"As with her cherished namesake and her sister the sacred CANBERRA, old acquaintance will be more than enough to ensure that whenever the great ships of Britain are brought to mind, another ORIANA shall now never be forgot."
Oriana
ORIANA berthed in Funchal as the replica of Columbus SANTA MARIA passes by. 8 October 2015
Following an overnight stay and full day in port by 6pm on the 13th April 1995 ORIANA was ready to depart Funchal, Madeira and head South to the Canary Islands. ORIANA's welcome the previous day had as warm as any could and now with preprations completed the city had turned out to wish the ship well as she continued her Maiden Voyage. At about 6:10pm ORIANA made her way off the berth blowing her distinctive horn as she headed out. People of all ages lined the sea front to see her sail for some the sight would stick with them for many years.
The scene was certainly one fitting for P&O's new flagship,elegant, modern yet classic, she looked perfectly serene departing and is still remembered many years later with the moment captured in a photograph which local postcards and ond other keepsakes have featured ever since.
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.
Sunday 9th April 1995 It was a fairly grey overcast Sunday as passengers arrived at Southampton's Mayflower terminal, pulling up in cars, taxis and coaches, their luggage dropped off before joing the check in queue. These are scenes repeated regularly in the port, this occasion however was different for there 1,636 passengers were embarking the Maiden Voyage of ORIANA, ,P&O's newest and first custom built cruise ship, advertised as The First Super liner Built for Britain she perfectly blended modern British cruising tastes with the traditional from teak promenades to her Art Deco/Edwardiana styled interiors. Behind the scenes ORIANA was also a technical marvel her navigational
equipment was the most advanced yet fitted aboard a civilian ship and
her intergrated bridge system wouldn't become standard for another 5
years at least.
Departing her berth ORIANA was escorted by a flotila of small crafts wishing her well as she made her way down Southampton water. Despite the overcast skies and the wind picking up sightseers lined ORIANA's route. Seen below ORIANA passes Cowes on the Isle of Wight on her Maiden Voyage.
Heading into the English Channel ORIANA turned south and made her way down towards her first port of call Funchal, Madeira.
The dawn of Sunday 9th of April 1995 brought ORIANA her first day at work, for the passengers who would be arriving at the Mayflower Cruise Termianl her pristine white hull and her CANBERRA inspired buff funnel made for an impressive sight for the 1,800 passengers joing her for Maiden Voyage
It had been 3 days since her high profile naming by Her Majesty The Queen and the associated festivites of that day and now ORIANA was meeting her paying public for the first time.
Boarding the new pristine flagship was an experience like no other for her passengers, never before had a ship like her been built, custom designed ship for the UK market a departure from the former ocean liners such as CANBERRA, and also difffering to the mass market glitzy shopping mall like ships entering service for the US market ORIANA in every respect was one of a kind, no multipurpose Las Vegas show lounge instead a dedicated West end theatre and a wider choice of bars and public rooms than any other ship then in service at that time.
As her passengers boarded the first on board entertainment began with relaxed piano music in The Crow's Nest to accompy the lofty views of Southampton while elsewhere on board other acts performed in Harlequins the on board night club/dance floor and The Pacific Lounge.
With safety drills held at 5pm ORIANA was finally ready to sail and just 6pm passengers lined her rails streamers rained down from her promenade deck as the The Band of the Royal Corps of Signals began to play as under Commodore Gibb's and the pilots guidance ORIANA slipped her moorings and headed down Southampton Water
And for those not able to be onboard P&O published a map showing the approximate times she would would be passing certain points of her route.
As ORIANA left Southampon behind her passengers settled in to their brand new home.
ORIANA's first call on this Maiden Voyage was none other than Funchal, Madeira a port that P&O had been calling at since it's early days and as liner passengers had given way to cruise passengers it had become one P&O's most popular port of calls among both passengers and crew.
