the occasion, they watch on as ORIANA's Captain  Commodore Gibb alongside Lord Sterling and P&O Cruise's chairman are handed over the ship's offical documents from Bernard Meyer on behalf of his shipyard after many years of planning, designing, waiting and building ORIANA was finally ready to embark on her first adventure. 

Commodore Gibb and his crew would pose again on these very decks just over a year later for a final photo celebrating the Commodore's 40 years at sea as he prepared to retire.

Inaugural season images

Available to purchase on board ORIANA during her Inaugural season/Maiden Voyage the images show some of the memorabilia passengers could pick up in ORIANA's Photography shop.
Always a popular "port of call" while on board passengers often pick up photos availble to buy, however being on board the newest and most advanced passenger liner ever built picking up photo souvenirs such as the two below  

The first showing ORIANA shortly after completion looking resplendent with her freshly painted hull and being fully illuminated.

The second ORIANA cuts a fine figure at sea with a fine shot of her at speed and signed by Commodore Gibb.

Sailaway parties

A tradition which is famous among the P&O fleet the sailaway deck parties as each ship prepares to depart their various ports of call the entertainment team give a fond final impression for the passengers by holding a sailaway party on deck.

ORIANA's entertainment team around the Terrace pool during a sailaway

The "amphitheatre" of ORIANA's elegant terraced stern decks make it a natural venue for a sailaway offering the watching passengers the perfect vantage point from almost any angle as can be seen below.
These photos from June 2012 taken in Bergen also show another aspect of the parties most of them sport their own theme, 2012 celebrated the 175th anniversary of P&O's founding so one of the themes was a anniversary party.

So there is no doubt what is being celebrated 175th anniversary flag made an appearance being waved enthusiastically by passengers and the entertainment team alike.

 To some perhaps the decks might be a little too crowded so if the sun is shining the pool can be seen as a fitting alternative to watch from .

While most are upbeat featuring party music and dancing others take a more relaxed approach for the more scenic sailaways such as in the Geirangerfjord a classical party is often held
For the last port of call of the cruise a larger "Great British Sailaway" party is held celebrating the last destination of the cruise and as the name suggests takes on a patriotic theme decked out with Union Jacks  and the entertainment team leading the festivities with music representing all the countries of that make up the British Isles.
Below ORIANA's stern comes to life in during a Great British Sailaway from Stavanger, Norway 14/6/2012.

Often ships in a will share the port with their fleet mates and on this occasion ORIANA met with VENTURA and in the destictive British style a friendly rivalry between the two.

Photo Copyright: João Abreu