p&o cruises cruise with confidence

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• P&O Cruises ( UK )

P&O Cruise with Confidence

By molecrochip , October 14, 2020 in P&O Cruises ( UK )

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terrierjohn

12 minutes ago, Dermotsgirl said: However, they still expect to be paid three months in advance! 

Now that is a far more pertinent question than trying to second guess what might be the start up procedures in Q2 or 3 next year.

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16 hours ago, Bazrat said: Not really comparing like with like, but we only ever book cruises on itinerary and price so have no real affinity with any cruise line just particular ships.

My affinity is more to a style of cruising. More traditional and on smaller ships. I have enjoyed my cruises on Oriana, Aurora and Arcadia but not those on Azura. I will hopefully book a cruise on Aurora for 2022 as I fear it might be my last chance.

P&O are now a very 'corporate' company, which given their size and that they are part of Carnival Corporation, is understandable. Fred Olsen are obviously a commercial enterprise, there to make money but seem to have a much better way of interacting with their pax.

From Fred Olsen statement that I've read, they seem to be much more accomodating with regard to flexible deposits and cancellations for 2021 bookings than P&O.

4 hours ago, Britboys said: My affinity is more to a style of cruising. More traditional and on smaller ships. I have enjoyed my cruises on Oriana, Aurora and Arcadia but not those on Azura. I will hopefully book a cruise on Aurora for 2022 as I fear it might be my last chance. P&O are now a very 'corporate' company, which given their size and that they are part of Carnival Corporation, is understandable. Fred Olsen are obviously a commercial enterprise, there to make money but seem to have a much better way of interacting with their pax.

you would expect smaller companies to be more in touch with there customers and the services they offer more Intune with there market segment, but would we pay the extra for that bit more special treatment i doubt it unless it was a special occasion, saying that each to there own at least there is a choice now long may it continue assuming there are any company's left next year.

I read saw an article on google about social distancing.  It was asking what happens if they have oversold cabins to allow for the percentage of occupancy they are allowed to sail at?  

1 hour ago, purplesea said: I read saw an article on google about social distancing.  It was asking what happens if they have oversold cabins to allow for the percentage of occupancy they are allowed to sail at?  

....and did it come up with any definitive answers?

11 hours ago, terrierjohn said: ....and did it come up with any definitive answers?

No, no answers.

I have read that guidance about 3 times and I can't see anywhere that it says there will be reduced numbers?

55 minutes ago, jeanlyon said: I have read that guidance about 3 times and I can't see anywhere that it says there will be reduced numbers?

Possibly not, but it does say they will have dedicated quarantine cabins, which means they do intend having some area empty.

1 hour ago, jeanlyon said: I have read that guidance about 3 times and I can't see anywhere that it says there will be reduced numbers?

While shoreside restaurants have to follow distancing rules and reduce sittings surely ships will also need to do the same.

On 10/18/2020 at 12:03 PM, terrierjohn said: Possibly not, but it does say they will have dedicated quarantine cabins, which means they do intend having some area empty.

yes, I am sure they always have some cabins free anyway in case of emergency.

8 minutes ago, jeanlyon said: yes, I am sure they always have some cabins free anyway in case of emergency.

Yes but these are generally scattered around the ship, from what I have read about new protocols, quarantine will be in a specific area of the ship, and will clearly need to be large enough if it is to effectively contain any outbreak.

52 minutes ago, terrierjohn said: Yes but these are generally scattered around the ship, from what I have read about new protocols, quarantine will be in a specific area of the ship, and will clearly need to be large enough if it is to effectively contain any outbreak.

I suppose if they are sailing at around 75% capacity, it will be fairly easy to isolate a block of 30 or 40 cabins.

5 minutes ago, wowzz said: I suppose if they are sailing at around 75% capacity, it will be fairly easy to isolate a block of 30 or 40 cabins.

And presumably - on those ships where it is possible - on a low deck and so closer to the medical centre.

• 2 weeks later...

If the protocols still include face coverings indoors, I wonder how UK registered cruise Ships sailing from the UK will handle anyone who declares that they are exempt from wearing one.

22 minutes ago, nosapphire said: If the protocols still include face coverings indoors, I wonder how UK registered cruise Ships sailing from the UK will handle anyone who declares that they are exempt from wearing one.

That’s a very good point. There are a lot of people claiming to be exempt when they simply just refuse to wear one, in the full knowledge that they can’t be forced to prove that they are exempt. 

Yes first two are a no-no for us.  No point in going.  We will stick to holidaying in the UK when and if we can.  As to the rest, totally agree with you.

KTS - why do you quote the CDC rules on a forum that relates to a cruise line that is not bound by those rules? 

