SOUTHAMPTON, England,
Oct. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- At
an official handover ceremony with the Meyer Werft shipyard in
Germany on Friday, P&O Cruises
took ownership of Iona, the latest addition to its fleet and the
largest cruise ship ever built for the UK market.
At 185,000 tonnes, 345m in length
with 17 guest decks and setting new ground for guest experience,
Iona is the first British cruise ship to be powered by liquefied
natural gas (LNG).
P&O Cruises president, Paul
Ludlow, who was present at the event in Papenburg and signed
the Protocol for Delivery and Acceptance said:
"Iona's delivery is a very positive signal for the future of
cruising. She is now officially part of the P&O Cruises
fleet and 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.
"Already eagerly anticipated by our guests, crew and the
communities we visit, events this year have increased the sense of
anticipation even more.
"Whilst our operations are currently paused until early 2021
Iona will not be sailing for the moment but we look forward to our
guests experiencing this game-changing ship as we will continue to
offer unparalleled holidays at sea whilst also upholding the latest
approved travel protocols."
Iona will also herald a new era in cruise holidays with many
first of their kind features including the unique two-deck SkyDome.
Its glass dome roof and spacious layout flooded with natural light
offers relaxing and unrivalled views of the surrounding sky and
sea. SkyDome is a tranquil pool environment by day with dining and
entertainment by night, including stunning specially commissioned
aerial entertainment shows under the stars.
Guests can also craft individual gins at the first ever gin
distillery at sea or unwind in the Oasis spa featuring a range of
destination-themed treatments.
Iona will have eight specialty
restaurants including yet to be unveiled concepts, as well as 13
entertainment venues, four swimming pools including a spectacular
infinity pool at the aft of the ship and 16 whirlpools.
For more information or to book, call P&O Cruises on
03453 555 111, visit www.pocruises.com or visit a travel
agent.
About P&O Cruises
P&O Cruises is Britain's
favourite cruise line, welcoming guests to experience the good life
and enjoy a blend of discovery, relaxation and exceptional service
catered towards British tastes. P&O Cruises fleet of
premium ships combine genuine service, a sense of occasion and
attention to detail, ensuring guests have the holiday of a
lifetime, every time.
In 2021, P&O Cruises will launch Iona. The new
LNG-powered ship, with 5,200-guest capacity, will be the largest
ship built to serve the UK market. Iona will feature
enhancements to already successful brand signature venues from the
existing fleet, as well as features newly developed for
Iona. These include a breathtaking three deck atrium in the
heart of the ship as well as SkyDome – an exclusively designed
glass dome by award-winning British engineers Eckersley
O'Callaghan. This will be a world first at sea and offer a unique
space for both relaxing in all weathers and providing
entertainment, featuring aerial performers and a wealth of live
acts.
P&O Cruises visits over 200 destinations worldwide and
offers itineraries generally ranging from two to 17 days and also
an annual world cruise. P&O Cruises sails to Australia & New
Zealand, Baltic, the British Isles, Canada, the Spain, Portugal & the Canary Islands, the
Caribbean, Central America, Dubai & the Arabian Gulf,
the Far East & Asia, the
Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean, Scandinavia, South America, the South Pacific, the United States and Western Europe.
The company is part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE:
CCL; NYSE:CUK).
For images visit:
https://www.pocruisespresspictures.com/
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SOURCE P&O Cruises