14 day cruise on Iona

 Cruise from Southampton 27th November to 11th December 2021

 

I had never cruised before so it was a new experience for me. It was during the Covid crisis when things were beginning to get back to normal, or so we thought. Then a new strain appeared and everything started to tighten up while at sea. In addition on Saturday we were due to board the ship Storm Arwen moved across the UK and our departure was delayed until Sunday. As compensation P&O gave us £75 each onboard spending money.

The Iona in Ocean Terminal Southampton.

 The ship was called Iona and was the newest in P&O`s cruising fleet, launched in 2020. It was huge and was powered by gas and could take over 5000 passengers with a crew of 1762

View of Iona at the Ocean Terminal

On Sunday, I, Danielle and Keith left the Isle of Wight on the Red Funnel ferry car ferry and arrived an hour later in Southampton. We pulled our cases on a short walk to the Ocean Terminal. opposite where the Titanic had left in 1912. There were many people to get on the ship, but we had to have a complementary lateral flow test for Covid before we were allowed to board. We all passed the test as anticipated, but had to wear masks which were compulsory. Our luggage was taken to our cabins. The cabin allocated to Danielle and I was on deck level 12, but Keith`s cabin was on level 5. We set sail at about 8 pm and headed down Southampton Water, along the eastern Solent then into the English Channel sailing South West. It was dark so nothing outside the ship could be seen. Danielle and I got some food at the American Grill, then watched a singer at the Club House before going back to the cabin.

Danielle relaxing in the cabin

David in the outdoor whirlpool

On Sunday night we had to put our watches back an hour. Monday was a day at sea. We had some breakfast which was burgers again. We hadn`t found all the places to eat a proper breakfast by then. We met up with Keith who had wandered around the ship and picked up quite a lot of information. We were all trying to get used to the ship and find our way around. There was a big dome where we found a swimming pool and a whirlpool. I sat in a whirlpool and enjoyed the feel of the water. At dinner, we were asked to dress up. I think it was the first time in years that I had worn a jacket and tie. Danielle had to dress up in a dress and jacket. We all looked very smart.

David and Danielle dressed up for dinner

On Monday it was a day at sea. We got breakfast but it was burgers again. We hadn`t yet discovered all the places to eat and drink. Later we met up with Keith and wandered around the ship to discover more. We went into the casino and watched roulette being played and people losing money. I tried the whirlpool inside where I could talk to people who had cruised to various locations and with different companies.

Disembarking at Vigo

Iona berthed at Vigo in Spain

Walking around Vigo

One of the swimming pools

At sea

By Tuesday the ship entered Vigo in northwest Spain, our first stop. It was sunny, warm and the town looked rather beautiful and we could go ashore. We did not have to take our passports but our cruise card was scanned and we were advised to take evidence of vaccination in case we entered a cafe. Our friend Keith I did not meet although we had arranged to do so. After walking around the town we returned to the ship and I visited the whirlpool for an hour.

Danielle in the whirlpool

The sports deck

Wednesday was a sea day and our course was south along the coast of Spain and Portugal. It was calm. The weather was good and I went to the gym, then the whirlpool again. I then played tennis with Keith for an hour. Danielle wasn`t very pleased because she thought I had ignored her, but she had been knitting and talking to another lady who was also knitting.

The GPS in the cabin showing the position od Iona

On Thursday at 7 am we were supposed to berth in Gibraltar, but the Captain said the wind was too strong so the stop was abandoned. Apparently, the wind had blown up to force 7. I was a little disappointed as I wanted to see Gibraltar. We headed towards Alicante and would get there in the evening. I woke up on Friday morning and looked at the GPS in the cabin and could see the ship was heading to Majorca ( Spanish Island in the Mediterranean) where it berthed and we were permitted to look around Palma. The ship left the same day and sailed to Barcelona overnight. 

Seafood in Barcelona

On the tour bus

The beach at Barcelona

The Sagrada Familia designed by Antoni Gaudi

On Saturday morning the ship berthed at Barcelona and we were free to go ashore. I went to the reception desk and reported Keith missing. He wasn`t answering his phone, not listening to his messages. Also, the night before he had not turned up for dinner although we arranged it. I thought maybe he had been thrown overboard. It does occasionally happen and I thought maybe the ship should turn around and look for him. Eventually, Keith turned up to our relief. We went ashore and walked along La Rambla famous for its street performers and market. Many years ago it used to be a dried-up river valley before it was tarmacked. The Captain decided to stay for a second night in Barcelona. Keith said as a joke it was because he had a girlfriend there. The next day Danielle and I went on the Ferris Wheel where we had good views of the city. We walked along La Rambla again and Danielle bought a little guitar with a picture of Elvis Presley on the front. We walked back to the ship and played some table tennis with Keith. We booked dinner aboard the ship and listened to music in the evening.

