Cruise Lines, P&O Cruises

P&O Cruises Iona Balcony Cabin Review (deck five)

Last Updated August 18, 2024 by emmaonline

Planning a cruise on P&O Iona? Discover what a balcony cabin on deck five is like is so you can make an informed choice about what cabin to book for your cruise

Booking a cruise ship cabin isn’t always as easy as you think it might be. The choice can be a more than a little overwhelming. Even picking a balcony cabin isn’t as straightforward as you would expect. As I found out on a cruise on Iona, not all balconies are equal.

So, if you are considering a cruise on Iona, read on for my experience of staying in a deck five balcony cabin and what you can expect if you chose this style of cabin.

image of a cruise ship docked in the centre of Rotterdam

My cabin reviews are designed to give you an idea of what it would be like to stay in this type of cabin should you be considering booking one. Using my experience I take an in-depth look at everything you need to know from the cabin layout to the amenities included and share any useful tips.

My Iona Balcony Cabin Review

I took a cruise around the Norwegian Fjords on P&O Cruises Iona and decided to splash out on a balcony cabin as it is such a scenic destination.

Although this was the first cruise I booked on Iona it was actually my second time on the ship after taking advantage of a last-minute solo deal a few months before. Then I had an inside cabin, which I loved, but I was glad I had booked a balcony for the cruise to Norway.

It’s all about the views in the Norwegian Fjords right?

If you are anything like me when you think of a cruise ship balcony cabin you generally think of the glass-fronted ones that look out to sea. Like the image below which was taken from a balcony cabin on deck 12 while sailing out of the fjords one evening.

image for view from cruise ship balcony of narrow channel of sea and mountainside with small waterfalls running down side — View from a balcony cabin on deck 12

Well, that’s what I thought I was paying for when I booked my cabin. However, it turned out not to be quite like that as I was allocated a cabin on the infamous deck eight.

It was my fault I guess, but in my defence I booked it way back in 2019 after seeing a good deal for solo occupancy and before Iona was even in service. In the spring of 2021, when it became clear there would be no Norwegian fjords season, I moved it to 2022.

However, at this time I was in the middle of six months chemotherapy so not really paying as much attention as I should have been. It was also my first cruise booking so I had no idea about

Luckily, it kind of worked out ok in the end as the wonderful onboard team kindly moved me to deck five. While that cabin again wasn’t quite what you picture when you think of a cruise ship balcony it was fine for me. I actually loved it in the end.

So, I thought I’d write a Iona balcony cabin review so you know what to expect if choose this cabin style or maybe to reassure you if you have been allocated one of these cabins on deck five.

Location of Iona’s balcony cabins

Before I get into the review, here is a quick word about balcony cabins on Iona.

There are 2,164 cabins on Iona. 1,366 of them are balcony cabins with 120 of those deluxe balcony cabins. There are also 95 conservatory mini-suites and 24 suites which have balconies too.

Standard balcony cabins with a sofa are located on decks 5,9,10,11,12,14,15 & 17. They are also located on the promenade deck (8) and the lido deck (16)
Deluxe balcony cabins are located on decks 9,10,11,12,14 & 15. They are also some on the promenade deck (8)
Smaller balcony cabins are located on decks 9,10,11,12,14,15 & 17. There are also two of these cabins located on the promenade deck (8)

In addition, there are 22 solo cabins onboard and some of those have balconies too. You can find out more about where cabins are located on the Iona deck plan.

As you can see there is plenty of choice. So, it is important to do a bit of research before booking so you ensure you have the perfect cabin for you. Particularly for first time cruisers, as it can be quite confusing when you are not used to all the different options available. As I found out…

Related post | Pick the perfect cabin for your cruise with my guide to cabins to avoid on Iona.

Iona Deck Five Balcony Cabins

After a bit of musical cabins, my home for the week while cruising around the Norwegian Fjords was cabin 5454. This was a balcony cabin on deck five and a nice easy number to remember. Low down, these cabins are cut out of the hull of ship as you can see in the photo below.