Arriving on the 12th April ORIANA's reception at Funchal was as warm as her departure 3 days earlier with a flotila of small craft welcoming the new arrival and escorting her to her berth.
A picture of crusing perfection - The stunning ORIANA arrives in Funchal for the first time.
As ORIANA herself was welcomed her passengers were made as equally welcome being given local flowers as they disembarked.
Being an overnight call a local folkloric group went on board during the evening to give a typical local performance for ORIANA's passengers while the ship herself was saluted with a fireworks display in her honour.
In something of a time honoured tradition visitors of the local ship enthusiasts club (CEN) were welcomed on board and shown around by members of the crew.
Having had a warm welcome and stay overnight on the 13th April ORIANA's departure was as celebratory as her arrival had been with many Madeirans lining the port area the sea wall and the seafront of Funchal to see her sail.
One image taken from that day is still in use on the island to this day on various postcards.
Today we continue our look back over ORIANA's career as we take a trip back to April 1995 and ORIANA's arrival in Southampton and her naming day.
On a typically British overcast day ORIANA's perfectly white form glided gracefully into Southampton for the first time to a fittingly warm welcome of fireboats and small pleasure crafts.
ORIANA is welcomed to Southampton for the first time
On ORIANA's bridge a delghted Commodore Gibb and his officers were joined by P&O's Chairman Lord Sterling who was also eager to show his pride in the new flagship as she sailed up Southampton water.
At long last the culmantion of many years of work finally arrived home for the first time.
Following her arrival ORIANA would recieve some 10,000 visitors on board to tour with wonder and awe the first custom built cruise liner for the British Market.
On the 6th April just 3 days before her maiden voyage ORIANA was again the centre of attention as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II performed the time honoured tradition of naming her. Along with being the first cruise ship built for the British market ORIANA also hold the first ship to hold the honour of being first P&O ship to be named by a reigning monarch.
ORIANA is named by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
After the naming itself Her Majesty, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and their entourge went on board for lunch and a tour of the ship along with Commodore Gibb, Lord Sterling and various P&O officials.
Queen Elizabeth II with Commodore Gibb on ORIANA's bridge
Her Majesty is shown the ships plaque originally from ORIANA's 1960 built namesake
Rounding off the days celebrations in the evening the new flagship was treated to a fireworks display.
At the end of perfect day fireworks light up the Southampton skyline in honour of ORIANA
With ORIANA having a little over 6 months left in P&O service in this small series we take the time to look at a selection of images of her over the years from shipyard up to the present day.
Today we take a brief look at her time under construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard and her sea trials
11 March 1993 - The first photo of ORIANA as her Keel is laid to much celebration
With a metal framework suporrting her ORIANA reaches 10 decks in hight.
30th June 1994 ORIANA floats for the first time
Complete at last ORIANA takes her leave of the Meyer Werft yard
Waiting for high tide, ORIANA at Leer on her journy down the River Ems on route to the North Sea
ORIANA cuts a fine image in the North Sea on her trials. All Photo Copyrights P&O
In March 1997 ORIANA the proud flagship of the P&O fleet followed in the wake of many of her proud forebearers as she preformed a duty that in the eyes many represented the true demise of the British Empire.
Arriving in Hong Kong during her World Cruise, as many P&O ships had on both World Voyages and in earlier times liner service, ORIANA was to spend the day with her great Cunard rival QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 and while docked received on board 53 new passengers and their families who unlike the other passengers on board would not be paying for the privilege of sailing on Britain's most luxurious ship.
So who were these passengers and why were they special?
In short they were not in anyway special or noteworthy, they were in fact British Civil Servents whose work had supported the United Kingdom's Government and it's administration of Hong Kong, the last large overseas territory, and for many the last symbol of the faded might of the British Empire.
Within 4 months even that would be gone as it had been agreed in 1984 that Hong Kong would be handed back to China on the 1st July 1997.
