ORIANA: The Maiden Cruise

[@Nat6999]

I sailed on her in May 2001, the best holiday I have ever had on a beautiful ship.

[@aviatorHB]

We sailed on her in 1995 and on her final voyage. So many happy memories. Thanks Steve.

[@stevemartin5217]

Hi Bob, My pleasure! For many she was the heart and soul of the P&O fleet and carries so many memories. Nice to hear from you again!

[@cheralgeen3214]

Wow! Certainly an up date. I sailed from Southampton to Fremantle W.A in 1961 on the ORIANA. I still have the original menu’s. Unfortunately I was sea sick the whole of the six week voyage. Came out with husband and young two year old son. Now being 84 yrs. many memories!

[@ytgsmithwa]

Same here. But in 1963. I was 7 years old. I have a souvenir life saver. About 4 inches across.

[@andrewdeans8520]

Fantastic! What a great ship, what a fantastic journey and what memories you have of those days sadly long gone.

[@stevemartin5217]

That she is, modern still by today's standards and a technical masterpiece in 1995 Oriana(1961) certainly had a fine legacy and a devoted following which this Oriana continued by proudly carrying her name on alongside design elements developed from Canberra.

[@flowerpot2501]

My dad worked on the ship steward so he would been on there when you was well that if he wasn't on his 6 week break he used to go way forv6 months then 6 weeks off and back again I was born in 1963 but he worked on there from time it launched

[@gillianangrave1661]

The most wonderful ship. I had four very happy years aboard - those memories will stay with me for ever. (Author "From Oceans to Embassies")

[@juliecrook7336]

Immigrated from Vancouver to Oz on this amazing ship...was 13 at time...now 63...croakies time does sail fast...wonderful time...everyone was seasick first 3 days to Hawaii...very ruff seas....I remember walking around Waikibeach and the land felt like it was moving ...hard to shake of that rocking motion from being at sea...next stop Fiji...the seas calmed down.....sat on deck counting flying fish:)*** great ship...never bored!!!

[@howardhdavidson]

I wonder if Carnival Corporation were watching this ..Been on the original Oriana twice as well as this cruise , can’t believe the original Oriana only cost £15,000,000 the price of a good big house in central London.

[@philsmart431]

Loved that ship

[@stevemartin5217]

She's truly a beauty isn't she Phil? I really do miss her.

[@PeruvianTreeProductions]

Sailed on her in August 1995. Only her 7th voyage I think. I was 13. Great memories.

[@AlVlogs1603]

For me so many “well Kent” faces as I was on that Maiden.Ian Gibb,Phil Pickford,Chris Bullen amongst the senior officers.Nice to see the “Old Oriana” sailed on her 3 times and she could go at some speed.Remember the old Stern Gallery when the engine revs went up at night.Gin and Tonic vibrating across the table.Great days

[@paulgilson2347]

Went on this the same year, in july I think...loved cruising as a kid, the Canberra was my first ship as a nipper.... last time was on the Aurora in 2003 but I've heard it's changed for the worse since then.

[@bobjackson4720]

I travelled on an earlier Oriana in the mid eighties.

[@andrewdeans8520]

Fantastic! I only ever travelled on her sister ship the S.S. Canberra in 1976. I remember watching both sisters arriving in Hong Kong and berthing at Ocean terminal during the late ‘70’s and early 80’s. Wonderful times + great memories. I miss those times.

[@stevemartin5217]

She truly was a fitting tribute to the both ships Oriana and Canberra while being a fine ship in her own right.

[@karireinikainen2876]

A fine ship.

[@stevemartin5217]

She really is.

[@AcerDyan]

I never got to sail on the ship, only saw the ship a couple of times

[@stevemartin5217]

A beauty to behold isn't she?

[@paulgilson2347]

It was a beautiful ship, seeing the fountain/waterfall run through 3 floors near the shops was a sight to behold...made some real good friends on there and times I'll never forget

[@welovecricket9110]

Ok so now we know Harold Bishop didn't go missing at sea. he was Purser on the Oriana

[@dave1001]

A real shame that Oriana was sold by P&O or should i say Carnival

[@stevemartin5217]

It really is Dave, for many she was the heart and soul of P&O.

[@dave1001]

@@stevemartin5217 and i suppose Aurora will be the next to get sold off as this ship is now 21 years old. At least Oriana and Aurora look like cruise ships and not container ships (containers with windows and balconies is what im getting at Steve)

[@stevemartin5217]

@@dave1001 It is a very good bet she will be despite their claims they won't be selling her. Both ships are truly classic in many ways as you say fine lines, and elegant interiors both features lacking in the modern cheap mass market Carnival version of P&O.

[@dave1001]

@@stevemartin5217 That's the trouble with Carnival, no real imagination and as you say cheap mass market ships, that resemble each other no matter what cruise brand they are intended for. Since Carnival bought out P&O ive sailed more and more with Royal Caribbean as their ships are far superior. It's sad really that 2 well respected and long lived British lines are now owned by American's (P&O and Cunard)

[@stevemartin5217]

@@dave1001 Sadly true, cheap mass market designs all over the place just the Vista Class is a prime example and now the new Excel/XL class of which Iona and it's sister Arvia, they claim a new generation of P&O ship when in fact they are 2 of 8 ships for at least 4 Carnival brands, a far cry from the glory days of the P&O as part of the P&O group with a talented design team custom design the likes of both Oriana and Aurora. It is also interesting to think what could have been, at one point before Carnival P&O Princess had looked at the purchase of Royal Caribbean, now that would have put Carnival in it's place!

[@lawrencewright2816]

Would she rank up there with Queen Mary 2 as an ocean going ship? How would she handle a rough North Atlantic?

[@stevemartin5217]

She does indeed rank up there with QM2 and QE2 before her in both her sea keeping abilities and speed, at top speed exceeding 30kts.

[@bmused55]

I doubt she would handle the North Atlantic as well as the QM2. There are significant differences between cruise ships and ocean liners. Cruise ships have a shallower draft so they can use shallower ports, thinner hull construction as they're fair weather ships and the lifeboat decks are lower down in the structure. The QM2, a thoroughbred ocean liner has a deeper draft to aid stability in the harsh North Atlantic storms, a thicker hull for extra strength, a different bow profile and her life boats are higher up to keep them away from the waves. In short, an ocean liner can sail in weather that would keep a cruise ship in port.

[@stevemartin5217]

On the whole yes you are right but Oriana is not just another cruise ship. While yes Oriana has a shallower draft than QM2 her hull construction is on par with that of an ocean liner and her bow profile designed to deflect waves more effectivly than your standard ship, features shared with her near sister Aurora. With regards to lifeboats, yes on the whole a liner would have her lifeboats higher up the hull Oriana's lifeboat arrangement and location were based around the design of her predecessor Canberra, as I am sure you are aware Canberra was most certainly a ocean liner.

[@simonf8902]

Now she is out of P&O.

[@stevemartin5217]

Sadly she is.

[@stevenhombrados1530]

@@stevemartin5217 when did she?

[@stevemartin5217]

@@stevenhombrados1530 She left P&O in August 2019.

[@alliergal]

i seved as a steward, better than the canberra and iberia....shame those days are gone...went to sea at 17,now those days are gone shame.flags of confidence money money.