Celebrating ORIANA - "I name this ship"

The Dawn of the 6th April 1995 brought the next milestone in ORIANA's life, having arrived spectacularly 3 days before the new Queen of the Seas was ready to meet another royal as Queen Elizabeth II was to name her in a carefully choreographed ceremony later that day.
For the occasion ORIANA was docked alongside berth 44 the former Ocean Terminal where seating had been erected for those present to observe from.
On board ORIANA herself for guests who had stayed on board overnight there was a classical music presentation held in The Crows Nest followed by recitals in the Pacific Lounge before joining those those assembling dockside.
The guests were all seated by 11am as they waited for the Queen and her entourage  the Band of HM Royal Marines provided musical entertainment.
As the Royal train arrived the sound of The Choir of Westminster Abby performed Fair Oriana, Beauty’s Queen.
With the Queen and Prince Philip The Duke of Edinburgh taking their place in front of ORIANA's bow alongside Lord Sterling and Commodore Gibb the Choir performed God save the Queen as ORIANA 's officers watched on.
Next followed an introduction by the master of ceremonies and a perfomance of Fanfare to ORIANA a piece of music which had been composed by the famed composer Benjamin Britten for the launch of the previous ORIANA.
The Bishop of Basingstoke gave the blessing with holy water before Her Majesty gave a short speech and uttered the words which had last been spoken by her cousin Princess Alexandra 35 years earlier.
"I name this ship ORIANA may god bless her and all who sail in her" as she pulled the leaver that sent a bottle of champagne smashing against the I in the ship's name.

ORIANA's horn blew wildly  as the band played and many in the crowd admitted having a tear in their eye as events went as planned.
It wasn't only those on the dockside watching in the new age of mass media ORIANA's naming became an international event that would be seen by millions around the world

 With the naming over with the royal party boarded for lunch and a tour of the ship Her Majesty also  meeting a young girl named Oriana.

Commodore Gibb shows The Queen ORIANA's bridge

 Remembering the visit Commodore Gibb recalled "I think she was impressed with the ship, she certainly appeared to be. There are two memories in particular I have while touring the ship, the first was while she looking round the Spa & Fitness areas she joked while observing the Exercise Machines that “we have these in the dungeon at Windsor Castle!” and sometime later while touring the ship's Galley the executive Purser had selected 10 or 11 members of the restaurant crew to introduce to her to and as it turned out they all had the surname of Gomez so I was walking down the line introducing each saying “This is Mr Gomez and this is Mr Gomez and this is Mr Gomez as well”
To end what had been the perfect day a fireworks display saluted the worlds newest ship.

While the celebrations continued Commodore Gibb looked forward to the maiden voyage beginning in 3 days time “ Funchal in Madeira is one of our favourite ports of call, there’ll be a great welcome, with a half a bottle of Madeira wine for every passenger and corsages of local flowers- and the weather is almost always sunny too.”
  To sum up the journey ORIANA had already taken and the ships that would follow her John McNeece one of the design team behind the liner's public spaces said "She will be the benchmark by which all others will be measured"