P&O Cruises’ latest flagship, Iona, departed on her maiden voyage from Southampton on Saturday, sailing a 7-night UK scenic cruise with no stops.

The 185,000-ton, 5,200-passenger ship is sailing with around 2,500 passengers -- just under the 50 percent capacity allowed by the UK authorities -- and 1,300 crew. This cruise is for adults only and everyone on board is fully vaccinated. 

Iona is sailing her maiden voyage en-route via the Irish Sea with Captain Wesley Dunlop at the helm, to its island namesake where it will anchor today where guests will enjoy an evening of celebration and a lavish fireworks display.

"This really is a momentous day for P&O cruises," said P&O Cruises' President Paul Ludlow. I’ve been involved with this ship for seven years now and to see her receive her first guests yesterday was a real delight. It’s palpable how excited the crew are to welcome people back."

Built at the German shipyard Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Iona is the first British cruise ship fuelled by liquefied natural gas LNG, which P&O president Paul Ludlow said it makes “Britain’s most environmentally-friendly cruise ship”.