If you are thinking about booking a cruise on P&O Iona, or you already have one booked, this is the guide that will help you avoid the common mistakes and understand how the ship actually works in practice.
Iona is one of the largest cruise ships sailing from the UK, regularly departing from Southampton, and while it is a very well-designed ship, there are a few details that are not immediately obvious until you are onboard. These are the things that tend to catch first-time passengers out.
Having cruised on Iona twice, this guide focuses on what you genuinely need to know before you sail, based on real onboard experience rather than brochure descriptions.
P&O Iona Video
To see what the ship is actually like onboard, watch my full video guide below. This walks you through everything visually, alongside the key tips in this article:
What to Do Before Embarkation
The experience on Iona starts well before you arrive at the port, and the preparation you do in advance will directly affect how smooth embarkation day feels.
Online check-in usually opens around twenty one days before your sailing. This is where you complete all the essential steps including uploading passport details, adding a payment card for onboard spending, uploading your security photo, and downloading your boarding pass along with your luggage labels. These documents are required at the terminal, so it is worth completing this as soon as it opens rather than leaving it until the last minute.
Your embarkation time will also be assigned during this process. On P&O Cruises, you cannot choose or change this time. It is allocated automatically and is typically influenced by your cabin location and your Peninsular Club loyalty level. Earlier boarding slots are often given to higher loyalty tiers or certain cabin grades.
Specialty dining is another area where early preparation makes a difference. Restaurants such as Sindhu, The Epicurean and The Beach House open for reservations up to one hundred and twenty days before sailing. If you want a specific time or a particular evening, booking early gives you far more control over your schedule once onboard.
The same applies to entertainment. Theatre reservations normally open around fourteen days before the cruise, with three shows per evening, typically at around six forty five, eight thirty and ten thirty. The middle performance is usually the most popular, so it is worth securing that in advance if it fits your plans.
If you are travelling with children, pre-registering them for the Reef kids clubs before you sail will save time on embarkation day. While registration is free, you can also pay to reserve sessions in advance if you want guaranteed availability, which can be useful during busy sailings.
What Is Included on P&O Iona
One of the biggest misconceptions about cruising is what is actually included in the fare, and on Iona, the included offering is broader than many first-time passengers expect.
Your cruise fare covers meals across a wide range of venues. The four main dining rooms, Coral, Pearl, Aqua and Opal, all serve the same menu and are included for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Horizon buffet provides a more casual option throughout the day with a wide selection of dishes.
The Quays area, often referred to as a food hall, includes venues such as Hook Line and Vinegar for fish and chips, Asian Fusion for stir fries and noodles, and the Boardwalk Diner for burgers. These are all included and operate on a walk-up basis.
Taste 360 in the SkyDome offers casual options such as pizza, burgers and hot dogs, while Olive Grove provides Mediterranean-style dishes and is also included in your fare, although it operates slightly differently in terms of reservations.
Drinks such as tea, coffee, water and juice are available in self-service areas like the buffet and The Quays. There are also water stations around the ship, so bringing a refillable bottle is practical and saves time.
Beyond food, your fare includes theatre shows, live music, daytime activities, access to pools and hot tubs, and use of the gym. You are also free to explore ports independently without booking excursions, which is a key advantage for those who prefer flexibility.
Importantly, gratuities are included in the price on P&O Cruises, which simplifies budgeting compared to some other cruise lines.
How the My Holiday App Planner Works
One of the most misunderstood aspects of cruising on Iona is the My Holiday system.
Despite being referred to as an app, it is actually a web-based platform that you access through the ship’s internal Wi-Fi network. This network is free to use, so you do not need to purchase an internet package to access your schedule, bookings or onboard account.
Once connected, My Holiday becomes the central hub for your cruise. You can use it to join dining queues, reserve theatre shows, check your spending, and organise your daily plans. It is worth bookmarking the page on your phone before boarding so that you can access it immediately once onboard. And here’s a link to the My Holiday Webpage so that you can save it on your phone
Each passenger also receives one hour of free external Wi-Fi during the cruise, which can be used for messages or light browsing.
If you prefer not to rely on your phone, the system is optional. You can still visit restaurants, guest services or entertainment venues in person and speak directly to staff, who will assist you in the same way.
How Dining Works on P&O Iona
Dining on Iona is different from older ships in the P&O Cruises fleet because it does not use fixed dining times in the traditional sense.
Instead, Iona operates an Anytime Dining system. To dine in the main dining rooms, you typically join a virtual queue using the My Holiday system. Once your table is ready, you receive a notification and can head to the restaurant.
