P&O Cruises’ Iona recently completed five years of service after being delivered by the Meyer Werft shipyard on October 9, 2020.

Part of Carnival Corporation’s Excel series, the 183,000-ton vessel debuted as the largest ship built for the British brand.

The Iona also became the first LNG-powered ship dedicated to the British market and the biggest ship designed for the country.

According to P&O, highlights onboard the vessel include a series of eight specialty restaurants, as well as 13 entertainment venues, four swimming pools and 16 whirlpools.

With cruise operations suspended due to the pandemic, the Iona spent nearly one year in layup before welcoming its first guests.

As P&O restarted its operations in the United Kingdom, the 5,200-guest ship embarked on its maiden voyage on August 7, 2021.

The seven-night cruise started with a firework display in Southampton and included a visit to the vessel’s namesake island in Scotland.

While guests were not able to disembark at any port due to the pandemic restrictions, the Iona offered scenic cruising around the Isle of Colonsay, Lochbuie, Duart Castle, Tobermory, Bac Mòr, Fingal’s Cave, the Sound of Jura, Claggain Bay, Mull of Kintyre and Sanda Island.

The ship then continued to sail from Southampton on a year-round basis for itineraries to Northern Europe, the Canaries and Scandinavia.

Before completing its fifth year of service, the Iona entered drydock at a shipyard in Rotterdam earlier this year.

As reported by Cruise Industry News, the ship arrived at the facility for routine maintenance and technical overhauls in October.

During the 2025-26 winter season, the vessel is set to offer a series of 14-night cruises to destinations in Spain, Portugal, the Canary Islands, France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.

In early 2026, the Iona is also set to embark on a 35-night cruise to the Caribbean that sails roundtrip from Southampton.