IONA Maiden Voyage G024?

[Findus Stander]

So as it currently stands, IONA's maiden voyage is on 24/10/20. Do people think this will happen?

[Son of Anarchy]

Depends on Gary Barlow's availability. 😀

[Harry Peterson]

Impossible to predict of course, but the ship's almost completed its sea trials, a delivery date is due to be agreed soon, things are starting to open up, and I'd hazard a wild guess that it will go ahead.

 

A second wave, entirely possible, though, would probably put things back to square one.

[Findus Stander]

Do we think the cruise in general is high profile enough for a maiden voyage?

[pete14]

I have a sneaking feeling that they may add Iona’s maiden cruise to the schedule leaving on Oct 15 or 16 returning for the cruise on 24th. It could be Norway to replicate the maiden that didn’t happen with priority given to those who booked the original maiden. Maybe wishful thinking but a good way to launch the restart of actual cruising with the new ship leading the way. This would of course be dependent on cruising being able to restart in October which must still be questionable.

[zap99]

12 minutes ago, pete14 said:

I have a sneaking feeling that they may add Iona’s maiden cruise to the schedule leaving on Oct 15 or 16 returning for the cruise on 24th. It could be Norway to replicate the maiden that didn’t happen with priority given to those who booked the original maiden. Maybe wishful thinking but a good way to launch the restart of actual cruising with the new ship leading the way. This would of course be dependent on cruising being able to restart in October which must still be questionable.

What a good, positive post. Are you sure you're in the right place ?😂

[majortom10]

Isnt she currently in Rotterdam having her bow thrusters replaced.

[amfc_lenny]

Hmm 

 

not sure how I’d feel being on a maiden, with social distancing being trialled at the same time. 
 

wonder if they will do a soft launch with insiders 1st to sort out any issues.

[wowzz]

I think some of the worst jobs right now in the leisure industry must be in the logistics and planning departments of the cruise lines.   

There are so many variables outside your control,  and the cost implications of making a mistake are horrendous. Imagine getting Iona all ready to go, fully staffed and provisioned, and then a second spike forces the government to ban foreign travel again, one week prior to sailing!

Edited June 5, 2020 by wowzz

[pete14]

1 hour ago, amfc_lenny said:

Hmm 

 

not sure how I’d feel being on a maiden, with social distancing being trialled at the same time. 
 

wonder if they will do a soft launch with insiders 1st to sort out any issues.

They will have a ‘shakedown’ cruise with insiders etc but it may possibly not stop anywhere unless the captain wants to get some more practice parking it. Once her bow thrusters are found to be OK or replaced, I guess there will be more sea trials then parked up until October. 

[zap99]

1 hour ago, majortom10 said:

Isnt she currently in Rotterdam having her bow thrusters replaced.

Gary isn't a she😁

[ozzysdad]

5 hours ago, majortom10 said:

Isnt she currently in Rotterdam having her bow thrusters replaced.

No 

[Bazrat]

we will be doing the G026 cruise so hopefully any problems will be sorted and it was almost sold out when we booked

[Happy afloat]

13 hours ago, Bazrat said:

we will be doing the G026 cruise so hopefully any problems will be sorted and it was almost sold out when we booked

We're on that one, too.....hopefully👍

[molecrochip]

On 6/5/2020 at 4:57 PM, ozzysdad said:

No 

Yes she is. That’s the whole point of her trip to Rotterdam.

[Scratchrat]

We are on GO28 and very excited 🙂

[Son of Anarchy]

2 hours ago, Scratchrat said:

We are on GO28 and very excited 🙂

We're on that as well.  Might turn out to be the maiden!

[Scratchrat]

1 minute ago, Son of Anarchy said:

We're on that as well.  Might turn out to be the maiden!

What are your thoughts on how things are going to be changed by then?

I'm imagining less capacity on the ship, changes to buffets?

