HONEST Review! P&O 1 Week Iona Norwegian Fjords Cruise 2023

Join us on an incredible 1-week adventure as we explore the breathtaking Norwegian Fjords on an unforgettable Iona cruise. In this video, we'll take you along as we discover the hidden gems and natural wonders of this majestic region.
From the stunning landscapes of the Norwegian Fjords to the luxurious amenities and onboard activities of the Iona cruise ship, we'll provide an in-depth look at everything you need to know about this incredible travel experience. Whether you're planning your own fjords cruise or simply seeking wanderlust-inducing content, this video has got you covered.
#IonaNorwegianFjordsCruise #TravelNorway #NatureWonders #cruisereview #pandocruise

[@djburland]

Hey guys, we have just had 7 days on the same cruise with P&O Iona. I agree with your comments, we did shore excursions too. The card boarding and payment pass does NOT have your room number!! Thanks for the video.

[@gillyg8865]

Your room steward would have re configured your bed to a double, if you asked. Great vlog, looked like a fab cruise. XX

[@TravelSnippet]

Thanks for the info, we will bear that in mind for next time. Thank you for your feedback! x

[@Macca-jv9vp]

Seen loads of vids about this cruise, I'm going in August, this is by far the best one I have seen it's just a good honest and helpful with no fancy editing. Thanks you two this is a great help 👍

[@TravelSnippet]

Thanks for your kind words! We're glad we could help :)

[@stephenredfern7536]

A great honest video. I'm thinking of giving this as a Wedding gift to my son. A couple your age with appreciation for that type of experience. This video will help them tremendously should they wish to accept.

[@lindabryson8070]

Interesting review. A word of warning about the spa staff. They are not P&O employees but employed by Harding Brothers. P&O staff we found to be the very best, far better than anywhere at home. All MDR's on all P&O ships have the same menu. It's so all passengers can experience the same main meals. Hellesylt!!

[@thisminimallife]

Fjords - pronounced like fe yords :) Great honest video and you cover things that others don’t consider so thank you X

[@ClaireBadgery]

Agree with you on the lift situation! Feel like other vloggers don't mention this so glad you did!

[@TravelSnippet]

I'm glad we're not the only ones who thought this 😂

[@cruisewithmyfather2730]

Great Video, iv subbed. Hope you goes have had an amazing time!!!

[@TraceyHand]

Fantastic review video. I’ve booked this cruise as a 30th anniversary for my husband and I’m now even more excited about it!

[@AYKVIDEOSstarbar]

This is a top review video thank you :D

[@davidmarkham5345]

Thanks for the Video guys. We've just booked the same cruise, same ship for August 2025😊. All your info is very helpful. We normally upgrade to All inclusive drinks package but dont think we will for this cruise. We normally holiday in warmer climates but the Fjords look great.

[@Mat-eq8mk]

This video is brilliant. I'm thinking of booking the same cruise, and this is the only video I've found that shows you what it's actually like. Subbed!

[@Brix96]

Olden where Heaven meets the Earth

[@bab3132]

Great video. I'm pretty sure if you book a tour through the ship, you are guaranteed not to miss the ship if running late, but if you book through a different party, and if you are late, the ship can leave without you, and it is up to you to catch up at next port. That was 20 years ago, but still might be a rule.

[@CharisseGoddard]

That is still the rule. On my cruise last year, five passengers were late. We waited, as two of them were on excursions booked through the ship. One of the other three made it back while we were waiting, but the other two didn't. I heard on board that they were seen running towards the quays when we were pulling away - obviously nothing the crew could have done at that point. They did rejoin at the next stop and said that they contacted P&O who were really helpful in getting them back to the ship, but I should imagine it was very stressful and not cheap. As to the lift problem, it is the same across the P&O fleet!

[@EvelineUK]

It is still a rule. On P&O you get a booklet every day with all the activities of that day, and it also has a number you can call should you run late and not booked your excursion through P&O They - might - wait for you.

[@Nomadic_Domestics]

We've done the same cruise in 2022 and then again Norway cruise in 2023 but with Celebrity. Iona wins in terms of cabins, number of pools, main restaurant's food, afternoon tea. But Celebrity Silhouette wins in buffet food, drinks, service and kids club. Norway is a fairytale with Olden being our favourite.

