By
Alex Smith |
P&O Cruises has officially taken delivery of its new ship Iona from Meyer Werft in an official handover ceremony at the German shipyard.
Iona is 345 metres long with 17 guest decks, which P&O says makes her the largest cruise ship ever built for the UK market. She is also the first British cruise ship to be powered by LNG.
“Iona’s delivery is a very positive signal for the future of cruising,” said Paul Ludlow, president of P&O Cruises. “She is now officially part of the P&O Cruises fleet and we are focused on readying her to welcome guests during her new maiden season to Northern Europe, Spain, Portugal and the Canary Islands from our homeport of Southampton. As our operations are currently paused until early 2021 Iona will not be sailing for the moment, but we look forward to our guests experiencing this game-changing ship.”
Iona’s features include the two-deck Sky Dome, a versatile public area covered by the first glass dome roof at sea, designed by British engineers Eckersley O’Callaghan. The space will be used as a pool environment by day and for dining and entertainment at night, featuring specially commissioned aerial entertainment shows. The ship also includes the first gin distillery at sea, along with eight speciality restaurants, 13 entertainment venues, and four swimming pools.