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![Beautiful ship offering so much]()
This ship has everything from fantastic dining to entertainment there is so much to choose from . The spa is exceptional and the staff are phenomenal. I would highly recommend this ship .
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![Brilliant time on P&O Iona]()
Great Itinerary to Norwegian Fjords. Amazing food and hospitality. Great Entertainment. Wonderful ship and Cabin facilities
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![World class luxury travel]()
P&O have mastered world class travel
Well trained staff
Beautiful ship
Miglen star food
Massive variety to choose from
Great shops
Plenty to do to fill your day
Love the spar treatment
Staff trained to a high level.
Overall great experience
And can't wait to go back on the P&O ships .
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![Fantastic family cruise]()
We are a family of four (girls 10 and 7) and this was our first cruise. We booked well over a year in advance and waited with much excitment for the date to arrive. The long wait was well worth it!!
The ship had something for everyone, entertainment, great food, pool and hottubs. We went the Norwegian fjords and it was absolutely breathtaking.
We loved it so much we have booked a further two cruises.
I cannot recommend cruising enough. My famiy and I are now hooked.
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![Fantastic]()
Having sailed with P&O a couple of times this was the first cruise we had sailed with P&O on one of their larger ships in the fleet. We were a bit apprehensive before about whether it would feel very crowded onboard especially for dining times at the restaurants and disembarking at ports. However we were very pleasantly surprised. At no point in the week did it feel overcrowded or a super long queue.
The Iona is a lovely ship feeling modern. There is lots to keep everyone entertained - and the promenade deck you can walk all the way round. It had the mini jacuzzis on this deck too which was a nice addition. There are water fountains at various points on the ship meaning you could fill your water bottles up to take out on trips.
Dining was super easy with lots of choice and didn't have to wait long we utilised the 'join the virtual queue'on the my holiday app which meant the restaurant contacted you when your table was ready.
The cabin was very comfortable and we had a lovely balcony. The only thing we noticed was some cabins that were on the promenade deck view was of the deck rather than the side of the ship so take time to review the cabins choice when booking. We throughly enjoyed this cruise!!
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![Fantastic cruise for the kids]()
Went to Norwegian Fjords, we enjoyed every minute of it, would return before my son turns 18 to make the most of the discounts. My children loved the kidsclub, they want to be homeschooled from now on on a crusie!
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![Ideal for families]()
Fiords , with families ly and grandchildren. Ideal cruise for families.
Certain areas very busy as you would expect . Very good value for money. Kids clubs exceptional, staff very good. Dining in extra cost restaurants definitely worth it. Boarding and coming off at end of cruise very organised and easy. Not stressful at all. Would use P and O again if going with children
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![Discovered big ship cruising is for me after all]()
The food....the choices...wonderful. so much better than smaller ships with limited dining options.
Beautiful ports of call, easily accessible.
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![Too bigger ship]()
Unfortunately this wasn’t the best. Ship too big with not enough staff as they were being used for a new sister ship. Worst Christmas ever
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![Great start to end it was great for 1st timers cruisers.]()
Totally fab.
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![1st time on P&O]()
This was our first time on a P&O cruise. We have sailed with Carnival, Royal Caribbean, MSC and Marella and so this was a big change.
We sailed from Southampton to the Norwegian Fjords. The cruise overall ... amazing. We love cruising and never embark any problems.
The ship was lovely, not as entertaining as the MSC but we still got our delights of entertainment.
The staff were welcoming and friendly. The food was decent.
I cant actually grumble about the experience, however, after sailing with other cruise ships, I would have to say that my personal preference is with the other cruise lines. However, in general the experience was lovely.
Seeing Norway and the Fjords, what an experience. I actually would love to do again.
