Capturing a historic moment on board ORIANA

Available on board ORIANA for her passengers to purchase during her maiden year alongside other momentos was this particularly impressive photo taken on her Terreced decks it shows ORIANA's officers and company assmbled for her offical handing over to P&O decked out in their uniforms and ORIANA herself dressed for the occasion, they watch on as ORIANA's Captain  Commodore Gibb alongside Lord Sterling and P&O Cruise's chairman are handed over the ship's offical documents from Bernard Meyer on behalf of his shipyard after many years of planning, designing, waiting and building ORIANA was finally ready to embark on her first adventure. 

Commodore Gibb and his crew would pose again on these very decks just over a year later for a final photo celebrating the Commodore's 40 years at sea as he prepared to retire.

Inaugural season images

Available to purchase on board ORIANA during her Inaugural season/Maiden Voyage the images show some of the memorabilia passengers could pick up in ORIANA's Photography shop.
Always a popular "port of call" while on board passengers often pick up photos availble to buy, however being on board the newest and most advanced passenger liner ever built picking up photo souvenirs such as the two below  

The first showing ORIANA shortly after completion looking resplendent with her freshly painted hull and being fully illuminated.

The second ORIANA cuts a fine figure at sea with a fine shot of her at speed and signed by Commodore Gibb.

Sailaway parties

A tradition which is famous among the P&O fleet the sailaway deck parties as each ship prepares to depart their various ports of call the entertainment team give a fond final impression for the passengers by holding a sailaway party on deck.

ORIANA's entertainment team around the Terrace pool during a sailaway

The "amphitheatre" of ORIANA's elegant terraced stern decks make it a natural venue for a sailaway offering the watching passengers the perfect vantage point from almost any angle as can be seen below.
These photos from June 2012 taken in Bergen also show another aspect of the parties most of them sport their own theme, 2012 celebrated the 175th anniversary of P&O's founding so one of the themes was a anniversary party.

So there is no doubt what is being celebrated 175th anniversary flag made an appearance being waved enthusiastically by passengers and the entertainment team alike.

 To some perhaps the decks might be a little too crowded so if the sun is shining the pool can be seen as a fitting alternative to watch from .

While most are upbeat featuring party music and dancing others take a more relaxed approach for the more scenic sailaways such as in the Geirangerfjord a classical party is often held
For the last port of call of the cruise a larger "Great British Sailaway" party is held celebrating the last destination of the cruise and as the name suggests takes on a patriotic theme decked out with Union Jacks  and the entertainment team leading the festivities with music representing all the countries of that make up the British Isles.
Below ORIANA's stern comes to life in during a Great British Sailaway from Stavanger, Norway 14/6/2012.

Often ships in a will share the port with their fleet mates and on this occasion ORIANA met with VENTURA and in the destictive British style a friendly rivalry between the two.

Photo Copyright: João Abreu

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