Recently we were lucky enough to be invited to experience a Norwegian Fjords cruise with P&O Cruises, on their newest addition to the fleet, Iona.
With spectacular scenery and amazing shore experiences to look forward to, not to mention our first trip on Iona, it’s no understatement to say that our expectations for this cruise were huge!
The drive to Southampton was filled with talk about what to expect, both on and off the ship. Norway’s fjords are its cruising claim to fame and with everything Iona has to offer – would we even be tempted to leave her?! It was an exciting journey, just as it should be with a cruising experience in front of you.
You may be an experienced cruiser or a first timer, in either case you’re probably not sure what to expect post lockdown. Well let me break it down for you.
Check In
We drove to Southampton from Leeds and had pre-booked CPS Parking arranged – which we highly recommend. You park at the terminal, alongside the ship and an attendant checks your car in, you unload your luggage and they drive your car away and park it. Perfect!
By the way, this was our first glimpse of Iona up close and she’s a beauty!
Pre-Boarding
Your luggage is taken and loaded onto the ship while you make your way to the Covid Testing Station. It is advisable to take your own test at home before setting off, especially if you have a long journey to Southampton as we did. It’s a long way back to Leeds if we tested positive in Southampton!
Testing is quick and easy and we were pleased to find out it’s a nose only test. Results are texted to your mobile within 30 minutes – ours was a mere 15 minutes and then we were allowed on board.
Boarding
Once through the usual security and passport control and you’re free to board. We waited on board a mere 30 minutes for cabins to be ready, which we used to try and familiarise ourselves with the layout of the ship. We then made our way to our cabin.
There is no longer a ‘Muster Meeting’. You are told to report to your ‘Muster Station’ within a certain period of time and that’s it – job done!
Our Cabin
So, on Iona there are many new and wonderful things to discover and experience and one of those is the new Conservatory Mini Suites, which we were booked into as part of our experience. There are 95 Conservatory Mini Suites which are located on Decks 8 and 9 and they sleep up to 4 people.
We were super impressed from the moment we opened the door.
The conservatory has an L-shaped seating area and is perfect for relaxation and socialising as the doors open onto your balcony, bringing the outside in and extending the space perfectly. We used the conservatory a lot during our trip and loved this new and exciting addition to the accommodation options on Iona.
We also loved the White Company toiletries!
Protocol on Board
I know many of you will be concerned about Covid restrictions on board, but the wearing of masks is entirely your decision, except for the cinema and theatres where you do have to wear a mask. Personally, we didn’t wear masks on board and when we did it certainly didn’t spoil our enjoyment of the entertainment.
Life On Board
Life on board Iona is amazing! The shows and entertainment are on another level and we enjoyed top class artists in concert, the latest film releases in the cinema and exquisite cocktails in the Crow’s Nest listening to a very talented pianist putting his contemporary spin on many classics.
We dined with Marco Pierre White in the ship’s renowned Indian restaurant Sindhu, enjoyed a close up and personal show with Lee Mead in The Limelight Club over a beautiful three course meal, we ate in all of the fine dining restaurants (you pay a small supplement, and it is very much worth it).
We shopped till we dropped in the shopping mall which has a wide range of outlets on board, and of course everything is duty free so there are bargains galore!
A cruise also gives you the chance to relax and unwind, especially those days at sea which we found to be the perfect opportunity to enjoy the spa and wellness facilities, with a treatment or two and to explore the therapeutic sauna, sensory steam rooms and hydrotherapy pool with massage jets and air recliners.
Let’s not forget the kids! There is so much dedicated to keeping them entertained that you will probably never see them! Iona really has thought of everything. The Reef, the on-board activity programme for children aged six months to 12 years is a fun and safe environment where they are kept happy and entertained throughout the day and evening to fit in with your own arrangements and activities.
Did we mention Iona has a gin distillery where yes, you guessed it – they make their very own gin! Which we can confirm is delicious!
Food on Board
Whatever you fancy, whatever the time of day, you will never go hungry on Iona!
