IONA

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Fire in galley soon extinguished

On Aug 29, 2025, a fire broke out in the galley on deck 5 of the 'Iona', during the sea day en route from Haugesund to Southampton, UK. Itat ignited in a deep fryer. The galley and the Pearl and Coral restaurants had to be evacuated. The crew's onboard fire brigade was deployed, and additional team members were on standby at the muster stations. The fire was brought under control after about 15 minutes using the ship's own extinguishing equipment. An alarm for the guests was unnecessary, but some areas were evacuated as a precaution. The 'Iona' was returning from a seven-day Norway cruise and berthed in Southampton on Aug 30, embarking guests for the next cruise towards Norway, with a first call at Stavanger on Sep 1.

Norovirus outbreak hit cruise ship

A suspected norovirus outbreak has hit the 'Iona', while sailing off the coast of Belgium. It has seen a significant rise in passengers and crew members displaying symptoms such as vomiting in restaurants, on decks, and outside cabins. The ship is on a week-long Northern European cruise, visiting Hamburg, Rotterdam, and Zeebrugge. It departed from Southampton on Feb 15, 2025. Less than 1% of passengers were affected. On Feb 20, the ship's captain addressed passengers, announcing that measures were being taken to contain the outbreak and prevent its spread. Some quarantined guests complained that staff shortages had made it difficult to receive food deliveries, fresh towels, and clean bed linen.

Medevac in Funchal

A crew member of British nationality, aged 60, who showed symptoms of a cerebrovascular accident (CVA), was medevaced from the 'Iona' in the morning of March 20, 2024. The ship was sailing 163 nautical miles northwest of Madeira, when the alert was received at the MRSC Funchal, at around 6:28 a.m. The Urgent Patients Guidance Center Mar (CODU-Mar) was then contacted, which, through the information that pointed to signs stroke considered the need for immediate medevac. The Portuguese Navy coordinated the operation through the MRSC Funchal and in collaboration with the Guidance for Urgent Patients – Seafarers (CODU-MAR) and with the Regional Civil Protection Service (SRPC IP-RAM). After the alert, the ship moved to the port of Funchal, where the crew member disembarked at 4:25 a.m., and was transported to a hospital unit with the support of agents from the Local Command of the Maritime Police and the ambulance from the Maritime Association. Madeiran Volunteer Firefighters who were already on site.​