Celebrating ORIANA - Southampton arrival

Amongst the grey overcast sky of the 3rd April 1995 a mist shrouded ORIANA made her way for the first time up Southampton water despite the weather conditions the welcome couldn't be warmer.
Pleasure craft and tugs and swarmed around to give the traditional firehose welcome.

Jets of water welcome ORIANA into her home port for the first time.

As with any such occasion the mood was positive and the welcome only fitting for the new ship who was not only P&O's new flagship but also of the British merchant fleet.
 The atmosphere on board was also a positive one from Commodore Gibb and officers on the bridge whose delight was most evident as was the rest of the crew who had spent the first short trip from Germany familiarizing themselves with the workings of the new ship.
Alongside the crew Lord Sterling also was extremely pleased and brimming with pride as he took a moment to savour the emotion of the event which his cameras were on hand to capture.

Such was the national importance of the event that press and media  had descended upon the port to watch ORIANA's arrival as she was subject to their every scrutiny.

ORIANA had well and truely arrived in style and for the next days she would play host to many visitors from within the cruise and travel industry before her naming by Queen Elizabeth II on the 6th of April.