Guests sailing aboard P&O Cruises’ flagship, Iona, experienced a brief scare on 29th August 2025, when a small galley fire disrupted dining services and prompted a swift crew response.
The incident occurred while the ship was at sea returning to Southampton at the end of her 7-night Norwegian Fjords itinerary.
Passengers reported hearing an announcement calling for a first aid team to respond to a “fat fryer oil fire” on Deck 5.
Within minutes, more crew were summoned and team members were ordered to muster stations as a precaution.
Guests, however, were never instructed to leave their cabins or public areas.
The all-clear came after about 15 minutes, though several restaurants were closed, including the Pearl and Coral dining rooms on Deck 6.
Passengers near the affected area described corridors filled with the smell of burning oil and fire crews rushing through the hallways.
While the scene was unsettling, no injuries were reported and the crew earned praise for their quick and professional response.
Clean-up teams moved in immediately, limiting the impact to dining operations only.
Fire at sea is one of the most serious emergencies a cruise ship can face.
Well-trained onboard fire teams respond rapidly, while other crew prepare for possible evacuations.
Temporary restaurant closures are a standard safety measure to secure and ventilate the area.
Iona, which carries more than 5,200 guests and 1,800 crew, is expected to arrive in Southampton on schedule, ready to embark her next round of passengers.
Cruise Fires Are Rare
Fires onboard cruise ships are rare, and are typically dealt with by crew quickly.
A similar incident did occur earlier in the summer on the MSC Cruises ship MSC Orchestra, when an electrical switchboard caught fire.
The ship did lose power for a few hours as a result, but due to the quick action of crew members there was never any risk to the safety of the passengers onboard.
Another small fire broke out onboard the Princess Cruises ship Island Princess in July 2025.
Again this was quickly contained, although it didn’t stop several fake stories spreading on social media about an explosion onboard as passengers “feared for their lives”.
Always be careful what you read on social media when it comes to cruise emergencies, and check across several reputable cruise sources if you have any concerns that a story could be fake!
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
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