• CruiseMapper
  • P&O Cruises

Iona cruise ship

Cruise line P&O UK (P&O Cruises)

  • Southampton (England)

Iona current position

Iona current location is at North Sea (coordinates 51.37659 N / 2.03321 E) cruising at speed of 16.8 kn (31 km/h | 19 mph) en route to GBSOU > NOSVG. The AIS position was reported 4 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of Iona

Iona current cruise is 7 days, round-trip Norwegian Fjords . The itinerary starts on 18 May, 2024 and ends on 25 May, 2024 .

Specifications of Iona

  •   Itineraries
  •   Review
  •   Wiki

Iona Itineraries

Iona review, review of iona.

The 2020-built/2021-inaugurated MS Iona cruise ship is P&O UK fleet's first Excellence-class boat (delivered in October 2020 and inaugurated in August 2021), with sistership Arvia (2022). P&O Iona and Arvia are currently the newest and largest passenger liners designed and built for the UK source market.

Other Helios-Excellence-Class vessels (Iona sisterships) include Carnival Mardi Gras (2021), Carnival Celebration (2022), Carnival Jubilee (2023), Costa Smeralda (2019), Costa Toscana (2021), AIDAnova (2018), AIDAcosma (2021).

The vessel (IMO number 9826548) is currently UK- flagged (MMSI 232025845) and registered in Southampton .

History - construction and ownership

P&O Cruises is a subsidiary company and two brands owned by Carnival Corporation - P&O UK and P&O Australia. In 2000, P&O Cruises became subsidiary of P&O Princess Cruises, which in 2003 merged with Carnival Corporation. P and O is the world's oldest cruise company, starting passenger shipping operations in 1822 on the routes connecting England with Iberia.

MS Iona cruise ship (P&O Cruises UK)

P&O Iona and Arvia ships are from the Carnival Corporation's Excellence Class (aka "Helios", and "Carnival XL"). The vessel design was developed in collaboration with renowned maritime companies and interior design firms, including Meyer Werft (German shipbuilder), Jestico+Whiles ( London -based hospitality design studio), Richmond International (London-based hotel architecture), Partner Ship Design ( Hamburg -based maritime architecture specialist with several Carnival Corporation projects - including AIDA, Costa, P&O, CCL-Carnival).

For cruise liner's hotel facilities and amenities were contracted the companies Richmond International (London UK), The Four Seasons Moscow, Langham Hotel, and Sandy Lane Hotel (Barbados). Passenger cabins were designed by Partner Ship Design (Hamburg Germany). The ship also introduces the fleet's first "Conservation Mini-Suite" cabin category. The stateroom features a separate, conservatory-style area as a cabin extension. Offering more flexibility, this lounge room is furnished with an L-shaped sofa and can be left open or closed off. The conservatory opens out fully and leads directly onto the suite's balcony. It also can be used for private parties and celebrations with an in-cabin beverage service by a dedicated butler.

Decks and Cabins

MS Iona has 18 decks (16 passenger-accessible, 11 with cabins), a total of 2614 staterooms for 5204 passengers (lower berths/max capacity is 6264) served by 1762 staff-crew, 17 dining venues (11 restaurants plus 6 food bars, including 9 breakfast-serving, 7 coffee-serving, 5 Afternoon Tea-serving, 8 specialty restaurants, 4 MDR-dining rooms), 12 bars and lounges, 4 swimming pools (1 indoor plus 3 outdoor/2 infinity), 18 outdoor Jacuzzies (large outdoor whirlpool hot tubs), 13 entertainment venues (including adults-only), kids-dedicated zones (indoor-outdoor facilities and sundecks/playgrounds), 22 elevators (passenger lifts located forward-midship-aft).

The boat has 8 laundrettes (self-service laundry rooms for passengers). The largest passenger accommodations are the 2-Room Sky Suites (400 ft2 / 37 m2 plus 110 ft2 / 11 m2 terrace/step-out balcony). Staterooms include 121 Suites, 1496 Balcony, 174 Oceanviews/Seaviews, 819 Interior. P&O Iona has a total of 32 studios (single-occupancy cabins) and 55 wheelchair-accessible/handicap cabins (for disabled passengers).

Most cabins are sized between 135-170 ft2 (13-16 m2). Excepting the Suites, all cabin balconies are very small - sized just 20 ft2 (2 m2).

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

With a choice of 30 venues, many of which open from early morning until late at night, guests enjoy the widest ever selection of spots to eat and drink onboard a ship built exclusively for the British cruise market. The new venues join P&O Cruises favorites, such as The Glass House, Epicurean, Sindhu and Brodie's among a long list of cafes, bars, self-service choices, and restaurants. Not traditionally for P&O Cruises, Iona offers exclusively "Freedom Dining" (aka "Flexible Dining") in all main restaurants. The policy allows passengers to choose where, when and with whom they prefer to eat.

MS Iona cruise ship (P&O Cruises UK)

On Iona ship, P&O debuted the "food market" dining concept. "The Quays" piazza (Deck 8) has a great number of takeaway and self-service food bars. The Quays restaurants and eateries offer international food, including American diner classics, Asian street food, Mediterranean sharing platters, fish & chips, Italian gelato, plus the new "Olive Grove", "Hook Line and Vinegar", "Boardwalk Diner", "Fusion".