Ahead of this date many of the officals and support staff of the Government whose services were no longer required would be exercising the right bestowed by their position working in an oversea territory for free sea passage back to Britain for them and their family, all paid for by the taxpayers of territory they were residing in.
The only conditions attached to the deal was that the person would need to have been working over seas for at least 15 years or be over 50 years of age.
In days gone by that would have meant months of travel in less than luxuirous condition but in 1997 it meant passage by cruise liner on a leg of it's world cruise with all the benefits that such a voyage brings with it.
The last 'British' flag of Hong Kong is waved from ORIANA as she prepared to sail
As the sun was setting and to the sound of the Band of the Hong Kong Police force and Bagpipes play ORIANA slowly proceeded astern from her berth on the dockside there was tears as friends of those who had boarded waved many themselves would be heading home theirselves on board the QE2 two days later.
A true end of an era the departure attracted some press attention as show below.
ORIANA's terrece aft decks filled by passenger as the Band plays on the Quayside
Today we look at item from ORIANA's Maiden season which reflects perhaps the most major change she has undergone during her career so far and also serves as link for ORIANA to the P&O liners of old.
From her debut in April 1995 until November 2011 ORIANA cruised as a family friendly ship with a full suite of facilties for children of all ages from a night nursery for the youngest to a teens club.
Below we have plaque awarded to on board ORIANA during her Maiden Season for a Fancy Dress competition held amongst her younger passengers.
A plaque awarded during a Fancy Dress competition
While it is no longer a staple of ship board entertainment fancy dress balls and competitions were once a popular past time on board P&O ships not only among the younger passengers in the days before the multifunction entertainment venues and full performance theatres.
P&O entertainment 1950's style on board ARCADIA (II) Copyright: British Pathé
May 1995 brought ORIANA another first in her early career; a meeting with perhaps P&O's greatest rival on the seas, the famous Cunarder QUEEN ELIZABETH 2.
Having taken over the role of Flagship of the Merchent Fleet from the ageing QE2 it would make for a fitting meeting to pass the baton from the old to the new as it were.
ORIANA passes QE2 for the first time
The two ships identical in tonnage although different in every other way represented two contrasting eras of sea travel, QE2 a mixed Transatlantic liner/Cruise ship from the end of the great liner era and ORIANA a thoroughly modern dedicated cruise ship the first dedicated to the British cruise market.
With Commodore Gibb on the Port bridge wing, ORIANA enthusiastically sounded her horn in greeting to which QE2's deep horn replied.
While it was common for the veteran queen's to get the last blast in on this occasion Commodore Gibb blasted one final salute to ensure ORIANA truely made her presence felt.
This being the first meeting there was to be many more over the years both in Southampton and at many other ports around the world.
One such meeting occurred 13 years later during QE2's farewell year on the 3rd January 2008, both ships by this time ultimately owned by Carnival PLC, met in the port of Funchal on the fair Atlantic Isle of Madeira, ORIANA by now herself considered somewhat classic withj the ever larger new builds entering service, still made quite the contrast to the old liner.
ORIANA and QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 contrast Funchal, Madeira, 3/1/08: Copyrigh Nuno Jesus
For regular cruise passengers there is nothing like embarking on board a new ship especially a Maiden Voyage and alongside the boast of being the first to enjoy the new ship's amenities and being on deck with pleanty of firehose welcomes for the ship making it's debut in each port.
Just like any other cruise picking up momentos also become something of a hobby on board and being the Maiden Voyage a once in a lifetime event it seems more poignant to pick up and keep such items to recall in the years to come.
Such is the case for ORIANA and today we look at some of the items collected from her Maiden Voyage.
Firstly a couple of unique Maiden Voyage/Season items available during the cruise from the ship's photography shop, firstly a image of ORIANA during her later stages of fitting out and secondly a image of ORIANA on her Maiden Voyage signed by Commodore Gibb.
Another must on board ship for aficionad, postcards on sale in gift shop here we have one of ORIANA herself and one showing her ventern fleetmate CANBERRA in all her glory.
