Iona P&O Cruise Ship Interior, Marine Architecture, Spa Interior Design, Commercial Boat Architecture

Iona P&O Cruise Ship Interior Design

25 May 2021

Architects: Jestico + Whiles

Iona P&O Cruise Ship Interior

Iona P&O Cruise Ship

British cruise ship operator, P&O Cruises, has launched the latest addition to its fleet, Iona, with interiors designed by hospitality experts, Jestico + Whiles.

Britain’s largest and most environmentally friendly ship, powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) will accommodate up to 5,200 guests.

Iona was named in a spectacular ceremony broadcast to a virtual audience on Sunday May 16 and the ship’s maiden voyage will be on August 7, sailing the UK coast and up to her namesake island.

The award-winning interior design and architecture studio has designed most of the food and beverage spaces throughout the ship and the most spectacular space of all, the soaring triple-height Grand Atrium which captures unprecedented panoramic views across the ever-changing seascape, as far as the horizon.

The Grand Atrium is the heart of Iona, a lively focal point that encapsulates the spirit of the ship, with spectacular views and natural light. This special space is designed to ‘draw the outside in’ and, accordingly, Jestico + Whiles has made the sea the hero of the space, allowing guests to connect with the seascape around them.The Grand Atrium will be, according to the occasion and time of day, either playground or sanctuary.

Iona P&O Cruise Ship Interior

It a key entertainment space, designed meticulously to effortlessly accommodate a wide variety of experiences, from musical performance to thrilling aerialists.

At other times it will attract guests throughout the day for convivial repose, offering from morning coffee as the sun rises and sundowners at dusk.

An elegant, gravity defying, arcing staircase of Italian marble with a filigree, bright silver serpentine balustrade serves as the centre piece to the space, evoking the glamour of the iconic cruise ships of the early 20th century. Designed as a sculpture, its swooping form leads guests on a journey through the decks offering ever changing views.

The unifying experience of the atrium is always the view to the sea that provides an enchanting, captivating backdrop to the activity within.

Jestico + Whiles’ Associate Director, Jennifer de Vere-Hopkins said:
“Despite the challenge of such a large space, we have worked closely with P&O Cruises to create a unique Grand Atrium that is harmonious with the separate venues, making the space both open and intimate. The refocusing of the guest experiences on the sea is the heart of an entirely new brief. The sea becomes the focus of the triple-height space; the sinuous curves are shaped around it, framing and complementing the views to the outside.”

Iona P&O Cruise Ship Interior

P&O Cruises senior vice president, Paul Ludlow said:
“We’ve set out to make sure the sea is the star on Iona, and the design of the Grand Atrium tells you so much about how special she is going to be. Balancing intimate spaces with larger social areas, guests will be wowed by the three storey high glass walls and the ever-changing view they reveal. From the moment they step onto the staircase, I know guests will be swept away by the beautiful design.”

Jestico + Whiles has designed P&O Cruises first ever ‘gastro pub’ – The Keel and Cow – on Deck 8, with views over the Grand Atrium and the ocean. The Glass House on Deck 7 will include an impressive wine list and menu curated by award-winning wine expert Olly Smith, wines from around the world are served by the glass. Wine connoisseurs will be well taken care of with a new experience, Cellar Door at the Glass House will offer wine talks, tastings and wine-pairing dinners. Guests can relax with unbeatable views as they watch impromptu aerial and circus performances in the three-storey high space.

On Deck 6 at the Vistas Cafe Bar there is a unique offer from P&O Cruises Food Hero and master pâtissier Eric Lanlard. The nearby Emerald Bar will evoke the glamour of a 1920s cocktail bar.

Iona was constructed at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. She holds 5,200 passengers and is the largest cruise ship for the British market.

About Jestico + Whiles
Jestico + Whiles is an award-winning architecture and interior design practice working from London and Prague. The practice incorporates a specialist and highly respected hotel and hospitality design studio of experienced and accomplished designers including architects, interior designers and FFE specifiers.

Jestico + Whiles has earned an international reputation for excellence in hospitality design and is currently working on the new five-star W Edinburgh, the Mandarin Oriental Lucerne and the Kempinski Palace Engelberg.

Their portfolio includes the Zuri Zanzibar eco hotel resort, Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza; W London, Andel’s Hotel Lodz (Poland) and the interior design of the extraordinary Yas Hotel, a 500-key contemporary ultraluxe hotel which straddles the Formula One Grand Prix racetrack in Abu Dhabi.

The practice has completed Alston Bar & Beef in Glasgow and, most recently a sister restaurant in Manchester, as well as the restaurant at The Lansdowne Club in Mayfair (in a space originally conceived by the designers of the famous Queen Mary, the famous ship from the golden age of cruising), Shilling Brewing Co. in Glasgow; and Aqua Shard in London.

The Jestico + Whiles team has earned a global reputation for excellence in this field, supported by a great number of international awards, including the European Hotel Design Award, BD Interior Designer of the Year Award and FX International Design Awards. Jestico + Whiles won the MIPIM Award ‘Special tribute to Country of Honour’ in consecutive years, a unique accomplishment, and both for hotel projects.

About P&O Cruises
P&O Cruises is Britain’s favourite cruise line, welcoming guests to experience holidays with a blend of discovery, choice, relaxation and exceptional service catered towards British tastes. P&O Cruises fleet of premium ships combine genuine service, a sense of occasion and attention to detail.

In 2021, P&O Cruises will launch Iona its first Excel class ship. The new LNG-powered ship, with 5,200-guest capacity, will be the largest ship built to serve the UK market. Iona will feature enhancements to already successful brand signature venues from the existing fleet, as well as features newly developed for Iona. P&O Cruises second LNG-powered Excel class ship and sister ship to Iona is named Arvia, meaning from the seashore, and will join the fleet in December 2022. Arvia is an innovative and future-focused ship and will offer outstanding, varied and contemporary holidays. Arvia has been designed to travel to the sun all year-round and to maximise views of the ocean and the seashore from everywhere on board.

With over 200 destinations worldwide, P&O Cruises itineraries are carefully curated to inspire discovery, and are varied to suit newcomers and experienced guests alike. With a wide choice of holidays from two days to three months there is something for everyone. P&O Cruises sails to Australia & New Zealand, Baltic, the British Isles, Canada, the Spain, Portugal & the Canary Islands, the Caribbean, Central America, the Far East & Asia, the Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean, Scandinavia, South America, the South Pacific, the United States and Western Europe.

Iona P&O Cruise Ship Interior

Jestico + Whiles

Iona P&O Cruise Ship Interior images / information received 250521 from Jestico + Whiles Architects

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