[grapau27]

On 6/5/2020 at 11:59 AM, wowzz said:

I think some of the worst jobs right now in the leisure industry must be in the logistics and planning departments of the cruise lines.   

There are so many variables outside your control,  and the cost implications of making a mistake are horrendous. Imagine getting Iona all ready to go, fully staffed and provisioned, and then a second spike forces the government to ban foreign travel again, one week prior to sailing!

Very true.

We found out 1 week before our Azura TA of March 20 that it was cancelled which was a sickener.

[Son of Anarchy]

Haven't really thought about it to be honest.  Just glad to be getting away. Reduced capacity and social distancing would be interesting.  I wonder whether the buffet will either operate under noro conditions, or not open at all. And now you've got me thinking about, I wonder whether the MDRs will switch to Club dining only.  There was a report that on Arcadia's last leg of her worldie, freedom dining was removed and smaller numbers on tables for Club dining.

 

Hey ho, find out when we get there!

[Scratchrat]

Just now, Son of Anarchy said:

Haven't really thought about it to be honest.  Just glad to be getting away. Reduced capacity and social distancing would be interesting.  I wonder whether the buffet will either operate under noro conditions, or not open at all. And now you've got me thinking about, I wonder whether the MDRs will switch to Club dining only.  There was a report that on Arcadia's last leg of her worldie, freedom dining was removed and smaller numbers on tables for Club dining.

 

Hey ho, find out when we get there!

My hope is that instead of drastically changing everything, they simply reduce number of cabins on sale, but they need the money I suppose!

 

I'd really not want to have club dining. I'm not much for socialising with people I don't know, though I am aware a lot of people love this option.

 

We always use the other cruise lines equivalent of Freedom dining as it just works for us. We like to be at dinner together, not with a group.

 

I'm gonna guess that buffet will be served to you rather than self serve. You line up, 2m apart, get your food served onto your plate and then handed back. Like school dinners!

[Denarius]

8 minutes ago, Scratchrat said:

What are your thoughts on how things are going to be changed by then?

I'm imagining less capacity on the ship, changes to buffets?

Sadly, I have come around to the view that cruising will not resume until social distancing is no longer required. I cannot see how a ship could operate under the current requirements and be either profitable or an enjoyable experience to passengers.

[terrierjohn]

2 minutes ago, Denarius said:

Sadly, I have come around to the view that cruising will not resume until social distancing is no longer required. I cannot see how a ship could operate under the current requirements and be either profitable or an enjoyable experience to passengers.

Cruising has to start before the end of the year, or we will see most of the cruise lines filing for bankruptcy or chapter 11.

[Scratchrat]

 

4 minutes ago, Denarius said:

Sadly, I have come around to the view that cruising will not resume until social distancing is no longer required. I cannot see how a ship could operate under the current requirements and be either profitable or an enjoyable experience to passengers.

 

The word on the grapevine is that the cruise lines have already been making the changes needed to conform to social distancing. They are just waiting on the green light. Carnival are sailing in 5 weeks time.

Edited June 7, 2020 by Scratchrat

[Son of Anarchy]

Just now, Scratchrat said:

My hope is that instead of drastically changing everything, they simply reduce number of cabins on sale, but they need the money I suppose!

 

I'd really not want to have club dining. I'm not much for socialising with people I don't know, though I am aware a lot of people love this option.

 

We always use the other cruise lines equivalent of Freedom dining as it just works for us. We like to be at dinner together, not with a group.

 

I'm gonna guess that buffet will be served to you rather than self serve. You line up, 2m apart, get your food served onto your plate and then handed back. Like school dinners!

 

Yep, that's the way the buffet works under noro conditions.

 

We do prefer freedom dining over club, and we will be a bit disappointed if Freedom is cut, but it's not a deal breaker.  We cut our cruising teeth on Club.  If they did cut freedom dining they would have to canvass Select fare bookers for their preferences, which might (hopefully) deter PandO from going down that path!