P&O Cruises' Iona: The Story Behind the Name

P&O Cruises thrilled cruise fans everywhere on Thursday 24th May, by announcing the name of their next, 2020 cruise ship on Facebook with a live feed. Thousands of people tuned in to watch as British TV presenter Stephen Mulhern revealed the name; Iona.

Stephen was aptly located in the beautiful Scottish Isle of Iona, and local resident Jane had the honour of choosing a winner from a group of people who had voted for the name; Mrs Gillian Crooks of Dundee was selected. She’ll receive two tickets for the ships naming ceremony, and gifts will be sent to everyone else who suggested ‘Iona’.

The name itself has great significance for P&O Cruises, as senior vice-president Paul Ludlow explains, ‘it seems very fitting to highlight one of our most notable islands and celebrate the geographic diversity of the UK, especially as we can trace back our roots to the Scottish Isles’.

Not only this, but the significance of the sea to Iona was a big consideration when deciding on the ship’s name. It’s possible to see the vast waters surrounding the island from most locations, and islanders have long depended on it for trade and tourism. Paul remarked that P&O Cruises had a similar outlook when designing the ship, wanting the world’s seas and oceans to always be in primary focus.

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