A market stall at Le RambIa

A beggar in Barcelona

The Ferris wheel in Barcelona

A view from the Ferris wheel

Christopher Columbus's column
At La Rambla Barcelona

A view of Columbus from the Ferris wheel

On Sunday night Iona had sailed all night south-west with a 23 knot following wind. for the first time, it felt a little turbulent. By morning we were off the southeast coast of Spain heading for Cadiz. We had passed through the pillars of Hercules, between Gibraltar and North Africa which is 27 miles wide and during darkness. Most of Monday was spent at sea. I went in the whirlpool with Danielle and then played short tennis with Keith. We were challenged to a game of doubles by a pair who thought they were going to beat us, but they never got a game so they gave up. We had dinner in the Aqua restaurant. Everywhere that Keith went he liked to talk to people and ask questions. There was a Phillipino waitress called Jennifer who Keith was talking to and laughing. He proposed to her and she got very excited and we were talking about bridesmaids, wedding dresses and honeymoons. It was all very amusing.

Keith and Jennifer in the restaurant on Iona

Danielle by the Banyan tree in Cadiz

Oranges in January

Narrow streets in Cadiz

On Tuesday the boat was berthed at Cadiz on the Atlantic coast. After going ashore we looked at some unusual trees, then walked into town where we stopped for coffee where there was strong internet. After leaving the cafe we walked away from the docks but then had to find our way back to the ship. Danielle`s feet hurt because of the long walk, but we got back to the ship OK. In the evening we had dinner at the Aqua restaurant and met Jim and Jenny who shared a cabin but did not get on with each other.

The famous suspension bridge across the River Tagar
at Lisbon

Lisbon

A square in Lisbon

Tuc tuc`s in Lisbon

On Tuesday night we had to put the clocks forward to GMT. We could detect a lot of movement. We were heading north with a strong northwest headwind. By early morning we had turned to starboard and proceeded along the River Tagar and under the famous suspension bridge and docked at Lisbon in Portugal. We had to have a lateral flow test before going ashore and a certificate which cost us £18 each.  We went ashore but the authorities had changed their minds about the test so we didn`t have to show any documents which was annoying after paying for the test. We wandered around Lisbon taking photographs and viewing the sights. We found a cafe and sent a few texts then wandered back to Iona. Again we had a meal and watched onboard entertainment in the evening.

An artificial tree in Lisbon

A comfortable seat in Lisbon

We left Lisbon and headed out into the Atlantic and turned north. The weather forecast was poor and the wind was gale force and was almost a headwind. All night the swells were 6 metres and wind gusting to 70 knots. The motion was uncomfortable, but the Captain reassured us that Iona was safe in these conditions. By Thursday we entered the Bay of Biscay and the strong wind continued all day. The swimming pool and whirlpools were all overflowing and had to be emptied. We had to get our locator forms and 2 day PCR tests ordered because of the pandemic. The government had changed all the rules whilst we were afloat. The internet was expensive and intermittent so one of the officers helped us with the forms, but it took a long time to complete.

A rough sea

By Friday we had reached the English Channel so the waves and wind were behind us and the ship was much more stable. On Friday we had to get our cases packed and leave them outside our cabins and keep our hand luggage separately. Our closest land was the Channel Islands and the coast of Brittany. Our cruise was coming to an end and it was very sad. On Saturday we arrived in Southampton at about 7am. and had to leave the cabin by 8am. We had breakfast and then disembarked by 9.30am. At passport control, we never had to show our passports or locator forms or other documents. It was all disappointing after all the trouble we had gone through to stick to the rules. We had a short walk to the Isle of Wight ferry and were soon home.

On Iona waiting to disembark

Would I go cruising again? Yes, I think I would. We did not stick to the itinerary and missed ports. I do think it was caused by the size of the ship. It was like a hotel on a boat hull. There were so many decks and the boat had so much windage it could be blown sideways if the wind speed was high. Also, the skipper could get an endorsement on his licence if the ship was damaged whilst docking, so if there was any danger the stop was abandoned. I think it would be good to take a bike on board as it would be great to use it at the various ports. 

The End