The queue usually opens at six in the evening, and this is a key point. If you want to dine at peak times, it is worth joining the queue as early as possible. Waiting until you are already hungry often results in longer delays.
If you do not want to use the system, you can go directly to the restaurant and ask to be added to the queue in person. All four dining rooms serve the same menu, so the best approach is to choose whichever has the shortest wait.
Casual venues such as The Quays, Taste 360 and the Horizon buffet do not require reservations or queues in the same way. You can simply walk in and eat.
Olive Grove typically requires a reservation once onboard, and this is where many people get caught out. If it appears fully booked early in the cruise, it is worth checking again later or speaking to the maître d’, as availability often changes.
Specialty restaurants can be booked before the cruise or through the My Holiday system onboard. Keel and Cow uses a virtual queue rather than reservations, which is another detail that is not always obvious until you are onboard.
View Sample Menus on Iona
If you want to see what is actually served onboard P&O Iona, you can view sample menus from the main dining rooms and other included venues. And also menus for the Speciality Restaurants. This gives you a much clearer idea of the food choices before you sail:
Entertainment on P&O Iona
Entertainment is spread across multiple venues on Iona, and understanding how it is structured helps you plan your evenings more effectively.
The main shows take place in the Headliners Theatre, with three performances each night. Booking in advance is the best way to secure a seat, particularly for the more popular productions.
If you do not have a reservation, you can still join the standby queue. In practice, many people do get in this way, especially for the later shows.
Beyond the theatre, there is a wide range of entertainment across the ship. This includes live music in various bars, quizzes, bingo, talks, and films at Ocean Studios, which is a four-screen cinema.
The SkyDome becomes a key entertainment venue in the evening, hosting silent discos and large-scale shows with lighting effects and acrobatics. It is one of the most distinctive spaces on the ship and worth experiencing at least once.
Daily schedules are published in the Horizon magazine, which is delivered to your cabin or available digitally through My Holiday.
P&O Iona Formal Nights and What to Pack
Dress codes on Iona are generally relaxed, but there are still a few details worth understanding before you pack.
Most evenings are smart casual, which means trousers, shirts, dresses or polo shirts are perfectly acceptable across most venues.
Gala Evenings introduce a more formal element. While not strictly enforced, many passengers choose to dress up in suits, tuxedos, cocktail dresses or evening gowns. This creates a noticeably different atmosphere on those evenings.
On a typical seven-night cruise, you can expect one Gala Evening, while longer itineraries usually include two.
If you prefer to remain casual, you can still dine in venues such as the buffet, The Quays or The Beach House, which do not enforce formal dress codes.
Some venues do maintain the formal standard on Gala Evenings, including Sindhu, The Epicurean, Anderson’s Bar and the Crows Nest, so it is worth planning accordingly.
A practical detail that is often overlooked is temperature. The Headliners Theatre can feel cool in the evenings, so bringing a light jacket or jumper is useful.
Is P&O Iona Family Friendly?
Iona is designed with families in mind, and this is reflected in both the facilities and the overall layout of the ship.
There are multiple pools, large open deck areas and a full schedule of organised activities throughout the day. This makes it easy for families to structure their time without needing to plan everything in advance.
The Reef kids clubs cater to different age groups, which helps ensure that activities are appropriate and engaging. Teenagers have their own space called Scene, which functions more as a social lounge.
Children need to be registered before attending the clubs. If you want guaranteed access to sessions, you can pay to reserve them in advance. Otherwise, bookings typically open each morning for the following day.
Cabin design also supports families well. Many cabins accommodate three or four guests, using a combination of sofa beds and pull-down bunks, which makes Iona a practical choice for family travel.
Cabin Types on P&O Iona
Iona offers a wide range of cabin types, and choosing the right one depends on how you plan to use your space during the cruise.
Inside cabins are the most affordable and work well if you expect to spend most of your time around the ship. Sea view cabins add natural light through a window, which can make the space feel more open without the cost of a balcony.
Balcony cabins are the most popular option, providing private outdoor space. At the higher end, mini suites and suites offer additional space and extra features.
One specific cabin type to be aware of is the conservatory mini suite on Deck 8. These are located alongside the promenade, which means people walking past can see into the conservatory area. This reduces privacy compared to other balcony-style cabins.
All cabins are well equipped with a bathroom, shower, toiletries, a desk, kettle, fridge, hairdryer and television. Storage includes a wardrobe and safe, and there are both UK and European sockets along with USB ports.
