Here we go again! The first P&O Iona cruise vlog in my extensive series about this 7 day seacation; let's see what the new embarkation process is like, testing, the new muster, and my reaction as I board for the first time! Drop your comments below!
So chuffed that I have found your Vlogs and of course Paul and Carole's too! Very informative. Glad that you can pass on this info and your expertise. Many thanks
Hi Jamie, thanks for the comprehensive review of the new procedures. Hoping that they may be quicker on 17th Sept when I am on Sky and she is the only ship going out that day. Looking forward to all your videos and Paul & Carol's - Love their channel too so double the fun to come :-)
A bit of a faff having to test on the day of embarkation, isn't it? With Celebrity and RC, they paid for a PCR test 3 days before and on embarkation day, we just turned up at Southampton and checked in as before. They went through all the proofs of vaccination and the whole process took around 25 minutes from parking the car to getting on deck. Alas, no more cruising for me in 2021. Hopefully, by the time I cruise with P&O in winter 2022, we won't need to do all this. They didn't ask to see our insurance on Royal Caribbean or Celebrity either, but we had to have the documents with us.
Hi 👋🏽 I’ve booked onto the Iona in May 2023 but we will be getting to Southampton via train the day before and staying over in a local hotel, how would we go through the testing process without our own car!? We planned on getting a taxi to the port - first time cruising so it’s all new to us! Thanks 🙏😊
You literally go to the terminal and they will direct you to an area for testing; it’s just a few mins walk max. It’s far quicker than if you were driving too
@@TravelBlogJamie ok thanks for that 👍🏽. It’s good they get early arrivals to park up and hold fire till their allocated time . My time on regal princess is 11:45-12:30 so was thinking of arriving at 11:30 . Hope that’s ok !!
Hi Jamie, thanks for the video we have just booked to go on Iona, you mention that the guest WIFI is available to use free of charge is that only for using the my holiday app or can you do other things like message on WhatsApp?
Hi Jamie, we are booked with CPS as well. Previously whilst they were videoing the car we removed the luggage and the porter took it away on a trolley. Does one have to take all one's luggage in to the Terminal to drop if off? If so we will need to ask for assistance as usually have 4 cases plus hand luggage! Tks for info.
We dropped car off just opposite terminal and took our bags across the road to drop off. There are people there to assist should you need it. Hope you have a great time.
Hi, quick question, my boarding pass states 2.30 pm but after watching your video I’m panicking it will be a rush. I like to arrive early, do I have to get there for 2.30 or can I arrive earlier? I’m confused with regards to the boarding time and the covid testing time. Are they both 2.30? Sorry I sound like a muppet 🤣
Yes it’s 2.30 you need to arrive at the port; many people have arrived early and been asked to wait until their slot. You might be lucky but I’d go knowing you might be asked to wait (our friends certainly were asked to wait)
Interesting...Our last cruise 45 minutes from home to being in our stateroom ( we live outskirts of Soton) so question, what are the arrangements for being just a foot passenger? is there testing facilities at the terminal or are they assuming all have to come via car?
I’m really really sorry but maybe have a look at my cabin tour of this one? I actually don’t remember off the top of my head how many it sleeps - been on so many cruises since this one 😂
Must admit, I'm not looking forward to the COVID part - the wait for the test result will have me all over the place! Also worried about what happens if the 5 year old won't let them do a test on him!!
I think they’d allow you to do the test for him. They may even insist you do. On check in for Disney we did our own tests in front of a rep / parents did it for their kids. It may not be like this anyway come December and your cruise; things change so quickly!
@@jenniferpratt765 so that features in my ship tour coming on Saturday and a full review in my dining tour (including the ice cream afternoon tea) coming in a week or so
@@jenniferpratt765 so that features in my ship tour coming on Saturday and a full review in my dining tour (including the ice cream afternoon tea) coming in a week or so
Here we go again! The first P&O Iona cruise vlog in my extensive series about this 7 day seacation; let's see what the new embarkation process is like, testing, the new muster, and my reaction as I board for the first time! Drop your comments below!
So chuffed that I have found your Vlogs and of course Paul and Carole's too! Very informative. Glad that you can pass on this info and your expertise. Many thanks
Thank you so much, Anne 🙏 Really kind of you and very much appreciated
Very helpful video as always Jamie Thanks for sharing !
You’re very welcome ☺️
I love this ship already watching every vlog I can going on Iona in 10 months
She’s stunning and I don’t say that lightly!
