P&O Cruises has revealed the inaugural winter 2020/21 cruise season for its brand new cruise ship Iona.
The quintessentially P&O itineraries were revealed via Twitter, and include late departures and overnight stays in iconic destinations across the Mediterranean and Europe.
P&O’s Iona will cruise to Spain, Portugal and the Canary Islands during her inaugural season
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Between October 2020 and March 2021 Iona will sail south from Southampton to Spain, Portugal and the Canary Islands for winter sun.
Guests will be able to enjoy day-into-night visits on shore to discover local nightlife with late departures from Barcelona, Valencia, Tenerife and Fuerteventura.
I love these itineraries so much, quintessential @pandocruises 😁 https://t.co/Nem5w40969
— Cruise Arabia (@CruiseArabia) February 12, 2019
Overnight stays in Barcelona, Lisbon, Cadiz and Rotterdam are also featured in the itineraries.
On her cruises to Spain, Portugal and the Canary Islands guests aboard Iona will be able to experience unique shore excursions, including ‘canyoning’ in Madeira, sundowners with the stars in Tenerife and rafting on the Mino River in Vigo.
Hamburg is one of the Northern European ports where Iona will stay overnight
P&O’s Iona won’t just cruise in the Mediterranean though, she’ll also sail from Southampton to Northern Europe, visiting Hamburg and Rotterdam.
Highlights of the cruise itineraries to Northern European include shore excursions that let guests follow in the footsteps of the Beatles in Hamburg.
There’s an evening adventure to uncover where the band found fame, and a visit to a cult bar for German Schnapps.
The dramatic midships coffee bar aboard Iona
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“P&O Cruises has a strong tradition of taking guests to enjoy winter sun and vibrant northern European cities, and now we’re helping them discover a new side of well-known destinations,” said Paul Ludlow, President of P&O Cruises.
“By scheduling late departures for Iona from ports our guests will be able to make the most of days and evenings on shore, with an enviable selection of experiences that will showcase the very best of hidden Spain, Portugal, the Canary Islands and northern European cities,” he added.
Iona will be the largest cruise ship ever built for P&O Cruises and its first newbuild since the introduction of Britannia in 2015.
The 183,900-gross ton ship is the first of two identical ships being built for P&O. Her sister ship will be launched in 2022, while Iona will enter service in 2020.
This new class of cruise ship, built on the same platform as Carnival Cruise Line’s new Mardi Gras, will have a three-deck-high atrium with a grand staircase and 17 restaurants, 8 specialty restaurants, and 12 bars.
There will be 16 whirlpools and 4 swimming pools, one of which will be part of a glass-covered entertainment venue called SkyDome, with a retractable stage for shows.
Iona will also have a half-mile-long lanai deck with a covered promenade and outdoor restaurants.
Iona‘s inaugural winter season will go on sale on March 18th, 2019, pre-registration for the itineraries opens at 8am UK time on March 11th.
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