Celebrating ORIANA: The First Port of Call

Having spent 3 days at sea from her successful departure from Southampton ORIANA made her way to first port call, Funchal, Madeira.

ORIANA arrives in Funchal, Madeira 12/4/1995: Luís Filipe Jardim

The Portuguese Island had been an important port for P&O since it's earliest days and since the transition to cruising had been popular among repeat P&O passengers.

As is customary ORIANA and her passengers recived the warmest of Madeiran welcomes, local flowers being presented to the passengers as they stepped off the gangway.
Seeing as ORIANA would be remaining in port overnight a fireworks display in her honour was also put on in the evening.
Being that this was her first call a group of local enthusiasts visited the ship where a plaque commemorating the call was presented to Commodore Ian Gibb, who in turn presented a plaque featuring ORIANA's own Coat of Arms.