P&O Cruises Iona Cruise Ship Review
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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. He took inspiration from the Isle of Iona itself, foraging botanicals around the island. 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. I have always said that once you have a balcony on a cruise, you can never go back. 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.
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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. Overall, though, Iona is an impressive ship, packed with quality entertainment and likely to be a huge hit with younger cruisers looking for nightlife, good food and affordable entry-level pricing. I knew that I had other family members that I’d left at home that would enjoy the cruise so I did start a bit of cruise planning, while on the cruise. There’s also the Beach House and Olive Grove restaurants which are both included in our cruise fare on Iona. In the buffet I found the BEST Yorkshire puddings and lots and lots of roast potatoes.
P&O - Iona & Arvia - Stupid questions are NOT stupid! All P&O Cruise Ships On the last cruise I only went to the Quays ... - Bio For Facebook
P&O - Iona & Arvia - Stupid questions are NOT stupid! All P&O Cruise Ships On the last cruise I only went to the Quays ....
Posted: Sun, 30 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
What Was The SkyDome Used For? – Taste 360 Review
It’s really easy to wander around Bruges and Rotterdam and our main priority was just trying to walk when it wasn’t raining. Masks have to be worn when walking around but not when seated in a restaurant or bar so nobody in the audience was wearing a mask and we were all singing along too. I usually like to go to the theatre each evening but because Iona is large and the shows are repeated two days in a row this isn’t really how a typical day onboard ended up working for us. You can cancel and book the theatre shows at any time if you decide you don’t want to go or your plans change. P&O cruises app wasn’t really an app that you have to download to your phone it’s more just a webpage that you have to load. Lots of ‘mega ships’ of this size require bookings to be made ahead of time.
P&O Provide Kettles in The Cabins!
We planned to walk into Le Havre just really to get some fresh air and stretch our legs but when we got to the main bridge the road was closed. The bridge was open to let in boats and we sat there for about 45 minutes, with other passengers, waiting for the boats to go by so that we could go over the bridge. Both have to be booked in advance and made sure we went to both.
Theatre shows
Please book early as this was mostly fully-booked on my trip. 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.
Night British IslesDetails
With screenings throughout the day, there’s always an option to see an age-appropriate blockbuster or family classic – complete with popcorn, ice cream and snacks, of course. Everyone loves the sunshine, and here we serve it up, Mediterranean style, all day long. Pull up a chair and take your pick from the region’s iconic favourites, from Spanish paella to Moroccan lamb tagine and grazing boards of tasty regional specialities –all perfect for enjoying with friends and family. 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.
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). 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).
Introducing dining on Iona
Normally when you embark on a cruise ship you just wander off and do whatever you’d like to do, for most people they’ll either head to their cabin or to get a drink or food depending on the time of day. 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. Some restaurants have a traditional buffet selection; albeit no longer self-served due to CoronaVirus protocols. Adjacent to the Beachcomber (at the bow on Deck 18) is The Retreat - an adults-only VIP Sundeck with 2x outdoor Jacuzzies/whirlpools.
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 think it’s been designed that way, so you come back for more. My husband and I both celebrated our birthdays during the week and what an amazing time we had. Found at the aft of the ship, the Sunset Bar is the perfect place to watch the sun go down. Choose your favourite cocktail and admire the views from this al fresco bar.
This area did remind me of the food court ‘galley’ that Virgin Voyages have on their cruise ships that they are so keen to not call a buffet. An extra addition that most other cruise ships don’t have is a food court called the Quays. Most of our ships feature their own library – perfect for whiling away a few hours with your nose in a book.
Instead of going to the restaurant and standing in the queue to get a table you could instead join the ‘virtual queue’ on your phone. With over 3000 people on our cruise though, I understood the need for the booking of the restaurants. The last couple of cruises I’ve been on have been on ships half the size of Iona and until I was walking down the corridor to get to my cabin, I didn’t truly appreciate how huge Iona is. I booked the cruise with my brother and we paid £439 ($600) each for the 7-night cruise including gratuities.
I had a pizza in the Olive Grove which wasn’t Princess cruises Alfredo’s standard, but all in all the food was really good. The beach house served south American food and it usually costs extra on other ships but was free on Iona for our cruise, I suspect it will cost extra on Iona soon though, but it was never very expensive. If you do want to dress up though and have a prom dress or bridesmaids dress you’d like to wear you won’t feel out of place on a P&O cruise, some people went all out and looked lovely having photos taken in the main atrium. On non-formal nights the dress code is casual but you’re not meant to wear trainers, hoodies or light jeans in the dining room. I booked the main couple of theatre shows before we embarked the cruise, if you are travelling as part of a big group it might be worth doing this.
Hike up Dun I (the Hill of Iona), the island's highest point, where you can take in sweeping views of the port's extraordinary landscapes. Reservations are recommended for those hoping to eat at one of the few restaurants on the island. Plan your trip to Iona with our upcoming Scotland cruise itineraries. With both inside and outside pools, you can make the most of lounging by the water whatever the weather. No matter whether you like to take a dip or prefer relaxing on the sun loungers, the pools are the perfect place to while away the afternoon onboard. Plus, with bars close by, you won't have to travel far to find refreshments.
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.
You can also make a date on sea days to enjoy a delicious tiffin-style lunch. From breakfast till late, this is the place to relax with friends, beautifully crafted gastropub food and a fine collection of draught and bottled beers and craft ales. Will it be our signature burger, classic fish and chips, pie and mash or a prime steak from the dry-aging cabinet?
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