P&O Cruises · Excel-class
Iona
Mega-ship — 5,200 guests -- one of the larger ships at sea.
Iona tends to work well for travelers seeking family time and entertainment.
Ship DNA
family time
very high
entertainment
very high
great dining
high
nightlife
high
adventure and activity
high
a luxury feel
moderate
relaxation
moderate
Entertainment onboard tends to include live music lounges, a comedy club, family game shows, a casino (derived, low confidence).
Good to know
- Dress code
- Formal/gala evenings are a regular, more consistently expected fixture.
- Dining
- Main dining is included; specialty venues cost extra.
- Onboard vibe
- Generally a traditional, dressier atmosphere and family-friendly, mainstream energy.
- Crowd character
- Typically very busy, high-energy crowd levels.
- Typical itinerary
- Canary Islands, Mediterranean, and Northern Europe
Line-level details sourced from P&O Cruises, last verified 2026-08-19 (confidence: medium).
Likely a good fit for
- UK families
- Groups
- Travelers wanting a modern resort ship
May prefer another ship if
- You prefer small ships
- You want an international onboard atmosphere
Strengths
- Large modern ship tailored to British travelers
- Strong dining and entertainment variety
- Good family value
Known trade-offs
- High passenger volume
- British-focused style may be less familiar to international guests
Find your cruise match
Answer a few questions and see how Iona compares to 230 other ships for your travel style.
Start my recommendation →