  • "The Olive Grove" is an intimate restaurant serving lunch and dinner, with a menu focusing on traditional Mediterranean dishes and sharing platters.
  • "Hook Line and Vinegar" is a self-service, all-day restaurant for traditional British seafood specialties - battered fish, fish burgers, scampi, calamari, crab cakes.
  • "The Boardwalk Diner" is self-service, all-day food bar for classic American cuisine, which menu includes burgers, hot dogs, fried chicken, eggs over easy,
  • "Fusion" is a takeaway, all-day Asian food bar.
  • The cruise liner has four Main Dining Rooms (MDRs) named Aqua, Coral, Opal, Pearl. Located on decks 6-7, all main restaurants offer "Freedom Dining" (open-seating) breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea service, and dinner. Gala Nights (formal dinner events) are also hosted there, with a special dinner menu by celebrity chef Marco Pierre White. The largest MDRs (Pearl and Coral) are located aft on decks 6-7 and interconnected, to make one large 2-level restaurant.
  • "Horizon Restaurant" (Pool Deck 16) is the ship's Lido Buffet with all-day self-service. The Lido restaurant is casual (as dress code), with flexible dining and a wide range of dishes - from traditional British to world foods. It also caters to various dietary needs, including gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian and healthy food options.
  • "The Beach House" is an informal Select Dining venue which in the evenings comprises Horizon buffet's forward section. The menu is inspired by British, American and Caribbean cuisines, offering steaks, grills, ribs, hanging kebabs, burgers, sharable sides, gourmet desserts.
  • "The Limelight Club" (Deck 6) combines gourmet food with top-quality entertainment, exclusively for adults. The lounge offers live performances by popular guest entertainers, as well as by ship's resident performers, accompanied by Iona cruise ship's own music band. Here are also hosted daily dancing classes and music events. The club lounge is served by its own full-service Bar. After the evening show, Limelight Club transforms into Disco Nightclub.
  • Deck 6 (Grand Atrium area) houses "The Vistas Cafe Bar" (patisserie with a menu by Eric Lanlard), "Emerald Bar" (living-room-like premium cocktail bar), live pop-up entertainment in mid-morning (musical performances, buskers) and early evening starting aerial acrobatics (circus performances).
  • "The Glass House" (Deck 7, Atrium area) is via a partnership with Olly Smith. Premium wines are served here by the glass. The Cellar Door at the Glass House offers tastings, wine talks, and wine-pairing dinners. Passengers can relax and watch aerial and circus performances in the unique 3-story high space.
  • The all-day open "The Keel and Cow" (P&O's first-ever gastropub) is on Deck 8, overlooking the Atrium and also with ocean views. The menu has traditional favorites, sharing platters, aged steaks.
  • "Andersons" (gin bar lounge on Deck 6 ) doubles as Library/relaxation lounge. In the evening, Andersons serves with alcoholic drinks the nearby MDR restaurants. Lounge's focal point is the Marabelle Gin distillery (via partnership with Salcombe Distilling Co Ltd), gin tastings, and workshops (master classes).
  • "Brodie's and Casino" (Deck 7) is a classic British pub bar with ship's largest selections of UK and international bottled beers, ales and ciders, drafts (draught beers), extensive wine menu, traditional British pub snacks (pork scratchings, crisps, peanuts). During the day, the pub offers live sporting, bingo, quizzes. By night, here are offered live entertainment, quiz games, game shows, karaoke. The adjacent Casino features the latest gaming technologies and various gambling games, for novices and experts alike.
  • "The Sunset Bar" (Deck 8, Promenade's aft) provides easy access to The Club House. By day, it provides canopies (shaded seating) to relax with a drink and enjoy the sea views.
  • "The Gelateria" (Atrium's top-level on Deck 8, at the entrance to The Quays) provides access to Promenade Deck. here are offered scoops of Italian gelato ice-cream, premium teas, and coffees.
  • "Sundaes" (Deck 16, in the SkyDome) offers complimentary ice creams.
  • "Eric Lanlard's Afternoon Tea" (Deck 17) is the ship's classic British tea bar.
  • "Beachcomber Bar" (Deck 18) serves with beverages the Beachcomber pool deck and offers plenty of sunbathing space and shaded seating.
  • "Crystal Bar" and "Laguna Bar" (Deck 16, in the SkyDome) are outdoor poolside bars offering non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks. Fun activities here include the traditional sail-away deck parties.
  • "Sindhu" restaurant (Deck 8) offers authentic Indian food.
  • "SkyDome Pizzeria and Grill" (Deck 16) offers complimentary fresh oven-baked pizzas by the slice, as well as grilled food (top-quality burgers, classic fish and chips), worldwide street foods.
  • "The Crow's Nest" (Deck 17) is an observation lounge with floor-ceiling windows and comfortable seating, In the evenings it transforms into a cocktail lounge with live grand piano performances.
  • "The Epicurean" restaurant (Deck 17, adjacent to Crow's Nest) is a specialty / fine dining venue with Select Dining, impeccable service, top-quality dining amenities, gourmet food, and premium wine list. Dishes are prepared with freshest and finest local produce. A private dining area and "Chef's Table" (capacity 8 guests) provide options for private parties and special celebrations.

Through the partnership with Salcombe Distilling, P&O Iona ship guests can purchase and even create their own Marabelle Gin (42% ABV/alcohol by volume). The exclusively created for P&O Cruises alcohol is produced on the Iona ship only. For the unique gin recipe are used 18 herbs - including Iona Island's heather (calluna vulgaris), mint, citrus, blackberry, green apple, rose petals, kelp (seaweed). Since MS Iona's inauguration, Marabelle Gin (trademarked brand) is also available fleetwide - served across P&O UK's fleet. The produced on the cruise ship gin is bottled and labeled, with bottles available for purchase.

Via partnership with three celebrity chefs (Marte Marie Forsberg, Jose Pizarro, Kjartan Skjelde), P&O UK upgraded Iona ship's dining to offer the fleet's most diverse culinary experience. Chef Forsberg designed the menu of "Taste 360" (street-food-style dining) and MDR's (dining room's) Norwegian-inspired dishes. On itineraries to Iberia (Portugal, Spain) and the Canaries, tapas dishes-based menus are specially created by Chef Pizarro for the restaurants "The Glass House" and "Taste 360". On Norwegian Fjords itineraries, the menus are upgraded by chefs Skjelde and Forsberg. Skjelde developed a special 6-course Norwegian food tasting menu for "The Epicurean" restaurant.

MS Iona cruise ship (P&O Cruises UK)

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

SkyDome is one of the cruise liner's signature attractions and the largest onboard entertainment hub. SkyDome is named the pool deck which is covered with a retractable glass roof and consists of a large swimming pool (with retractable stage) and Jacuzzis (whirlpool hot tubs), SkyDome also serves a unique live entertainment program with performances and DJ-led deck parties, regardless the weather. During the day, SkyDome serves resort-style leisure activities and offers entertainment and casual dining. The night entertainment includes on-roof media projections, laser shows, aerial acrobatics performances, DJ disco parties, theatrical productions, movies (on a large LED screen).

Note: SkyDome actually sits on two decks - Deck 16 (midship resort-style swimming pool with food and drink options, aft-located Infinity Pool/resistance swimming pool with stern views and Infinity Bar) and Deck 17 (mezzanine level with a bar and outdoor seating). A second Infinity Pool is located aft on Deck 18.

On March 6, 2020, P&O announced three aerial acrobatic shows (designed specifically for MS Iona) - Rise (birds-themed), Triboo (battle between two tribes - of the Moon and of the Sun) and Dream (magic-themed). Rise and Triboo are performed at the SkyDome, while Dream is at the Atrium. Two new aerial shows (Virtuosi, Spark) are scheduled for Iona's inaugural season 2021.

The 3-deck high Grand Atrium is located midship and has an open-floor design. All Atrium levels have natural light and offer floor-ceiling sea views. Iona's Grand Atrium is a new concept for P&O, created by architecture and interior design practice Jestico+Whiles, the creators of The Yas Hotel (Abu Dhabi), W Hotel (London) and Aqua Shard (restaurant in the Shard). Grand Atrium is the ship's key entertainment space that hosts from morning coffee to evening drinks.

  • "Headliners Theatre" (decks 6-7) is the ship's main show lounge for grand-style music and dance productions in the evenings. The theater has comfortable plush seating and the latest LED and sound technologies. The 2-deck-high auditorium during the day serves as a complimentary Cinema and also offers matinee performances and fun activities (Q&As, port talks, lectures). In the evenings, full-scale productions offer West End-style shows (including "Festival"), stand-up comedy, and cabaret performances.
  • "The 710 Club" has a stylish cocktail bar (professional mixologists) and music bar offering live acoustic performances by top-quality artists.
  • "Ocean Studios" is a boutique cinema with comfortable seating and 4 screens running throughout the day classic movies and recent blockbusters. The Cinema is fitted with the latest surround sound technology.
  • "The Club House" (Deck 8) is a multi-purpose indoor/outdoor space for families to enjoy afternoon entertainment and play fun games. In the evening, it becomes a late-night "music hall" for dancing and live performances by the Iona ship's band (named "Pulse").
  • "The Ivory Suite" (Deck 17, adjacent to Crow's Nest and Epicurean) is the ship's chapel - a venue dedicated for weddings and vow renewals at sea.
  • Ship's Kids Clubs are on Deck 17. "The Reef" is P&O's complimentary onboard program for children, served by a crew of qualified Reef rangers and offering age-specific activity entertainment. The program is divided into Nursery (toddlers 6-months to 2-years-old), Splashers (ages 2-4 years), Surfers (ages 5-8 years) and Scubas (ages 9-12). A secure outdoor playground area and splash pool park are available for all age groups. Parents benefit from the company's complimentary "Night Nursery" (for kids ages 6 months to 4 years, opening hours between 6 pm through 2 am each night).
  • "Scene" (Deck 6) is the ship's teen club - hang-out lounge for teenagers 13-17 yo, separated from the kids' club. It operates only during the high-peak season. During low season, the Scene teen club functions as an adults-only entertainment venue.
  • Oasis Spa & Health Club (2-level wellness complex forward on decks 5-6) has a Thalassotherapy Pool, Cool Therapy Room, Salt Sauna, Steam Rooms, Treatment Rooms, Beauty Salon, Spa Shop, Oasis Villa (spa lounge), 2x Thermal Suites for couples (each with Steam Room and Hammam Room/Turkish bath). New (Arvia ship exclusive) treatments including Kneipp Walk (pebble foot massage combined with hot-and-cold water treatments).
  • Sports Arena is the outdoor full-size, multi-sports court suitable for playing football, basketball, tennis, cricket, and other group games.