Great to see you back. We are booked for next July Fjords trip. We are in 11531, so great to see what our cabin will look like. Have a great cruise
Thanks David; good to be back on P&O since cruising MSC, Princess and Disney this summer! Cabin tour coming soon ❤️
So excited for you! Enjoy!
👏🏽🌈🙏🏽🤙❤️
🙏🙏🙏
Great. We arrive by foot and weren't sure how to get tested. Thanks to your note on the screen we now know!
You’re welcome ☺️
Thank you 😊 very helpful! x
Very welcome 🙏
Great video , thank you because I am going on Iona on 25 of September , this is my first time going on the cruise ship , so this had been helpful 👍
You’re very welcome and I hope you have a great first experience
Wow great video thanks for sharing
Thank you; very welcome 🙏
Thank you Jamie very informative!
Thank you so much 😊
Hi Jamie, thanks for the comprehensive review of the new procedures. Hoping that they may be quicker on 17th Sept when I am on Sky and she is the only ship going out that day. Looking forward to all your videos and Paul & Carol's - Love their channel too so double the fun to come :-)
Ha! Thanks Phil - I’m sure things will speed up eventually! It’s all new isn’t it. Enjoy the vlogs to come!
I’m excited going next year
Have fun!!
The ship looks gorgeous xx
She’s amazing 😻
Nice to see. We’re onboard this week too. We got to the testing line about 12pm and we’re onboard by 1.30pm so not too bad 👍
I’d take that in the current climate
@@TravelBlogJamie Iona is stunning and even better that it’s half full!
@@CarFinanceSimplified absolutely
Very helpful, thank you 😊 I am NEVER letting you in my car 🤣
🤣🤣🤣
I am just very observant that’s all 🤣
Really stupid question doing Norwegian fjord cruise in May for 7 days,are there trips off the ship when it docks?.
Yes excursions available at all ports
A bit of a faff having to test on the day of embarkation, isn't it? With Celebrity and RC, they paid for a PCR test 3 days before and on embarkation day, we just turned up at Southampton and checked in as before. They went through all the proofs of vaccination and the whole process took around 25 minutes from parking the car to getting on deck.
Alas, no more cruising for me in 2021. Hopefully, by the time I cruise with P&O in winter 2022, we won't need to do all this.
They didn't ask to see our insurance on Royal Caribbean or Celebrity either, but we had to have the documents with us.
It’s the Carnival way unfortunately
How much luggage are you allowed in light of suits / dresses / shoes for evenings?
There’s no limit to how many cases but there’s a limit to how much each one weighs (only to ensure crew can pick it up!)
Fab video, except for that dodgy couple at 56 seconds 🤣🤣🤣xx
🤣🤣🤣 I dunno, I thought they added a certain elegance and excitement to the vid? 🤷🏻♂️
@@TravelBlogJamie 😄😄🥰xx
Hi 👋🏽 I’ve booked onto the Iona in May 2023 but we will be getting to Southampton via train the day before and staying over in a local hotel, how would we go through the testing process without our own car!? We planned on getting a taxi to the port - first time cruising so it’s all new to us! Thanks 🙏😊
You literally go to the terminal and they will direct you to an area for testing; it’s just a few mins walk max. It’s far quicker than if you were driving too
@@TravelBlogJamie That’s great, thank you!
@@amberferguson8792 no problem 😌
We are going Iona in May,just wondered were you charged for your pre departure lateral flow test? 😀
No, no charge for that 🙏
so am i! 7th May?
Do you go to the covid test 1 hour earlier than boarding time or is the boarding time when you are meant to go to the COVID testing?
No, you arrive at whatever time is on your documentation
No one checked our insurance documents as well , we were very surprised.
I think this all came about from Chinese whispers on social media
how different would this be for foot passengers? we are going on Iona Jan 3rd and will be spending the 2nd in a hotel then walking to the port?
As I mentioned in the video, you would just go straight to the main terminal and be tested there. It would be a quicker process
Great video !! Can I ask why you had to go to the overflow cat park for 45 minutes ? We’re you there before your embarkation time slot ? Thank you
Yes; there was a slight back log and confusion from people arriving too early and having to be re-parked to await their embarkation time
@@TravelBlogJamie ok thanks for that 👍🏽. It’s good they get early arrivals to park up and hold fire till their allocated time . My time on regal princess is 11:45-12:30 so was thinking of arriving at 11:30 . Hope that’s ok !!
