20 years of souvenirs

When a new ship enters service it is inevitable that passengers will be hunting for souvenirs of their time on board and ORIANA is no different from her early days in service with passengers collecting Maiden voyage/season passengers memorabilia to her passengers today picking up a momento of their time on board.
And it can be surprising to see some of the items that have been collected over the years many of them undoubtedly interesting memories attached here we look a small collection of  items from the ship over the past 20 years.

ORIANA Maiden Season Cabin keycard. 

From many the excitement of being on a ship during her inaugal year or for those who are lucky enough the Maiden Voyage itself is considered a once in a lifetime experience so it is no surprise that Maiden Season memorabilia is a must such as these below.

ORIANA ladies hand mirror

Maiden Season leather strap watch

A lot of the memorabilia also helps to remind of the jounrneys and adventures which were had on board such as the log of the cruise and the set of menus from the cruise.

VHS and more recently DVD's have also be items collected on board to form a last impression of the cruise and of ORIANA herself in the first years of her career several VHS tapes were sold on board looking at various aspects the ship, ORIANA From Dream to Reality looked at ORIANA's construction while passengers on her Maiden Voyage had the option to order a tape looking at the cruise which was sent to them when it had been edited and printed.

VHS video tour of ORIANA

With the advent of DVD more content is available and up until 2006 ORIANA: The Cruise Experience, a DVD looking at different aspects of cruising on board the ship.

Celebrating 20 years

In the first edition of P&O's new look loyalty scheme Peninsular Club magazine renamed "Moments" sent to it's past passengers P&O pay brief tribute to ORIANA's 20 years in service.
Featuring a brief interview with her current Captain Ashley Cook he speaks about his pride being in command of P&O's most iconic ship.

Exploring the different sides of Norway

Among the destinations ORIANA has visited over the years very few can offer such a diverse in one Country as Norway, from it's cities such as Oslo and Bergen home of the famous Byggen area  to it's distinctive and majestic natural wonders such as it's  fjords and glaciers
Below we share some photos from one such cruise with ORIANA from June 2012

 Arriving into Bergen ORIANA's mast passes under the bridge.

Entering Bergen ORIANA encounters some of her fellow Carnival group ships namely HAL's EURODAM and Aida's AIDA MAR and AIDA LUNA.

 The city's classic buildings prove a popular attraction for passengers.

Tall ship STATSRAD LEHNKUHL

 Also arriving during the day the Hurtigruten ferry MIDNATSOL on her regular course down the coast of Norway.

MIDNATSOL in Bergen

The following day after short overnight cruise up the coast ORIANA arrived in her next destination the scenic Geirangerfjord.
Amongst it's soaring mountains ORIANA again met with AIDA MAR.

 With nature as her backdrop ORIANA who had towered over the terminal in Southampton now looked almost humble as the colours of nature and waterfalls dancing down the mountains.

Also making another appearance from the previous day MIDNATSOL disembarking her passengers during  brief visit before heading back out into the fjord.

ORIANA's departure like the port of Geiranger itself  had much to offer shortly after sounding her mighty horn, ORIANA was saluted with fireworks which was become something of local tradition.
Leaving Geiranger ORIANA passed by one of the area's most famous sights the Seven Sisters Waterfalls
And on the opposite side of the fjord the Suitor waterfall said to be playfully dancing for the attention of  the Seven Sisters.

ORIANA's passengers gather to see the Seven Sisters

 The Suitor Waterfall

ORIANA's next two port of calls Olden and Stavanger  also would give ORIANA a look at the different aspects of Norway.
Photos Copyright: João Abreu & Steve Martin

Southampton Departure

On a slightly cloudy June afternoon in 2012 ORIANA loomed large above the terminal building of the Queen Elizabeth II terminal her CANBERRA inspired funnel towering over her pristine decks as her crew readied her for her next cruise to the Norwegian fjords 17 years to the day that she first headed north to the nature of Norway.
On the dockside the band struck up a tune as ORIANA began to cast off.

 Joining ORIANA in port that day was CELEBRITY ECLIPSE and GRAND PRINCESS both of which departed shortly before her.

