P&O cancelled Iona's October 2026 Le Havre call over French unrest

Iona left Southampton on 17 October 2026 for a seven-night sailing. P&O Cruises removed the scheduled 18 October 2026 call at Le Havre, turning the port day into a sea day, and the voyage is now Spain-only. The ship is one of the line's largest, more than 184,000 gross tons with a double capacity of 5,200 passengers, Cruise Fever reported. P&O contacted affected passengers by email before embarkation, Cruise Mummy reported.

Iona's revised Spanish itinerary

Rus Tourism News and Cruise Fever reported that Vigo moved to Monday 19 October 2026 from Tuesday 20 October 2026. A Coruña remained on 20 October 2026 but became an overnight stay through 21 October 2026, giving passengers a full evening in a city known for its historic centre and the Tower of Hercules, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bilbao-Getxo on 22 October 2026 and the return to Southampton on 24 October 2026 were unchanged. Cruise Fever reported that Iona appeared to be the only major cruise ship to drop a French port call because of the unrest, with other vessels still scheduled for Le Havre in the following days. P&O also cancelled Ventura's Cherbourg call on 25 October 2026, Cruise Hive reported.

Why P&O cancelled Le Havre

P&O cited safety concerns linked to protests over cost-of-living increases and government budget cuts, Cruise Mummy reported. More than 600 protests were planned across France for Saturday 17 October 2026, the day Iona left Southampton and the day before its scheduled Le Havre call, Cruise Fever reported. Some of those protests turned violent over the weekend of 17-18 October 2026, with clashes, damage and looting in cities including Paris, and curfews in some areas. aviation.direct reported looting and road blockades in Paris, Marseille and other metropolitan areas on the night of 19 October 2026, and said Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced localized curfews that day.

Le Havre sits at the mouth of the Seine and is the main maritime gateway for coach and train trips to Paris, about 200 km away, Cruise Mummy reported. Cruise Fever put the drive at 2.5 to 3 hours each way. Shore excursions from the port market Paris landmarks including the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and Notre-Dame Cathedral, as well as the D-Day beaches of Normandy. Cruise lines weigh whether passengers can travel safely between the ship, excursion and transport hub, Rus Tourism News reported.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez spoke of considerable strain on police forces, while judicial authorities confirmed nearly 2,400 arrests since the weekend, aviation.direct reported. For Le Havre, safety-related cancellations mean lost port fees, passenger handling and excursion revenue, and for shipping companies rerouting means short-term operational expenses, including renegotiating berths, fuel calculations and port agents, the outlet reported.

Refunds

P&O Cruises automatically cancelled and refunded shore excursions booked through its own programme for Le Havre. Passengers who arranged independent tours or travel to Paris had to seek cancellations from their providers. aviation.direct reported that independent operators faced cancellation fees. Whether passengers are entitled to additional compensation depends on booking contracts, applicable regulations and the circumstances, Rus Tourism News reported.