The Beachcomber complex (forward on Deck 18) features an indoor swimming pool (covered by a SkyDome/round-shaped glass roof) and a spacious outdoor Sundeck (sunbathing space with shaded seating, 2x outdoor Jacuzzies/whirlpool hot tubs, padded chaise lounges, deckchairs, showers). During the day, the Beachcomber hosts pool deck activities, while in the evenings, the sundeck transforms into an entertainment venue with aerial acrobatic performances and live music, also hosting deck parties under the stars.

Adjacent to the Beachcomber (at the bow on Deck 18) is The Retreat - an adults-only VIP Sundeck with 2x outdoor Jacuzzies/whirlpools. This is the ship's "spa terrace" with several shaded private cabanas (available for rent). The VIP sundeck (accessed via prepaid day- or voyage-long passes) is inclusive of alfresco dining, Spa massages, dedicated staff service (chilled drinks, cold flannels, light snacks).

PO Iona ship also has a 0,5-mi (800-m) long outdoor Promenade Deck (named "Lanai Deck") wrapping around the entire Deck 8. It is much wider than the industry's standard and lined up with open-air bars and alfresco dining venues. In the Promenade's forward section are positioned a total of 6x Infinity Whirpools with glass walls facing the ocean (3x portside and 3x starboard).

Itineraries

P&O Iona ship's itinerary program was originally planned to be based on 7-day Baltic (Northern Europe and Norwegian Fjords) cruises roundtrip from homeport Southampton (England) and visiting in Norway ports Stavanger, Olden, Hellesylt (or Alesund), Geiranger, Bergen. P&O's Norway Fjords cruise excursions offer experiences like sea kayaking, river rafting, zip-lining, fishing (crayfish), high-speed boat tours (RIB), helicopter and seaplane tours.

MS Iona's inaugural season was planned to start on May 14, 2020 (Maiden Voyage) with only no-fly cruise itineraries roundtrip from the UK (Southampton). Bookings for the new liner were opened on September 7, 2018. However, due to the ongoing COVID-related travel restrictions, in mid-September 2020 P&O UK canceled all scheduled voyages (fleetwide) through early-February 2021 (Caribbean fly-cruises) and through mid-March 2021 (ex-UK cruises). As for the canceled 2020-2021 winter season (October through March), the liner was rescheduled (2021) with Southampton roundtrips to Iberia (Spain-Portugal), Canary Islands and Northern Europe.

In February 2021 P&O UK canceled more summer departures. In early-March were announced major itinerary program changes with only Britain Coastal mini-cruises and 7-day roundtrips from Southampton. MS Iona's Inaugural Cruise was rescheduled for September 25 (14-day to Iberia/"Spain And Portugal"). The new ship's entire Norwegian Fjords 2021 program was canceled.

Iona ship's Maiden Voyage was eventually rescheduled for August 7, 2021 (7-night "British Isles"/ Cruise to Nowhere itinerary roundtrip from Southampton, booking code G126N) and priced from GBP 950 per person (~EUR 1100 pp / ~USD 1320 pp). The portless itinerary featured scenic cruising along Cornwall's coast, anchoring off Isle of Iona (for a fireworks show on the island), three days of Scottish coastal cruising - the islands Colonsay , Mull (Lochbuie, Duart Castle, Tobermory), Bac Mor, Staffa (Fingal's Cave), Jura , Islay (Claggain Bay), Kintyre Peninsula (Mull of Kintyre), Sanda Island .

Iona's cruise itineraries are 7-day and 14-day in length and include extended port stays (with late-night departures) that allow travelers to sample the local nightlife. The list of visited countries and call ports include Portugal ( Lisbon , Funchal-Madeira ), Spain ( Cadiz , Alicante , Barcelona , Malaga , Valencia , Vigo ), Gibraltar , Canaries ( Fuerteventura , Tenerife , Gran Canaria , Lanzarote ), Holland ( Rotterdam -Amsterdam), Belgium ( Zeebrugge ), Germany ( Hamburg ).

Iona - user reviews and comments

Photos of iona.

MS Iona cruise ship (P&O Cruises UK)

Iona ship related cruise news

P&O Cruises' Britannia sets sail after extensive refurbishment

P&O Cruises' Britannia sets sail after extensive refurbishment

P&O Cruises UK's flagship Britannia left from Southampton on April 21st following an extensive multimillion drydock refurbishment. The company...

P&O UK unveils summer 2026 cruises with early booking discount

P&O UK unveils summer 2026 cruises with early booking discount

P&O Cruises UK has unveiled its summer 2026 program, accompanied by an enticing early-bird booking promotion. The itinerary collection...

P&O Cruises UK launches

P&O Cruises UK launches "Shine at Sea" seminars for travel agents (ship Iona)

P&O Cruises UK is set to host 100 agents on its inaugural seminars at sea for the year. The company has launched a fresh incentive program named...

Cruise Port Rotterdam celebrates 2.5 millionth passenger with P&O UK's ship Iona

Cruise Port Rotterdam celebrates 2.5 millionth passenger with P&O UK's ship Iona

Cruise Port Rotterdam achieved a significant milestone on April 3, 2024, as it welcomed its 2.5 millionth cruise passenger. The noteworthy event...

P&O Cruises' Iona refurbishment delay prompts cruise cancellations

P&O Cruises' Iona refurbishment delay prompts cruise cancellations

The planned refurbishment of P&O Cruises' vessel, Iona, has experienced delays, leading to the cancellation of two cruises scheduled for next...

Fire breaks out in P&O Cruises Iona ship's Atrium

Fire breaks out in P&O Cruises Iona ship's Atrium

Passengers were evacuated from the P&O Cruises UK ship Iona following an incident where the battery of a mobility scooter exploded and caught...

P&O UK's cruise ship Iona joins the search after North Sea crash

P&O UK's cruise ship Iona joins the search after North Sea crash

In response to a maritime incident in the North Sea, involving a collision between the British-flagged vessel Verity and the cargo ship Polesie...

CLIA UK & Ireland 2024 conference to be held from May 23-25 in Southampton

CLIA UK & Ireland 2024 conference to be held from May 23-25 in Southampton

CLIA UK & Ireland has announced the dates for its 2024 conference, scheduled to take place from May 23-25 in Southampton UK. This annual event...

Cunard and P&O UK improve Wi-Fi connectivity with SpaceX's Starlink

Cunard and P&O UK improve Wi-Fi connectivity with SpaceX's Starlink

Carnival Corporation's UK-based subsidiaries Cunard Line and P&O Cruises UK have unveiled plans to enhance Wi-Fi connectivity fleetwide through a...

P&O announces 3 new Wellbeing & Lifestyle cruises

P&O announces 3 new Wellbeing & Lifestyle cruises

P&O Cruises has unveiled 3 new Wellbeing and Lifestyle cruises, featuring TV presenter and women's health advocate Cherry Healey, and stylist Kat...

  •   show more news

Other P&O UK cruise ships

On April 25, 2018, at Meyer Werft's Papenburg Shipyard was held the steel-cutting ceremony (hull S-715), which officially started the vessel's construction (Meyer Werft's 50th cruise liner). On February 22, 2021, started the construction of the sistership Arvia (2022).

