P&O has announced that Hays Travel Group owner, Dame Irene Hays, has been named the godmother of its new ship, Iona.
The Travel Chair has described the announcement as an honour for herself, her late husband John and all the agency’s staff.
The official ceremony will commence in Southampton on 16th May, featuring a special one-off performance from Gary Barlow.
With domestic cruising opening from 17th May and Iona setting sail on a UK coastal cruise series, the ceremony will represent a step towards normality, despite it being mainly a virtual occasion.
P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow said: “We are absolutely delighted that Dame Irene Hays will be Iona’s godmother, taking centre stage alongside Gary Barlow in a landmark naming ceremony which will be the first stepping stone on the path to the return of the UK cruise industry.”
Iona will then undergo final preparations before commencing domestic sailings alongside Britannia from 7th August.
