P&O`s latest addition, Iona.

The 25 April 2018 was a special day for P&O Cruises, the very first piece of steel was cut for their newest addition to their fleet, the P&O Iona.

The name was revealed on the 24th May by TV presenter Stephen Mulhern, aptly located on the beautiful Scottish Isle of Iona. More than 30,000 people put forward suggestions of names for the new 180,000-ton ship.

According to P&O Cruises senior vice-president, Paul Ludlow  “We are an island nation and as Britain’s favourite cruise line, it seems very fitting to highlight one of our most notable islands and celebrate the geographic diversity of the UK, especially as we can trace back our roots to the Scottish Isles. Iona played a significant part in shaping the history of our nation and we hope with this very special name our new ship will shape the future of holidays at sea for generations.”

He added: “Iona is known for its peace and tranquillity, stunning landscape and, most importantly, the view of the ocean from almost every point on the island. This mirrors our primary intention when building the ship, which was to make the sea the star.

“Throughout the design process we were mindful that we were building a ship, not a hotel, and the intrinsic beauty of the sea, the vistas of the coastlines and ports of call should be at the fore and visible as much as possible from all areas of the ship.”

The full details of this new ship have not yet been revealed, but I believe she will feature a half-mile “Lanai” deck – an outdoor covered promenade with alfresco restaurants and bars. Also, the atrium has a triple-deck glass panels, and a grand staircase with overhead walkways. Guests will be spoilt for choice, as she will boast seventeen eateries, with 7 speciality restaurants, 12 bars, 13 entertainment venues, 4 swimming pools and 16 whirlpools. A stunning dome on top of the ship will serve as one of four onboard entertainment spaces, featuring a range of aerial performances, as well as projections onto the roof.

Voyages aboard P&O Iona will be on sale from September this year, with the maiden sailing set for May 2020.

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