The Suez Canal and Jam Sandwiches
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...
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Salty Seadog
Apr 4, 20216 min read
From Oceans to Embassies - Memoir of a P&O WAP
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...
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Salty Seadog
Mar 21, 20213 min read
P & O's Girls at Sea
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...
1,788 views4 comments
Salty Seadog
Mar 7, 20213 min read
That's Entertainment All Ship Shape
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...
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Salty Seadog
Feb 28, 20213 min read
A Slab of Beer and a Body Bag
As catering assistant on Oriana back in 1973 part of my job involved checking the provisions along with the storekeeper and butcher as...
532 views2 comments
Salty Seadog
Feb 21, 20214 min read
Purser Cadet Training. Some might like it.
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...
329 views3 comments
Salty Seadog
Feb 19, 20212 min read
Nevasa Passes By
There was always great excitement on deck when two P&O ships pass by in open water. Mediterranean cruising in 1974 Nevasa passes by...
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Salty Seadog
Feb 14, 20213 min read
Yo Ho Ho and a Bottle of Rum (or2)
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...
773 views1 comment
Salty Seadog
Feb 7, 20213 min read
Princess Pursers
I would say the Purser’s office was the heart of the ship, of course the deck department and engineering department might argue...
1,507 views1 comment
Salty Seadog
Jan 31, 20212 min read
Island Princess 1st Visit Puerto Vallarta 1975
In the early 1970 work started on El Salado wharf (where the current cruise terminal is located), making Puerto Vallarta the first...
478 views0 comments
Salty Seadog
Jan 23, 20213 min read
Princess Patter
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...
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Salty Seadog
Jan 19, 20212 min read
The Love Boat Goes Down Under
In October 1975 Pacific Princess departed American shores and headed to the Australia and the South Pacific for the first time. At the...
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Salty Seadog
Jan 15, 20213 min read
Alaskan Cruising 1975
When P&O acquired Princess Cruise in 1974 Island Princess’s first cruise season was basically Mexican Cruising. Pacific Princess joined...
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Salty Seadog
Dec 23, 20203 min read
The Dancing Purser Oriana
Joining Oriana back in I973 as a junior assistant purser I did not realise the extent that I would be involved with entertaining the...
875 views0 comments
Salty Seadog
Dec 17, 20201 min read
Show Time Island Princess 1976
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...
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Salty Seadog
Dec 12, 20201 min read
Spirit of London Becomes Sun Princess
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...
553 views0 comments
Salty Seadog
Dec 8, 20202 min read
Pacific Princess is Born
In 1974 P & O which by 1960 had become the world's largest shipping company, with 320 oceangoing vessels, acquired Princess Cruise Lines....
1,557 views4 comments
Salty Seadog
Nov 29, 20203 min read
My Maiden Voyage
Having set sail on my maiden voyage as Junior Assistant Purser on Oriana in November 1973 we headed out of Southampton, after a brief...
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Salty Seadog
Nov 25, 20201 min read
Oriana Leave Pago Pago
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...
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Salty Seadog
Nov 19, 20201 min read
Canberra Passes By
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...
743 views1 comment
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