P&O Cruises’ new-build ship will feature global street food experiences, a gelateria, four-screen cinema complex and pop-up performances, as the line targets the lucrative family holiday market.

The company’s president Paul Ludlow said the options on Iona represent “unprecedented choice and flexibility when it comes to dining” and will create a “fun and welcoming environment so parents can relax and recharge while the kids have the time of their lives”.

The line said that a new dining concept, The Quays, offers a multi-venue dining piazza with a range of eateries and restaurants, while The Boardwalk Diner features American classics and Southern soul food.

Fusion is a hot spot for lovers of authentic Asian flavours with takeaway dishes available all day and traditional British fish and chips is also on the menu at Hook Line and Vinegar. The Olive Grove, meanwhile, celebrates the flavours of the southern and eastern Mediterranean. Street food experiences are also available at Taste 360, a new signature concept on deck.

Sweet treats can be found at Ripples gelateria, serving Italian-style gelato courtesy of Snowflake. Exclusive flavours will be created especially for Iona’s inaugural season cruising the Norwegian fjords.

In terms of entertainment, Iona’s The Reef activity programme is aimed at six months to 12 years old, and Scene gives teens aged 13 to 17 their own place to test their skills with the latest gaming technology. In addition, the Night Nursery allows parents the chance to enjoy Iona’s dining and entertainment options.

Fun for the whole family can be found at Ocean Studios, a four-screen cinema complex, The Club House where families can take part in game shows, or the Headliners Theatre. Pop-up performances, including aerial and circus performances, will take place in the Grand Atrium and SkyDome.

Shore excursions have also been given the family-friendly treatment. In Alesund, Norway, guests can visit the Atlantic Sea-Park, one of Europe’s largest saltwater aquariums, while the wilderness can be explored on the line’s Geirangerfjord Kayaking guided adventure.

In Cadiz there is a zip-wire experience in the Entre Ramas Adventure Park, as well as 58 games spread over six circuits of varying degrees of difficulty. Football fans will also be delighted with an excursion to the Camp Nou, home of Barcelona and the largest stadium in Europe. Here guests can check out the press and interview rooms and the Barça Museum, which displays memorabilia and trophies.

Iona is currently being built at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg and will be launched in May 2020.