The inside scoop on P&O Cruises' latest Shine at Sea event

07 Jan 2025by Katherine Masters

New-to-cruise agent Connie Willis, travel consultant at Delmar World in Wrexham, shares her learnings from the cruise line’s dedicated training event

Connie Willis and TV personality James 'Arg' Argent

There were 50 of us agents in total sailing onboard Iona for a Northern Cities itinerary calling at Hamburg, Rotterdam, Zeebrugge and Le Havre.

I had been on five cruise ships up to this point, which allowed me to share my knowledge about cruising and destinations with clients. This included four Norwegian Cruise Line itineraries (two to the Caribbean, a Panama Canal and a Med cruise).

I know that Norwegian is great for families with its top-deck attractions, but as I haven’t experienced many other cruise lines, it’s been challenging to compare products and determine which line would best suit my clients’ needs.

I did sail onboard P&O Cruises’ Ventura years ago but I don’t remember that much, aside from the weather being quite bad! I haven’t done any other ship visits for P&O Cruises so it was great to have a full onboard experience of Iona.

First impressions

Iona was modern, bright and spacious. The staff were welcoming, and the ship has a variety of different restaurants and bars. As a first-time cruiser with P&O Cruises, I was impressed with the modern decor, and there’s no shortage of activities to enjoy, whether at sea or while docked. There’s also no need to pre-book theatre tickets or restaurant reservations before your cruise. Everything can be arranged on the day via the My Holiday app, or you can simply roll up.

Food for thought

The food was of high quality, and offered a good variety of meals on the menus, from Italian in The Olive Grove to Asian/American in The Quays. The presentation of the dishes in The Epicurean was outstanding. I really liked the tapas concept in The Glasshouse restaurant, as I could choose small dishes, rather than picking just one thing off the menu.

Let me entertain you

Iona offers a great variety of entertainment, ranging from karaoke in Brodie’s, bands performing in The Clubhouse to acrobatics in the Skydome. Each night featured a different genre of music in The Clubhouse, ensuring there was something for everyone.

The 710 Club provided a more intimate venue for entertainment, creating a pleasant atmosphere. My favourite act onboard were Boomin – they performed at Headliners Theatre for two nights and got everyone singing and dancing. They really knew how to put on a show and how to engage with the audience.

On Black Tie night, I was lucky enough to watch James “Arg” Argent perform, while enjoying a delicious three-course meal.

Connie Willis and colleague Sarah Sixsmith visit the Heineken Experience in Amsterdam

Training takeaways

I had the opportunity to learn more about the other P&O Cruises ships, and also gained some valuable insights into the booking system. For example, I wasn’t aware that there are images on the Complete Cruise Solution system of each individual obstructed cabin. This will be very useful when helping clients decide which cabin category and cabin number to choose.

It was also useful to know that the category BE Family Suites can only be booked over the phone, and not on the Polar system, so it is always worth calling to check that they are available.

Destination tips

In Amsterdam and Bruges, I joined walking tours of the cities, led by friendly and knowledgeable guides who shared lots of fascinating insights. After the walking tour in Bruges, I had some free time to explore Market Square and enjoyed a Belgian waffle at a local cafe. There are also regular shuttle buses between the port and the city centre in Hamburg and Le Havre, ideal for passengers who want to explore at their own pace.

A confidence boost

As a result of Shine at Sea, I feel much more confident in selling P&O Cruises now that I have experienced one of their newer ships. I’m able to speak in greater detail about the variety of entertainment, restaurants, cabin layouts and much more. I also have a clearer understanding of the ship’s layout and where the different venues are located. The food was delicious in all the restaurants, and I really like the variety of cuisines onboard and the daily activity options for all ages, so there was something for everyone. I would definitely go back on this ship again for my own holiday!