A particularly useful feature on Iona is the presence of launderettes on each cabin deck. These are especially valuable on longer cruises and reduce the need to overpack.
Useful Cruise Items to Consider
These are a few simple items that can make your cruise on P&O Arvia more comfortable and help you stay organised onboard.
I personally use variations of these when cruising, and they’re all practical rather than essential.
Magnetic hooks Perfect for extra storage in your cabin
Packing cubes Keep your suitcase organised
Cruise luggage tags Protect your tags at the port
Travel Extension Lead UK For charging multiple phones, cameras, and laptops
Toiletry organiser Great for small bathrooms
This article may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Drinks Packages and What You Can Bring Onboard P&O Iona
Before purchasing a drinks package, it is important to understand what is already included.
Basic drinks such as tea, coffee and water are available in multiple locations across the ship, which means not everyone needs a package.
P&O Cruises offers several drinks packages, ranging from soft drinks and alcohol-free options through to packages that include a wide selection of alcoholic beverages. The Classic package is typically the most popular, while the Deluxe package includes a broader range of premium options.
If you are travelling with children, under seventeens receive the Reefresh package when an adult purchases the Classic or Deluxe package, which can add value for families.
Pay-as-you-go remains a valid option, particularly if you do not drink regularly.
One useful detail is that you can order full bottles of spirits to your cabin through room service, which is not always widely advertised.
Each adult is allowed to bring one litre of wine or champagne onboard, along with soft drinks. This is a straightforward way to reduce onboard spending.
If you are unsure whether a drinks package is worth it on P&O Iona, I have a full guide that breaks down exactly what is included, how much you need to drink to make it worthwhile, and the common mistakes people make:
Watch my full P&O drinks package guide here
How Disembarkation Works on P&O Iona
The final part of your cruise is disembarkation, and understanding the process helps avoid unnecessary stress on the last day. Around two days before the end of your cruise, you will receive information in your cabin explaining your options.
Self-disembarkation allows you to carry your own luggage off the ship and leave earlier. This is usually the quickest option and works well if you have early travel arrangements.
Standard disembarkation involves leaving your luggage outside your cabin the night before. The crew collects it overnight, and you collect it in the terminal after leaving the ship. You will be given a specific time and location to meet before disembarkation begins.
Cabins generally need to be vacated by around eight in the morning, although breakfast is still available before you leave.
What Most People Do Not Realise About P&O Iona
The one thing that is difficult to fully appreciate until you step onboard Iona is the scale of the ship.
It is significantly larger than many traditional cruise ships sailing from the UK, and this affects everything from walking distances to how you plan your day. Moving between venues can take longer than expected, particularly during busy periods.
The ship has also undergone updates in recent refits, with changes to certain areas onboard, which means layouts and venues may differ slightly from older guides or videos.
Understanding how the ship is structured deck by deck is what allows you to use it properly rather than spending the first few days trying to find your way around.
Useful Guides for Your P&O Cruise
If you are planning a cruise on P&O Iona, it helps to understand how the key parts of the onboard experience actually work before you sail.
My P&O drinks package guide explains what’s included, how the pricing works and whether it’s worth it in practice.
For food, my Iona dining options guide breaks down every restaurant onboard, what’s included, how the system works and which venues are actually worth using.
And if you are still deciding between ships, my guide to which P&O ship is right for you compares the fleet so you can see where Iona fits.
Useful Cruise Items to Consider
These are a few simple items that can make your cruisemore comfortable and help you stay organised onboard. I personally use variations of these when cruising, and they’re all practical rather than essential.
Magnetic hooks Perfect for extra storage in your cabin
Packing cubes Keep your suitcase organised
Cruise luggage tags Protect your tags at the port
Travel Extension Lead UK For charging multiple phones, cameras, and laptops
Toiletry organiser Great for small bathrooms
You can also browse my full Cruise Essentials list for more useful items I use or recommend for cruise holidays.
This article may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Staying Connected at Sea
If you don’t want to rely entirely on the ship’s Wi-Fi, another option is a cruise eSIM.
Saily has recently launched cruise eSIM plans that provide mobile data both at sea and in supported ports. Depending on your itinerary and how you use your phone, this could be a convenient alternative for messaging, maps and general internet browsing.
You can check the latest plans and coverage here: Saily Cruise Esim
Use code SOLOTRAVEL10 to receive 10% off your purchase.
Affiliate disclosure: This section contains an affiliate link. If you purchase through this link, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I haven’t personally tested Saily’s cruise eSIM yet, so please check the latest coverage, data allowances and device compatibility before purchasing.