Germany’s shipbuilder Meyer Werft has delivered the LNG-powered Iona to Carnival Corporation’s P&O Cruises.
The official handover ceremony took place on Friday at Mayer Werft’s yard in Papenburg.
The Iona, claimed to be first British LNG-powered cruise vessel, is 345 meteres long and has 17 guest decks.
The luxury liner will accommodate up to 5,200 passengers making it one of the largest cruise ships in the world.
P&O Cruises president, Paul Ludlow said that Iona’s delivery was a “very positive signal for the future of cruising.”
“We are focused on readying her to welcome guests during her new maiden season to Northern Europe, Spain, Portugal and the Canary Islands from our home port of Southampton,” he said.
P&O Cruises’ operations are currently paused due to the pandemic until early 2021.
“But we look forward to our guests experiencing this game-changing ship as we will continue to offer unparalleled holidays at sea whilst also upholding the latest approved travel protocols,” Ludlow said.
To remind, the ships’ delivery was also affected by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Previously, it was expected to embark on its maiden voyage in May.
Besides Iona, Meyer Werft is also building a sister ship. This vessel will join the P&O Cruises fleet in December 2022.