While for ladies a compact mirror would make a small and practical keepsake.
Alongside the items for sale on board other items such as menus, invites etc made for another excellent keepsake to recall ORIANA's first days at sea such as this one below, the first invite sent out to her passengers for ORIANA's first formal event in service, for those present certainly memory to cherish as Commodore Gibb and the ship's company turned out in style to greet those on board.
While even some more basic items from the Maiden Voyage were also collected by those eager to collect everything they could from the ship including as shown below cabin Key cards.
After 14 nights away on the 23rd April 1995 ORIANA returned to Southampton to complete her Maiden Voyage and prepare for her next passengers to embark.
The previous evening was one that vetern cruisers knew with the feeling of farewells and of saying goodbyes to friends made over the preceding days and nights but also that of celebration as the ship's company did their upmost to ensure the last night of would be a memorable one.
During the last days of the cruise P&O's cameras spoke with many of the passengers on board to sound out their opinons of the ship.
With so many P&O cruising veterns from both the previous ORIANA and CANBERRA on board it was always going to be difficult to introduce innovations and improvements to a cruising experience they saw as already perfect yet it seemed that with ORIANA the company had managed to do just that, the ship retained the company's trademark 'Britishness' and inlaid it with standards of luxury and technology that had yet to be seen on board any other passenger ship.
For ORIANA's crew too the ship had more than proved her worth performing exactly as expected.
Commodore Gibb in particular could not praise his new command enough from her character which was already showing to her performance.
As ORIANA departed once again on the evening of 23rd April this time bound for her maiden calls in the Mediterranean those passengers who were on their way home could look back fondly on the memories of a voyage that would last a lifetime.
Perhaps the final theatre show of cruise summed it up in the best possible way.
Following her maiden departure from Gibraltar ORIANA returned to Portuguese waters.
Firstly to Praia da Rocha in the Algarve the famous resort region of mainland Portugal where ORIANA once again anchored.
For the final port of call ORIANA headed up the River Tagus to the Portuguese capital of Lisbon a port which P&O has a long history of visiting including the previous ORIANA on her shakedown cruise in 1960.
On this Maiden visit due to work maintaince work ORIANA made her way to the Jardim do Tabaco terminal rather than the preferred Alcântara terminal. While ORIANA's passengers enjoyed themselves in the historic city Commodore Gibb and ORIANA's crew played host to the local port authorities and press holding tours of the ships passenger and work spaces, and later to British Ambassador to Portugal and his wife both of whom were eager to see Britain's latest flagship.
Making the most of the last port of call ORIANA's passengers returned to the ship ready for her early evening departure and to wish the great ship on her way a local folk group preformed on the quayside.
Leaving the romance of Casablanca behind her ORIANA next arrived at Gibraltar on the 18th April, for her British passengers a home away from home.
Entering the Gibraltar strait at 6am and boarding the pilot shortly
after ORIANA continued her course where she arrived at her berth at 9:01
am.
For many the cruise offered the chance to explore a little of 'Britain in the sun' as many refer to the Gibraltar, from it's history including the evactation of many of it's citizens during the second world war to popular UK highstreet shops and the duty free merchandise available to purchase the port had a little of everything to offer.
However for one couple the port was to serve as the venue a special day.
Being UK registered it was not possible to be married on board, it would be over 11 years before ORIANA's first wedding would take place but on this Maiden Voyage ORIANA had her first on board honeymoon.
Following her triumphant call in Funchal ORIANA made a short overnight trip of around 257 nautical miles to Tenerife the first of two ports of the cruise in the Canary Islands to be followed the next day with a call in Lanzarote the latter of which would see ORIANA on anchorage for the first time.
Both ports being popular ports for P&O's as well as British holidaymakers.
During this leg of the cruise an impromptu gathering was held where many veterans from the previous ORIANA memories and brought along many menus, price lists and many other momentos from the old ship.
