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The brand new MS Iona P&O Cruises, the largest ship to ever dock at the Port of Funchal, Madeira Island, Portugal, arrived on Wednesday at 7 a.m., occupying a significant portion of the main Port, as can be seen on our most popular Funchal Marina Live webcam stream.
It took off from Southampton with 3,826 passengers, the vast majority of whom were British, and 1,608 crew members, including some Portuguese.
Iona is the largest cruise ship ever built for the UK market, as well as the first British liner to be powered by liquefied natural gas and to have its own gin distillery on board. Iona was built at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, and weighs 185,000 tonnes. Iona is 345 metres long (1,132ft) and has a service speed of 17 knots. With a capacity of 5,200 guests and 1,800 crew, this floating city is jam-packed with entertainment venues, a cabaret club, and over 30 places to eat and drink, four swimming pools, including an infinity pool and 18 whirlpool spas, 26 suites, 95 conservatory mini-suites, 1,486 balcony cabins, 174 sea view cabins, 811 inside cabins, and 22 single occupancy cabins.
According to P&O president Paul Ludlow, this makes it "Britain's most environmentally friendly cruise ship."
