Iona Construction ?

[BrianI]

P&O do what they call a “Commitment Ceremony” which is not legally binding on Britannia and presumably on Iona.

 

 https://www.pocruises.com/ceremonies-at-sea/ceremonies

 

To quote an extract.....Enjoy the same ceremony, special touches, and attention to detail as a Wedding at Sea. The only difference is that a Commitment Ceremony isn’t legally binding.

 

Brian

 

 

[Britboys]

1 hour ago, Fionatritton said:

It's all very odd. I noticed it a few months ago that they didn't seem to offer them but she's given us all sorts of details, which day , what time, where the wedding room is and that the Captain is marrying them. She's booked via room number so unless there has been some disastrous mixup (and it would be very unlike her not to check, double check and check everything again to make sure) they must have something in place. I'll let you know in December !

I'm sure your friend will have checked everything out.  This link https://www.pocruises.com/ceremonies-at-sea/ceremonies mentions that Weddings are not available on Britannia and I suspect has not been updated to include Iona.  As far as I know, UK weddings have to be carried out in a Licensed Venue - and I guess the license wouldn't be valid outside the UK.  The November '19 to April '22 printed brochure clearly states that Weddings are not available on either Britannia or Iona.

Of course, maybe P&O are going to re-register Iona when she is 6 months old... 🤔

[davemorton]

From the FAQ on P&O site.....As Britannia and Iona are registered in the UK, it will not be possible to conduct Weddings At Sea on these ships.

https://ask.pocruises.com/help/PO/life-on-board/married_onboard

 

So it does sound like it will be a Commitment Ceremony.  To be fair, no one would be any the wiser, then they can just nip off to the registry when they get back. 

[jaydee6969]

Meyer Werft have a new page for Iona, with some stats about the ship.

 

https://www.meyerwerft.de/en/ships/iona.jsp

 

And a page ready for Iona's sister ship.

 

https://www.meyerwerft.de/en/ships/sister_ship_of_iona.jsp

 

[terrierjohn]

1 hour ago, jaydee6969 said:

Meyer Werft have a new page for Iona, with some stats about the ship.

 

https://www.meyerwerft.de/en/ships/iona.jsp

 

And a page ready for Iona's sister ship.

 

https://www.meyerwerft.de/en/ships/sister_ship_of_iona.jsp

 

I wonder if the cruising speeds of 17kts for Iona and 21.5 it's for her sister are accurate or an error?

[davecttr]

4 hours ago, terrierjohn said:

I wonder if the cruising speeds of 17kts for Iona and 21.5 it's for her sister are accurate or an error?

I would think an error as both ships are similar tonnage and both have 37 megawatts of propulsion power.

 

You can see the efficiency of larger ships. Iona has less than 1.5 times the power of Oceana but 2.5 times the number of passengers.

Edited February 2, 2020 by davecttr

[jaydee6969]

13 hours ago, terrierjohn said:

I wonder if the cruising speeds of 17kts for Iona and 21.5 it's for her sister are accurate or an error?

 

The pages for Aidinova and Costa Smeralda are also 17kts cruising speed.  Just an error for the sister I would imagine.

[stephen@stoneyard.co.uk]

She is slow compared to the rest of the fleet.  I wonder how that will effect itineraries from Southampton. Perhaps later arrivals at the first port and earlier departures from the last. As we all know it is quite a way, with a possibility of rough seas, from Southampton to most warm places people go to cruise.   Even Norway is a full day and a bit at sea. I would hope there is some reserve of power for bad weather and medical evacuations. 
 

I would imagine P&O have modelled all the itineraries to Norway, the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Canaries from Southampton. I hope they have added in all the different circumstances that they could expect. On the other hand this ship is an off the shelf design so I wonder how much input P&O had in the engineering. 

 

Certain cruise lines have been known to base ships in the UK that was two slow and rock in the slightest swell. Itineraries have had to be adjusted. 
 

Best wishes, Stephen. 

[terrierjohn]

28 minutes ago, stephen@stoneyard.co.uk said:

She is slow compared to the rest of the fleet.  I wonder how that will effect itineraries from Southampton. Perhaps later arrivals at the first port and earlier departures from the last. As we all know it is quite a way, with a possibility of rough seas, from Southampton to most warm places people go to cruise.   Even Norway is a full day and a bit at sea. I would hope there is some reserve of power for bad weather and medical evacuations. 
 

