P&O Iona cruise getting cold feet!

We were on Iona 18 months ago during term time and there were very few children on. I don’t think Norway is a particularly interesting for children! It’s mostly the Canaries that attract families.
Iona is a big ship but the only thing we didn’t like about her was the entertainment. It was very geared to younger folk not old fogeys like us! If you want a traditional cruise ship Aurora is the best! But honestly I’m sure you will enjoy your cruise. Norway is so beautiful

We are doing the Fjords on Britannia in June. The basic price was a bargain. We will treat it as an all inclusive hotel and spend as much time ashore and watching the view on deck as we can. It's easy to avoid the "Butlins" bits.
Enjoy ⚓

You’ll be fine.
Join in with what you enjoy. You don’t have to dress up, just use the buffet for dinner. There are always quiet corners that you can sit in.
If you don’t want to meet people, just ignore them. If they think you are antisocial , so what ? You will never meet them again.
Enjoy!

ginny

You’ll be fine.
Join in with what you enjoy. You don’t have to dress up, just use the buffet for dinner. There are always quiet corners that you can sit in.
If you don’t want to meet people, just ignore them. If they think you are antisocial , so what ? You will never meet them again.
Enjoy!

Thanks for your advice but no buffet!
Total germ fest!

I think that you'll enjoy it .
You can be quiet - if you want to be .
I've been on cruises with complete introverts and it's been OK .
I'm happy ,chatty and sociable , but I'm getting quieter.

Have a lovely holiday.

Sago mayb room service on those evenings ?

Just remember you do not have to eat in the buffet.You can use the restaurant for breakfast and lunch. Bypasses the crowds

We did this cruise last year and I had similar concerns to you. Honestly couldn't have enjoyed it more. Norway cruises don't attract families, as a previous poster noted, it'sboring for them - I didn't see a single child on board! We don't enjoy organised entertainment so didn't partake - there as so many bars and restaurants to find a seat in and enjoy the evening. People barely dressed up - those who did "stuck out". Each to their own. There were two evenings that they said restaurants would only admit people in smarter apparel but honestly it was literally what anyone would wear out to lunch or dinner anyway. I wouldn't eat in a buffet either and we ate in restaurants all the time. April - there will be loads of quiet areas on board to sit and watch the scenery, which is stunning. It surpassed all my expectations and totally wasn't at formal, structured etc. You do Freetime dining so can eat on your own, no forced friendships or activities. Lots of people like to engage but for those of us who don't it was fantastic! I'd do it again tomorrow. Hope you have a lovely time.

Thank you Daisy that’s very reassuring.

You will enjoy it, just do what you are comfortable with.My grumpy husband has been on two cruises with me and some friends and he was pleasantly surprised.We went on a Norway Fjords cruise with Fred Olsen and loved it.We even saw the Northern!ights which was a bonus,and I learned to play better bridge which was great.Iwould thoroughly recommend it.

Sago -- Ginny is exactly correct in her comments, you can avoid the Main Dining Room by using buffet for evening meal, if it's a 'formal' night (just what we do).

However, your sad comment re "buffet = germfest" is a strong suggestion that you're paranoid, and shouldn't be on a ship at all?! There should be some speciality restaurants too, if you want to do a Garbo?!

And for people wondering about cruises generally, Fred Olsen is a line geared to the more mature British passenger, smaller ships too, not the vast floating cities some lines have!

And also a line with great service, smaller ships that can access less obvious ports, that's AZAMARA (generally a 'smart casual' regime too, suits us). You're paying a little more (still not the '6-star' prices!) but we think excellent value.

We went on the Iona last November, not in school holidays admittedly. There were a few young children on board, but not many . If you download the app, you can book to eat in one of the many restaurants, which we did . Much quieter, there's also an adults only pool/ bar area, on the top deck . We used that, please don't worry too much. It's truly a beautiful ship , the entertainment is really good also

I have been in Arvia which I believe is the sister ship to Iona. We had a great time as you can do whatever suits you , mix if you want to of keep a lower profile and do your own thing. There were children on our cruise but they were not a problem at all. apart from a bit of crowding near the main pool which we never actually sat by as plenty of other places to sit and relax. I would not say it is not like butlins although have never been there 😂 Enjoy the cruise in your own way you will not be disappointed

Regarding your buffet germ fest comment a cruise in itself is a germ fest

GrauntyHelen

Regarding your buffet germ fest comment a cruise in itself is a germ fest

Oh give over. No more or less than staying in a nice hotel.

