Iona at Cádiz, Spain

Cruise Frog guide

Iona

Iona is a P&O Cruises cruise ship of the Excellence class, in service since 2021. She measures 184,089 gross tons and carries 5,206 guests with a crew of 1,762. She sails Northern Europe, Canary Islands, Norwegian Fjords itineraries.

Not yet rated Add to your passportNorthern EuropeCanary IslandsNorwegian Fjords

About Iona

Iona is an Excellence-class ship built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, and the first ship for the British market powered by liquefied natural gas. Delivered in October 2020, she waited out the pandemic until her maiden voyage from Southampton on 7 August 2021. At about 184,100 gross tons she carries about 5,200 guests, with 17 places to eat, 12 bars and the SkyDome, a glass-roofed pool and entertainment venue with a retractable stage. She sails from Southampton, usually to the Canary Islands and northern Europe, with Norwegian fjords cruises and her first Caribbean visit in 2025; a dry-dock refurbishment followed in Rotterdam in October 2025.

Ratings

How she ranks
Cabins
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Dining
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Entertainment
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Service
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Pools & decks
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Editorial scores, 1 to 5 per metric; the overall is their average, not an average of reader reviews.

Deck plans

No deck plans on record for this ship yet.

Where she sails

Home port: Southampton, England.

Flying in for your cruise?

Iona sails from Southampton, England. The airport is London Heathrow (LHR), with 40 lounges to wait in before you board.

All 40 lounges at London Heathrow on Lounge FrogEvery ship sailing from Southampton, England

Quick answers

Which cruise line operates Iona?

Iona is operated by P&O Cruises and belongs to its Excellence class.

How big is Iona?

Iona measures 184,089 gross tons and 344 metres in length, with 19 decks.

How crowded does Iona feel?

Iona has a passenger space ratio of 35.4: 184,089 gross tons for 5,206 guests. Ratios over 50 feel spacious and under 30 busy, so Iona feels comfortable for her size.

How many passengers does Iona carry?

Iona carries 5,206 guests at double occupancy, with a crew of 1,762 (about 3.0 guests per crew member).

When did Iona enter service?

Iona entered service in 2021 and was last refurbished in 2025.

Where does Iona sail?

Iona sails Northern Europe, Canary Islands and Norwegian Fjords itineraries. Her home port is Southampton, England.

Which airport should I fly into for Iona?

Iona sails from Southampton, England. Fly into London Heathrow (LHR), which has 40 airport lounges listed on Lounge Frog.

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