Iona

On Feb 5, 2026, the 'Iona', en route from Funchal to Southampton, UK, requested the medical evacuation of a 66-year-old British passenger. The cruise ship was sailing 42 miles west-southwest of Cabo Silleiro at that time. The Vigo Coast Guard Station deployed the SAR helicopter Pesca I of the Galician Coast Guard, which took the patient on board and transported him to the Álvaro Cunqueiro Hospital for medical care on a higher level.

Passengers on the 'Iona' were facing delays after 18 containers carrying bananas fell overboard from the reefer 'Baltic Klipper' (IMO: 9454759) near the near the Nab Tower lighthouse on the Isle of Wight on Dec 6, 2025, at 6 p.m. The cruise ship was scheduled to depart Southampton for a 14-day cruise to Spain, Portugal, and the Canary Islands. Following the incident, the ship has been unable to leave port. The HM Coastguard is closely monitoring the situation and working with the relevant authorities, including the vessel’s owners. Broadcasts are being sent to warn local shipping, and Selsey Coastguard Rescue Team was on patrol. The “Iona" remained in Southampton overnight, untilthe authorities had confirmed the location of the containers. The cruise ship finally left the port on Dec 7 en route to Santa Cruz de Tenerife with an ETA as of Dec 11.

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.

A suspected norovirus outbreak has hit the 'Iona', wich is currently 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.

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.​

The 'Iona', en route from Southampton, UK, was diverted from Hamburg to Bremerhaven at short terms on Feb 12. The ship was expected at the Cruise Gate Hamburg at Steinwerder, but due to a shipwreck in the port, the plans wree changed. However, the cruise ship would not have had to pass the sinking site which was much more to the south of the port. The Cruise Center did not respond to enquiries, but further calls of the ship did not seem to be threatened. The 'Iona' was still berthed at the Columbus Quay in Bremerhaven as of Feb 13 with an ETA at the next port of call, Rotterdam, as of Feb 14.