While CELEBRITY ECLIPSE remained quiet passing by GRAND PRINCESS saluted which was drowned  by ORIANA's more powerful reply

With a blast from her horn ORIANA departed her berth swinging her bow to head down river.

Passing as she went a small  "fleet" of tugs.

As she headed out to sea she left CELEBRITY ECLIPSE in her wake

Photos Copyright : João Abreu & Steve Martin

ORIANA in Malta

Yesterday ORIANA made her latest call at Malta during her current 21 night Mediterranen cruise, and for the first time she is showing off her full new livery complete with the much talked about Union Flag adorning her bow.

Among those watching ORIANA from the was shore local enthusiast Franklin Aquilina, for many years a fan of ORIANA having cruised on board both her and her mother CANBERRA who herself had some history with Malta.

ORIANA showing of her Union Flag graphics

During ORIANA's time in Malta Franklin was also able to board ORIANA for the first time in many years.

ORIANA's elegent Library

 The Crows Nest - a favourite vantage point of many for 20 years

Along with the public areas he was also allowed to visit the bridge as seen below.

 A look across the bridge.

Details of bridge controls

 After departing from Malta ORIANA set course for Cadiz, Spain where after two days at sea she is due to arrive on Sunday.

Photo Copyrights: Franklin Aquilina

20 years of adventures for ORIANA

In her 20 years in service so far ORIANA can proudly boast of having taken her passengers to some of the world's most stunning and historic destinastions and along the way given them expeirences and memories to last a life.
From her home port she has set off on many journeys heading to the northern climes of Norway and the Baltic and in winter to the Chirstmas Markets of Northern Europe.

Anchored at Spitsbergen , Norway

Tendering in Geirangerfjord, Norway

Or for those looking for a warmer holiday at sea, heading south to the sun filled Atlantic Isles or the Iberian Peninsula and the Atlantic Coast of North Africa

Arriving at Funchal, Madeira

Docked in Tenerife

Heading further afield the capitals and islands of the Mediterranean have on many occasions played host to ORIANA.

ORIANA arrives at Valletta, Malta

And of course for a ship of ORIANA's liner inspired design and calibre the longer Transatlantic cruises to the USA and the Caribbean Islands have proved to be popular cruises for her.

ORIANA departs Port Everglades, USA

ORIANA in Tortola, B.V.I

Docked in Barbados

For the ultimate cruise experience ORIANA has under taken many world cruises over the years  calling in many contrasting destinations often following in the wake of her namesake and "mother" CANBERRA.

ORIANA arrives in Sydney, Australia

ORIANA passes through the Panama Canal

Over the years she has often been seen graceing ports with her fleet mates often in some of P&O's favourite ports such as Funchal, where she has met with AURORA as seen below as well as OCEANA and ARCADIA.

At home in Southampton she of course has met with her fleet mates many times and also some rivals in March 1995 she met for the first time with a most prestigious rival QUEEN ELIZABETH 2, as fitting for a ship such as ORIANA she would have the last word that day.

Photo Copyrights João Abreu & P&O Cruises 

ORIANA's Maiden passengers stories and reactions

When ORIANA returned to Southampton from her Maiden Voyage on the 23rd April 1995 after a meer 3469 nautical miles (6424 km) her first passengers disembarked with their lasting impressions of the new liner.
From the amazement of her new innovating features and the inevitable comparisons to CANBERRA for the first few days, by the end of the two weeks the ship's character her unique identity was beginning to establish itself and it was this atmosphere along with the quality of the ship and the service offered by her crew which her passengers picked up on.
As can be seen below her passengers reactions reflected the general feeling on board being one of satisfaction with the ship.  

 

Many of those passengers on board also had interesting personal stories to tell relating to ORIANA and her namesake such as Arie Oosten a Dutchman whose passion for ships brought him to be on the maiden voyage of the world's newest superliner and also others such as the couple who first met on board SS ORIANA just two of the stories which filled the decks of ORIANA during her triumphant Maiden Voyage.