Cruise news

At last some welcome news for the Covid- battered British cruise industry – P& O has taken delivery of its new

17- deck flagship Iona.

The 185,000 gross tonnage vessel was handed over at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany.

She’s the largest ever built for the UK market, and also the first to be powered by liquefied natural gas ( LNG).

P& O Cruises president Paul Ludlow said at the handover ceremony: “Iona’s delivery is a very positive signal for the future of cruising.

‘’ 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 home port of Southampton.

“Our operations are paused until early 2021 and Iona will not be sailing for the moment – but we look forward to our guests experiencing this gamechanging ship.” The pandemic has crippled cruises worldwide and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office has advised against all ocean voyages. pocruises. com