8 hours ago, wowzz said: KTS - why do you quote the CDC rules on a forum that relates to a cruise line that is not bound by those rules? 

Fair point wowzz, but it would be unusual if the U.K. / European protocols were less stringent than our US cousins, given their lackadaisical approach to the virus so far. I would have to agree with KTS that Carnival / P&O are completely and utterly evading the critical questions about on board outbreaks. Just stating waffle that doesn’t answer the question at all. To be fair, some of the decisions will be out of their hands, as different countries may take different stances to cruise ships with outbreaks, but I would think that the chances of such cruises continuing as normal with just the infected passengers quarantined are almost zero. As we know, one of the biggest problems with this virus is that infected people can show no signs and, I believe, even test negative, during the incubation phase, yet still be ‘spreading’ the virus. On that basis, once there is an outbreak on a cruise ship it is almost impossible to contain it and it’s game over for that cruise.   

As for the protocols, some we could live with and some we couldn’t. Less passengers on the ship would be a plus. We enjoy meeting new people at dinner when the mood takes us, but could live with dining alone, so that’s no big deal. The two definite ‘no’s’ for us would be the inability to roam freely around destinations and having to wear face masks around the ship. Until those last two things are no longer requirements then we will stick with U.K. holidays where we can go where we like and only have to put a mask on for a few seconds when walking in or out of a pub or restaurant. We recently had a fabulous week on the Isle of Wight and have three more such holidays booked for next year. We have been to almost all the destinations on Southampton round-trip cruises and don’t enjoy very hot weather, so not cruising hasn’t resulted in the withdrawal symptoms that we thought it might - and we are saving a small fortune as a result. We are keen to try Iona and Cunard, but will wait until this virus and the associated restrictions are a thing of the past. Sadly, we are not holding our breath. 

11 hours ago, KnowTheScore said: Read the guidelines.  Totally as expected, carbon copy of what has been attempted with MSC and Costa.   Not for me.   Inability to get off at ports and roam free - big no   Inability to dine with different people - big no   Plus the "oh so predictable" and on-going refusal to come clean and clearly state to passengers what happens when there are cases of Covid on-board.   The response on this in the Q&As at the bottom of the guidelines is utterly laughable:   Question : "What happens when there is an outbreak onboard?"   Answer : "Our comprehensive new protocols are designed to protect the health and wellbeing of all our guests and crew."   Just lols.   Total evasion.  No answer at all.   Translation . . .  we can not rule out a Diamond Princess "death ship" total quarantine situation.   So nothing has changed.  Cruise lines are clearly not in control and are still under the cosh of health authorities and the like.   This simply won't do.  Passengers have a right to know, contractually, how they will be treated if they or others contract Covid during the voyage.   This constant evasion is not going to help P&O (Carnival) one iota, it simply nurtures distrust and skepticism.   All that is fun and enjoyable about cruising is for me eradicated by these draconian measures.   Meeting new people during evening dinner is an essential part of the experience for us.   Exploring ports at our own leisure equally so.    Limitations on lifts is also a worry and will surely mean long waits and chaos at peak times unless numbers of passengers are vastly reduced.   And through the entire process is this under-pinning "passing the buck" of responsibility and liability with the cruise line constantly stating that it will adhere to the prevailing guidelines of the "experts" whoever they are and whatever that guidance is.   The passenger is predictably left in the dark with no concrete information and the prospect of being treated adversely depending on the requirements and mandates of the unseen authorities.   Passengers of the Diamond Princess experienced first hand how that plays out !   I doubt many of those passengers would step aboard again until the cruise lines contractually define how they would be treated in future.   Good luck Carnival/P&O but this constant evasion of the most pressing issue, the most important question for passengers just makes you look bad.   It suggests you either are not in control of matters (which would be extremely worrying) or that you simply dare not come clean and tell passengers what happens when there is an outbreak onboard.  It won't wash.   .

KTS, your constant tirades about a possible Diamond Princess situation, and what protocols P&O might have to prevent this, reminds me of my similar postings about why was the P&O embarkation system so inferior to the RCI/Celebrity one, and why P&O did not pop down to City Terminal to do some checking, and thus do away with their arbitrary embarkation times.  Very few posters agreed with me, and most just ignored my tirades which of course, just like you, annoyed me immensely and led me to continually repeat my posts, which were still ignored by the majority.

Fortunately for me soon afterwards I graduated into Caribbean tier and was able to arrive early, and my annoyance with P&Os embarkation system waned.  But under new covid protocols it seems likely that more structured arrival and embarkation times will now be enforced, along with many other rules as well.

