Seven facts about Iona (and Iona!)

Iona’s godmother is Dame Irene Hays, chair of Hays Travel, the UK's largest independent travel agency - there is no one who has been more supportive of cruising or been more of an ambassador for the travel industry than Dame Irene Hays.

Dame Irene Hays officially named Iona on 16 May 2021.

Iona is P&O Cruises first ship powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), resulting in a 20% reduction in carbon output plus zero sulphur and nitrogen emissions, paving the way for a more sustainable future.

Iona is P&O Cruises first Excel class ship. With 5,200-Guest capacity and 1,800 ship's company, she's 344m long and is the largest ship built to serve the UK market! 

In partnership with Salcombe Distilling Co., a limited amount of Marabelle Gin will be distilled on board each day.

If there’s a gold seal on the bottle our Guests will know that this gin has been distilled by a gin specialist inside Anderson’s Bar & Library, in our very own gin still ‘Columba’, named after the founder of the Abbey on the island of Iona in the sixth century. It's the very first gin distillery at sea!

From healthy to decadent, from hearty to delicate, there's a menu and venue for every mood. Plus, a first for the fleet, Guests have full flexibility as Freedom Dining is standard in all the main dining rooms.

Iona’s SkyDome is the first of its kind in the cruise industry. It sits on two decks – deck 16 is where you’ll find food and drink, as well as the swimming pool, whirlpools and sun loungers. Deck 17  is a mezzanine level offering a bar and seating area, making it perfect for relaxing during the day or watching the entertainment at night.

A first for the fleet, Iona has a dedicated crew coffee shop called 'The Summit'. Every crew cabin also has a built in WiFi router to make it easier for colleagues to stay connected to friends and family.

Only 1.5 miles wide by 3 miles long, and with a population of around 120 permanent residents, Iona is part of the Inner Hebrides off Scotland’s west coast –a 10-minute ferry crossing from the Ross of Mull.

Despite its petite size, it’s packed with historical and natural wonders and is renowned for its idyllic beaches and spiritual serenity.

Helped on by the warm Atlantic Gulf Stream, floral and botanical treasures thrive on Iona. This rich bounty is one of the reasons the founders of Salcombe Distilling Co. chose the island to forage for botanicals to distil Marabelle Gin, a spirit created exclusively for P&O Cruises and available on Iona.

‘We found some fantastic examples of juniper on the island, together with apple mint,’ says co-founder Angus Lugsdin. Add to that Head Distiller Jason Nickels particular passion –sugar kelp, which he says imparts a subtle flavour and aroma of the sea, but also adds a wonderful rich oiliness that smooths out and enhances some of the drier flavours.

If you're travelling on Iona, try a Marabelle Gin and tonic in honour of this beautiful Scottish island.

Iona is home to several unusual birds and summer can be a particularly exciting time to spot puffins, oystercatchers, goldfinch and Arctic tern. You may even chance upon the melodic call of a skylark.

In the deep water around the island, dolphins play in the white water and from June onwards, orcas and pilot whales can often make an appearance. Closer to shore, seals enjoy basking on the rocks, and otters catch fish in the shallows.

Due to its remote location, Iona still has remnants of the monastic settlement founded by St Columba in the 6th century.

The Benedictine nunnery is better preserved, along with Iona Abbey, which was restored in the 20th century and is a place of pilgrimage today.

Sipping water from The Well of Eternal Youth is an ancient pastime. Celtic myths speak of the 6th-century St Brigid of Ireland visiting Iona at midnight on the summer solstice to bless the waters of this little pool. Visitors often wash their faces or sip from its waters as a way of seeking new beginnings.

Sìthean Mòr (also known as fairy hill) is associated with Pagan and Christian rituals and is believed to hold powers of the supernatural.

‘Tha Eilean Ì na eilean àlainn’ means 'Iona is a lovely island'; your efforts in Gaelic will be appreciated by the locals!

For such a small island, Iona has an active local craft scene. There are several galleries, potters’ studios and local handicraft shops selling unique creations made on the island. Woollen goods woven from the resident flock are also popular.

Iona Marble was mined at the Marble Quarry on Iona’s southeast coast until the early 20th century. White and streaked with yellow-green veins, it's unique to the island.

Iona marble has made its way into churches all over the world, including St Andrew’s Church in Jerusalem, and there’s a substantial example at the alter inside Iona Abbey.