Reviews
![Size Isn't Everything]()
This was my first sailing on Iona though I've been on more P&O ships than any other line. I've also been to Norway before so I pretty much knew what to expect in terms of the vibe of the ship and the itinerary. We normally book balconies but this time we were in a suite as it was our anniversary. We didn't get any particularly special treatment because of this but I wasn't anticipating any. The cabin (an aft wraparound balcony suite) was stunning, loads of wardrobe and cupboard space, far more than was needed for a seven day holiday. Very comfortable bed, two TVs, a fancy coffee machine. I loved the bathroom - the 'Jack and Jill' sinks and the huge bath almost justified the expense of the upgrade alone. Same could be said of the enormous balcony (big enough for a dining table and four chairs, two sun loungers and two deckchairs with room to spare) - absolutely wonderful on an itinerary as scenic as Norway. I did have a couple of minor gripes insomuch as the shower leaked slightly and two of the USB ports didn't work but, other than that, the cabin was perfect. The butler was very helpful and he did earn his tip by anticipating our needs and generally being very helpful and available though, truth be told, I'd happily just have the suite and no butler. I did very much enjoy the perk of using the Epicurean restaurant every morning for breakfast though. It was a very relaxed way to start the day - not only because the food was great (and they always remembered my oat milk) but it meant we could avoid the buffet scrum.
The ship itself is massive. I've been on Britannia before but Iona felt considerably bigger. We didn't even manage to see it all until the third day. It does feel like a very family orientated ship (because it is) and, as we have to travel in school holidays due to work commitments, there were a lot of children on the ship when we travelled. Not an issue as we utilised our own 'private deck' most of the time but Iona did feel like a very busy, bustly ship. There's tons to do, lots to see and many shops to peruse so you'll never be bored but you might be overwhelmed by the crowds if you don't have a nice big cabin to escape to. We didn't use many facilities as shows and quizzes aren't our thing but we very much enjoyed using the spa/thermal suite which provided a serene escape from the crowds.
I found all the staff to be pleasant and helpful, and the ship was always clean and tidy though, again, to be honest, not hugely 'impressive' in style. The food was of a good standard. I do however feel that pennies are being pinched with P&O since Covid (where are the sailaways of old?). For example the standing charges in speciality restaurants have increased while what you actually get has decreased. The classy theatre style of The Epicurean (preparing dishes at the table) has gone and you get less 'extras' in Sindhu. I also thought Andersons on Iona was a poor example compared to the classier versions on other ships, it seemed more like a games room than a refined bar. I thought the Ice Cream Afternoon tea looked fun but it had basically melted by the time it arrived and you're left with a sticky mess that is almost impossible to eat. I only ate in the MDR for lunch a few times but the selection was decent and service was quick. The Norwegian Tasting Menu in Epicurean was a really good option but again, slightly expensive for what you get. The Quays is a nice idea and can be less busy than the buffet but the food was hit and miss - the chicken katsu was lovely, the fish and chips was dry. You win some, you lose some.
Norway is obviously beautiful and the ports were all very pleasant. The weather was changeable and varied but, being from the North of England myself, it didn't pose any real barriers to enjoying the holiday. Just pack for all eventualities. We did one P&O excursion (the Flam Railway) which was about 250 quid for the two of us. I realise it would have been cheaper to book independently but I do like the peace of mind that going with 'official' excursions brings. It was well organised but I'm sure I could have sorted it just as well myself if I'd have been bothered.
Ultimately, I don't think I'll be rushing back on Iona (unless I find a great deal in the future) but we booked 16 days on Arcadia for next year while we were still onboard so P&O haven't lost us completely, yet.
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![Ordinary not worth the cost]()
Limited entertainment,poor food and unhelpful staff.
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![perfect way to relax]()
Our cruise to the Fjords was everything that we hoped it would be. Boarding was so relaxed and easy with friendly and helpful staff. Iona is the perfect ship for us with everything we needed. Cabin was spotless and comfortable with housekeeping on hand at all times. We ate at the buffet for all meals - choice and quality of the food went beyond expectations. Entertainment and choice of activities kept us 'busy' all day and of course Norway itself was breath taking. We will definitely be booking a return trip
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![2024-01-07 13:00:21]()
Disabled cabin toilet door kept locking and twice I got locked inside so was very anxious there was a fire on bourd a mobility battery that was scary then we were mired out at sea to recur some people from cargo ship that sunk . So in all I was so glad to get home
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![2023-06-10 16:02:13]()
Very poor