In January 2018, the shipbuilder contracted ALMACO Group (1998-founded, Finland-based company) to provide catering solutions for the newbuild. The deal included turnkey deliveries and installation of cold- and freezer rooms (total area ~1900 m2 / 20450 ft2).

Arvia and Iona are P&O UK's largest vessels ever constructed - with GT tonnage 180,000 tons and max passenger capacity 6600 (plus 1800 crew). They are also the biggest UK-based passenger ships (permanently homeported in Southampton England ) and the UK cruise market's first LNG-powered newbuild (followed by Arvia). These liners have Wartsila LNG engines that provide electricity for the propulsion system both in ports and at sea.

Like most large -sized newbuilds , the P&O ship Iona is LNG-powered , with 4x engines generating combined output 61,7 MW. The propulsion system is based on two Azimuting thrusters with combined power output 74 MW. The vessel has 3x LNG tanks (cryogenic steel) with total capacity ~3200 m3. Two of the tanks are larger (length 35 m / 115 ft, diameter 8 m / 26 ft, gas capacity 1525 m3), while the 3rd tank has length 28 m (92 ft), diameter 5 m (16 ft), and gas capacity 520 m3.

P&O Cruises revealed the "Iona" name for the new build on May 24, 2018, naming it after Iona Island (Inner Hebrides) located off Scotland's coast. The name also keeps the tradition all boats in the P&O UK fleet to have names ending with "A". The ship name was chosen via an online contest with received over 30,000 submissions.

The vessel's keel-laying ceremony was held on June 14, 2019. During this traditional event, under the keel (first hull block, where the bow thrusters are mounted) was placed a bronze coin (from Isle of Iona's Abbey) and a slice of green marble (also from the island). Then a 600-ton gantry crane lowered the steel block. This block (#18) is part of the bow section and has weight 461 tons, length 21,5 m, width 19,4 m, height 9,8 m. The "coin ceremony" was attended by Paul Ludlow (P&O Cruises UK's President), Stephan Schmees (Meyer Werft's Executive Board Member / Project Management) and Jurgen Storz (Meyer Werft's Project Leader). Like on all new passenger liners , Iona's construction blocks (hull and superstructure) are pre-fabricated then floated out to the shipyard for assembling.

On August 2 (2019) the vessel received its iconic SkyDome. The 970-m2 (10440-ft2) glass roof cover consists of 340 pieces and weighs 105 tons. For its mounting was used a 750-ton mobile crane (Liebherr LTM1750-9.1).

The vessel was launched (floated out from drydock) on February 14, 2020. Its Ems River conveyance (Papenburg Shipyard to Eemshaven Holland ) was conducted on March 18-19. Followed the sea trials in the North Sea (Baltic Sea) for testing the vessel's machinery and nautical equipment.

MS Iona was officially delivered to P&O UK on October 9, 2020, in Papenburg. The documents were signed by Paul Ludlow (P&O's President) and Jan Meyer (Meyer Werft's Managing Director).

P&O Iona (Papenburg shipyard/hull number 710) is powered by MAK-Caterpillar LNG marine engines generating total power output 61,7 MW.

Next is the P&O UK's timelapse video of the cruise ship's construction.

In late-April 2021 P&O UK announced the name of MS Iona's godmother - Dame Irene Lucas-Hays (1954-born British businesswoman). "Dame" (a title equivalent to lady) signifies that she was DBE-rewarded ("Most Excellent Order of the British Empire"/order of chivalry/knighthood). Irene Lucas is the current Owner and Chairwoman of Hays Travel Ltd (1980-founded by John Hays, Sunderland England-based travel agency group) - the UK's largest independent travel agent with ~1500 employees and ~GBP 1 billion in annual sales.

  • In October 2019, Hays Travel Ltd purchased all Thomas Cook Group's stores in the UK, which were to be closed after Thomas Cook entered liquidation in September. With this deal, Hays Travel took over Thomas Cook's 550 retail stores, almost trebling the number of its existing shops across the UK and doubling its workforce.
  • In September 2020, Hays Travel Ltd acquired Tailor Made Travel (Wales-based travel agency chain).

The boat's christening ceremony was on May 16th, held in Port Southampton . The pier-side event was led by Jo Whiley (Joanne Whiley-Morton/1965-born DJ and TV presenter). It was broadcasted live and included a short performance by Gary Barlow (1971-born English singer, songwriter, actor, TV personality). Traditionally, to bring the ship good fortune, Dame Irene Hays smashed against the hull a large bottle of Alex James Blur (cask-strength apple and pear cider/distilled spirit).

For the Maiden Voyage (August 7, 2021), P&O planned several special events, including a fireworks show (from Isle of Iona) and onboard e ntertainment featuring live performances by Tony Hadley, aerial shows (designed by Creativiva Inc, Canada), cooking masterclass (by celebrity chefs Marco Pierre White and Olly Smith, also creating a unique Chef’s Table menu), special dining menus (smoked salmon, regional cheeses, Cranachan/Scottish dessert with whisky).

Ship christening cruise "Ionafest 2020" (CANCELLED)

The vessel's naming ceremony was initially scheduled for July 4, 2020 (Southampton) and planned as part of the themed "Ionafest cruise" (itinerary July 4-11) starting with the pierside naming event. Prices for the special voyage started from GBP 1300 pp (double-occupancy Inside cabin rates). However, due to the Coronavirus crisis, this special voyage was cancelled.

  • Ionafest was based on numerous pre-scheduled onboard events (taking place simultaneously and at different locations/venues) including live performances (music and entertainment) and street festival-like celebrations - all on a first-come-first-served basis.
  • The Southampton-roundtrip itinerary (Norwegian Fjords) was planned to visit Olden , scenic cruising (Innvikfjorden, Nordfjord), Hellesylt , Geiranger , scenic cruising (Geirangerfjord, Sunnylvsfjorden, Storfjorden) and Bergen .
  • Among the confirmed British performers acting live on the liner during the Ionafest Cruise were Clean Bandit (electronic music band), MBE (Trevor Ricardo Nelson / DJ), Jo Whiley (Johanne Morton Whiley / radio DJ and TV presenter), Chris Ramsey (stand-up comedian and actor), Sara Cox (Sara Joanne Cyzer, DJ, radio broadcaster and model), Alex James (Steven Alexander James, DJ, musician and songwriter).

In February 2021 P&O UK cancelled more summer departures. In early-March 2021 were announced major itinerary program changes with only Britain coastal mini-cruises and 7-day roundtrips from Southampton. MS Iona's Inaugural Cruise was rescheduled for September 25 (14-day to Iberia/"Spain And Portugal").

The new ship's entire Norwegian Fjords 2021 program was cancelled.

7-day "Norwegian Fjords" itinerary 1

7-day "Norwegian Fjords" itinerary 2

Inaugural cruise itineraries 2020-2021 (CANCELED)

MS Iona's inaugural season was planned to start on May 14, 2020 (maiden voyage) and included only no-fly cruise itineraries roundtrip from the UK. Bookings for the new liner were opened on September 7, 2018.

However, due to the ongoing COVID-related travel restrictions, in mid-September 2020 P&O UK canceled all scheduled voyages (fleetwide) through early-February 2021 (Caribbean fly-cruises) and through mid-March 2021 (ex-UK cruises). As for the canceled 2020-2021 winter season (October through March), the liner was rescheduled (2021) with Southampton roundtrips to Iberia (Spain-Portugal), Canary Islands and Northern Europe.

