ORIANA in Bermuda

Making the peniulitmate call of her current cruise before heading back across the Atlantic ORIANA yesterday called in the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda he port of regisitery since December 2006.
Seen of the east coast at around 7am local time ORIANA docked at the King’s Wharf in the large Royal Naval Dockyard complex.

The Island despite it's position almost 1609 km north of the Caribbean the climate is a Sub-Tropical due to the Gulf Stream passing nearby the Island accordingly the weather varies according to the season from mild winters to blistering hot summers.

For ORIANA and her passengers yesterday the weather greeted them with heavy winds and occasional rain.

ORIANA docked in Bermuda

ORIANA's house flag and local plam trees blow in the wind

For those of ORIANA's passengers wishing explore what Bermuda has on offer the Royal Naval Dockyard formed the perfect starting point, established in 1795 it served as the HM Dockyard until 1951 and then as the land based Naval facility HMS MALABAR until it's clousure in 1995. Since then the old dockyard found a new life as a tourist attraction and home to the Bermuda Maritime Museum detailing the Island's maritime history or for a different pace a the nearby Dolphin Quest attraction, while many of  the old  warehouses have been redeveloped into shops and restaurants.
At a round 4:15pm with the tugs POWERFUL and FAITHFUL attending due to the wind ORIANA began lifting off the berth.

ORIANA begins moving away from the berth

ORIANA makes her way away from the berth

Wiith the tugs leaving her side ORIANA made her way out to sea before turning to starboard and assuming a course to take her across the Atlantic.

Leaving Bermuda and the ports she has called at behind ORIANA is one day into a 6 day Transatlantic crossing where she will call at Funchal, Madeira on the 21st February.

 As well as being ORIANA's second call at the port her presence marked the beginning of the cruise season and as such was reported in the local press which can be read online here