Video: UK’s largest cruise ship sets sail on maiden voyage
P&O Cruises Iona slipped her lines with fireworks overhead as she left her namesake island.
Britain’s largest cruise ship, the P&O Cruises Iona, has set sail on her maiden voyage. The 185,000 gross ton vessel left her namesake island on 9th August, amid a fireworks send-off.
Not only is she the largest registered cruise ship in the UK, she is also the first of two LNG-powered vessels being built for P&O. She was officially handed over to P&O in October 2020 by builders Meyer, but Coronavirus restrictions delayed her first cruise until this year.
“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,” said P&O Cruises President Paul Ludlow.
“For this special maiden voyage, we wanted to bring guests to the island of Iona which has influenced many aspects of the ship.”
Iona’s departure can be seen here: https://fb.watch/7jjbAan1lO/
