P&O Cruises has made significant alterations to Iona’s October 2026 itinerary.
The cruise line has removed the scheduled call to Le Havre, France, and replaced it with extended calls to Spanish ports. Civil unrest continues to escalate across France, and the cruise line cited safety concerns related to ongoing protests over cost-of-living increases and government budget cuts as the primary reason for the last-minute changes.
The modified seven-night sailing will now see Iona calling on Vigo, Spain, one day earlier than originally scheduled, on 17th October 2026.
The ship will then proceed to A Coruña for an overnight stay, providing passengers with significantly more time to explore this historic Galician city.
The originally planned call to Le Havre on 18th October 2026 has been completely removed from the itinerary. This port had been positioned as a gateway for British passengers wishing to visit Paris, located approximately 200 kilometres from the Normandy port.
The remainder of the cruise itinerary remains unchanged, with Iona still scheduled to call at Bilbao-Getxo in Spain’s Basque Country.
This allows passengers who had booked shore experiences in northern Spain to proceed with their plans as originally intended.
Passengers Notified Before Embarkation With Refund Guarantees
P&O Cruises contacted affected passengers via email before embarkation to inform them of the itinerary changes.
The notification process allowed travellers to make informed decisions about their cruise before boarding the vessel.
The cruise line confirmed that all shore experiences and excursions booked through P&O Cruises for the cancelled Le Havre port call would be automatically cancelled and refunded.
This applies to officially booked tours and experiences purchased through the cruise line’s own shore excursion programme.
Passengers who had made independent arrangements for tours or travel to Paris from Le Havre will need to seek refunds or cancellations directly with their third-party providers.
The cruise line’s compensation only extends to services purchased through P&O Cruises’ official channels.
French Protests Create Safety Concerns For International Travellers
The decision to bypass France comes amid escalating civil unrest throughout the country.
There are widespread protests related to cost-of-living pressures and controversial government budget cuts. These demonstrations have affected major cities and transportation routes across France, creating uncertainty for travellers.
French citizens have taken to the streets in numerous cities to protest against economic policies they view as detrimental to working-class families.
The protests have occasionally turned confrontational, with disruptions to public transportation, road blockages, and concerns about public safety in tourist areas.
For cruise passengers, the unrest presents particular challenges.
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