Fireworks lit up the sky above the island of Iona last night as P&O Cruises newest and largest cruise ship which bears the same name celebrated the first call on her long awaited maiden voyage.
Cruise line president Paul Ludlow said: “Iona’s maiden voyage is the start of a new era in travel as Britain’s most environmentally-friendly cruise ship, the first in the country powered by liquefied natural gas, sets sail.
“For this special maiden voyage we wanted to bring guests to the island of Iona which has influenced many aspects of the ship – the sense of space in the SkyDome through to our gin still named “Columba”, the heather in our Marabelle gin distilled on board and, of course, the name of the ship.”
The ship anchored adjacent to the island of Iona, pictured above, ahead of commencing scenic cruising around the Isle of Colonsay, Lochbuie, Duart Castle, Tobermory, Bac Mòr, Fingal’s Cave, Sound of Jura, Claggain Bay, Mull of Kintyre and Sanda Island.
Iona’s first-ever cruise is currently sailing around the UK coast, for seven nights, having departed P&O Cruises home port of Southampton on Saturday (7 August).
After an inaugural season of UK coastal cruises Iona will offer holidays to Spain and the Canary Islands from September 2021. Fourteen night cruises are available from £1,299 per person.