There are so many dining options included in the price you paid for your holiday and you are spoilt for choice.
Head for the Horizon Restaurant, the all-day dining venue offers an incredible variety of food from home and around the world to suit every appetite and dietary need. The self-service restaurant is spacious, elegant and relaxed, with ocean vistas on the side.
From buffets to poolside snack bars, these casual spots are the perfect places to stop by and tuck into a tasty bite. With options available all day and even late at night, you can enjoy delicious dishes whenever you feel peckish.
Pop along to The Quays for informal dining options to suit every mood. This multi-venue dining piazza offers an amazing array of eateries and restaurants with a fun street-food atmosphere with plenty of buzz.
From healthy to decadent, from hearty to delicate, there’s a menu and a venue for every mood and appetite on Iona. Not only are mouth-watering dining options available around the clock, but they also include vegan, vegetarian, low-sugar and gluten-free options.
Whatever your cruise holiday itinerary, you can go on the ultimate food journey every evening on board Iona. With exquisite dishes in elegant surroundings, dining experiences don’t come any finer than dinner at The Epicurean. While at The Olive Grove, you can taste your way around the southern and eastern Mediterranean with authentic dishes. And in The Keel & Cow, you’ll be able to try what we think is the best burger at sea – The Prime Minister. There is a small supplement in these restaurants, but it is well worth it.
What better way to bridge the gap between lunch and dinner than with that classic British tradition of a sumptuous afternoon tea? You can enjoy a relaxing afternoon of freshly baked scones and speciality teas in many of Iona’s main restaurants. But for the ultimate indulgence, head to The Epicurean where you can treat yourself to master pâtissier Eric Lanlard’s exquisite Afternoon Tea… it’s an Iona experience not to be missed.
In summary, the food onboard is outstanding!
Shore Experiences
There’s no denying that life on-board Iona is superb. But sailing to somewhere as beautiful as Norway is worth getting off and experiencing that beauty for yourself. Norway’s small cities and villages are awash with scenic beauty, fascinating history, delicious foods and the friendliest of people.
Our own itinerary was pre-planned for us, P&O have introduced some fantastic new shore experiences and we were there to try them out.
Starting in Stavanger where we kicked off with a walk around the picturesque wooden houses in the Old Town and harbour. We found many local restaurants and shops to explore and the best backdrops for those Instagram photos!
We were then driven to a local seafood restaurant where we dined like kings on a buffet of local delicacies, salads and seafood. From the front, it is rather unimpressive, but walk through the restaurant to the rear and you are on a stunning harbour – again superb photo opportunities.
The highlight of the day was a trip on a charter yacht (complete with champagne and fresh strawberries!), where we were taken to Lysefjord and Pulpit Rock, two famous natural beauty spots, made even more special seeing them from such luxurious transport.
The next day we were in Olden where we were driven high into the snow-capped mountains to a Yoga Retreat. This was a first for us, although some of the group were seasoned in the art, our instructor took it easy on us, making sure each of us was not over stretching and staying within our bodies limitations. We finished the session with a meditation ‘Gong Therapy’, which was magical and very spiritual. We left the retreat feeling very zen, calm and energised.
From there we hiked further into the mountains to see a glacier. The temperature difference was obvious and yet, unfortunately so were the effects of global warming as our guide pointed out to us the shrinkage in recent years. We were so pleased to be able to experience this natural wonder and again it’s a content creators dream
Following a quick lunch on-board Iona at The Quays, one of the many inclusive dining options on board. This multi-venue dining piazza offers an array of eateries and restaurants and is perfect when you don’t have a lot of time. We grabbed fish and chips and Chicken Katsu Curry and we were good to go on a Rib Ride and Cray Fishing experience.
The water was extremely calm so the rib ride that day was quite tame, but it gave us a great opportunity to see a fjord in all its natural beauty. We checked the pots along the way for Crayfish and brought home the catch. Once back on dry land, we were treated to a Cray Fish buffet at the local restaurant, washed down with some rather moreish local wine.