I honestly wonder at all those sweeping statements about cruises and germs, quite likely from people who've never cruised.

The cruise industry is incredibly well regulated and ships are extremely well maintained and cleaned. I've stayed in both hotels and on cruise ships and without exception find the ships to be cleaner and better run.

I’ve always been very anti-cruises because of the socialising and dressing up etc. This thread has made me think again as Norway is one of the places I’d love to visit.

We went on Iona in September to the fjords. Unfortunately it put us off ever going on a cruise again. The ship is so big and crowded. I think it is geared to younger people. Having said that the ship is beautiful and cabins very spacious. The weather was appalling so perhaps that didn’t help!

Sago
We are booked on Iona 20 - 27 April. Easter holidays have passed so should be hardly any children, and as mentioned, Norwegian fjords probably not appealing to that age anyway.
Like you the cruise was a good price and tempted us to book. Normally we prefer smaller ships but for only 7 days are prepared to give her a try. There is only one formal night in the 7 so no need to dress up if you are not comfortable with that. As mentioned in other posts, there are so many options for dining.
We are long time P & O cruisers on smaller ships but prepared to see what Iona has to offer.
Don’t worry, relax and enjoy.

We went on Iona last April, it was great. Few children and one does not need to "dress up"i.e gowns and dinner suits -nice frocks or trousers and tops for the ladies and suits for the gentlemen was the thing. There was one posh evening but few were dressed to kill. Go and enjoy the cruise.

I agree with Daffydilly - people are keen to make assumptions and ill informed comments when sometimes they have no actual experience. Neither a cruise ship itself nor the buffet is a 'germ fest'. They are invariably well run and highly sanitised- much more so than your average hotel.

Sometimes it's good not to bother with too much research! You end up worrying about what might or might not be a problem. Just go with an open mind and enjoy it, as I am sure you will.

GolferGrandma

Sago
We are booked on Iona 20 - 27 April. Easter holidays have passed so should be hardly any children, and as mentioned, Norwegian fjords probably not appealing to that age anyway.
Like you the cruise was a good price and tempted us to book. Normally we prefer smaller ships but for only 7 days are prepared to give her a try. There is only one formal night in the 7 so no need to dress up if you are not comfortable with that. As mentioned in other posts, there are so many options for dining.
We are long time P & O cruisers on smaller ships but prepared to see what Iona has to offer.
Don’t worry, relax and enjoy.

Same cruise!

DrWatson

Sago -- Ginny is exactly correct in her comments, you can avoid the Main Dining Room by using buffet for evening meal, if it's a 'formal' night (just what we do).

However, your sad comment re "buffet = germfest" is a strong suggestion that you're paranoid, and shouldn't be on a ship at all?! There should be some speciality restaurants too, if you want to do a Garbo?!

And for people wondering about cruises generally, Fred Olsen is a line geared to the more mature British passenger, smaller ships too, not the vast floating cities some lines have!

And also a line with great service, smaller ships that can access less obvious ports, that's AZAMARA (generally a 'smart casual' regime too, suits us). You're paying a little more (still not the '6-star' prices!) but we think excellent value.

Not paranoid just sensible, I have watched many a person cough, sneeze and touch their way around a buffet!

Sago,
I’ll watch out for you, though probably won’t see you as you’ll be hiding! All I am worrying about is the weather. Just hope it won’t be too cold, the usual “layering” will be the order of the day.
It’s only a week so we shouldn’t suffer too much. We will just enjoy the scenery and pottering around the ports of call. We had visited 3 of them some years back and don’t plan booking any tours this time, far too expensive!!

GolferGrandma

Sago,
I’ll watch out for you, though probably won’t see you as you’ll be hiding! All I am worrying about is the weather. Just hope it won’t be too cold, the usual “layering” will be the order of the day.
It’s only a week so we shouldn’t suffer too much. We will just enjoy the scenery and pottering around the ports of call. We had visited 3 of them some years back and don’t plan booking any tours this time, far too expensive!!

We have booked the Olden Skylift direct with Olden tours, much cheaper than the P&O deal.
We are hopefully meeting our son and his GF in Stavangar, they live in Oslo.
We are keen walkers so weather permitting we will get some steps in.
I hope I don’t come across as sounding miserable, it’s just the FB group really put me off!
It was a bargain price though.