Planning a family cruise on P&O Iona with kids? We had the best time on a Norweigan Fjords cruise so you’re in for a fantastic holiday! P&O Iona is a family-friendly ship that offers a range of activities, dining options, and entertainment to keep all ages happy. Here’s everything you need to know to make the most of your time on board, when travelling with kids.
Accommodation options for families
When booking your cruise, one of the most important decisions is probably what kind of cabin you want to stay in. P&O Iona offers a variety of cabins suitable for families, including balcony cabins and suites. Of course, there are the more basic inside cabins, which have less space in comparison. Many of these can accommodate up to four people with sofa beds or pull-down bunks.
I think the type of cabin you choose really depends on your family and what you might need. For example, we wanted a bit of extra space so we booked a balcony cabin. At the time, the price difference wasn’t too much compared with an inside cabin. You might need to consider how much time you plan to spend in the cabin, and things like if you need space for a travel cot.
Your cabin steward will stow away your child’s bed during the day if you want them to, meaning you’ll have that bit of extra space. The bed will then be ready again for you by the evening.
Family dining on P&O Iona
Something I was worried about before cruising for the first time was the food. Between us, we all like different things and I wanted to make sure each of us had options, without eating the same thing every day. I needn’t have worried though as this cruise ship has pretty much everything you could want.
There’s a wide range of family-friendly restaurants on board, including the Horizon Buffet and the Main Dining Rooms. There’s a mix of buffet and sit-down meals, where children’s menus are available.
Included dining options
- Horizon Buffet: Perfect for relaxed family meals with a wide variety of choices for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You can come and go as you please, and there’s even a dedicated children’s tea each day. Food changes daily but there are always staples like chips!
- Main Dining Rooms: The main dining rooms offer a sit-down meal with a changing daily menu. Both offer dedicated kids’ menus, but children can order from the main menu too if they like.
- The Olive Grove: Mediterranean-style cuisine with family-sharing platters and delicious pasta dishes. Although they don’t always offer up a children’s menu straight away, you can ask for one, or children can order from the main menu.
- The Quays: A casual dining area with a street food vibe, offering options like fish and chips, Asian cuisine, and comfort foods. There is no children’s menu here but you’ll find options such as burgers and chips, pancakes at breakfast and fish and chips.
- Taste 360: A poolside grill serving up quick bites like pizzas, burgers, and hot dogs. This is a buffet style meal, where you can just queue up when you want to and help yourself.
Speciality dining with additional charges
- The Beach House: A laid-back dining venue offering Caribbean and Southern American favourites, ideal for a fun family evening.
- Sindhu: An Indian fine-dining experience with a modern twist. Some dishes may be a bit spicy for younger kids, but there are milder options available.
- Keel & Cow: A classic steakhouse with burgers, steaks, and indulgent desserts — great for older kids with a big appetite.
- The Epicurean: A luxurious dining experience for a special night out. While not typically geared towards younger children, teens might enjoy the fine dining atmosphere.
- The Glass House: Serving tapas and wine, it’s a more grown-up venue, but kids are welcome and will find tasty sharing plates.
* Tip: You can ask for a children’s menu in most of these restaurants.
Kids’ Clubs and Activities
P&O Iona offers fantastic age-specific kids’ clubs, ensuring your little ones are entertained while you enjoy some relaxation. You are able to book sessions on the My Holiday app, after you have registered your child/ children for the clubs.
The Reef is divided into four age groups, providing tailored activities for children of all ages:
Splashers (2 – 4 years): Little ones will love Splashers, with activities including interactive games, storytelling, and creative play. The friendly Reef Rangers ensure the little explorers are entertained in a safe and engaging environment.
Surfers (5 – 8 years): Full of energy and imagination, Surfers offers arts and crafts, sports, and fun challenges. Kids in this age group can dive into themed activities and enjoy plenty of opportunities to make new friends.
Scubas (9 – 12 years): Older children can head to Scubas, where games, sports tournaments, and creative workshops await. It’s a lively space where kids can express themselves and join in on age-appropriate activities.
Scene (13 – 17 years): Teenagers have their own cool hangout at Scene. With gaming consoles, movies, and music, Scene is a laid-back space where teens can socialise and take part in organised events like discos and karaoke nights.
During our cruise in August 2024, Erin was able to go to Surfers, as she was 8 years old then. We had no problem booking her in for a session when we wanted to, as long as we did so each morning. We had 1 extra sea day than planned and the sessions got booked up quickly then.