These shore experiences are brilliant and we were blessed with amazing weather for the time of year (April), we were caught out because we only took warm clothing – thank goodness for the shopping mall onboard!
After two action packed days, we had a morning to ourselves before a thrilling helicopter ride in Alesund. We flew high into the mountains which were covered in deep snow, we circled Iona, seeing her in all her majestic splendour from a completely different perspective. The ride was exhilarating and an experience we will never forget. We were lucky to have so many experiences and each one was so different, there really is something for everyone.
Our final day in Norway was spent in Haugesund, located between Stavanger and Bergen, this is the area where Vikings used to live and where the Viking Kings had their royal seat. Today was to include fascinating history, local culture and folklore.
But first, a second Rib Ride Safari which really was thrilling! Not only was it a white-knuckle ride, but we also took time to see stunning views of the city and picturesque islands and fishing spots dating back to Viking times. We even had a Sea Eagle fly overhead a magnificent sight. This was followed by lunch in an authentic Norwegian restaurant and the food was superb! It has to be said that the food in Norway is outstanding.
Finally, in the afternoon, at a much slower pace, we were driven to local landmarks and iconic buildings to learn much about Viking history, before boarding Iona and waving goodbye to this extraordinary and beautiful land that is Norway.
Our final day on Iona was a day at sea, it was a sad day because our fabulous adventure was coming to an end. But our memories will last forever.
We’ve definitely been inspired to start cruising again and we hope we have inspired you too. Here are some up and coming P&O Cruises you won’t want to miss!
Let us know where you go and remember…tell them we sent you!
Here are some examples of Iona’s Norwegian Cruises for 2022;
P&O Cruises is offering a 7-night cruise on Iona (G218) from £599 per person for an inside cabin. Departing June 11, 2022, the price includes full board meals and entertainment. Departing from and returning to Southampton ports of call are Stavanger, Olden, Hellesylt, Geiranger, Geirangerfjord and Haugesund. Link – https://www.pocruises.com/find-a-cruise/G218/G218
P&O Cruises is offering a 7-night cruise on Iona (G225) from £649 per person for an inside cabin. Departing July 30, 2022, the price includes full board meals and entertainment. Departing from and returning to Southampton ports of call are Stavanger, Olden, Hellesylt, Geiranger, Geirangerfjord and Haugesund. Link – https://www.pocruises.com/find-a-cruise/G225/G225
P&O Cruises is offering a 7-night cruise on Iona (G229) from £649 per person for an inside cabin. Departing August 27, 2022, the price includes full board meals and entertainment. Departing from and returning to Southampton ports of call are Stavanger, Olden, Hellesylt, Geiranger, Geirangerfjord and Haugesund. Link – https://www.pocruises.com/find-a-cruise/G229/G229
P&O Cruises is offering a 7-night cruise on Iona (G230) from £549 per person for an inside cabin. Departing September 03, 2022, the price includes full board meals and entertainment. Departing from and returning to Southampton ports of call are Stavanger, Olden, Hellesylt, Geiranger, Geirangerfjord and Haugesund. Link – https://www.pocruises.com/find-a-cruise/G230/G230
Here are some example cruises of when Marco Pierre White will be on board in 2022;
P&O Cruises is offering a 14-night cruise on Britannia (B214) from £899 per person for an inside cabin. Departing May 29, 2022, the price includes full board meals and entertainment. Departing from and returning to Southampton ports of call are La Coruna, Valencia, Marseilles, Barcelona (overnight in port) and Cadiz. Link – https://www.pocruises.com/find-a-cruise/B214/B214
P&O Cruises is offering a 14-night cruise on Iona (G238) from £629 per person for an inside cabin. Departing November 26, 2022, the price includes full board meals and entertainment. Departing from and returning to Southampton ports of call are Vigo, Gibraltar, Alicante, Barcelona, Valencia, Cadiz and Lisbon. Link – https://www.pocruises.com/find-a-cruise/G238/G238
Images supplied by P&O Cruises, Mike O’Dwyer Photography, Brogan Tate and H&N Magazine
