Iona Sets Sail On Delayed Cruise Following Storm Darragh Disruption

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Passengers aboard P&O Cruises’ Iona are experienced a delayed departure from Southampton as the ship stayed docked to avoid hazardous weather caused by Storm Darragh.

P&O Cruises Iona With A Mobility Scooter Header Image

Originally scheduled to set sail on Saturday, 7th December 2024, the ship was only able to begin its cruise in the early hours of Monday 9th December, once the weather had sufficiently calmed down.

The 184,089-gross-ton Iona, one of the largest cruise ships ever built for the UK market, was forced to take this precaution to ensure passenger and crew safety amid strong winds in the English Channel.

Wind speeds reached up to 35 knots (40 mph) along the ship’s planned route, making navigation unsafe.

The delay to the cruise did mean that the ship wasn’t able to make her scheduled visit to Hamburg on 9th December.

Other stops, including Rotterdam, Zeebrugge, and Le Havre (Paris), may also be affected, although it’s anticipated that those ports shouldn’t be impacted now that the ship has set sail.

Interestingly, when the ship did eventually depart she actually headed in the wrong direction, sailing west.

This was because she had two days to reach Rotterdam, and so avoided clogging the shipping lanes by sailing out of the way before turning around and continuing as planned.

Despite the delay, guests on board Iona are still enjoying their cruise experience. P&O has reassured passengers that onboard entertainment, activities, and dining are operating as planned, creating a festive atmosphere despite the ship’s extended stay in Southampton.

The ship’s facilities, including dining venues, theatres, pools, and lounges, remained open, giving guests the chance to enjoy the full cruise experience even while docked.

Safety remains the top priority for P&O Cruises and all cruise lines when navigating winter weather.

Cruise ships regularly adjust itineraries, cancel port calls, or delay departures to avoid dangerous conditions. While Iona is fully operational, weather conditions made the journey to the English Channel too risky to proceed for the first two days

With a capacity for 5,206 guests and around 1,700 crew members, Iona is well-equipped to ensure passenger comfort even during unexpected delays.

Iona is scheduled to return to Southampton on 14th December 2024, and P&O Cruises has stated that there are no expected changes to this return date. The next sailing, a 14-night Christmas cruise to the Canary Islands, is also expected to depart as planned.

Iona is not the only ship impacted by winter storms. Saga Cruises’ Spirit of Adventure also took shelter in Southampton on Friday, 6th December, after departing from Portsmouth earlier that day.

The ship was initially set to begin a 30-night Caribbean holiday cruise but had to adjust its plans to avoid dangerous weather.

Additionally, Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambition was affected by foul weather from Storm Bert just days ago. The ship remained docked at the Port of Tilbury for the entirety of a planned 3-day cruise due to poor sea conditions.

Winter storms like Darragh are becoming more frequent as the Atlantic hurricane season wraps up. Experienced cruise travellers understand the importance of weather flexibility, knowing that cruise itineraries are subject to change when bad weather arises.

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Cruise Mummy

Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

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