P&O Iona's maiden voyage was rescheduled first for October 24, 2020 (7-night Western Europe), later for March 6, 2021 (14-night "Spain and Portugal"), April 24 (7-night Norwegian Fjords), and finally for August 7 (7-night "British Isles"/ Cruise to Nowhere ).

Next tables show the ship's inaugural voyages by destination. All itineraries are roundtrips from homeport Southampton England.

( CANCELLED MAIDEN VOYAGE 2020 ) 7-day "Inaugural Cruise" (Western Europe itinerary)

( CANCELLED MAIDEN VOYAGE 2021 ) 7-night "Norwegian Fjords" itinerary (booking code G111) - from GBP 700 pp

  • Holiday Rentals
  • Restaurants
  • Things to do
  • P&O Cruises Cruises
  • P&O Cruises Cruises from California
  • P&O Cruises Cruises from San Francisco
  • P&O Cruises Cruises from Barbados
  • P&O Cruises Cruises from Southampton
  • P&O Cruises Cruises from London
  • P&O Cruises Cruises from Valletta
  • P&O Cruises Cruises from Sydney
  • P&O Cruises Cruises from Brisbane
  • P&O Cruises Cruises from Hong Kong
  • P&O Cruises Cruises from Singapore
  • P&O Cruises Cruises from Dubai
  • P&O Cruises Cruises from Auckland
  • P&O Cruises Cruises to Caribbean
  • P&O Cruises Cruises to Barbados
  • P&O Cruises Cruises to France
  • P&O Cruises Cruises to Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur
  • P&O Cruises Cruises to Spain
  • P&O Cruises Cruises to Andalucia
  • P&O Cruises Cruises to Italy
  • P&O Cruises Cruises to Campania
  • P&O Cruises Cruises to Lazio
  • P&O Cruises Cruises to Veneto
  • P&O Cruises Cruises to Venice
  • P&O Cruises Cruises to Tuscany
  • P&O Cruises Cruises to The Netherlands
  • P&O Cruises Cruises to Portugal
  • P&O Cruises Cruises to Lisbon
  • P&O Cruises Cruises to Civitavecchia
  • P&O Cruises Cruises to Province of Naples
  • P&O Cruises Cruises to Province of Rome
  • P&O Cruises Cruises to Lisbon District
  • P&O Cruises Cruises to Central Portugal
  • Family P&O Cruises Cruises
  • Things to Do
  • Travel Stories
  • Add a Place
  • Travel Forum
  • Travellers' Choice
  • Help Centre

Iona Deck Plans & Reviews

the cruise ship iona

Activities & entertainment

  • Crows Nest _ Observation Lounge
  • Cooking Demonstrations
  • Dance Classes
  • Splash Zone
  • Whirlpools (18)
  • Hydrotherapy Pool *
  • Oasis Spa *
  • Thermal Suite *
  • Late_Night Activities
  • Fitness Classes
  • Jogging Track
  • Organized Activities and Games
  • Sports Court
  • The Retreat *
  • Art Gallery *
  • The Avenue Shopping *
  • The Photo Hub *
  • Ivory Suite
  • The Reef _ Kids Club
  • Scene _ Teens Club
  • Shore Experiences *
  • Loyalty and Cruise Sales *
  • Self_Service Laundry *
  • Medical Center
  • Headliners Theatre
  • Nightly Live Music
  • Ocean Studios
  • The Club House
  • The Limelight Club
  • The 710 Club
  • Enrichment Lectures
  • Aqua Restaurant - Main
  • Coral Restaurant - Main
  • Opal Restaurant - Main
  • Pearl Restaurant - Main
  • Vistas Cafe Bar - Coffee Bar *
  • Emerald Bar - Atrium Bar *
  • Brodies - Pub *
  • Sindhu - British-Indian *
  • Sindhu Bar - British-Indian Bar *
  • Horizon Restaurant - Buffet
  • The Beach House - Steakhouse *
  • Andersons Bar - Cocktail Bar *
  • Epicurean - Gourmet *
  • The Olive Grove - Mediterranean *
  • Crystal Bar - Pool Bar *
  • Beachcomber Bar - Pool Bar *
  • Infinity Bar - Pool Bar *
  • Laguna Bar and Sundaes - Pool Bar *
  • Sky Bar - Pool Bar *
  • Sunset Bar - Pool Bar *
  • The Keel and Cow - Gastropub *
  • Panorama Bar - Pool Bar *
  • The Glass House - Wine Bar *
  • The Quays - Worldwide Snacks *
  • Ripples - Ice Cream *
  • Grab and Go - Snacks
  • Taste 360 - Street Food
  • Room Service *

Reviews We perform checks on reviews. Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines , the review is not published. When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site. Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines . Learn more about our review moderation.

  • Excellent 169
  • Very Good 91
  • Average 105
  • Terrible 75
  • All languages ( 538 )
  • English ( 538 )

Upcoming itineraries

The map for this itinerary is not available at this time.

Intrepid Escape

  • Bungy Jumping
  • Horse Riding
  • Ice-Climbing
  • Kite-Surfing
  • Motor Sport
  • Rock Climbing
  • Scuba Diving
  • Shark Diving
  • Snowboarding
  • Stand Up Paddle-Boarding
  • Wakeboarding
  • White Water Rafting

Luxury , Tips & Guides , Travel

Iona by p&o cruises: a complete guide & review, plus things to do onboard.

Page Contents

It’s not often you get a chance to be on a Maiden Voyage . Especially not one as huge as the launch of the new P&O flagship Iona . It was made even more special because I’ve been involved with the launch of this ship for nearly 3 years. From my first trip to Norway , to promote the excursions Iona will be doing there, to watching Gary Barlow live at a London launch.

But this article isn’t about me, that was just me highlighting my connection with Iona. This article is about you, and everything you can do onboard Iona . In this article I will cover everything this ship has to offer. And I mean everything .

Our Maiden Voyage was a cruise around the UK, meaning it didn’t stop anywhere due to Covid restrictions. That had one major benefit, it gave me a whole week on board to see and do as much onboard as possible. I still didn’t cover everything. I think it’s been designed that way, so you come back for more. That’s a smart strategy.

I don’t plan to specifically focus on the Covid rules in this article, however to stay up to date with safety protocols, vaccination requirements and FAQs, please see the P&O Cruises Cruise with Confidence .

Facts about Iona

Before I get into a few facts and figures. The real show-stopping fact for Iona is it’s powered by Liquified Natural Gas . This makes Iona one of the most environmentally friendly cruise ships in the world. She has zero sulphur and nitrogen emissions and produces 20 per cent less carbon than ships running on marine diesel.

That’s impressive. It’s so important to see a huge player in the cruise industry setting the standard. So, onto the facts:

  • Iona is the largest ever cruise ship to fly the UK flag
  • She can hold 5,200 guests and 1800 crew
  • There are more than 30 places to eat and drink onboard
  • There are 4 swimming pools (2 infinity pools) and 18 hot tubs
  • Iona has the world’s first gin distillery at sea (more on that later)

Dining on Iona

As you’ll see from my video above. P&O Cruises has really set the bar high with dining onboard Iona. This isn’t just some of the best food I’ve eaten at sea, it’s some of the best I’ve ever experienced. Quite frankly, I don’t know where to start when it comes to the cuisine.

Well firstly, there is freedom dining throughout the ship included in the price. There are four main dining areas and a few other casual places included in this. This food is of fantastic quality. Some restaurants have a traditional buffet selection; albeit no longer self-served due to CoronaVirus protocols. And having no self-service is no bad thing in my opinion.

Personally, I love a buffet when I want an informal setting and I’m short on time. However, my favourite of the ‘included’ or ‘free’ selection was The Quays . Three restaurants in a small piazza offering Asian cuisine at Fusion, fish and chips at The Hook or American dining at Boardwalk Diner.

