Iona will sail Norway’s fjords 19 times

P&O Cruises’ Iona, the new highly-anticipated P&O flagship will make her debut on May 14, 2020, with an inaugural season in the Norwegian Fjords.

Pre-registration has now opened for all cruises on the P&O Cruises website. Bookings will go on sale to Top Tier Peninsular Club members from Monday 10 September but will be fully open to the public from Wednesday 12 September.

Itineraries on the new ship consist of one 9-night roundtrip Maiden Voyage from Southampton to Norway. This is followed by a further 17 7-night roundtrip voyages to Norway.

On her maiden voyage the ship will call at the Norwegian ports of Stavanger, Olden, Hellesylt, Geiranger and spend an overnight in Bergen with scenic cruising through five fjords: Innvikfjorden, Nordfjord, Geirangerfjord, Sunnylvsfjorden and Storfjorden for a stunning and truly special cruise.

P&O’s Norway Fjords cruise excursions include sea kayaking, river rafting, zip-lining, crayfish fishing, high-speed RIB boat tours, helicopter and plane tours.

Here’s the lowdown on the ports Iona will call at:

Stavanger

The gateway to fjord land and the first port of call for Iona’s inaugural season. The town, known as ‘Cradle of the Vikings’, is full of heritage. The ship docks right next to the old quarter of the town, Gamle Stavanger with its quaint 200-year old white wooden houses. Stavanger is a great port to explore on your own; make sure you visit the town centre to see the Stavanger Cathedral that dates back to the 12 century when the city was founded and walk down Øvre Holmegate, a colourful street of houses and shops, or choose an action-packed excursion including an exhilarating RIB boat ride through Lysefjord, stretching your legs on a Nordic Walking tour, flying over the town for marvellous views of Pulpit Rock and more.

Olden

A peaceful village amidst stunning scenery. From this port, you can visit the Briksdal Glacier! We consider this a must-do shore excursion on your Norway cruise. Other excursions on offer by P&O include Kjenndalen Glacier and Lovatnet Lake, the Loen Skylift, Nordfjord kayaking and more. Cruise through Innvikfjorden and Nordfjord on the way to the next port of call.

Hellesylt

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a former Viking settlement dwarfed by snow-capped mountains with a dramatic waterfall running through it. Hellesylt is a small village but is well positioned for overland tours.

Geiranger

This nine-mile long fjord is the poster image for Norwegian fjord cruises for its impressive scale and beauty. Explore it by RIB or kayak or hike up the mountain for a different perspective.

Bergen

Arrive in colourful Bergen for an overnight call following some scenic sailing through Geirangerfjord, Sunnylvsfjorden and Storfjorden. Previously named as ‘European City of Culture’, Bergen offers several art galleries and cultural activities. Visit Hardangerfjord from here or go zip-lining at Mount Ulriken. Hike Mount Fløyen or access it by funicular for excellent views of the city below.

Now you can imagine those views through Iona’s three-deck-tall atrium windows!

We’ll have more details on P&O Cruises’ new stunning ship soon!