Celebrating ORIANA - Funchal, Madeira

First landfall of the Maiden Voyage

On a sunny morning of 12 April 1995, a maiden visitor could be seen approaching the breakwater of Funchal, Madeira on her inaugural voyage. A maiden visitor that had been the highlight and subject of great expectation worldwide, in the years prior to her launch. 

Known at the time as the largest ship built in Germany in the last 80 years, the largest ship exclusively dedicated to the British cruise market, and the newest flagship of Britain's Merchant Fleet, it was none other than P&O Cruises' brand new ORIANA!

Apart from all of these features, which were more than enough to make this a very special call in Funchal,

ORIANA was also seen as the successor of the venerable CANBERRA, at the time a ship that had been calling in this port frequently for a long time, thus being a well known visitor among the locals. 

Besides we can also refer to another important factor surrounding this maiden call, at the time it was not common to observe brand new ships like ORIANA in Funchal. After the great "boom" of the cruise industry in the late 70's/80's, most of the larger and new ships were being built in Europe as well but for the North-American market, cruising essentially in the Caribbean, during the Winter, and Alaska on the Summer months, as depicted by the most famous companies, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, NCL, and Princess...
Eventually ORIANA would operate on a different schedule, not on a turn-around basis in a specific region, but on distinct cruises to Med, Northern Europe, Canary Isles and also Caribbean and World voyages based in Southampton, as she still does nowadays.

Therefore at around noon, ORIANA was “sliding” through the flat seas on her way to the harbor, and much like what happened in her homeport days before, a flotilla of small craft went to sea welcoming the new superliner in great style, along with the local tugs dressed overall for the occasion. Even the dolphins were jumping out of the water to have a good glimpse of ORIANA.

On shore thousands of people gathered at seaside to witness this grand event. In the previous days she had been already a huge highlight among the local Press.

After docking at her designated berth, the passengers were presented with a performance from a local folkloric group, while leaving the ship’s gangway, being at the same time, offered with typical souvenirs from Madeira.

Later on, Commodore Gibb welcomed onboard several authorities and entities for the traditional plaque exchange ceremony, and kindly invited everyone for a tour around his brand new ship.

With the day nearly at its end, and as ORIANA prepared to overnight in Funchal, there was still place for a fireworks display, a final special touch truly placing her inaugural call among the most memorable moments this port ever had.

Images: Luís Filipe Jardim

Video: Paulo Camacho