Moving onto the speciality restaurants, which you must try. These incur an extra charge, but for good reason. Usually, the charge isn’t that much and believe me when I say it’s worth it. I suggest you budget for that pre-trip. Here’s a couple of my highlights (keep in mind I did not have time to try every restaurant).

  • The Glass House : a light tapas style menu in the Grand Atrium with wines selected by Olly Smith (who happened to say hello when I was there for lunch!)
  • The Olive Grove : Mediterranean style food with a small surcharge. Probably my top tip, it wasn’t busy and the value for money is amazing. I recommend the Tagine.
  • The Keel and Cow : if you like your steaks and burgers then look no further. The Prime-minister burger is known as the “best burger at sea”, and I love the fact that the blue cheese comes from the Isle of Wight.
  • Epicurean : fine dining with British / Norwegian inspired dishes at £28 a head. This is one of many destination-inspired restaurants onboard, a lovely touch.
  • The Limelight Club : a three-course meal combined with entertainment. Brilliant. An elegant venue with a cabaret show, we saw the singing plus comedy drag-queen La Voix .
  • Sindhu : Authentic Indian food with a British twist.

When it comes to the bars, I’ve included these under things to do below.

Things to do on Iona

I should probably just have a separate article focusing on this alone! And if you’ve not watched the video above, please check that out. My main line in the video is “ you won’t get bored onboard” . That couldn’t ring truer, especially when cruising returns to normal and you’ll be getting off most days.

You’ll most likely find you haven’t even scratched the surface when it comes to exploring Iona.

I’ll break it down into day and night, starting with daytime. Firstly, relaxing. Try 4 swimming pools (two of which are infinity pools) with sunlounges, indoor and out plus 18 hot tubs, enough choice? There’s usually live acoustics around and always a waiter on hand for drinks.

Daytime entertainment

For a tranquil setting, there’s the adults-only Retreat . It offers some of the best views onboard. For even more relaxation book yourself into the Oasis Spa , complete with jacuzzis, sauna, salt room, steam room and hydrotherapy pool. I had the hot stone massage which was incredible. Please book early as this was mostly fully-booked on my trip.

I was also impressed with the size of the gym onboard, which has daily fitness classes and yoga.

For Children

For the children you have “ The Reef ”, which is organised into age-specific clubs with outdoor play areas, and entertainment such as puppet shows and treasure hunts.

Evening entertainment

In the evening your first option is aerial displays and laser shows in the SkyDome . It blew me away how an indoor swimming pool by day was transformed into at acrobatics entertainment area by night.

Your second option on Iona is the two-story auditorium the Headliners Theatre . They host live music, stand-up comedy, and theatre performances such as the new “ Festival ” show which was a fantastic spectacle.

Bars and Drinking

Personally, when cruising I love to spend my evenings in a smaller bar with some live music.

There was no better live music venue than the 710 club (if you can get in). The cosy and very intimate venue has partnered with no other than Gary Barlow as the musical director. But get there early or book in advance, as (rather frustratingly) these were the hottest seats onboard.

There’s also the Crow’s Nest cocktail bar, which has lovely views but wasn’t my favourite atmosphere. Instead, I preferred the Emerald Bar in the Atrium, where I had an exquisite cocktail called ‘ The Smoke that Rocked’ ; a smokey cherry bourbon Old Fashioned. I also found the live music at the Club House , and the informal setting at Brodie’s more my style.

Brodie’s is also conveniently next door to the casino too. However, I was a little disappointed with the Casino, there’s a limited selection of games and just a small number of tables. When the ship is full, I doubt you’ll get much chance to play.

Finally, movie lovers will enjoy Ocean Studios , four cinema screens running throughout the day with the latest surround sound and a mix of classic flicks and recent blockbusters.

Rooms and Suites on Iona

I have always said that once you have a balcony on a cruise, you can never go back. Clearly the inside cabins are friendlier on the wallet. But once you step out of bed and onto your private balcony, with a coffee and the crisp sea air, you won’t go back.

I had a Balcony Suite , which is far more spacious than any previous cruise with P&O Cruises. With a small working and sitting area, a big screen TV and plenty of wardrobe space it’s hard to know what more you need. Oh wait, brand-new for Iona is P&O Cruises very first Conservatory Mini-Suite . These suites have a stunning conservatory style roof over a casual seating area, bringing in loads of natural light and perfect for entertaining or relaxing.

You can also choose from sea-view cabins, inside cabins and solo cabins. I found the inside cabins surprisingly bright and spacious considering there is no natural light, and they also have a small seating area.

The World’s first Gin Distillery at Sea

That’s right, Salcombe Distilling Co. have curated the sea inspired Marabelle Gin which will be distilled onboard, right there for the guests to see. I met Angus from Salcombe Gins to learn about Marabelle. He took inspiration from the Isle of Iona itself, foraging botanicals around the island.

The sea inspiration doesn’t stop there. The label has similarities to the sunset logo from P&O Cruises and star constellations on the inside. But importantly, it’s a stunning gin. I know as I’ve already had a bottle at home, and a few more G&Ts on board. It’s a fresh gin with a distinctive flavour, which coupled with citrus and apple gives you the perfect G&T after a long day exploring the Norwegian Fjords or Canary Islands.

The Gin Distillery is found at Anderson’s Bar and Library , a classy venue to sip a G&T and watch the distilling process in action. All Marabelle bottles with a gold top have been distilled at sea.

Other Unique Features on Iona

All around the ship you can see that every effort has been made to design a ship that feels bright and spacious. It’s a sense of space that you don’t expect on a ship, where space is a premium.

This starts in the stunning 3-story Grand Atrium , the first place you see when you embark. It has floor to ceiling windows (yes spanning all 3 floors), making it the perfect spot for watching the world pass by. It also houses several bars and restaurants, not least the Glasshouse mentioned above.

Next, we have the SkyDome . A huge dome roof gives you the comfort of an indoor pool and somewhere to relax whatever the weather. But the impressive part is how it’s transformed into an entertainment zone in the evenings. With a retractable stage over the pool, we saw aerialists and laser shows late into the night. I can see this having the party atmosphere when the ship is full, especially with DJ sets produced by Blur’s Alex James .

Iona Destinations

Iona will sail to the Norwegian Fjords in the summer, starting in 2022. To me you can’t find a more perfect partnership. As I’ve mentioned above, she is designed to let the outside in, and what more perfect place to marvel from the comfort of the Atrium than the majestic Norwegian Fjords? I even wrote about all the fantastic Norwegian Fjords Excursions you can do, in advance of Iona’s launch.

During the winter Iona will sail to the Canary Islands , another fantastic destination to compliment the ship. We spent our week on the coast of Scotland in summer, a temperate climate and sunny most days. But being around 20-22 degrees meant it could get a little chilly. Well Iona has that covered. Hot tubs dotted all round and the cover pool of the SkyDome mean you can still enjoy some bathing, whether inside or out.

Final thoughts on Iona

On a personal note, I have been excited for the Maiden Voyage of Iona by P&O Cruises for some time. It was a privilege to be onboard and presenting a tour of the ship. Iona has been designed to be different, and to appeal to a younger generation of cruisers. The original launch was due to showcase that with a weeklong festival, one of many plans scuppered by Covid.

Nonetheless Iona will get there, back where she belongs exploring the world. She’s a bold eco-friendly cruise ship with a vibrant atmosphere, targeted at a younger audience. And when she is sailing through the awe-inspiring Norwegian Fjords, I can’t think of a better place to be to witness it.

This article was supported by P&O Cruises but as always, the opinions and photos in the article are all my own, and I think it’s clear to see I loved every minute of my time onboard!

