P&O Cruises released a timelapse video showing its largest-ever cruise ship being built.
Viewers can see the 2-year build process for the US$ 950 million (GBP 733 million) new ship, Iona, speeded-up into the footage captured at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany.
Iona, which is also the biggest-ever ship built for the UK market, was handed over to P&O at an official ceremony earlier this month. With GT tonnage 185,000 tons, the 345 m (1131 ft) long vessel has 19 decks (11 with passenger staterooms) and max capacity 6600 (5200 lower berths).
Described by the company as its 'greenest, largest and most innovative ship yet', Iona has a 3-deck atrium at her heart and a glass-roofed 'SkyDome' by Martin Frances. Other features include 'a [world-first] gin distillery, exciting new dining, unseen entertainment concepts and unique wellbeing treats'.
MS Iona is the first British LNG-powered (by liquefied natural gas) passenger liner and has a larger capacity than P&O UK's (now 2nd-biggest) vessel mS Britannia, which can accommodate up to 5000 passengers and crew.
P&O Iona ship has a rescheduled maiden season (Northern Europe, Norwegian Fjords, Iberia and the Canaries) from Southampton UK starting in March 2021, after the company has suspended its operations until January 2021 due to the ongoing COVID-related international travel restrictions.
An as-yet-unnamed sistership will be delivered to P&O UK in December 2022.