The moral of the story, if there is one, is that we have to live with the cruise lines rules and regulations, and if we dislike them enough then we need to cruise with a line whose terms we are happy to accept.

On 10/30/2020 at 11:01 PM, wowzz said: KTS - why do you quote the CDC rules on a forum that relates to a cruise line that is not bound by those rules? 

I believe that the proposals for both USA and UK have been drawn up with the CLIA, the main cruise lines are all members so will be following CLIA guidance, and although the wording is not as blunt the European proposals are extremely similar.

I'd be pretty sure that one thing all Governments want is the absolute certainty that in the event of another lockdown/quarantine situtuation, Governments will not end up having to run repatriation flights.

On 10/30/2020 at 8:54 PM, Selbourne said: That’s a very good point. There are a lot of people claiming to be exempt when they simply just refuse to wear one, in the full knowledge that they can’t be forced to prove that they are exempt. 

I am genuinely exempt and have been told I will need a doctor's letter, which is against the Law. My GP said that doctors are NOT issuing letters because the Law says they don't have to. So between a rock and a hard place, I shall have to cancel. Currently consulting with the EHRC over disability discrimination.

6 minutes ago, Clodia said: I am genuinely exempt and have been told I will need a doctor's letter, which is against the Law. My GP said that doctors are NOT issuing letters because the Law says they don't have to. So between a rock and a hard place, I shall have to cancel. Currently consulting with the EHRC over disability discrimination.

That’s awful Clodia and I really feel for you. A lot of people are genuinely exempt and it must be so difficult for you at present. My point was that there are some who are of the ‘civil liberties’ or ‘I refuse to be told what to do’ persuasion who are making it even more awkward for those with genuine grounds for exemption. 

1 hour ago, Clodia said: I am genuinely exempt and have been told I will need a doctor's letter, which is against the Law. My GP said that doctors are NOT issuing letters because the Law says they don't have to. So between a rock and a hard place, I shall have to cancel. Currently consulting with the EHRC over disability discrimination.

Nothing to do with being against the law, GPs have enough to do without being inundated with requests for letters, which in most practices is chargeable. I asked for a letter back in March when FCO advised against cruises for those deemed at risk, I was quoted £25, in the end P&O cancelled cruise so didn’t need letter.   

“The Government guidance suggests there is no requirement for evidence for exemption. It should be sufficient for someone to declare that they are eligible for an exemption direct with the person questioning them (eg bus driver).”

1 hour ago, Snow Hill said: Nothing to do with being against the law, GPs have enough to do without being inundated with requests for letters, which in most practices is chargeable. I asked for a letter back in March when FCO advised against cruises for those deemed at risk, I was quoted £25, in the end P&O cancelled cruise so didn’t need letter.    “The Government guidance suggests there is no requirement for evidence for exemption. It should be sufficient for someone to declare that they are eligible for an exemption direct with the person questioning them (eg bus driver).”  

The following link gives  information showing how to obtain exemption lanyards.

https://metro.co.uk/2020/10/06/how-to-get-face-covering-exemption-card-badge-lanyard-uk-13378724/

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• P&O Cruises ( UK )

P&O Cruise with Confidence

By molecrochip , October 14, 2020 in P&O Cruises ( UK )

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molecrochip

For those not aware, P&O started their talk about restarting yesterday by launching their outline protocols.

https://www.pocruises.com/cruise-with-confidence

There are no surprises here.

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5 minutes ago, molecrochip said: For those not aware, P&O started their talk about restarting yesterday by launching their outline protocols.   https://www.pocruises.com/cruise-with-confidence   There are no surprises here.

There were dozens of posts regarding this yesterday in the "Vacation Certificate required for Cruising" thread.

Of particular note was the roasting P&O was getting on othe media sites, because they were in essence changing the t&c's, especially about onshore excursions. Much angst from P&O regulars, and some poor responses from P&O personnel.

Also, no actual detail about  what P&O will do when there is a CV19 case on board. 

Overall, not a good day for P&O. 

Well that is what I thought it would be like and I shall certainly not be cruising while it's like this.  Mind you, with the rise in cases in Europe, I still don't think they will be going anywhere anytime soon.    The Netherlands for a start has gone into a month lockdown.  Belgium is very bad.  Spain and Italy cases are rising and America is just something else again!

As more and more countries are seeing the rise in cases, it may be a while before travel can even resume.  I have family in Sicily and the area they are in has gone into lockdown again.

terrierjohn

3 minutes ago, janny444 said: Jean...I agree with you entirely but we may have our borders closed  to those from the States but they can get in through " the back door"...that is fly from the States to another another European country and then fly from there back to Britain....I know of someone who has done this  😠

I thought the EU had a travel ban on entry from the USA?