Founder & Editor of Intrepid Escape, a huge lover of adventure, adrenaline, sport & fitness. After travelling extensively for the last 12 years, Scott started to document his travels before fulfilling an important lifelong goal by starting Intrepid Escape. He has since become a full-time Travel Writer, Videographer, Presenter and Producer.

0 thoughts on “ Iona by P&O Cruises: A complete Guide & Review, plus Things to do Onboard ”

I really want to know when Gary Barlow is on the Iona surprise present for my daughter treating her to a cruise.

Just reading your comments it says book early for Gary Barlow how can we do that we don’t know when he is on

I went on Iona 7 May to 14 May Norway and Fjords had different cruises booked for 3 years this was first one we went on. Ship was great food good. We went to see Fjords but Iona couldn’t sail through them as high winds so had another day at sea. I have been ill for eleven days since coming off ship. Also paid extra to pick cabin on 11th deck but moved to one 14th deck. Complained but fell on deaf ears. Dissapointing.

I have booked Iona for October, have been trying to contact ROL cruises for over a month, no reply

Hi, sailing on Iona December, to celebrate my partners 70th would like to surprise him with a birthday cake, would they be able to organise one for me at a cost, or should I take one with me. Many thanks

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

the cruise ship iona

Ship Overview

P&O Cruises' biggest and most innovative ship ever built for the UK market is the first Excellence-Helios Class in the fleet.  Powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), which is considered one of the cleanest-burning fuels reducing sulfur emissions and nitrogen oxide, Iona is one of the greenest ships in the world. With a capacity for 5,200 passengers Iona boats a number of new-to-the-line facilities including a multi-functional glass-roofed "Skydome", the first gin distillery at sea, and 30 different dining venues to choose from. Designed to let the outdoors in and create an atmosphere of light, calm, and relaxation in the public areas Iona’s facilities are nothing short of impressive. The ship’s sensational Grand Atrium which offers panoramic ocean views, contemporary architecture and a seductive space will present aerialists and pop-up performances with spectacular shows. This family-friendly vessel has many interesting facilities to keep kids and adults entertained. The ship features Kids Club, Ocean Studios, and a four-screen cinema with screenings throughout the day with complimentary ice cream, popcorn, and snacks. With 12 bars, 13 entertainment venues, four swimming pools (three outside and one Indore), and many daily activities the ships guarantees a lot of fun.

Ship Specifications

the cruise ship iona

City Southampton

Iona itineraries, 7 night norwegian fjords, 14 night canary islands, 14 night spain and portugal, 7 night northern europe, 7 night western europe, 35 night caribbean, p&o cruises fleet.

the cruise ship iona

  • Vacation Rentals
  • Restaurants
  • Things to do
  • Things to Do
  • Travel Stories
  • Rental Cars
  • Add a Place
  • Travel Forum
  • Travelers' Choice
  • Help Center

Iona Deck Plans & Reviews

the cruise ship iona

Activities & entertainment

  • Crows Nest _ Observation Lounge
  • Cooking Demonstrations
  • Dance Classes
  • Splash Zone
  • Whirlpools (18)
  • Hydrotherapy Pool *
  • Oasis Spa *
  • Thermal Suite *
  • Late_Night Activities
  • Fitness Classes
  • Jogging Track
  • Organized Activities and Games
  • Sports Court
  • The Retreat *
  • Art Gallery *
  • The Avenue Shopping *
  • The Photo Hub *
  • Ivory Suite
  • The Reef _ Kids Club
  • Scene _ Teens Club
  • Shore Experiences *
  • Loyalty and Cruise Sales *
  • Self_Service Laundry *
  • Medical Center
  • Headliners Theatre
  • Nightly Live Music
  • Ocean Studios
  • The Club House
  • The Limelight Club
  • The 710 Club
  • Enrichment Lectures
  • Aqua Restaurant - Main
  • Coral Restaurant - Main
  • Opal Restaurant - Main
  • Pearl Restaurant - Main
  • Vistas Cafe Bar - Coffee Bar *
  • Emerald Bar - Atrium Bar *
  • Brodies - Pub *
  • Sindhu - British-Indian *
  • Sindhu Bar - British-Indian Bar *
  • Horizon Restaurant - Buffet
  • The Beach House - Steakhouse *
  • Andersons Bar - Cocktail Bar *
  • Epicurean - Gourmet *
  • The Olive Grove - Mediterranean *
  • Crystal Bar - Pool Bar *
  • Beachcomber Bar - Pool Bar *
  • Infinity Bar - Pool Bar *
  • Laguna Bar and Sundaes - Pool Bar *
  • Sky Bar - Pool Bar *
  • Sunset Bar - Pool Bar *
  • The Keel and Cow - Gastropub *
  • Panorama Bar - Pool Bar *
  • The Glass House - Wine Bar *
  • The Quays - Worldwide Snacks *
  • Ripples - Ice Cream *
  • Grab and Go - Snacks
  • Taste 360 - Street Food
  • Room Service *
  • Excellent 169
  • Very Good 91
  • Average 105
  • Terrible 75
  • All languages ( 538 )
  • English ( 538 )

Passenger (Cruise) Ship, IMO 9826548

  • VesselFinder
  • Miscellaneous

The current position of IONA is at North Sea reported 0 min ago by AIS. The vessel is en route to the port of Stavanger, Norway , sailing at a speed of 18.1 knots and expected to arrive there on May 20, 04:15 . The vessel IONA (IMO 9826548, MMSI 232025845) is a Passenger (Cruise) Ship built in 2020 (4 years old) and currently sailing under the flag of United Kingdom (UK) .

IONA photo

Position & Voyage Data

Map position & weather, recent port calls, vessel utilization, vessel particulars, similar vessels, related news.

IONA current position and history of port calls are received by AIS. Technical specifications, tonnages and management details are derived from VesselFinder database. The data is for informational purposes only and VesselFinder is not responsible for the accuracy and reliability of IONA data.

Cruise Ship   Iona

Iona Cruise Ship

Cruises On Iona

ship menu

Iona 16 deck plan

  • Click here for ALL
  • Large Interior
  • Seaview (Oceanview)

Smaller Balcony

  • Deluxe Balcony
  • Conservatory Mini-Suite
  • Family Seaview Suite
  • Ship info and tracking
  • Cabin Check

ship icon

Cruisedeckplans provides full interactive deck plans for the Iona 16 deck. Just move your mouse over any cabin and a pop up will appear with detail information, including a full description and floor layout, and a link to pictures and/or videos. These are the newest deck plans for Iona 16 deck plan showing public venues and cabin numbers and locations.

You are viewing deck: Deck 16 plan

Click on another deck below to view more deck plans.   Click here for LIVE SHIP TRACKING

deck plan

Useful Links

  • DRAG DECK FEATURE
  • PDF of all the decks
  • PDF (choose your own decks)

Cabin Check Tool

Looking for 16 (deck) actual cabin pics and videos, sub categories on 16, click links below to view category info including cabin pics and videos for that category on the iona..

Balcony floor plan

Public Spaces on 16

You can click on any image for larger size of the space on Iona.

Crystal Bar

Horizon restaurant, pizzeria & grill, beach house, sky dome pool.

Sky Dome Pool picture

Infinity Pool

Infinity Pool picture

This tool will help you see what is on the deck above and the deck below your stateroom. Don't be surprised by loud chair scraping noise above you.

Accessible cabins on 16

These cabins are on the Iona

Cabin 16326 PC Category Inside

Cabin 16327 PC Category Inside

Cabin 16330 PC Category Inside

Cabin 16331 PC Category Inside

logo

CRUISEDECKPLANS.COM Use the input buttons above to go to the main page for a Cruise Ship or Cruise Line.