[@MarcsCupofTea]

That's interesting to hear your take on Norway and Iona. We recently did the exact same cruise and got to say we loved every minute of it, we had the same grade of room as yourself. In Stavanger you should have gone to see the 3 swords up by the lake, it's a lovely place to visit. The currency Krone (pronounced Kroner) is about 13NoK to £1 👍 You're lucky you went to Haugesund as it was cancelled on our tour and had an extra sea day. I've made a few videos myself on the trip and done things like a room tour. We're going to the Aurora soon so will see how different that is compared with Iona

[@TravelSnippet]

I'm glad to hear you had a great time! We actually heard someone else talking about the 3 swords spot in Stavanger, so it's a shame we missed that. Thanks for explaining the currency, we will have to remember that for our next trip! Enjoy your trip with Aurora, is that also to Norway?

[@MarcsCupofTea]

@@TravelSnippet you're welcome. The Aurora trip is Hamburg and Zeebrugge only a 5 day trip

[@surrayahwilkinson]

Love this video , new subscriber

[@TravelSnippet]

Thanks for the support & feedback! 😃

[@zenzen9131]

Try a smaller P&O ship and you will find them amazing :)

[@dereknash3638]

Enjoyed the vlog, good to get a different aspect. Only the four main restaurants have the same menu, although different each evening. All the other speciality restaurants have their own special menu specific to them and all different to the 4 MDR’s. So cannot agree re lack of choice. All beds in the cabins can be configured into two singles or a double , just ask cabin steward.

[@Cheeky-fingers]

I am Iona for the Fjords first week of September. Can't wait after watching this.

[@themoulaphokou7956]

Hi we was on the same cruise as you, saw you vlogging in the Beach House. Great Vlog. If you cruise again MSC have smart lifts so will take you to where you want to go without stopping for anyone else.

[@TravelSnippet]

No way, what a small world! Thanks for the feedback and we hope you had a great time 😃

[@garysoar1234]

Great video, have just booked for 2025 to celebrate my 60th, some great tips. we have plenty of time to research everything.

[@donnatyler8064]

You can ask your cabin steward to put your single beds together to make a double as that is what they do if you request a double,turns into a queen size Normally when you book they ask if you want single beds or the single beds clipped together to make a double. We did an excursion through p&o to the berkinsal glacier in olden coach ride then a walk up to the glacier well worth it. Agree staff work so hard most do 6 months at a time and work 7 days a week,it's horrible when some passengers don't respect staff some people are so entitled. We had our first cruise in June 7 nights to Norway the weather was lovely,Norway is beautiful we went to Bergan, flam,olden,haugsund the last stop we thought was more of a shopping town. We went on Britannia lovely ship going on Ventura next year,not been on the bigger newer ships of iona &arvia. Agree the elevators on the ship take forever. We had a balcony,a good tip when sailing through the fjords get up early 4 or 5 in the morning beautiful views so quiet most people miss alot because of lying in bed,my son was on the top of the ship at 4 in the morning by himself he said the fjords were spectacular. A good tip bring water bottle refill in your cabin bathroom it is (drinkable water )then put in your mini fridge to cool. Or ask at any bar for a glass of iced water they only charge for bottled water. Another tip if you can book your cabin maybe 1-3 floors from buffet that way if lifts are full you can take the stairs what ever ship you are on.when we was on Britannia we were on deck 15 one below the buffet which was on deck 16 my two sons had a single balcony cabin each which was on deck 16 they loved it on the same floor,yes we used the lifts to the mdr etc if we did not fancy the up n down stairs.

[@TravelSnippet]

Thanks for sharing your experience! Great tips!

[@AcerDyan]

I’m pretty sure I cruised just before you, my 7 night fjords cruise on Iona was 24th June - 1st July 2023

[@garylammin9670]

Great video. We're going in May. A goldmine of information and tips. Is there a good choice of decent beers and malt whiskies, good rum ? Considering getting the best drinks package which is about £700 for a couple. Well done for making this video.😊

[@stuthompson1973]

Hi. Loved watching your video. The hike you did at Hellesylt, do you have details of it. Any chance you recorded it on strava / map my run? If not was it south or north of the village you went? Thanks in advance

[@ch0comel]

Great video, very helpful. How long does the ship stay in Olden and Hellesylt? Would you say the hiking could be done by yourself without any guide or buying any shore experiences?

