ORIANA and a "mammoth of the seas"

Yesterday on yet another call in her homeport of Southampton, ORIANA had an encounter with a true "sea mammoth", none other than Royal Caribbean's most recent ship and the latest unit of their Oasis class, the 227,700 GT and 5,488 passenger HARMONY OF THE SEAS, now the World's largest cruise ship.

ORIANA meets the World's largest cruise ship in Southampton. Image taken from the video posted bellow.

Although the two were berthed slighly distant from each other, the HOTS at her departure from the City terminal, went to the port's upper swinging ground to manouver her bow to starboard, then making two close passages with ORIANA, docked at Mayflower and also ready to depart.
It was a clear proof of something that is becoming with time more of a common fact rather than just an opinion, that the current trend of cruise shipbuilding is more aimed in sheer size and therefore more profit and less concerned with the looks of the ships. No doubt that ORIANA proudly stood there yesterday, being one of the last cruise ships in the industry where aesthetics were equally important as profit for its designers.
After the two greeted each other with horns, ORIANA slipped her moorings and followed the giant cruise ship down the Solent, which was very horn blowing and escorted by a local Svitzer tug firing water canons, since it was the ship's last call in Southampton for some times, as HARMONY OF THE SEAS is now relocating to the Med where she will operate in the Summer months.
Having departed afterwards, ORIANA still managed to pass ahead of the HARMONY in the English Channel bound to Lisbon, on a 12 day Iberia itinerary, which is quite natural since the latter is no match for the superior speed capability of P&O's senior ship.
Bellow a video that depicts with even better detail what was described above, also including the earlier departures of two other cruise ships that were present yesterday, the Cunarder QUEEN VICTORIA and ORIANA's mate and Flagship of P&O the BRITANNIA. (ORIANA and HOTS encounter starts at min. 8:55, which is followed by both's departures respectivaly).

Video: Daniel Gosling.

ORIANA once again cruising the Med

After her last voyage to the Caribbean, ORIANA is now back in European waters cruising the Mediterranean Sea once again.
In the image she is seen berthed in La Valletta, capital of Malta, last Tuesday 17 May, while on a 18 day itinerary in the Eastern Med. Prior to that and after departure from Southampton, ORIANA called in Cadiz, southern Spain and left bound for Italy's iconic city Venice, where she is still docked today after an overnight stay in port.
Still to visit on her current cruise are Korcula (Croatia), Corfu (Greece), Messina (Italy) followed by the passage of its strait, and finally Gibraltar before heading northward bound to her homeport.

Image: Emmanuel L.

ORIANA in The Azores

Rounding off the ports of call of her current 35 night USA and Caribbean adventure, ORIANA was today back in Portuguese waters as she called at the Island of São Miguel in the Azores.

Arriving at Ponta Delgada, the largest municipality and administrative capital of the archipelago which is offically named as Região Autónoma dos Açores, shortly after  8am local time amongest overcast skies and rain.

Arriving after a six day atlantic crossing ORIANA was welcomed by overcast skies and slight rain as her made her approch to the port .

ORIANA berthed in the "Portas do Mar" terminal and joined the EXPEDITION, as the name suggests a small expedition type cruise ship operated by the Canadian tour company G-Adventures, and Greek ferry EXPRESS SANTORINI of Hellenic Wind, chartered in the Summer months to local operator Atlânticoline for regular seatrips between the islands of the archipelago.

ORIANA berthed in "Portas do Mar" and in the south harbour wall, the EXPRESS SANTORINI and EXPEDITION.

Due to the islands location in the Atlantic, the weather conditions are unpredictable and change with very little notice, a contrast to the experiences the passengers would have had visiting Maderia at the beginning of the cruise.
 Along with the Madeira Islands, the 9 islands of the Azores make up the two Autonomous Regions of Portugal, which together encompass an area of 3,134 km².

Departing shortly after 5pm  ORIANA is now homeward bound where she will arrive in Southampton on the 11th.

Images: António Simas and Manuel Botelho - Azores Cruise Club.

Overnight in Bermuda

Staying in port overnight ORIANA was today joined in port by a fellow Meyer Werft ship.

ORIANA illuminated in port

Just after 7am local time Royal Caribbean International's ANTHEM OF THE SEAS  appeared off the coast ready to make her inaugural call at the port.

Docking just astern of ORIANA the two docked together made for a interesting contrast of Meyer Werft's workmanship different in so many aspects including their  aesthetics and design philosophy ORIANA's balancing both fine lines and functionality while ANTHEM OF THE SEAS' design is one purely of functionality.

ORIANA and ANTHEM OF THE SEAS docked together

Departing shortly after 4:47pm ORIANA headed astern from the berth passing behind ANTHEM before turning.

ORIANA heads astern .

Away from the berth ORIANA takes her turn

Emerging from behind ANTHEM, ORIANA picked up speed and once again she contrasted greatly showing the differences of 20 years of ship design.

Famous for her deck sailaway parties this departure was no exception.

A familiar scene on ORIANA's decks

Even with the addition of her 'duck tail' in 2011 and the new Union Flag livery she slowly adopted last year ORIANA looked every inch the elegant and graceful ship that she was when completed back in 1995 her well balanced profile as intended closely matching that of  her mother CANBERRA.

 Heading back across the Atlantic ORIANA will next call at the port of Ponta Delgada in São Miguel in the Azores, Portugal.

Webcam images: PTZtv
 

ORIANA arrives in Bermuda

Starting off a new month ORIANA arrived today at the Royal Naval Dockyard in Bermuda, home to ORIANA's port of registry Hamilton.
With local tug FAITHFUL ready to assist at her stern ORIANA arrived at her berth at the Kings Wharf at  around  2:25pm local time.

ORIANA proceeds to her berth

This marks the second time this year ORIANA has called in Bermuda the first call back in Febuary marked the start of the cruise season for the island being the first cruise ship of the year to call, conisdering how rare her appearances are in these waters it is quite a unique feat.

ORIANA makes her approch to the berth as seen from her on board webcam

With an overnight stay in port ORIANA's passengers will have pleanty of time to savour the delights that are on offer either ashore or from the ship's decks before ORIANA heads out on her eastbound transatlantic crossing back to Europe.

ORIANA secured alongside the berth