Why I recommend P&O’s Iona:
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- No flying! She sails from Southampton, so what could be easier?
- She’s a thing of beauty and elegance designed to invite the outdoors in, giving you a wonderful cruise experience regardless of the weather!
- Service, service, service – every crew member was friendly, attentive and helpful;
- The incredible value – where else would you get luxury accommodation, excellent dining and incredible entertainment and service for less than £100 per day?
- No fixed dining times!
- No masks!
The highlights:
You embark at deck 6 where you’re welcomed by an impressive three-tier glass Grand Atrium (up to deck 9!), with sea views all around.
- Anderson’s (Gin Bar!), with its speciality gin menu, with unique gin flights.
- The Limelight Club. An exclusive venue curated and crafted by Gary Barlow, who will be making some guest appearances. It’s an adults-only Supper Club offering cabaret-style entertainment alongside a delicious 3-course meal.
- Ocean Studios – a four-screen cinema complex with super comfortable seating and screenings throughout the day.
Heading up to deck 8 – you’ll find The Quays. A casual dining area in the heart of the ship as an alternative to the buffet, with fun street-food (the fish and chips are delicious!). It’s also connected to the outside with seating options on the Promenade deck, which wraps around the complete ship with infinity Whirlpools with glass walls facing the ocean.
Just a word of caution here, there are some cabins also on deck 8 and their position has caused controversy.
Another interesting space is Iona’s SkyDome, a glass structure measuring 41 metres long, 29 metres wide and four metres high. – engineered to withstand the forces at sea, while giving passengers spectacular uninterrupted views of the sky and the ocean. By day it’s an indoor pool, at night it’s the venue for some fabulous performances including and aerial show.