1 hour ago, jeanlyon said: Well that is what I thought it would be like and I shall certainly not be cruising while it's like this.  Mind you, with the rise in cases in Europe, I still don't think they will be going anywhere anytime soon.    The Netherlands for a start has gone into a month lockdown.  Belgium is very bad.  Spain and Italy cases are rising and America is just something else again!

Apart from that everything ok?. Exeter looks about risky as well. Be careful down there. 😁

16 minutes ago, terrierjohn said: I thought the EU had a travel ban on entry from the USA?

Yes....I thought so too but only a couple of weeks ago they came from the States.....one of the states where  the virus is  rampant....and came in via  Amsterdam

Yes Exeter is bad because of the university.  the rest of Devon is pretty good - err so far.  We are still planning to go to Wales next week, but it will be a last minute decision, because they are getting worse there too.

yes, it looks like Europe is mostly closed to America.  they can go to Croatia with a negative PCR test, but very few other countries.

As regards to the link cruise with confidence. If you log into the p and o site .Where have they hidden the page ? So I can advise some friends where it is .

Dermotsgirl

1 hour ago, Bin man said: As regards to the link cruise with confidence. If you log into the p and o site .Where have they hidden the page ? So I can advise some friends where it is .

Here’s the link 

Thanks for link I had seen that but just can't find it on the p and o site 

1 hour ago, Bin man said: Thanks for link I had seen that but just can't find it on the p and o site 

Try the P&O FB page.

Not on face book 

20 minutes ago, Bin man said: Not on face book 

Yep. It is on there. Just checked.

Found it on the p and o site under the cruise with reassurance .Dont know if it was there all the time or if it has been added but not in a prominent place 

The link posted in this thread works for me.

" you will only be permitted to dine with your travelling group or household"

That's going to make for a rather lonely experience for those of us travelling alone.

10 minutes ago, jh1809 said: The link posted in this thread works for me.   " you will only be permitted to dine with your travelling group or household"   That's going to make for a rather lonely experience for those of us travelling alone.  

They will need hundreds of tables for two. Dinner service could take 8 hours !.

Bobblehat71

36 minutes ago, wowzz said: They will need hundreds of tables for two. Dinner service could take 8 hours !.

Not if the ship is half empty  😉

SargassoPirate

Does not sound like my idea of a fun time, so why bother?

1 hour ago, wowzz said: They will need hundreds of tables for two. Dinner service could take 8 hours !.

They could use the buffet as well, they won't be using it for it's original purpose.

58 minutes ago, Adawn47 said: They could use the buffet as well, they won't be using it for it's original purpose. Avril

Yes, mind you, I'm not sure how easy it will be logistically, to seve up the MDR menu in the buffet. 

You're right Avril  I think I read somewhere that the buffet will also serve the MDR dinner menu, and the P&O protocols also state that a more extensive room service menu will be available; I wonder if this will now be free.

1 hour ago, Bobblehat71 said:   Not if the ship is half empty  😉

That is true  - however don't forget that the twin tops in most of the MDRs are so close together, that they cannot all used. You would only be able to use alternate tables. Even at 50% capacity  (and  I think P&O will aim nearer 65%), there will be issues in seating and serving so many couples. 

2 minutes ago, terrierjohn said: You're right Avril  I think I read somewhere that the buffet will also serve the MDR dinner menu, and the P&O protocols also state that a more extensive room service menu will be available; I wonder if this will now be free.

John, you have more experience than me, but most of the cabins don't appear to me to have seats and tables conducive to in-cabin dining. I don't eat off my lap at home - I'm not going to start on holiday. 

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• Are any P&O ships adult only? Yes. Arcadia and Aurora are exclusively adult only ships.
• When is the best time to book a cruise? 2-3 years in advance can offer some great early savings or if you can wait till the last minute there can be some huge savings 7-90 days pre-cruise. If you do wait till the last minute you will need to pay the full balance at time of booking.
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• Can i purchase products outside of my package? Yes, you can still purchase products that are outside of your drinks package. Plus, if you have a Classic or Deluxe drinks package, you'll receive a 20% discount on all drinks that are not included in the package offering.
• Does everyone in my cabin need to buy a drinks package? The sharing of packages isn’t permitted, so each adult sharing a cabin must buy the same drinks package individually. If you’re travelling with children 16 years and under and you choose either a Classic or Deluxe drinks package, we’ll include the Refresh drinks package at no extra cost.
• Do i have to buy a drinks package? No, you can pay for your drinks individually instead. For most this will likely work out cheaper than a package.
• Can adults purchase the Refresh drinks package? Yes, the Refresh package can be purchased by anyone.

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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

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