Image looking up at outside of cruise ship to the balcony cabins in the hull

Location wise, these cabins are fabulous. Being on deck five gives you easy access to all the restaurants and bars on decks six to eight. I think it took me less than five minutes to get to most places on those decks. You can also get to the Headlines theatre and spa quickly.

The gym (if you are that way inclined) is at the end of deck five so there is no excuse to skip gym day either. For ease of access to many of the facilities on board, deck five has a shout at being the best deck on Iona in my opinion.

Cabin 5454 was a short walk from the midship lifts and stairs. This provided easy access to the higher decks or you could be up in the Vista cafe and Grand Atrium in just a few minutes by taking the stairs.

It was also a few cabins down the corridor from the laundrette. Trying to find your cabin down those long corridors can be a challenge sometimes. It is easy to get lost, especially if you are new to Iona. I found nice to have a marker to look out for when heading back to the cabin.

The location was pretty quiet too. The odd person was a little noisy walking down the corridor every now and then but nothing too bad. There was no noise that I could hear from the laundrette either.

Cabin layout

The cabin was a great size and comes with pretty much everything you need for a great stay.

image of cruise ship cabin with queen bed, sofa, desk and window and door out to balcony

Bathroom

Walking into the cabin the bathroom is to the right. It is a good size, well designed and of storage space. There are two shelves on the wall next to the sink and more shelving underneath and to the side of the sink.

The shower is enclosed by a screen – no shower curtain here! The water pressure is great, you forget you are in a cruise cabin shower. All the toiletries are provided by The White Company and smell amazing. There is hand soap on the wall by the sink and shower gel and shampoo on the wall in the show cubicle.

If you plan to do any hand washing there is a small washing line in the shower.

image looking into bathroom with shower cubicle, toilet and towels on rail

image of bathroom with toilet, towels on rail above toilet, two shelves on wall next to sink

Living area

Once past the bathroom door, you are fully in the room with the wardrobe running along the wall to the right. It is a good size with one full-length hanging space and one-half length.

There is a shelf above the rail in the full-length wardrobe which is home to the lifejackets. These take up most of the shelf but there is a small space next to them that could be used for extra storage. There are 20 hangers. I counted them on this trip after being asked a few times after my last cabin review. However, you can always ask for more should you need them.

Between the two hanging areas, there is a section with six deep shelves. Ideal for placing packing cubes and clothing like hoodies or jumpers.

image of open wardrobe in cruise ship cabin with shelf holding three lifejackets and rail with hangers underneath

image of open safe and rail with hangers below in wardrobe

There was plenty of storage space in the wardrobe. However, I was travelling solo so that is easy for me to say. If you are in a pair or there is a few of you sharing, it might be worth making a note to ask the cabin steward for extra ones.

The super comfortable queen-size bed takes up half the room with a sofa bed and dressing table filling the space in the second half of the room.

In this cabin, the sofa is next to the balcony and the bed is next to the wardrobe. This does mean it can be a tight squeeze to get to the wardrobe, there isn’t much room to manoeuvre around. When you open the wardrobe door, it comes right out and almost touches the bed.

Having this layout also means you can’t really use the full-length mirror unless you stand right on top of it. Not a disaster but it does make you wonder why they designed it like that. Surely someone must have noticed it was difficult to use the mirror?

I think it would have been much better to put the mirror on the wall. Or have all these cabins with the bed next to the balcony and the sofa next to the wardrobe.

image of wardrobe with open door almost touching side of bed in cruise ship cabin

To the left of the bed and next to the dressing table is a large TV. This can be moved to make the viewing angle more comfortable depending on whether you are on the sofa or bed.

