Back in February 2024 we boarded the P&O Iona on a two week cruise to the canaries from Southampton.
Our first time with P&O we were nervous having become so familiar with MSC. We had looked up what Iona had to offer for Warren who had only just turned 3 and were impressed with that she seemed to offer to keep him entertained.
Iona which was delivered back in 2020, which at the time was P&Os largest cruise ship at 184,089 gross tonnes and 344.5m. However Iona’s debut was delayed due to the Pandemic, where she later sailed her maiden voyage in August 2021. Iona can host up to 5,206 passengers and 1,762 crew onboard, over 19 decks.
Boasting a total of 12 bars and 14 restaurants, there is bound to be something to cater for all onboard. She also boasts 4 pools including one indoors and 16 whirlpools.
Restaurants and places to eat
We enjoyed the food on offer on Iona and we were not alone, our fussy toddler always had plenty of choice to keep him entertained. In the evenings within the buffet they host a kids tea, slightly earlier, to cater for the youngsters onboard. This always contained staples such as pasta, pizza, sandwiches, fish or chicken and chips plus plenty of fruits and vegetables alongside. It’s worth noting that many people also stopped by the kids buffet as they served ice cream daily, which apart from the main dining areas was the only other space this could be obtained free of charge.
We as a family also loved eating at the quays, an almost fast food approach to some popular cuisines, with smaller plates, perfect for on the go. We loved the daily specials at Fusion. Alongside the popular fish and chip bar, hook line and vinegar. Which for me offers the best fish and chips at sea to date.
A unique twist on a paid restaurant is the Olive tree, this offers guests a number of free options for lunch or dinner alongside some paid options also, however we found prices incredibly reasonable from just a couple of pounds. We loved the menu here, but be warned booking is a must as this booked up super quick before we even boarded. However I will note we found service so slow here, with one or two courses often taking over 1.5hrs. We were also surprised to be told they were fully booked often, when only 4 or 5 tables had guests seated.
We visited the buffet a number of times, however out of all the eateries onboard we found this the most disappointing for lunches and dinners, we found the menu seemed to either offer a curry dish or a roast plus a few sides and staples, we didn’t see much variety around this and so tended to stay away at dinner or lunch.
Breakfast at the buffet offered more variety and we loved that they did different “special” sausage each day which varied alongside the staple items. One thing we always noticed within the buffet was there was always a good choice of gluten free dishes available at all meal times.
We visited the main dining room a number of times, however we were surprised that the menu was not available on the app. We found the service to be quick in the rooms, but once again be sure to book a table as these fill up quickly and if you want to be seated, you may have a long waiting time. We were surprised that we were unable to book a regular dining time onboard, but instead this would vary day to day.
This October we are headed back with P&O on the Arvia with our first transatlantic. So we’re looking forward to seeing if there’s much difference onboard Arvia. We’ve heard some great reviews. so we’re definitely looking forward to a much needed break.
