ORIANA in Charleston

Departing from Port Canaveral shortly after 6pm local time ORIANA headed over night to her next U.S port of call an overight call in Charleston, South Carolina .

ORIANA passes chemical tanker SEABULK CHALLANGE as she departs

Being that ORIANA is a very rare visitor it no surprise that her presence causes more than a little interest.
During a similar cruise in 2013 her presence in the port was celebrated with an article in the local newspaper and some photos capturing the call formed the basis for this tribute video shown below, as well as giving a glimpse of her in port it captures the story of ORIANA via the use of various clips of the ship throughout her career up to that point, including material collected on this blog.

Departing later today from Charleston she will next head to Hamilton, Bermuda before heading back across the atlantic.
While ORIANA's passengers have been ashore and making the most of their time in the city they have had the oppertunity to enjoy the southern hospitality on offer while also taking in its charm.
For those who prefer a slower pace a tour in a horse drawn carriage or a visit to typical tea plantation followed by a sample of a traditional American blend of tea.
Or for those with a passion for all things military and maritime a visit to Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum which includes the aircraft carrier USS YORKTOWN  retired from active service in 1970.
Following her departure from Charleston today ORIANA will return 'stateside' in  later this year in November.
 

ORIANA in Fort Lauderdale

Continuing her callls in the U.S ORIANA yesterday called in Fort Lauderdale where she was joined by Holland America Lines' MASDA , the second time this cruise docking in a Florida destination following her departure from Key West the day before.

ORIANA distinctive profile dominates the port.

Named for Major William Lauderdale and a seires of Forts he was resposible for building during Second Seminole War the city as a population of around 165,521 people being on the Atlantic coast the Greater Fort Lauderdale area which includes Broward County features at least 100 marinas which are home to 45,000 residential yachts.
For ORIANA's passengers wishing to tare themselves away from her decks there was many destractions on offer, exploring alone as many do or by taking a  excursion arranged by P&O.
A good way to explore to see the sights is to mix from the sea and by land so combining the two into one trip to give a true look at the city for many was a must while wildlife lovers have both the Everglades and Flamingo gardens,
For those with a sense of adventure exploring the Everglades by airboat or taking a helicopter further ashore to Miami kown for it's famous art deco buildings and for many associtated with the neon lit and pastel shades of the 1980's due to various films, television series and other media.
Laying alongside the dock during the day ORIANA started her engines shortly after 6:30pm local time.

ORIANA prepares for departure

Shortly after slipping her moorings ORIANA made her departure passing as she did the condominiums  lining the shore, it is something of a tradition by the local residents to salute departing ships as they pass and ORIANA is no exception being a rare sight at the port, during a similar cruise in 2013 the sounds of horns of all types and cheering  could be heard.

ORIANA's house proudly displayed as she sails

ORIANA cuts a fine figure as she departs

For those watching it could truly be said that despite number of cruise calls each year ORIANA marked a different call, a ship form a market whose needs and expectations are vastly different and whose design reflects this, yet at the same time far from her home waters ORIANA was still well know.

 Despite her modest size compared to the new breed of 'bigger is better' floating resorts ORIANA made an impressive sight as she quickly picked up speed heading out to sea.

ORIANA heads for the horizon

Leaving Fort Lauderdale in her wake ORIANA headed overnight for her next Florida destination Port Canaveral.

Webcam Copyright: PTZtv

ORIANA in Key West

Today finds ORIANA in Key West the southernmost region of the state of Florida and the last in the string of islands which makes up the Florida Keys.
Arriving at around 8am local time from New Orleans after a day at sea. 

Alongside ORIANA's lines are secured

ORIANA's only call this year she was orignially scheduled to have called at the port back Feburary during her previous USA/Caribbean cruise that call was however cancelled due to sea conditions.

Preparing to disembark passengers

While docked in Key West ORIANA's passengers have the opportunity explore all which the port has on offer from a tour on a 'coach train' taking in the many and varied sights telling the 400 year history in the area to visiting the former home of the famous American author Ernest Hemingway a beautiful Spanish Colonial styled mansion where he wrote several of his famous works it has since 1968 been designated as a   U.S. National Historic Landmark.

ORIANA's webcam shows her house flag and forward decks illuminated by the morning sun

With her Red Ensign proudly flying ORIANA shows off her British heritage

Following her departure later today ORIANA will stay in the state of Florida for her next port of call Port Everglades where she will arrive early tomorrow morning.

Webcam images Copyright: PTZtv

Celebrating 21 years of the maiden voyage

ORIANA seen in Funchal, Madeira during her most recent call on 9 April 2016, twenty one years after having departed from Southampton on that same day for her inaugural voyage to the Canary Islands. Funchal was none other than the first port of call of that highly antecipated cruise on P&O's and Britain's newest flagship, having arrived at Madeira's capital on 12 April 1995 and staying in overnight for the following day.

ORIANA arrives in Funchal, Madeira for the first time on her maiden cruise. Photo: Luís F. Jardim.

After Funchal the brand new ORIANA at the time, visited Tenerife followed by Lanzarote, Casablanca in Morocco, Gibraltar, Portimão and Lisbon in Portugal's mainland and finally returning to Southampton on the 23 April.

