P&O Iona Inside Cabin review (not as bad you might think)

Discover all you need to know about inside cabins on P&O’s Iona so you can decide if they are the cabin style for you.

My first cruise on P&O Cruises’ Iona was in an inside cabin. It was a last-minute trip, a combination of having some unexpected time on my hands and being tipped off about some great fares with no solo supplement.

The Itinerary was Northern Europe with ports of call of Zeebrugge, Rotterdam and Le Havre. Well until the weather scuppered that but that’s a story for another time. Being a last-minute trip and the itinerary not really calling for a balcony, I decided to book the cheapest cabin available. This was a standard inside cabin with the grade guaranteed but not the location.

Despite cruising solo, it was actually cheaper to book this cabin at single occupancy than an actual dedicated solo cabin. As the fare didn’t allow me to select a cabin, I was at P&O’s mercy but I stuck lucky and was allocated a great cabin.

If you are thinking about booking one of Iona’s inside cabins, read on to find out if it is the cabin style for you.

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.

Inside Cabins on Iona

Iona has 811 inside cabins. Standard inside cabins are located on all cabin decks while larger style are on decks 4,5,9,11 & 14. You can view the Iona deck plans to see exactly where each type is located.

Related post | Selecting a cruise cabin can be a difficult decision which can make or break you holiday. View my guide to cabins to avoid on Iona for all the information you need to make the right cabin choice for you.

Cabin Review

I was allocated cabin 9504 which was located midship on deck nine. I was a little worried when I first saw as it was tucked behind the lifts but it ended up being a brilliant location. It was very quiet, with no noise from the lifts and few people walking past.

All the facilities on deck eight were just one flight of stairs down so it was very easy to get to The Quays for breakfast or a cuppa. With the lifts just around the corner it didn’t take more than a few minutes to reach the upper decks. I honestly couldn’t fault the location at all.

Cabin layout

Most cruise ships cabins are a usually a rectangle shape, however, the cabin I was allocated was square-shaped. This gave it a slightly more spacious feel despite the huge bed taking most of the space.

Walking into the room there was a wardrobe immediately to the left & four coat hooks on the wall to the right. The wardrobe is a good size with plenty of hangers and a full length mirror on one of the doors. A shelf at the top is where the life jackets are stored. In the cabin I was in, they took up just over half the shelf so there was a little space there for use too.

I’ve read some comments that the wardrobes are not tall enough to hold long dresses. So, if packing for a summer cruise or taking long dresses for the evening it’s worth bearing that in mind.

Tip: Use the hooks on the opposite wall for long items of clothing such as evening dresses or bring you own hooks that you can place higher up.

On one side of the bed is a small bedside table and on the other is a cupboard. There is a little insert in the side of the cupboard with a plug socket and small ledge. So although there is no bedside table, there is space for items such as a glass of water or your phone. I found this worked really well.

There are built in lamps on either side of the bed which also have a USB port underneath. Though they are easily missed, I only found out about them when I returned home. So don’t make the same mistake as I did.

The cupboard has six deep shelves and I could comfortably store my packing cubes on them, with room to spare. There was a safe on the middle shelf which my 12″ MacBook just about fitted into. Items such as passports, money or iPads and iPhones fit in quite easily.

At the end of the bed was a sofa and a unit with a small fridge, tea and coffee making facilities (with plenty of teabags!) and some more storage shelves. You could store drinks or snacks that you may have brought onboard here.

On the wall to the right was a huge TV which folded out so you could angle it depending on if you were watching TV in bed or on the sofa.

The only thing missing was a desk/dressing table. This didn’t really bother me too much, I use the bathroom when putting my makeup on so the table usually just becomes a dumping ground. However, if you do like to use a dressing table (or desk) then it’s best to avoid these cabins.

Bathroom

The bathroom was a good size. Light and bright with warm wood panelling, it felt comfortable despite being small. With three shelves next to the mirror and some more space under the sink there was a lot of storage space for toiletries and make-up.

The shower was compact but had good water pressure and heated up quickly. Shower gel and shampoo by The White Company was in a dispenser on the shower wall. There also two trays where you could store your own toiletries.

Related posts | Looking for more P&O Iona reviews? Read my review of a balcony cabin on deck 5 or my Norwegian Fjords cruise review.

What amenities are included in Iona’s cabins?

Air conditioning
Complimentary toiletries
Fridge
Hairdryer
Safe (can hold a laptop up to 17″)
TV
Tea & Coffee making facilities (including biscuits!)

Things to know about cruising on Iona

Do cabins on Iona have fridges?

Yes, Iona’s cabins do have fridges. You can store any alcohol or soft drinks you may bring onboard with you. I also used it for storing milk brought back from the buffet so I could use it for a morning cuppa.

Do P&O cabins have kettles?

Of course, it’s a British cruise line! There are also large cups for each person in the cabin, tea bags, coffee sachets and milk and sugar. Milk is in the little cartons so if you prefer fresh milk, you can bring some back to your cabin from the Horizon Restaurant.

Do I need to take towels on a P&O Cruise?

No you do not as towels are provided. There should be enough towels for each person in your cabin. If you are by the pool, you can grab a towel by the towel station.

Tip: The pool towels also make quite good blankets if you are cold sitting out on deck

Do P&O cabins have irons?

No they don’t but there are irons and ironing boards in the laundry rooms which you can use free of charge.

What toiletries are provided on P&O Cruises?

All cabin bathrooms have liquid soap, body wash and shampoo by The White Company.

Is water free on P&O cruises?

On arrival there will be a free can of water for each person in your cabin. You can get free water from the buffet and there are water stations around the ship where you can refill your water bottle.

Related Post | Looking for some Iona cruise ship reviews? Find what it is like to cruise the Norwegian Fjords on Iona.

The Last Word

Overall I found the cabin very comfortable and would have no worries about staying in it again. I’d say it was possibly one of the best inside cabins on Iona and if I ever sail on her in the future & want an inside cabin I’d book this one. I absolutely loved it.

The location was perfect, with easy access to all the facilities. Nothing felt too far away. While the lifts were just a few seconds away, it was still really quiet. I hardly heard a noise the whole week.

Being on my own, it’s probably too easy to say there was more than enough storage. However, even if you share with someone unless you are both over packers I think there is probably plenty of room for your clothes and accessories.

Perhaps another cupboard on the other side of the bed with more shelves or a taller space to hang longer items of clothing would be good but that’s definitely not a deal-breaker.

Inside cabins can sometimes get a bit of a bad reputation but these inside cabins are really comfortable. I didn’t actually want to leave at the end of the week and would have no hesitation staying in one again.

So, if you are looking to save some money or just prefer to spend your time exploring the ship rather than being in your cabin a lot, then Iona’s inside cabins are well worth considering.

Cruise Lines, P&O Cruises

P&O Cruises’ Iona Inside Cabin Review