The Iona – the new 5,200-passenger ship operated by P&O Cruises – made its first cruise call at Lisbon, Portugal.
The ship arrived in the Port of Lisbon on the evening of Oct. 6. According to a press statement, passengers were allowed to go ashore in “bubble tours.”
A customary plaque exchange took place on the Quayside with representatives of the Lisbon Harbour Master, Immigration Authority, Customs Authority, Terminal Operator, Port Authority and Port Agency exchanging plaques with Captain Andrew Wolverson.
“It was a successful call and we look forward to seeing the ship again on the 20th of this month at which time we hope passengers and crew can come ashore independently and enjoy our lovely city,” read a statement from James Rawes Navegação, port agents on the call.
P&O Cruises is changing its vaccination policy for all Caribbean holidays on Britannia and Azura with all passengers now needing to be fully vaccinated.
The line’s president Paul Ludlow said its Covid-19 protocols “needed to evolve to the changing public health situation” which had prompted the change in policy.
“Given the long-haul destinations, the number of ports of call in different countries, combined with the current health protocols and entry requirements in the Caribbean, all guests of all ages will need to be fully vaccinated in order to travel on any Caribbean holiday up to and including 27 March 2022,” said Ludlow.
“This policy will also include our long Caribbean cruises on Ventura and Aurora leaving in January and February next year.
“As always, our priority is the health and well-being of all on board and we will contact those guests who may be affected by this change.”
The change comes as P&O Cruises prepares to restart cruises on Ventura, which will become the brand’s third ship to resume international trips on Sunday (3 October).
Ventura is setting sail for the Canary Islands on its restart cruise as P&O sees more demand for international voyages. The ship joins Iona and Britannia, which sailed around the UK during the summer before restarting international itineraries last month.
P&O plans to have four ships in operation by the end of the year with Azura due to resume operations in December 2021 when it joins Britannia for the Caribbean winter season.
The brand has previously announced plans to operate its full fleet of six ships by spring 2022 when Arcadia and Aurora will begin sailing again.
“Ventura’s international restart is the result of guest confidence in cruising and is the very latest stage of P&O Cruises sailing resumption as we work towards the return of our full fleet in spring 2022,” added Ludlow.
“Due to demand and the resounding endorsement of the first international holidays on Iona and Britannia we’ve opened up increased capacity to holiday with us.
“We’re proud to have four ships sailing internationally this year giving our guests a greater choice of where and when they travel with P&O Cruises for winter sun.”
Ventura is sailing on 12-night winter-sun trips to Spain and Portugal before a 35-night round-trip itinerary from Southampton to the Caribbean departing on 3 January 2022.
The new 5,200 guests P&O Iona sailed into Southampton on Sunday ahead of her naming ceremony.
Dame Irene Hays, chair of Hays Travel, Britain’s largest independent travel agency, will name the LNG-fueled ship and a specially produced Nebuchadnezzar (equivalent to 20x 750ml bottles) of Alex James’s Britpop cider will smash against the hull of the ship to bring it a good fortune in the future.
P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow said “It is a landmark day for both P&O Cruises and for the travel industry as a whole.
“We are on the cusp of a bright new beginning and Iona’s arrival into Southampton this morning is very visible evidence of this much-anticipated future.
“Our guests are longing to get back to sea and Iona’s summer season of UK coastal cruises, including her maiden voyage on August 7 up to her namesake island of Iona, has seen overwhelming demand.”
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