A promotional postcard of Madeira launched at the time depicting her departure on 13 April.

Nowadays with a 21 year career and being the oldest unit in P&O Cruises' active fleet, ORIANA is still proving successful among the British passengers, and most certainly overlooks beyond the horizon many more years of service, hopefully with the name she has always held with pride!

At the moment ORIANA is back in Western waters on a 35 day cruise from/to Southampton, and in the long eastbound crossing between the UK and the Caribbean Sea, her crew took advantage of the only stopover in the Atlantic to perform tests and exercices, as demanded by law, to the lifeboats and tenders on the starboard side, before the 6 day sea journey bound to Philipsburg, St. Maarten, to which she departed later in the evening.

Photographic Achivement: João Abreu

ORIANA's return to the Caribbean.

Today after a week at sea since her departure from Funchal  ORIANA makes her return to the tropical waters of the Caribbean, the second time this year she has visited these waters.
ORIANA's first call after her transatlantic crossing was St Maarten one of the Leeward Islands.
With it's distinctive mix of Dutch and French influences the island makes for a  interesting port of call it's architecture clearly showing the styles found in The Netherlands and France .
Another claim to fame is the landing approch to the islands main airport which passes directly over the Beach.

Veiw from ORIANA's webcam while docked in Saint Maarten 16/4/16

 From St Maarten ORIANA will visit Jamaica, Mexico before heading to several ports in the US including
Key West, Port Canaveral and Charleston.

ORIANA in Port Canaveral 10/02/2016

 The final port before heading back across the Atlantic ORIANA will once again call in Bermuda the third time she has visited her port of registry.

ORIANA departs from Bermuda 15/2/16

After another 5 days at sea ORIANA will arrive in the last port of the cruise Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel in The Azores before her return to Southampton on the 10th May.

I Name This Ship ORIANA.

 Alongside the former Ocean Terminal which had once played host to many great ocean liners on the 6th April 1995 ORIANA dressed over all and her hull immaculate white made the perfect backdrop to a time honoured tradition.
 The sounds of the band playing and the Choir of  Westminster Abbey singing the national anthem all added to the sense of history being made not since 1967 had such a scene been witnessed.
With the immortal words I name this ship ORIANA, May god  bless her and all who sail in her, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to great applause offically brought to a close the first chapter of the life of ORIANA  one of  steel cutting, welding, drilling, deck laying etc for a new page of cocktail parties, fine dining and endless adventures.

Everything was perfectly planned, rehearsed nothing left to chance and as the bottle smashed across her bow there could be me no doubt that all present were moved at the emotion of the event
With the royal standard flying from the mast Her Majesty and His Royal  Highness The Duke of Edinburgh went on board for a tour and lunch.

Fireworks end the days events.

In the evening to round off a triumphant day of celebration a fireworks display overhead honoured Southampton's new arrival.

In the years since ORIANA has followed in the wake of her namesake and predecessor CANBERRA heading to Australia during her world cruises and heading west across the Atlantic to New York like the transatlantic liners of the past.
Through canels, locks and great fjords to the North Cape and further to Ice floes of the Arctic bathed in the light from the Midnight Sun ORIANA has carried her passengers on adventures which have lived on after they have returned home.
There also has also been the friendships formed on board and around the appreciation of her which have led to their own adventures often returning to ORIANA herself all this ensuring her popularity remains for many years to come.

21 years for ORIANA

Tomorrow will find ORIANA once again in her homeport of Southampton, on this occasion it will be on 21st anniversary of her naming in the port by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in front of a crowd of VIPs and the cameras of the world's media.

Queen Elizabeth II names ORIANA

Not only was ORIANA a £200 million investment in P&O's own future but also a milestone in the UK based cruise market as the first cruise ship built for Britain and she has become the benchmark by which all the fleet mates who have joined her over the years have been measured.
As such ORIANA also drew her fair share of criticism mainly around her having been built in Germany  however this was quickly forgotten when the celebrations began.
Three days later ORIANA sailed amongest great fanfare on her 14 night Maiden Voyage.
Quite by coincidence the first port of the 35 night USA & Caribbean cruise she is embarking on is Funchal, Madeira where she will arrive three days later on the 9th.
Back in 1995 when ORIANA departed from Southampton on the 9th April she headed to Funchal, for her first ever landfall.
For more info on her Maiden call in Funchal be sure to check out this link to our post on subject.  

ORIANA in the port of La Valletta

On her first Mediterranean cruise of 2016, ORIANA called in the port of Malta's capital and historical city of La Valletta on 26 March, having arrived from Cadiz, Southern Spain, and later departed to Saranda in Albania, where her passengers spent their Easter the following day.

ORIANA berthed in La Valletta with PRINSENDAM from Holland America Line, just like P&O a centenary company part of the Carnival group.

Malta is a Southern European island country located 50 miles south of Italy, 176 miles east of Tunisia and 207 miles north of Libya, thus being a popular cruise destination in the Med, namely in the Summer months.
ORIANA is expected in La Valletta one more time this year on 17 May, when she returns to the Mediterranean Sea for a 18 day voyage as usual from her homeport of Southampton.

Photographic Achivement: Emmanuel L.