Standard Balcony

the cruise ship iona

Type: Balcony

Cabin is 170 ft 2 , Balcony is 20 ft 2

When three or four guests share a cabin with upper berths, the two lower berths cannot be pushed together for safety reasons.

*Actual cabin size and layout may differ from size and diagram shown.

CDP Code: Balcony

- Two twin beds that make up into a king-sized bed - Closet - Bath with shower - In-room safe - Mini-Fridge - Flat screen tv with movies - Hair dyer - Chair and table - Safe - Floor to ceiling sliding glass doors leading to balcony - Balcony with table and reclining chairs

Standard Inside

the cruise ship iona

Type: Interior

Cabin is 134 ft 2

CDP Code: Inside

- Two twin beds that make up into a king-sized bed - Closet - Bath with shower - In-room safe - Mini-Fridge - Flat screen tv with movies - Hair dyer - Safe

the cruise ship iona

Type: Smaller Balcony

Cabin is 150 ft 2 , Balcony is 20 ft 2

CDP Code: Small-Balcony

- Two twin beds that make up into a king-sized bed - Closet - Bath with shower - In-room safe - Mini-Fridge - Flat screen tv with movies - Hair dyer - Safe - Balcony

COMMENTS

  1. Iona Itinerary, Current Position, Ship Review

    The 2020-built/2021-inaugurated MS Iona cruise ship is P&O UK fleet's first Excellence-class boat (delivered in October 2020 and inaugurated in August 2021), with sistership Arvia (2022). P&O Iona and Arvia are currently the newest and largest passenger liners designed and built for the UK source market.. Other Helios-Excellence-Class vessels (Iona sisterships) include Carnival Mardi Gras ...

  2. Iona Cruise Ship Highlights

    Standard Approximately 274 sq. ft. A brand new innovation for Arvia and Iona; these cabins let the great outdoors in via an additional lounging area with floor-to-ceiling glass (and an external door) between the main cabin area and your balcony. Relax inside or out in complete comfort to incredible views.

  3. P&O Cruises Iona Cruise Ship Review

    P&O Cruises' Iona is the line's biggest ship, carrying 5,200 passengers, and first with LNG fuel technology. ... Iona is the biggest cruise ship ever built for the UK market, packed with ...

  4. MS Iona

    MS Iona is an Excellence-class cruise ship in service for P&O Cruises, a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc.Built by German shipbuilder Meyer Werft in Papenburg, she was delivered in October 2020 at a cost of £730 million. At 184,089 GT, Iona became the largest cruise ship commissioned for P&O and the British market upon delivery until sister ship Arvia (measuring 184,700 GT) was ...

  5. P&O Iona Cruise Reviews (2024 UPDATED): Ratings of P&O Iona

    Sail Date: March 2024. Review for a Europe - All Cruise on Iona. Travelled on Iona to Portugal, Canaries and Spain Cadiz cancelled and only 6 other port days. Far too many people for the space ...

  6. P&O IONA

    Join us for a 15 minute ship tour of P&O Cruises Iona. In this tour we will take you deck by deck showing the wide range of bars, restaurants, amenities, and...

  7. Iona

    Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. First time on an sea cruise and the P&O Iona is very impressive we travelled to Norway on the portside of the ship in a balcony room on deck 10, due to the time of year late April the weather was cool so some of inside public places could get a little busy over 5000 people can….

  8. P&O Cruises

    Gazing out from the stunning SkyDome, three-tier glass Grand Atrium or the brand-new Conservatory Mini-suite cabins, you're never far from a spectacular view...

  9. P&O IONA

    Join us on a virtual journey as we explore the incredible features and amenities of P&O Iona.🇳🇴 7 Nights Onboard Iona to the Fjords https://youtu.be/gZgMQ7...

  10. P&O Cruises Iona Cruise Ship Review

    P&O Cruises' Iona is the line's biggest ship, carrying 5,200 passengers, and first with LNG fuel technology. ... Iona Cruise Ship's Deck Plan Is Well Planned and Brings the Outside In.

  11. Iona by P&O Cruises: A complete Guide & Review, plus Things to do

    It's so important to see a huge player in the cruise industry setting the standard. So, onto the facts: Iona is the largest ever cruise ship to fly the UK flag. She can hold 5,200 guests and 1800 crew. There are more than 30 places to eat and drink onboard. There are 4 swimming pools (2 infinity pools) and 18 hot tubs.

  12. P&O Iona Cruise Guide

    Iona overview. P&O's Iona can claim the title of the first British cruise ship to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). Iona is P&O's greenest, largest and most innovative ship yet. Highlights of the vessel include a luminous glass-roofed SkyDome, an on-board gin distillery and whole world of dining and entertainment onboard.

  13. Iona in the Norwegian Fjords

    Discover our Norwegian Fjords cruise holidays on Iona. Find out more about Iona. Iona is our greenest, largest and most innovative ship yet. With her luminous glass-roofed SkyDome, on-board gin distillery and whole world of dining and entertainment on board. Iona has a host of surprises in store. VIEW SHIP.

  14. New Cruise Ship Iona

    Here is one of a series of Facts & Figures infographics on P&O ships, this one for P&O Iona. Find out the key information at a glance and start planning your next cruise on this beautiful ship. P&O Iona Infographic by Kathy Taylor, Cruiselowdown.com. P&O Iona's naming ceremony is on 16 May 2021 and her Maiden Voyage commences on 7 August 2021.

  15. P&O Cruises · Iona · Ship Overview and Itineraries

    Ship Overview. P&O Cruises' biggest and most innovative ship ever built for the UK market is the first Excellence-Helios Class in the fleet. Powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), which is considered one of the cleanest-burning fuels reducing sulfur emissions and nitrogen oxide, Iona is one of the greenest ships in the world.

  16. Iona Reviews from Travelers

    Ship: Iona. We took a North European cruise, October 2022, on the P&O Cruises' ship IONA, a newbuild vessel launched in 2020, and it was truly a remarkable experience. From the moment we stepped on board, I was impressed by the ship's modern and stylish design. The SkyDome, a unique glass-domed atrium, was a highlight for me and provided a ...

  17. Iona

    Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. I boarded Iona for my second cruise on her on the 30th December for a New Year cruise to Spain, Portugal and the Med. Due to inclement weather we were stuck in port for 2 days, the upside of this was instead of being at sea for the new Year celebrations, we were confined to the….

  18. IONA, Passenger (Cruise) Ship

    Passenger (Cruise) Ship, IMO 9826548. The current position of IONA is at North Sea reported 55 mins ago by AIS. The vessel is en route to the port of Southampton, United Kingdom (UK), sailing at a speed of 18.2 knots and expected to arrive there on May 18, 04:00 . The vessel IONA (IMO 9826548, MMSI 232025845) is a Passenger (Cruise) Ship built ...

  19. Iona Ship Pictures 2024

    42 photos. Iona Photos: Browse over 254 expert photos and member pictures of the Iona cruise ship?.

  20. Iona Cruise Ship

    Cruise Ship Iona. Iona docked at Funchal Photo credit shotbytiago. Ship Data. Cruise line: P & O Cruises. Double occupancy/max occupancy: 5200 / Crew: 1750 Year built: 2020 Tonnage: 184,000 Length overall: 1130ft (345m) Beam: 138ft (42m) Draught: 39ft (12m) Cruising speed: 20 knots

  21. Iona 16 deck 16 plan

    Cruisedeckplans provides full interactive deck plans for the Iona 16 deck. Just move your mouse over any cabin and a pop up will appear with detail information, including a full description and floor layout, and a link to pictures and/or videos. These are the newest deck plans for Iona 16 deck plan showing public venues and cabin numbers and ...