P&O Cruises Changes 3 Ports on Iona Cruise as French Unrest Grows

Iona, P&O Cruises' newest ship, will skip its scheduled stop in Le Havre, France on October 18 due to ongoing civil unrest across the country. The 184,089-ton vessel's modified itinerary now includes an overnight stay in A Coruña instead, giving passengers extra time to explore that Spanish port.

The revised 7-night Spain and France sailing departs Southampton on October 17. Passengers will now experience a full day at sea on October 18, followed by calls in Vigo on October 19 (moved up one day) and an extended A Coruña visit on October 20 and 21. The ship still calls Bilbao-Getxo on October 22 and returns to Southampton on October 24 as originally planned. All other itinerary ports remain on schedule.

P&O Cruises notified passengers before they boarded that Le Havre, the gateway to Paris, would no longer be part of this voyage. Shore excursions booked for the French port will be cancelled and refunded automatically. The cruise line's Shore Experiences team will contact any passengers whose tours in Vigo or A Coruña are affected by the schedule adjustments to make necessary changes.

For cruise passengers, the message is clear: when civil or political events disrupt port access, cruise lines communicate changes early and work to compensate with extra time at alternative destinations. Passengers should review any pre-booked shore excursions after receiving itinerary alerts and contact their cruise line if questions arise about refunds or modifications.

Originally reported by Cruise Hive, Melissa Mayntz (October 17, 2026).