So far ORIANA had lived up to the memory of her namesake and was impressing on her passengers she was a fitting as CANBERRA's replacement as P&O's flagship.
Moving away from the Atlantic Isles the cruise next brought ORIANA to Morocco and the city of Casablanca symbolic once again P&O's history and it's close ties with North Africa.
The city, it's Spanish name coming from it's Portuguese Casa Branca, is famous for it's mix of French, Spanish and Moorish architecture and for being the setting for the wartime Hollywood romantic drama of the same name set the perfect scene for a port of call on a great ship's Maiden Voyage
Following on what was a very special first day of ORIANA's maiden call of the inaugural voyage, the 13th April 1995 found ORIANA still berthed in Funchal for one more full day.
Scheduled to depart at 6 pm later on, the best spots along the city's coast and the harbor were being filled by a crowd of people wishing again to have the best view to the newest cruise ship afloat. Only the New Year's Eve fireworks in the capital of Madeira could compare to such a gathering.
The importance of this event would lead to the release of a small series of local postcards with aerial images of ORIANA, made to promote the destination Madeira, which could be seen for sale in every souvenir shop for many years to come.
ORIANA's maiden call in Funchal was to remain one of the biggest, if not the biggest event this port ever had, at least until Cunard's QUEEN MARY 2 made her inaugural call on 15th January 2004.
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.
9th April 1995, Berth 106 Southampton - With all the celebrations around ORIANA's naming behind them her crew now faced their and ORIANA's first true test, her first true meeting with the public as her first passengers made their way on board.
Despite the overcast sky it didn't dampen the excitement of those making their way to Southampton to board the first British superliner among them many P&O cruising veterans from both CANBERRA and almost 200 who had sailed as passnegers and crew on the previous ORIANA including one couple who had first met while working on board the older ship.
From the experienced passengers to the youngest 8 month old Stephanie Donahoe.
For these passengers were not only leaving British shores for 2 weeks
to enjoy the sun in the Atlantic Islands and the Iberian Peninsula,
they were sailing on the Maiden Voyage of ORIANA not only the new
flagship of the P&O fleet and the British merchant navy but the
first ship custom built for the rapidly growing UK market she was
P&O's £200 million gamble into the future of cruising.
On a
technical level ORIANA was also a masterpiece of martime design being
the fastest passenger ship built for 25 years and the fastest purpose
built cruise liner in the world while at the same time her design
remained somewhat traditional giving her passengers the best of both
worlds.
Boarding ORIANA a letter awaited in each cabin a welcome from Commodore Gibb and a first opportunity to share a little of the affection that he and the crew had already developed for the ship.
Commodore Gibb's welcome letter
And for regular passengers there was also a welcome from P&O's loyalty club
"The P.O.S.H Club" welcome
It wasn't only for those on boarding who were anticapting ORIANA's sailing ship spotters and enthusiasts were eager to see her sail and to that end P&O published the times at which they estimated ORIANA pass certain points on her journey down the Solent and to the sea as shown
below.
Route and estimated times of ORIANA's departure
With passengers boarding at 4pm the first entertainment held onboard
ORIANA for her passengers began with Piano music on offer in
The Crow's Nest some or for different tastes there was also music being
played in both Harlequins and The Pacific Lounge.
The obligatory
safety drill was held at 5pm and shortly after 6pm as The Band of the Royal Corps of Signals played as ORIANA sounded her horn lifting off the berth Streamers flew and cheers from both the ship and shore could be heard as ORIANA, once again was joined by small flotilla of little boats, made her way down Southampton water.
To begin ORIANA's sea going career her first port of call would reflect
P&O's history and heritage, leaving Southampton behind ORIANA 2 days
at sea would follow before reaching Funchal, Madeira one of P&O's
most popular ports call, here she would spend overnight allowing the
passengers to take in the beauty of the city and islands while a local
Folkloric group would be boarding to entertain the passengers with local
dance and tradition.
