Queen Elizabeth 2 & Oriana (II)
Oriana was listed as arriving back from her refit in Bremerhaven for 5.40pm on the 17th December 2006 so we decided to go down.  The QE2 was due to sail at 5pm meaning they would have to pass somewhere near Hythe pier before Oriana turned round and docked in QEII terminal after QE2 had gone as she was at least two hours away when we left at 3pm.
Shortly before 4.25pm Oriana took us by surprise as she rounded Calshot.  She was early!  I think she took everyone by surprise as at one point she looked like she'd stopped to get instructions.  This was her first arrival at her home port with Hamilton registry, leaving only Aurora still as London.  They had also removed the black P&O lettering on the side, replacing it with the new P&O Cruises logo.  After a while Oriana gathered speed again as she now had to go to the other turning circle before coming back down once the QE2 had left.
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			(C) Copyright Patricia Dempsey 17th & 24th December 2006 Not to be reproduced without permission