Ramblings of a Salty Seadog

ORIANA - Queen of the Sea - Queen of the Dessert Last year we made two new friends on Azamara Pursuit, Elaine and Malc. Elaine and I...

When I joined Oriana in November 1973 we were due to set sail on a five week voyage to Australia. Everything was new to me on joining my...

It has been a very sad week for old P&O seadogs. First we hear that Sue Huggins has passed away. Although l never sailed with Sue, all I...

When taking up a career as a P&O Pursers officer back in the 70’s, you were not just signing up to pen push and count cash you were also...

As catering assistant on Oriana back in 1973 part of my job involved checking the provisions along with the storekeeper and butcher as...

Parts of the training to beome a Purser Cadet was contracted out by P&O.Our induction training was carried out in the basement of...

There was always great excitement on deck when two P&O ships pass by in open water. Mediterranean cruising in 1974 Nevasa passes by...

All the booze and tobacco onboard ship was duty free so on arrival in certain ports of call the main booze and tobacco storerooms would...

I would say the Purser’s office was the heart of the ship, of course the deck department and engineering department might argue...

In the early 1970 work started on El Salado wharf (where the current cruise terminal is located), making Puerto Vallarta the first...

When I joined SS Oriana as my first ship in 1973, I was informed that a ship was like a floating city and with almost all services...

In October 1975 Pacific Princess departed American shores and headed to the Australia and the South Pacific for the first time. At the...

When P&O acquired Princess Cruise in 1974 Island Princess’s first cruise season was basically Mexican Cruising. Pacific Princess joined...

Joining Oriana back in I973 as a junior assistant purser I did not realise the extent that I would be involved with entertaining the...

How times have changed. Back in the day it was the Cruise Director and his staff along with willing members of the ship's company that...

Spirit of London with P & 0 Funnel in 1972 Spirit of London was to have been a sistership to Norwegian Caribbean Line's Southward, to be...

In 1974 P & O which by 1960 had become the world's largest shipping company, with 320 oceangoing vessels, acquired Princess Cruise Lines....

Having set sail on my maiden voyage as Junior Assistant Purser on Oriana in November 1973 we headed out of Southampton, after a brief...

What a treat to leave Pago Pago in America Samoa early in 1974. Flower petals are sprinkled over Oriana from the cable car as she departs...

There was always great excitement when two P&O liners passed by each other. Here we are Mediterranean cruising in the summer of 1974. Fun...