This week P&O have revealed the name of their new ship due to launch in 2020 – Iona. I really like it, what do you think?
The name is a celebration of the sea and our island nation. Named after the tranquil island in the Inner Hebrides; known for its stunning landscape and epic views of the ocean. Iona too is set to make the sea the star. From many of her innovative spaces you’ll be able to appreciate the beauty of the sea, and views of the ever-changing coastline vistas and ports of call.
P&O ran a competition last year which led to over 30,000 suggestions of what they could name the ship, and it was Stephen Mulhern who announced the new name, you can see the moment here –
The very first piece of steel was cut on the 25th April 2018 in Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. This important construction milestone was observed with a steel cutting ceremony, attended by P&O Cruises senior vice president, Paul Ludlow; Carnival UK president Josh Weinstein and managing director of Meyer Werft, Tim Meyer.
The new ship i’m sure won’t let you down, with all the same high standards as other P&O ships and it has been designed by the world’s leading design and guest experience teams. We do have a few details of what you can expect to find on Iona –
- 17 eateries, including 7 specialty restaurants, 12 bars
- 3 Pop up entertainment venues
- 4 swimming pools (3 outside/1 inside)
- 16 whirlpools
- Big emphasis on food, drinks and entertainment
- Triple deck glass atrium which will be the main focal point
- A giant dome on top of the ship will be one of four onboard entertainment spaces, featuring aerial performances, projections onto the roof and immersive shows
- A half-mile “Lanai” deck- an outdoor, covered promenade that will include alfresco restaurants and bars
- A giant dome on the top of the ship which will be one of the entertainment spaces featuring aerial performances, projections onto the roof and immersive shows
I think it sounds fantastic, what do you think? Iona will go on sale this September, so watch this space for more info!