Iona Entertainment: Spa, Fitness, Casino, Theatres P&O
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I can see this having the party atmosphere when the ship is full, especially with DJ sets produced by Blur’s Alex James. 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. Personally, when cruising I love to spend my evenings in a smaller bar with some live music.
Introducing dining on Iona
The balcony cabins sit just above the promenade deck so when sitting out on your balcony you’d almost be sitting with the people on the promenade deck. It’s here on the promenade deck that you’ll find a group of balcony cabins with a very strange design. Iona has a LOT of promenade deck space with infinity whirlpools and other things. We spent the rest of the day having drinks by the pool or wandering around the promenade deck.
There Were no Photographers Onboard
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. It's clearly aimed at a younger demographic than the line's more traditional ships, in the style of the entertainment, nightlife and restaurants. Iona offers 14 restaurants on board including The Quays, The Olive Grove and Sindhu. If you can tear them away from the clubs, there’s a wide range of activities and entertainment to enjoy all together, as well as lots of delicious dining options.
Greatest Days
During your cruise there will be a range of informative seminars, exciting exhibitions and exclusive VIP events for you to attend. When you purchase any on board credit goes towards your painting and there are easy delivery options available. A place to immerse yourself in the seductive sounds of an array of musical genres that have inspired musical director Gary Barlow over the years, The 710 Club on Iona is a sophisticated bar crafted to Gary’s creative vision. The multi-venue dining piazza The Quays was first rolled out on Iona and we’re delighted to add a tasty new eatery to the joyous mix of flavours. Roast Carvery reinvents the classic Sunday Roast with a range of roasted meats, cooked to perfection and served with trimmings in a Yorkshire pudding wrap.
The singers did a great job singing through their masks though and I guess it’s just to prevent spray singing? You’d have thought they could just put them behind a screen though or disinfect the microphone. We went to karaoke one night and the person singing had to wear a mask which I thought was a little odd. When we were on board Iona there were two main theatre shows, Festivals and Centre Stage.
I sailed on one of the world's largest cruises, wouldn't do it again - Business Insider
I sailed on one of the world's largest cruises, wouldn't do it again.
Posted: Thu, 28 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Not too sure why Covid means P&O can’t have photographers as most other cruise lines have managed it since but it doesn’t bother me, I quite liked the prime photo spots not being taken up by photographers. Interestingly there weren’t any cruise line photographers onboard for ‘Covid reasons’. In reality, as long as you don’t look scruffy and don’t have big logos all over your clothes I don’t think anybody would mind. Afternoon tea was a little strange because you didn’t order any food like you usually would, you still got food of course but it would just arrive. The Quays is located in the middle of the ship by the atrium and they even have a ketchup station here.
I am going to get the chance to find out though, more about that later. I usually feel bad that the cabin steward has made my bed in the morning, I’ve climbed in there again in the afternoon and then they make it again in the evening, so at least I didn’t have to worry about that. Our cruise cards were in an envelope outside of our cabin door and there are a few cruise lines that do embarkation like this. I loved having the cabin number as it was really easy to remember our room number, we did have to tell it to quite a lot of people on the cruise, when checking in for shows or meals, but more about how that works later. A number of my friends and fellow YouTubers had been on Iona before me and I had seen mixed reviews about the ship and cruises online but I knew I had to try it for myself.
P&O UK offers double OBC money on cruises to Iberia (Spain & Portugal) or the Canaries
They host live music, stand-up comedy, and theatre performances such as the new “Festival” show which was a fantastic spectacle. 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. Scotland's isle of Iona in is famed for its holy pilgrimage sites, ancient ruins and dramatic Highland views. This windswept island in the Inner Hebrides is also home to rugged beaches and vivid green hills. Those sailing on Iona cruises can visit Iona Abbey, a 6th-century monastery with a Romanesque cloister; St. Oran's Graveyard, the burial place of Scottish kings; or a beautifully preserved medieval nunnery.
Served with entertainment
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.
Boasting infinity whirlpools, comfortable seating, daybeds and a juice bar, as well as commanding views across the ocean, head here for a few hours away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the ship. For those who love live music, you won't be disappointed by the venues on offer onboard P&O Iona. The resident band at The 710 club is on hand with genre-spanning hits, while the Limelight Club makes for an unforgettable adults-only night out complete with a three-course meal. In addition, when it comes to dancing the evening away, let your hair down thanks to DJ nights at The Club House.
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). 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.
An enormous glass dome covers a double-height space on Decks 16 and 17, which serves as a pool, drinking and dining venue by day and a dramatic entertainment space in the evenings. Other intriguing features making their debut include a boutique, four-screen cinema, an intimate nightclub masterminded by Take That frontman Gary Barlow and the first gin distillery at sea. Iona is the biggest cruise ship ever built for the UK market, packed with entertainment venues and more than 30 places to eat and drink.
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. Accommodating over 5,000 guests, she has been created with an impressive array of entertainment in the SkyDome and 710 club alongside decadent dining in venues such as the Olive Grove.
When onboard I actually booked another cruise on Iona and I really think that is the highest praise I can give to a ship. P&O are one of the best cruise lines I’ve found when it comes to vegan dining with a vegan starter, main and dessert on every menu. The food in the main dining rooms was always good and there were lots of vegetarian options. P&O have 4 ‘main dining’ rooms as I mentioned earlier and as far as I can tell they all served the same menu which changed each night. It was a week before the cruise that I got the email saying that Hamburg has been replaced with Le Havre.
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