P&O Cancels Iona’s Le Havre Call Citing French Unrest

P&O Cruises has canceled Iona’s October 18, 2026, call at Le Havre, citing “ongoing protests and civil unrest in France” in an email to passengers. The change affects three port visits on the seven-night sailing departing Southampton on October 17.

Le Havre was the itinerary’s only French destination, leaving the voyage with calls exclusively in Spain. Vigo moves forward by one day, while A Coruna gains an overnight stay. Guests received the revised schedule before embarkation.

Sea day replaces Le Havre

Sunday’s planned full-day visit to Le Havre will become a sea day. Iona will then reach Vigo on Monday, October 19, instead of Tuesday, October 20.

The ship will arrive in A Coruna on October 20 and remain through October 21. That replaces the original daytime-only visit scheduled for Wednesday. The Bilbao-Getxo call on Thursday, October 22, remains unchanged, as does the return to Southampton for disembarkation on Saturday, October 24.

P&O will cancel and refund shore excursions booked through the cruise line for Le Havre. Bookings for Vigo and A Coruna will be adjusted where the revised port timings require changes, and the Shore Experiences team will contact affected guests if further arrangements need attention.

French protests and road disruption

Le Monde reported that more than 600 demonstrations were planned across France for Saturday, October 17, the day before the ship’s scheduled arrival. The unrest involves opposition to government budget and public-service cuts, alongside concerns over living costs, fuel prices and classroom resources.

Earlier protests have involved rallies, traffic disruption, fires and occasional violent confrontations with police and other authorities. Thousands of protesters have been arrested in recent weeks, and some encounters have raised questions about police brutality.

The cancellation also removes access to full-day excursions to Paris, approximately a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Le Havre. Some protest actions were planned to block major roads and infrastructure, which risked disrupting journeys between the cruise port and the capital.