Stephen Mulhern and Jason Manford will headline new entertainment programmes aboard Iona and Arvia across selected 2026 P&O Cruises sailings.

P&O Cruises has announced two new entertainment initiatives for its 2026 programme, with a Limelight Club residency by television presenter and magician Stephen Mulhern alongside a season of comedy performances curated by Jason Manford.

Mulhern will debut a new show, Stephen Mulhern’s Live & Unbelievable!, during a series of seven-night Norwegian fjords sailings and a Spain and France itinerary on board Iona in July and August 2026. The performances will take place across four evenings on each cruise, forming part of an extended residency in the ship’s Limelight Club venue.

The programme also includes an interactive element, with Mulhern hosting a family-focused workshop on one sea day per sailing, offering guests the opportunity to learn basic techniques linked to the show. The sessions are positioned as part of the broader onboard entertainment mix, which continues to emphasise a combination of stage performances and participatory activities.

“Stephen is a phenomenal entertainer and a firm favourite with our guests, so we’re delighted to welcome him for an exclusive Limelight Club residency on Iona this summer,” said Paul Ludlow, President, Carnival UK & P&O Cruises.

“From evening performances to interactive family workshops, this residency perfectly reflects what P&O Cruises does best – bringing unforgettable experiences on board that appeal to guests of all ages, while offering something genuinely special you can’t find anywhere else,” he added.

Alongside this residency, P&O Cruises has also confirmed that Manford’s Comedy Club will be introduced on selected sailings aboard Iona and Arvia between May and October 2026. The concept will feature comedians selected by Jason Manford, with performances scheduled in the Limelight Club as part of a ticketed evening programme.

The comedy series is designed as an adults-only offering, with each event featuring two performers per show. Across the season, the programme is expected to include 70 comedians delivering a total of 140 performances, spanning approximately 35 cruises to destinations including France, Spain, Italy, and the Norwegian fjords.

“We are delighted to be partnering with Jason Manford to bring Manford’s Comedy Club on board Iona and Arvia,” Ludlow said. “Working with one of the UK’s best-loved comedians allows us to offer our guests something truly special, which further strengthens the entertainment we offer on board.”

Both initiatives are centred on the Limelight Club, a smaller-capacity venue combining dining with live performance, which has increasingly been used for curated entertainment formats distinct from main theatre productions. The addition of residency-style programming and curated comedy reflects a broader trend among cruise lines towards diversifying onboard entertainment with more targeted, experience-led offerings.

The programmes will be rolled out across selected sailings from Southampton during the 2026 season, forming part of the line’s wider European deployment. Pricing for the cruises varies by itinerary and cabin type, with entertainment offerings integrated into the broader onboard experience, while certain events, including comedy performances, are expected to be ticketed separately.

Selected 2026 entertainment sailings

July 25th, 2026: 7-night Norwegian fjords, Southampton roundtrip (Iona) – from £779 per person

August 1st, 2026: 7-night Norwegian fjords, Southampton roundtrip (Iona) – from £879 per person

August 8th, 2026: 7-night Spain and France, Southampton roundtrip (Iona) – from £829 per person

July 4th, 2026: 7-night Norwegian fjords, Southampton roundtrip (Iona) – from £829 per person

August 16th, 2026: 14-night Spain and France, Southampton roundtrip (Arvia) – from £1,229 per person