Erin attended a few sessions during our 7-night cruise, and she would have gone more if we hadn’t been so busy. Activities during these sessions included a silent disco, spotting dolphins, playing computer games, arts and crafts, songs and games with other children. Erin had a blast!
Onboard activities for families
When it comes to family-friendly fun, P&O Iona has something for everyone. We couldn’t believe how much there was going on for each day of our cruise. There was actually a lot more to choose from than we thought there would be and we always had something to do.
Each day you’ll be provided with a paper copy detailing any activities happening the following day, and you can also see these on the My Holiday app. I really liked having this list the day before, so we could plan our time accordingly. Here are some of the things we were able to do on our cruise:
- Go for a swim: There are a few different pools on Iona, with the main one being in the Skydome. This pool is open during the day but closed in the evening as shows also happen here. There’s quite a lot of seating around the outside of the pool and close by is somewhere to get drinks, ice cream or even lunch from Taste 360. Towels are provided so you don’t need to take your own.
- Ocean Studios: Can you believe there is a 4 screen cinema on board Iona!? There’s always a variety of folms showing, with plenty of child-friendly movie options.
- Children’s entertainment: Erin went to a couple of sessions with the entertainment team. These included a unicorn show and bingo!
- See a show: Iona has a huge theatre (the Headliner’s Theatre) and there are some great shows on each cruise, including family-friendly options. We saw singers, musicals and a science show during our cruise. You can book some of these ahead of your cruise or while on board.
- Entertainment in the bars: Some of the bars had a variety of singers on during our cruise, at different times of the day. Erin loved sitting and listening to music or getting up to dance, while having a drink waiting for her at our table.
- Silent disco: Depending on the age of your children, they might enjoy a silent disco in the Sky Dome. Erin loved this, and managed to stay up until midnight when it finished, followed by chips in the buffet before bed!
- Take part in a quiz: There are loads of quizzes on over the course of a cruise, some more family friendly than others. Keep an eye on what’s on and find one that suits your family.
- Do some window shopping: Iona has loads of amazing shops and there’s so much on board that you can buy. This ranges from incredible art, diamond jewellery and expensive handbags but there’s also the regular gift shops and toys.
Exploring the ports with children
One of the best things about a cruise is getting to explore the ports. P&O Iona often sails to fantastic destinations like the Norwegian Fjords, Canary Islands, and Spain & Portugal so there’s always an adventure to go on. Many excursions are family-friendly, but it’s also easy to explore ports independently.
It’s a good idea to look at what excursions are available ahead of your cruise, as these can be booked with P&O in advance. Some do get booked up quickly so having a plan is a good idea.
We did a mix of pre-booked excursions (both with P&O and independently) as well as walking around the ports on our own. It helped that I did some research beforehand, so I knew what there was to do ahead of our visit. It’s not much fun wandering around aimlessly when you’ve got children whinging about being bored. I tried to find interesting things that I knew Erin would enjoy, such as a park or play area, and then something more suited for us grown-ups.
Top tips
Our holiday was so easy, and P&O had pretty much everything we could have needed during our cruise. However, there are some things I learned in advance that made things easier. Read on for my top tips for cruising with kids:
- Take snacks – you’ll have space in your cabin to store those all important snacks. While the food is mostly free on board, children will always want snacks, especially when you’re at a port. They can be expensive to buy on board so take some of their favourites such as crisps, biscuits and drinks.
- The walls are magnetic – the walls in your cabin are magnetic and they’re great fun. We used ours for storage with the help of hooks but you could also take some magnetic children’s toys with you to keep them occupied while you’re in the cabin.
- Pack binoculars: Standing on a deck looking out to see is great fun. Pack some binoculars and get the children to see what they can spot on your journey.
- Try new foods – this is a great opportunity for children to try new food. With most things being included, you won’t need to worry about wasting money on something the kids won’t eat!
- Relax – you’re on holiday! We were a bit more relaxed with some rules we would have at home, such as what time Erin should go to bed. She loved staying up late for the silent disco and it’s something she talks about even now.
Final Thoughts
Cruising on P&O Iona with kids is a brilliant choice for a memorable family holiday. From exciting activities and delicious dining options to comfortable accommodations, it’s got everything you need for a stress-free adventure at sea.
