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.

The Maiden Voyage V - A Maiden Wedding

Leaving Africa behind ORIANA next arrived at Gibraltar on the 18th April, for her passengers a home 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 two of her passengers however instead of a typical day ashore exploring they were instead getting married with the rest of the cruise serving as their honeymoon
There has always been a romantic side to ships and it could truly be said that ORIANA's career from the start was full of romance.

Departing Gibraltar ORIANA again headed north for her last two ports of call, having called first in the   "Cruise Capital of Portugal" she now called at the mainland.
Firstly Praia Da Rocha on the Algarve on the 19th where she spend the day anchored off the coast and the finally on the 20th ORIANA sailed up the Tagus to the Portuguese capital Lisbon.
P&O's ties to the city had began early in the company's life with it being a major port on the regular mail route their liners of time were engaged in, by the 1920's the authorities had even agreed to extend one of the berths to accommodate the new class of liners which were then being built,
Later still ORIANA's namesake would visit the city many time over the years including during her shakedown cruise in November 1960 prior to her own Maiden Voyage.

With her last port of call of the cruise behind her ORIANA set off for home.

A maiden call in her 20th year

Somewhat overshadowed by the minor fire which occurred two days ago the current cruise which ORIANA is on has also marked her 20th year at sea and seems fitting that this was marked by the ship making a Maiden call along the way.
On the 13th April exactly 20 years to the day of her first landfall in Madeira on her Maiden Voyage ORIANA arrived at an Island on the other side of the Atlantic for the first time, namely Bermuda.
Despite having been regiseted there since December 2006 it is a destination ORIANA had yet to visit and much like she was doing 20 years before in Funchal, ORIANA welcomed on board local dignitaries to celeabrate the occasion with a presintation of the ship's crest and a plaque from the Island to join the many others on board.
Among those on board was the  Minister of Tourism Development and Transport Shawn Crockwell who was like many visitors before him very impressed by the ship commenting that "We are honoured and grateful to be a part of this celebration as we commemorate the MV ORIANA's inaugural call to Bermuda.
"This visit is extra special as the Oriana is a Bermuda registered ship that was launched on April 5th, 1995, therefore it was an extreme pleasure to welcome the vessel to her port of registry immediately following the celebration of its twenty years of service."

He concluded by saying by saying "This year, Bermuda will host many cruise ships, but it is very special for us to have the luxury ship ORIANA here. This is a beautiful ship, with a very refined and sophisticated atmosphere that is very comfortable."
Photo Copyright: Burnews 

ORIANA's Miami delay

Last night shortly after departing Miami, Florida and on route to Key West  ORIANA suffered a minor fire in her engine room forcing a return to Dodge Island Florida where she remained until 8am local time.
The first indications of any problems came from a call to the port authorities from the ship requesting a return to port and tug assist her while turning.

Initially the return to port was surrounded by confusion a viewer of the webcam feed reported hearing of a engine fire from the ship to shore communication while relatives and friends of passengers on board were reporting being contacted by their loved ones some saying about an on board fire while others mentioning other reasons.
P&O Cruises finally put the speculation to rest this morning when they confirmed via there Facebook page the reason for ORIANA's return to port.
" There was a minor localised fire which was swiftly extinguished. At no time did this affect the safety of passengers or crew."
They also confirmed that no serious damage had been caused and that the delay was due to inspection by the U.S Coastguard explaining that - 
" ORIANA has been delayed in Miami due to a mandatory US Coastguard inspection. Unfortunately, as a result, the call to Key West will be omitted. ORIANA is due to leave Miami at 08:00 local time today and sail directly to New Orleans to arrive at 09:00 on Tuesday morning."

ORIANA alongside at 05:30 local time while NORWEGIAN EPIC arrives.

Shortly after 07:40 with her radars working and engines restarted she waited for COSTA ATLANTICA to pass her turn and dock just forward of her bow.

COSTA ATLANTICA passes ORIANA

 ORIANA shortly before departure

As planned shortly after 8am ORIANA's stern lines were let go and slowly she headed astern slightly before clearing COSTA ATLANTICA and heading forward again.

Aft lines being let go

 As ORIANA departed the freshly applied Union Flag livery to her bow was glimpsed by the camera.

Sailing she passed the now docked COSTA ATLANTICA, CARNIVAL BREEZE, CARNIVAL SPLENDOR and NORWEGIAN EPIC.

ORIANA passes NORWEGIAN EPIC

ORIANA heads back to sea

In order for ORIANA to return to her schedule as soon as possible she has had to abort her call today in Key West and is instead heading straight to New Orleans where she is expected.

While the mention of fire is always at first a concerning one at no time was the ship in any danger and the high level of training given to her crew for such incidents prevented it doing so.

Webcam video/images courtesy of PTZtv

The Maiden Voyage IV - Reminiscing on board

For 4 passengers on board ORIANA this was second time they had embarked on the Maiden voyage of "ORIANA" since they had served as crewmembers on board the previous ORIANA during her first run down to Australia, including that ship's on board photographer who had developed the first colour photographs at sea on that voyage.

 And like her namesake 35 years before ORIANA was bringing new and exciting features to cruising not only being the newest ship afloat so far she with her first class decor and service,unique features and innovative on board pastimes was proving to be the ship which all that would follow would have to live up to

17th April 1995
ORIANA's next port of call was Casablanca one of the largest cities in North Africa and just as famous for the Hollywood movie as it is for it's long history and cluture.
Having spent the previous day cruising at an average speed of 12 knots the ship arrived in Casablanca shortly before 8am.
Staying alongside for the day in fine and clear conditions and to allow her passengers to experience a truely atmospheric and romantic sunset she departed at 7:11pm for her short journey to Gibraltar