My family migrated to Australia in 1968. We came to Australia on the Oriana and it took us 28 days from Florida to Sydney. Some great memories. I was only 12 years old.
Superb! And best viewed, as I remember so vividly aboard this great ship at sea... they always showed this in the cinema on every cruise and voyage right up to the end. Not a dry eye in the house at the stirring end. Thanks so much for posting this and reminding us of what real ocean liners were like and the genius, workmanship and skill that went into building them.
Thanks for sharing Jim, I was 11 in ‘69 and our family did a 28 night Christmas Cruise out of Vancouver BC, through the Panama Canal, visiting a number of the Caribbean Islands and back to Vancouver. Brought back a few memories for sure. 👍
What an era!!!! I was not yet born when this ship was built, I was born in '62. You know what I'd give to have those days back again!!!!!!!!!!! Once again like so many others, she faded away and was finally cut up for scrap!!!!!!!!
The comment towards the end about sailing Sydney, Auckland, Suva, Honolulu, Vancouver is a direct reference to the COMPAC telephone cable laid by cable ships of Cable & Wireless. I sailed on the Cable Ship Mercury in 1964, those words were part of a well known drinking song, the chorus being "...The COMPAC will never go down..." meaning, never fail. Cable was laid by CS Mercury, CS Retriever and HMTS Monarch and commissioned in December 1963. Saw the grand old lady Oriana many times in Suva when I was stationed there on CS Retriever after two and a half years on CS Mercury.
1960-2005 Wonderful ship in it's day. Family sailed from UK to Australia in 1967 and I had the most memorable 21st birthday party around the pool. Now what was that handsome 3rd officer's name, interesting times!!! ❤ We were the last ship to travel through the Suez for some time and that was pretty amazing!
I sailed on her Melbourne, Australia to Southhampton, UK on Oct. 1965. Beautiful ship. I believe she was still considered the head of the P.& O. fleet even after the "Canberra' was launched.
She held the Golden cockerel for the fastest ship in the fleet faster than Canberra and passed the title and the cockerel emblem on to the new mv Oriana when she was sold off.
My family migrated to Australia in 1968. We came to Australia on the Oriana and it took us 28 days from Florida to Sydney. Some great memories. I was only 12 years old.
Sailed on her 1968 ran aground in Panama Canal. Patched up and Sailed on to England on one engine, Marvellous ship.
Stunning film. I worked on her from Southampton 1980 to Sydney 1983...wonderful times.
Great stuff, worked as a Bell Boy for 3 months in 1968, this was the second ship of my merchant Navy Career
Superb! And best viewed, as I remember so vividly aboard this great ship at sea... they always showed this in the cinema on every cruise and voyage right up to the end. Not a dry eye in the house at the stirring end. Thanks so much for posting this and reminding us of what real ocean liners were like and the genius, workmanship and skill that went into building them.
Yes there was a grandeur about her and you could 'feel' the ocean. Unlike the many huge floating theme parks of today.
Triple expansion steam turbines, 600 first class, 1500 steerage class, this liner looked absolutely wonderful ❤
Thanks for sharing Jim, I was 11 in ‘69 and our family did a 28 night Christmas Cruise out of Vancouver BC, through the Panama Canal, visiting a number of the Caribbean Islands and back to Vancouver. Brought back a few memories for sure. 👍
What an era!!!! I was not yet born when this ship was built, I was born in '62. You know what I'd give to have those days back again!!!!!!!!!!! Once again like so many others, she faded away and was finally cut up for scrap!!!!!!!!
before my time, but built in my home yard, and many of the tradesmen who supervised my apprenticeship talked fondly of her
The comment towards the end about sailing Sydney, Auckland, Suva, Honolulu, Vancouver is a direct reference to the COMPAC telephone cable laid by cable ships of Cable & Wireless. I sailed on the Cable Ship Mercury in 1964, those words were part of a well known drinking song, the chorus being "...The COMPAC will never go down..." meaning, never fail. Cable was laid by CS Mercury, CS Retriever and HMTS Monarch and commissioned in December 1963. Saw the grand old lady Oriana many times in Suva when I was stationed there on CS Retriever after two and a half years on CS Mercury.
When I was 7 I migrated the US on this grand lady. I have great memories of the Oriana. Thanks for posting this video.
Loved watching this, she was a fine old ship. I worked on her 1967-1969
1960-2005 Wonderful ship in it's day. Family sailed from UK to Australia in 1967 and I had the most memorable 21st birthday party around the pool. Now what was that handsome 3rd officer's name, interesting times!!! ❤
We were the last ship to travel through the Suez for some time and that was pretty amazing!
Remembering she was designed in the late 1950's, she was a beautiful ship. A great documentary too.
Thank-you for sharing Jim , met my wife on this ship over 30 years ago, an amazing old ship. We are still cruising thanks to Oriana
I sailed on her Melbourne, Australia to Southhampton, UK on Oct. 1965. Beautiful ship. I believe she was still considered the head of the P.& O. fleet even after the "Canberra' was launched.
Oriana was built for Orient line not P&O
She held the Golden cockerel for the fastest ship in the fleet faster than Canberra and passed the title and the cockerel emblem on to the new mv Oriana when she was sold off.
In 2002, I visited this ship in my hometown Dalian.
My Family and I came to New Zealand on that ship approximately 1965 docked in Auckland. Was wondering recently what has become of her
For me she was the most beautiful ship's design ever. From the outside! The interiour though didn't live up to her formidable hull.
She looks so futuristic, even now.
11:14 guy in middle smoking was called Bob Hughes a welder originally from Merseyside.
Sailed her in the Summer of 1968 from Southampton to Long Beach via the Panama Canal great fun for a lad of 18 :-)
Gerald Davis I'm glad you enjoyed being on the big O
Sir Leonard Redshaw signing the ship off at the end.
No hard hats, no ear protection, no safety glasses, and those shoes probably don't have steel toes.
did it have to be so loud?
The narrator is Maurice Denham.
Travel on her three times beautiful looking ship but the interior lacked soul I personally preferred the Canberra..
The BIG O
Enjoyed watching a ship built in the year I was born. Worked on her in the 80s as an Engineer Officer. Great times .Great People. A Great Ship.
Cigarette burns on the new material 13:41😒
Bad thing about aluminum is if they’re’s a fire it melts