P&O Iona Cruise Cancelled – What You Need to Know

We know this isn’t the kind of update anyone wants to see, especially if you were already dreaming of crisp autumn days sailing to Spain and France onboard P&O Cruises’ Iona. Sadly, due to operational reasons, the G737 sailing, scheduled to depart on 30 October 2027, has been cancelled.

Here’s what this means and how you can make the most of the options available if you were booked on this cruise.

The Cancellation – What’s Happened?

P&O Cruises have confirmed that Iona’s G737 sailing, due to depart on 30 October 2027, has been cancelled. While no exact reason has been given, the cancellation has been put down to ‘operational reasons’ – which could mean anything from port issues to ship maintenance or other logistical challenges.

It’s always disappointing when a sailing is cancelled, and P&O have issued an apology for the inconvenience caused. Guests booked on this cruise will be contacted directly, with refunds automatically processed.

What Happens Next?

If you were due to sail, here’s what you can expect:

• Your booking will be cancelled – you’ll receive a full refund to your original payment method within 14 working days.

• Any extras you’ve pre-paid for (shore experiences, drinks packages, Wi-Fi, onboard gifts etc.) will also be cancelled and refunded to the original payment card. This may take up to two weeks.

• No action is needed to request a refund – it will all be handled automatically. If booking through a travel agent they should be in touch to confirm.

What Are Your Options Now?

To help soften the blow, P&O Cruises are offering a couple of goodwill gestures if you choose to rebook by 26 August 2025:

1. Book another 2027 cruise of 14 nights or less

You’ll receive a 10% discount off the new cruise fare (applies to the first two guests in the cabin only).

2. Book a cruise in 2025 or 2026, or a 2027 cruise of 15 nights or more

You’ll receive £25 per person onboard spending money (again, for the first two guests in the cabin).

Whether you’re looking to switch to a similar itinerary or explore something new entirely, P&O have availability across a range of other Spain and France cruises on both Iona and Arvia around the same period.

A Few Key Things to Note

• The 10% discount is applied as a Future Cruise Credit (FCC) and calculated as a percentage of your new cruise fare (not including extras like flights or drinks packages).

• If your new cruise is cancelled or changed later, the discount or onboard credit won’t carry over.

• If you have any out-of-pocket expenses from the original trip, P&O advise contacting your travel insurance provider for support.

Will Iona Be Sailing Elsewhere During Those Dates?

At the moment, no alternative itinerary has been announced for Iona between 30 October and 6 November 2027. We’ll keep an eye out and update if anything changes.

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We know how much planning goes into a cruise – from countdowns and excursions to pre-holiday shopping lists! So, having it cancelled is always a let-down. But if you were booked on Iona’s G737 sailing, there are still some great alternatives available – and the extra discount or onboard spending money is a nice touch to help get your plans back on track.