Looking back: 2012 Fjords Cruise -Day 3

 11th June

After a relaxing first day at sea the early morning of Monday 11th June found ORIANA several hours from the first port of call , Norway's second largest city Bergen.
The day began early and up on leaving the cabin we were greeted by one of ORIANA's bridge crew and the local pilot on route to the bridge.
Unsurprisingly at this time ORIANA's decks were fairly empty aside from one or two passengers who were also early to rise and members of the ship's crew going about their assigned jobs, on deck there was fresh breeze that blew over ORIANA and the sky was somewhat cloudy in many ways the scene was somewhat reminiscent of the last time I had visited with the heavy skies being somewhat telling  that Bergen has the reputation as the wettest city in Europe.

  Unlike some of the other ports ORIANA would be visiting during this cruise there was no narrow fjords for the ship to traverse instead wide channels marked her course. Initially the land was rocky out crops which soon gave way to green patches with small wooden houses lining the waterfront. 

 

 Continuing on route we were rapidly the approaching Askøy Bridge which was fast becoming a source of interest as is always the case when a ship is about to pass under bridge.
Giving an announcement Captain Pembridge, having performed the manoeuvre many times  before  gave reassurance that ORIANA's air draft of around 55m would permit her to pass comfortably beneath the bridge.

 The mast passing under the bridge

 ORIANA's funnel nears the bridge while specters look on

With the bridge behind her ORIANA neared the city proper and amongst the mix of historic and modern buildings the first of the the other nautical visitors came into view, ORIANA would spend the day in good company as she joined  three other ships from other Carnival brands.

Firstly coming into view two of ORIANA's fellow Meyer Werft built ships the newly built AIDAMAR and her older sibling AIDALUNA.

AIDAMAR and AIDALUNA docked together

Up ahead Holland America's EURORDAM also came into view offering her Signature class lines bringing to mind ORIANA's fleet mate ARCADIA.

EURODAM docked alongside

 Finally alongside the dock stevedores in small boats were in place to pick up ORIANA's lines and secure her alongside.

 After a day at sea and a relatively short journey of 759 Nautical miles (1406.5km) we had arrived at our first destination.

ORIANA arrives into Bergen

With ORIANA tied up alongside and all the arrival formalities completed the passengers were free to go ashore either independently or by taking one of the tour excursion on offer through the tours office on board.

We wouldn't be taking advantage of the excursions instead we would be meeting with local ship spotter Tom Gulbrandsen who had offered to kindly take the time to show us some of the interesting sights of the city.

The clouds which had loomed over the city soon began lifting  to revel a bright morning sky.

 

Sights from around Bergen

The hours slipped by fairly quickly and all too soon it was time to return to ORIANA. 

Taking a short walk through the city to the drop off/pick up point we parted ways with Tom who wished us well with the rest of the cruise.
Returning to ORIANA there was about an hour or so remaining before ORIANA departed, more than enough time to have a brief rest before joining the a special sail away party.

Instead of the normal sailaways loved by many a P&O passenger ORIANA's terraced decks were the venue for the 175th Anniversary sail away party.

 With the party in full swing ORIANA's main engines were brought back up to power and her lines were let go and slowy she pushed off her berth.
Leaving Bergen behind ORIANA set her course towards our next port of call, while her passengers prepared for another evening on board. 

Photos: João Abreu, Tom Gulbrandsen