@@Brucey79 yes there’s a grace period too so you’ll be fine
Hi Jamie, thanks for the video we have just booked to go on Iona, you mention that the guest WIFI is available to use free of charge is that only for using the my holiday app or can you do other things like message on WhatsApp?
No it’s just for the my holiday web app
Hi Jamie, we are booked with CPS as well. Previously whilst they were videoing the car we removed the luggage and the porter took it away on a trolley. Does one have to take all one's luggage in to the Terminal to drop if off? If so we will need to ask for assistance as usually have 4 cases plus hand luggage! Tks for info.
We dropped car off just opposite terminal and took our bags across the road to drop off. There are people there to assist should you need it. Hope you have a great time.
@@TravelBlogJamie Tks Jamie, our minds are now at rest! Getting excited for our Med cruise in November!
@@douglasdummett1679 let me know how it goes! Enjoy
Do you ever gone on Cunards?
Yes indeed; QM2 on my channel
Hi, quick question, my boarding pass states 2.30 pm but after watching your video I’m panicking it will be a rush. I like to arrive early, do I have to get there for 2.30 or can I arrive earlier? I’m confused with regards to the boarding time and the covid testing time. Are they both 2.30? Sorry I sound like a muppet 🤣
Yes it’s 2.30 you need to arrive at the port; many people have arrived early and been asked to wait until their slot. You might be lucky but I’d go knowing you might be asked to wait (our friends certainly were asked to wait)
@@TravelBlogJamie thank you! Also are the sockets in the room uk 🇬🇧 ones or do I need an adapter please?
@@joanneburt6736 they are U.K. - have a look at the cabin tour I launched last week to see what’s in the cabin ❤️
Hi Jamie, are there toilet facilities when you're queuing for your lateral flow tests etc? Thanks
No not in the car park
@@TravelBlogJamie thank you.
@@Peggybabcot no problem 😌
Hello, What If you don't arrive in a vehicle, is there another "testing station" for foot (taxi) passengers?
Yes I mentioned this in the vid; you go straight to the Main Terminal where there’s also a testing area set up. It’s all much quicker
@@TravelBlogJamie Thanks for the reply Jamie. I'm not cruising until Sept 22 so I suppose things will change several times up to then.
@@djbeany1 oh yes I imagine there will be further changes by then (and hopefully some sort of return to normality, whatever that used to be!)
Interesting...Our last cruise 45 minutes from home to being in our stateroom ( we live outskirts of Soton) so question, what are the arrangements for being just a foot passenger? is there testing facilities at the terminal or are they assuming all have to come via car?
Yes I mentioned this in the vid; you go straight to the main terminal where there’s a different testing area. It’s much quicker
Which insurance company did you go with, Jamie?
Staysure - cost £7 for the policy I took out.
@@TravelBlogJamie Brilliant stuff. Thanks so much for the info
@@michellethole no problem
Hi Jamie. Can this cabin hold 4 adults?
I’m really really sorry but maybe have a look at my cabin tour of this one? I actually don’t remember off the top of my head how many it sleeps - been on so many cruises since this one 😂
Jamie did P&O pay for your PCR test?
The lateral flow test at the terminal you mean?
The PCR that you have to wait for 3 days ?
@@henryv3943 you don’t do one of those for P&O. Everyone has to be fully vaccinated and then there’s a LFT at the terminal
Must admit, I'm not looking forward to the COVID part - the wait for the test result will have me all over the place! Also worried about what happens if the 5 year old won't let them do a test on him!!
I think they’d allow you to do the test for him. They may even insist you do. On check in for Disney we did our own tests in front of a rep / parents did it for their kids. It may not be like this anyway come December and your cruise; things change so quickly!
@@TravelBlogJamie Good point. Things can change quickly.
It was fine. We got our results really quickly. About 90 minutes from arriving to getting onboard.
Hi jamie enjoy show me a clip of the sweet shop
Hmmm do you mean the gelateria?
@@TravelBlogJamie yes
@@jenniferpratt765 so that features in my ship tour coming on Saturday and a full review in my dining tour (including the ice cream afternoon tea) coming in a week or so
@@jenniferpratt765 so that features in my ship tour coming on Saturday and a full review in my dining tour (including the ice cream afternoon tea) coming in a week or so
@@TravelBlogJamie cool
Anyone on the Iona in October this year (2024)?
Not meeee
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