The food on the Iona is fantastic and you can eat from 6 in the morning till 2 the next morning. I showed a little restraint with all the food available and only put 3kg on.
I did this cruise last week. Lots of problems. Started with car parking at the port, a big mix-up that is now in the hands of my lawyers. A long queue to enter the port building that stretched outside into the wind and cold. But cheif amongst them was the inclement weather and the cancellation of the stops in Valencia (a city wide marathon) and Lisbon (port pilots strike). These stops were replaced with Malaga and A Coruna. So Portugal was missed out entirely. Wind, cloud, and rain followed the ship. Gibralter it rained, Alicante it rained. Barcelona was ok, thankfully, and the sun came out for Cadiz at the end of the andalusia drive excursion. Rough seas and wind crossing the Bay of Biscay. Acces to outside promenade was prohibited. Buffet was overcrowded for breakfast, and buffet options for dinner were motorway cafe standard at best. The main dining menues were bland but the speciality restaurants were excellent. The my holiday app used for booking stuff was problematic. The dining virtual queueing system was frustrating. Wifi was expensive. Un prompted by me, most people I met rated their experience on IONA a 5/10 and just ok. I doubt I will sail on IONA again. Other P&O cruises on Britania and Ventura were better, imho.
Wow you seem to of had the rough end of the stick. As my wife is disabled we got pushed through the crowd. But staff were all saying if people turned up at the alloted time the queue wouldn't be so bad. Sea was rough in the bay. But had all our ports and sun to go with it, shows in the sky dome canceled because of rough sea and a high cross wind in the med. On days in port made a point of having breakfast early or a bit later to avoid the rush. The only bad meal we had was the chief special on captain's night. But last year did the Xmas Market trip on the Iona. Yes the food standard was much better, but all the ports and markets were screwed up covid still about. Had a good holiday but yes standards have definitely dropped.
@@kengsadventure1806 I think I may have just been having a bad luck period before the cruise... a couple days before I left my printer broke (printing boarding pass and luggage labels), my electric tooth brush broke, my tuxedo didn't fit (did 4 years ago !), my dishwasher broke. When I got to the Southampton I thought I had selected the free car parking for reduced onboard spend but there was not record of my free car parking. Apparently I was supposed to call them to confirm I wanted it !!! ..... I didn't see that part on the Iglu website as I switched over to the P&O site (as instructed) for excursions etc... and to print the labels. So I was charged £160 for parking. When I got on board I found that my onboard spend had been docked £60 .... for the parking option. So I am £220 out of pocket. Iglu have not come back regarding my complaint. Hence the lawyer. I was at the cruise terminal bang on time but got delayed while I was screaming in the car park. I thought standards had dropped from before Covid but I thought perhaps it was just a new policy and a way to increase profit margins. I guess they have a lot of revenue catching up to do as they were unable to sail during covid. Given the bad UK weather I am looking to cruise again soon, but I may chose a different cruise line.
@@grumblewoof4721 You got off lightly, our parking £240 left it to the week before big mistake. We had booked to be on the same cruise as you but changed it for family reasons I've got a new grandson home just in time. Well l hope you luck has turned around and you have a good Xmas.
I am hopefully going on the Iona on 30th December. May I recommend Saga cruises to you my parents have been on dozens and they collect you from home by taxi, the staff are amazing, food amazing, my parents are very fussy so if meets their requirements I am sure it will be a totally different experience for yourself. Although expensive (Iwas able to get them a substantial discount as I worked for Saga and the last minute deals are good) sometimes you get what you pay for. @@grumblewoof4721 Thank you for the great video, will give it a like and possibly a subscription
@Kengs Adventure we also watch Iona , Arcadia, VENTURA, BRITANNIA, n many many othrs on Solent Ships
Yes my wife went on the Ventura 6 weeks ago. A girls trip I wasn't invited.
We want 'what I ate in a day'
The food on the Iona is fantastic and you can eat from 6 in the morning till 2 the next morning. I showed a little restraint with all the food available and only put 3kg on.
I did this cruise last week. Lots of problems. Started with car parking at the port, a big mix-up that is now in the hands of my lawyers. A long queue to enter the port building that stretched outside into the wind and cold. But cheif amongst them was the inclement weather and the cancellation of the stops in Valencia (a city wide marathon) and Lisbon (port pilots strike). These stops were replaced with Malaga and A Coruna. So Portugal was missed out entirely. Wind, cloud, and rain followed the ship. Gibralter it rained, Alicante it rained. Barcelona was ok, thankfully, and the sun came out for Cadiz at the end of the andalusia drive excursion. Rough seas and wind crossing the Bay of Biscay. Acces to outside promenade was prohibited. Buffet was overcrowded for breakfast, and buffet options for dinner were motorway cafe standard at best. The main dining menues were bland but the speciality restaurants were excellent. The my holiday app used for booking stuff was problematic. The dining virtual queueing system was frustrating. Wifi was expensive. Un prompted by me, most people I met rated their experience on IONA a 5/10 and just ok. I doubt I will sail on IONA again. Other P&O cruises on Britania and Ventura were better, imho.
Wow you seem to of had the rough end of the stick. As my wife is disabled we got pushed through the crowd. But staff were all saying if people turned up at the alloted time the queue wouldn't be so bad. Sea was rough in the bay. But had all our ports and sun to go with it, shows in the sky dome canceled because of rough sea and a high cross wind in the med. On days in port made a point of having breakfast early or a bit later to avoid the rush. The only bad meal we had was the chief special on captain's night. But last year did the Xmas Market trip on the Iona. Yes the food standard was much better, but all the ports and markets were screwed up covid still about. Had a good holiday but yes standards have definitely dropped.
@@kengsadventure1806 I think I may have just been having a bad luck period before the cruise... a couple days before I left my printer broke (printing boarding pass and luggage labels), my electric tooth brush broke, my tuxedo didn't fit (did 4 years ago !), my dishwasher broke. When I got to the Southampton I thought I had selected the free car parking for reduced onboard spend but there was not record of my free car parking. Apparently I was supposed to call them to confirm I wanted it !!! ..... I didn't see that part on the Iglu website as I switched over to the P&O site (as instructed) for excursions etc... and to print the labels. So I was charged £160 for parking. When I got on board I found that my onboard spend had been docked £60 .... for the parking option. So I am £220 out of pocket. Iglu have not come back regarding my complaint. Hence the lawyer. I was at the cruise terminal bang on time but got delayed while I was screaming in the car park.
I thought standards had dropped from before Covid but I thought perhaps it was just a new policy and a way to increase profit margins. I guess they have a lot of revenue catching up to do as they were unable to sail during covid. Given the bad UK weather I am looking to cruise again soon, but I may chose a different cruise line.
@@grumblewoof4721 You got off lightly, our parking £240 left it to the week before big mistake. We had booked to be on the same cruise as you but changed it for family reasons I've got a new grandson home just in time. Well l hope you luck has turned around and you have a good Xmas.
@@kengsadventure1806 Congratulations on your new grandson, have a great Christmas and New year.
I am hopefully going on the Iona on 30th December. May I recommend Saga cruises to you my parents have been on dozens and they collect you from home by taxi, the staff are amazing, food amazing, my parents are very fussy so if meets their requirements I am sure it will be a totally different experience for yourself. Although expensive (Iwas able to get them a substantial discount as I worked for Saga and the last minute deals are good) sometimes you get what you pay for. @@grumblewoof4721 Thank you for the great video, will give it a like and possibly a subscription