Underneath the TV there is a unit with some more storage in the form of two very narrow shelves. They are great for holding things like umbrellas or hair straighters. On top of the unit are tea and coffee making facilities. There are plenty of tea bags (P&O is a British cruise line afterall) and a couple of biscuits that are replenished each day.

Tip: Take a little plastic cup or jug with you and you can bring fresh milk down from the Horzion Restaurant to keep in your fridge. It makes for a much nicer morning cuppa than using the little cartons of milk provided.

Deck Five Balconies

As I mentioned when I booked this trip, I booked a balcony as the cruise to the Norwegian Fjords is all about the views. I had visions of being able to sit on my balcony with a cup of tea (or prosecco!) while enjoying the views.

The balconies on deck five are cut into the hull of ship, this means they are covered and sheltered from the elements. So you have some protection from any bad weather – always a possibility in the fjords – but not so good if you were looking forward to sunbathing in the Mediterranean.

Low down on the ship and close to the water, they are great for looking out for sea life or just watching and listening to the waves. The downside to this is that in the case of very bad weather or rough seas, a metal storm door will be closed across the balcony door. In effect turning your balcony cabin into a sea view cabin with just one large window. Thankfully, that wasn’t needed on my trip but something to be aware of if booking one of these cabins.

The door out to the balcony is not the sliding patio door like the higher deck cabins but a rather heavy door that opens outwards. I didn’t find it too bad to open but sometimes it was a bit tough. think it would also be a bit difficult to keep the door open to enjoy some fresh air. You’d have to prop it open somehow.

The balcony itself is very small. There is just about enough room for two chairs and a small table. So, not enough room to stretch out but it was perfect to sit with a cuppa and enjoy the scenery.

Again, it might be easy for me to say that as I was travelling solo. However, you could comfortably get two people sitting out there. Three would be very much a squeeze.

One thing to note about these balconies is that you may not have much privacy with your neighbours. You can see into the next-door balcony via little gaps in the partition. I didn’t think it was a huge issue but it might be for some.

image of cruise ship balcony with two chairs looking out — iona balcony cabin pictures

image of metal partition between cruise ship balconies with oval door in middle — iona balcony cabin pictures

One other thing to be aware of is that these balconies can get a little damp. I had great weather and calm seas for the cruise I was on but sometimes when sitting out I noticed it was a little wet in places.

While it may not have been the type of balcony cabin I had dreamed of, I was pretty happy with it. I really liked being that close to the water and it was lovely to sit out there and enjoy the view and listen to the sound of the waves.

I did speak to a couple of my cabin neighbours while waiting for the lifts throughout the week and some of them were a little bit disappointed. Again, it just wasn’t the balcony they were expecting when they booked it.

So if you have your heart set on a balcony, make sure you do some research on the cabins on Iona beforehand. This way you will know exactly what you are booking or what you may be allocated depending on the grade you choose.

Amenities included in Iona’s balcony cabins

All of Iona’s cabins come fully equipped with everything you need.

Air conditioning
Complimentary toiletries (The White Company)
Fridge
Hairdryer
Safe (can hold a laptop, my 15″ MacBook fitted in fine)
TV
Tea & Coffee making facilities (including biscuits!)

The Last Word

I had a great week cruising the Norwegian Fjords on Iona, it was easily one of the best trips I have done.

Overall the cabin was very comfortable and one I would definitely consider booking in future, While it may not be one of the best balcony cabins on Iona, the disappointment wasn’t really a big deal in the end. Like most things, it’s what you make of it. Although it was a lesson learnt for being more careful with future bookings.

If you prefer to spend your time exploring the ship an inside cabin may be a better (and certainly cheaper) option. I don’t think not having a balcony cabin would make this type of cruise any less enjoyable. There are plenty of spots around the ship to get a great view of the scenery.

So, even on a cruise that is all about the views, you won’t miss out if you don’t have a balcony, you just need to make a bit more effort to get up on deck to enjoy the spectacular scenery. However, if you would like a balcony, the ones on deck five are well worth considering.