[@TravelSnippet]

Can't remember the exact times, but the ship docks for pretty much the entire day! Plenty of time to get everything done. The hiking can certainly be done solo, in fact, most of the people we saw during the hike were also doing the same thing.

[@ionabaker2757]

I am called Iona and also going on her in October this year and next may

[@jordanbrowning6378]

Great review but it looks like you did not really do alot off the ship. Is there a way to see more or book more when you leave the ship so you can see more things? As I love history I would want to have some historic tours on land.

[@maurice8607]

Thinking about the Iona to go to the Fjords next year. Looks a wonderful ship but maybe just too big. Generally prefer smaller like the Aurora but possibly might take the plunge.

[@TravelSnippet]

Wishing you an incredible voyage, whatever you decide!

[@maurice8607]

@@TravelSnippet I seriously can't believe that the restaurants had the same menu. That's unreal and is putting me off booking a cruise on this ship.

[@TravelSnippet]

@@maurice8607 The four main dining rooms on the ship all have the same food menu (Opal, Pearl, Coral & Aqua), but there are still other restaurants to choose from with different menus :) Just something to bear in mind as we could have saved tons of queue times!

[@Familytraveltalesuk]

This is pretty normal on ships to have the same menu in the main MDR’s. Do see your point though. Have you guys ever sailed before ? I’d recommend a RCI cruise in the Carib. You will fall in love with cruising 😅 get on a oasis glass. It’s just next level. 😮 Great Vlog. 🎉

[@TravelSnippet]

@@Familytraveltalesuk Thanks for the feedback! I was actually looking at a RCI cruise, they look brilliant! 😃

[@richardparmenter188]

Great video folks. We do this cruise on Saturday (15 July) Just wondered what the beach in Olden is called please?

[@TravelSnippet]

Much appreciated! The beach (if you can call it that) is in-between 'BilXtra / Sunde Auto AS' & 'Coop Marked Olden '. It's not marked on the map and is only a small little stretch of sand, but if you head in the right direction when you exit the cruise then it's just a quick 5-minute walk from the ship. Enjoy your cruise!

[@cb1719]

Hi was your room booked as a standard balcony? Was just wondering if all the balcony rooms come with a sofa or just a double bed

[@cb1719]

(Two singles in your case)

[@TravelSnippet]

@@cb1719 Hey! Yup, just a standard balcony room so they must all include a sofa :)

[@EvelineUK]

They do. Also, the single beds could be made into a double when asked.

[@elainehazell9693]

I don’t think you pronounce fjords like that

[@LucieDonut]

Haha, can't believe I was late for work due to watching most of the video before she said fehjords l😅

[@jamessteward3011]

good review but did you pack enough black tshirts?

[@allypanettiere2470]

Haha no way. We were on the same cruise as you. Saw myself on the rib you guys got on but remember they asked for two to swap and go on the other hair aha. We went to the limelight club on the Thursday evening but didn’t didn’t get to see the last day sea day out properly because of me being violently Ill in the early hours of Friday morning, so we were quarantined in the cabin all day 🥹🥹 We were saying Hellesylt was the best port but Olden was the best sail away. Although I went into the hot tub with my dad when we got back board when it was thundering in stavanger 😂

[@TravelSnippet]

Haha, very small world! Sorry to hear about your last day at sea, that sounds absolutely horrible. Hellesylt was great fun - for us our favourite port was between Hellesylt and Olden. Glad you had a great time bar the last day!

[@michaelbaines1525]

Norway brilliant and been several times. Post pandemic cruising is no where near as good as pre-pandemic cruising. Standards have really gone downhill. Service not as good by a long shot and the food standard has deteriorated.

[@xsamaliex]

Man wears a suit like tina turner. Those shoulder pads are PIFF

[@grahamjones7070]

Tip for Gabby..Fjords has a silent 'J' ,it's pronounced f'yourds.

[@HrHaakon]

The J in Norwegian is pronounced like the Y in "You".

[@petercoleman7882]

How did these two get by security, they are far too slim for a cruise ship, let's keep cruising traditional, tonnage before beauty.