I would imagine P&O have modelled all the itineraries to Norway, the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Canaries from Southampton. I hope they have added in all the different circumstances that they could expect. On the other hand this ship is an off the shelf design so I wonder how much input P&O had in the engineering. 

 

Certain cruise lines have been known to base ships in the UK that was two slow and rock in the slightest swell. Itineraries have had to be adjusted. 
 

Best wishes, Stephen. 

I imagine the 17kts is only the cruising speed, which is basically the cruising speed of most P&O ships at present. But it will be able to go faster if it needs to.

[jaydee6969]

No updates from Meyer Werft, but found this from crnokosiugokosi.official. 

 

Looking down on the Sunset bar from the Infinity bar.

 

Iona float out is rumoured to be Saturday 15th February, but nothing official from Meter Werft.

[mcloaked]

Also this from a week ago: https://www.picuki.com/media/2232130554740959584

[jaydee6969]

1 minute ago, mcloaked said:

Also this from a week ago: https://www.picuki.com/media/2232130554740959584

I did see that one, but is a much older photo.  Odyssey of the Seas, is so much further on now.

[jaydee6969]

Iona's funnel parts ready for the float out.

 

 

[stephen@stoneyard.co.uk]

On 2/3/2020 at 11:30 AM, terrierjohn said:

I imagine the 17kts is only the cruising speed, which is basically the cruising speed of most P&O ships at present. But it will be able to go faster if it needs to.

I think you are right. Various websites have Aida Nova With a maximum of 21 to 23 knots. Cruising at 17 knots. All very pedestrian compared to QE2 when cruising was often scheduled be at nearly nearly 30 knots.  At that speed the whole ship rattled. 
 

Best wishes, Stephen. 

[jaydee6969]

Tugboats on the way to get ready for Iona float out.

 

[pete14]

Soon be the moment of truth. I hope there will be people below decks with big buckets just in case she leaks. 

[Adawn47]

It would be nice if they did  a TV programme  about Iona as they have on other large cruise ships. It would be interesting. We've only seen bits on this thread. 

[Addict]

Hi.  Does anyone know what time the float out is please?  UK time?

 

[shopaholic6]

Does anyone have a website address where you can watch the float out? I watched float out of the Spectrum last year but can’t remember the website? Thanks 😀😀

[jaydee6969]

2 hours ago, Addict said:

Hi.  Does anyone know what time the float out is please?  UK time?

 

 

31 minutes ago, shopaholic6 said:

Does anyone have a website address where you can watch the float out? I watched float out of the Spectrum last year but can’t remember the website? Thanks 😀😀

 

No times as yet, could be any when to suit water levels and wind conditions.

 

Meyer Werft had a live cam operational for the last float out.  If they do again, they will post a link.

 

If I find live streams etc, I will post updates to this thread. ( as long as it doesn't slip into Sunday, as I will be in London for the day)

[AndyMichelle]

2 minutes ago, jaydee6969 said:

 

 

No times as yet, could be any when to suit water levels and wind conditions.

 

Meyer Werft had a live cam operational for the last float out.  If they do again, they will post a link.

 

If I find live streams etc, I will post updates to this thread. ( as long as it doesn't slip into Sunday, as I will be in London for the day)

Thanks for keeping us all informed Jaydee, much appreciated. 

Andy 

[shopaholic6]

36 minutes ago, jaydee6969 said:

 

 

No times as yet, could be any when to suit water levels and wind conditions.

 

Meyer Werft had a live cam operational for the last float out.  If they do again, they will post a link.

 

If I find live streams etc, I will post updates to this thread. ( as long as it doesn't slip into Sunday, as I will be in London for the day)

That would be great - thanks for your help 😃

[Bin man]

See someone on the YouTube replied saying tugs in yard ready for Friday 

[SarahHben]

53 minutes ago, jaydee6969 said:

If I find live streams etc, I will post updates to this thread. ( as long as it doesn't slip into Sunday, as I will be in London for the day)

Thank you for the updates, really helpful.

Enjoy your day in London, I do love a trip to London, so much to see and do.

[jaydee6969]

16 minutes ago, SarahHben said:

Enjoy your day in London, I do love a trip to London, so much to see and do.

 

Hopefully will be productive, no sight seeing, but a trip to see a specialist about my AFRID condition.  To hopefully broaden my food likes, as I do miss out on a lot of wonderful (by everyone else's accounts including my wife!) food on board.