Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Red pepper parfait served in the Epicurean specialty restaurant on P&O Cruises. David Nikel No matter how comfortable the guest staterooms, how luxourious the lounges, or how exciting the ports of call, the onboard dining experience can make or break a cruise vacation. Large modern cruise liners offer a diverse array of dining options designed to satisfy every preference.
Whether you're a foodie seeking gourmet experiences, a family looking for quick, simple meal options, or a couple in search of a romantic dinner setting, cruise ship dining is more flexible than ever before. As the biggest cruise line solely targeting the British market, P&O Cruises offers family-friendly cruise vacations on some of the world’s biggest ships. Yet the fleet also includes smaller, older ships that operate adults-only itineraries.
This diversity in fleet and demographic means the dining concept varies considerably depending on which P&O Cruises ship you choose. P&O Cruises Dining Concept Explained Similar to other major cruise lines, all P&O Cruises ships include meals in a main dining room, buffet restaurant, and at least one other informal dining option in all cruise fares. Specialty restaurants are also available on all ships.
Aurora —the smallest ship—features three additional dining options, whereas Arvia —the biggest and newest ship in the fleet—features six specialty restaurants, together with an additional three informal dining options that are included in all cruise fares. Guests on P&O Cruises will not go hungry with a wide variety of dining options available. David Nikel MORE FOR YOU Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Clues And Answers For Tuesday, August 13 Trump Vs.
Harris 2024 Polls: Harris Expands Lead In Latest Survey Musk-Trump X Interview: Trump Takes Friendly Questions From Musk After Glitch-Plagued Start What to expect on a mid-size ship such as the flagship vessel Britannia ? Four specialty restaurants, plus the signature Cookery Club , a kitchen studio at sea that hosts regular teaching and hosted dinners from some of P&O Cruises’ Food Heroes . You won’t go hungry on any of the the ships in the fleet. But if you are a foodie or you plan to celebrate something special, it’s worth spending some time studying the options available on each ship before booking your cruise vacation.
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render(randId); }); })(); Main Dining Rooms Every guest will be assigned a table and time for dinner, typically on an early or late sitting. Main dining rooms feature different table sizes and may offer fixed dining or anytime dining. David Nikel ‘Freedom dining’ is becoming more popular, whereby guests can choose where and when they dine.
Tables can be requested using the ‘My Holiday’ app, but you should expect a wait at popular times. Three-course dinner menus on P&O Cruises change every day. British classics such as fish and chips, pan-fried chicken breast, gammon steak, and apple pie with custard sit alongside Mediterranean-influenced dishes such as asparagus and ricotta tortellini, and sweet potato and kale balls.
There’s usually six options for the main course of which at least one is vegetarian and another vegan. There’s also a vegetarian or vegan option among the four desserts, such as a vegan cherry cheesecake. An example three-course meal in the main dining room on P&O Cruises.
David Nikel Although most travelers consider the main dining rooms a venue for dinner, there is at least one dining room open for breakfast and lunch. It’s often a calmer choice than the buffet, although opening hours are limited. Informal Dining Every ship in the fleet has a buffet restaurant, which is open for much of the day.
This gives all guests the flexibility to eat at a time that suits them, or to grab something quick before or after an excursion, for example. Most days, a carvery station is available together with a selection of other main dishes and vegetable accompaniments. Curry always seems to be available, too, along with soup and a selection of desserts.
The buffet restaurant is a popular place for breakfast, with many British options available. David Nikel A poolside grill is also available during daytime hours, serving simple burgers, hot dogs, fries, and slices of pizza. There’s nothing gourmet about this fast food outlet, but it’s a quick option and a handy one for families spending the day by the pool.
When it comes to informal options, P&O Cruises has really upped its game on the newest, biggest ships, Iona and Arvia . A food-hall inspired concept, a Mediterranean restaurant, and an American-themed diner are among the additional inclusive dining options on Arvia . The Quays features counters for fish and chips, roast meat with Yorkshire puddings, and small salads and desserts, with additional outdoor seating available.
On 'Arvia', there is a daily carvery in 'The Quays' food hall, as well as in the buffet restaurant. David Nikel Securing a dinner reservation at the Olive Grove and the 6th Street Diner can be challenging, but the diner is also open for late breakfast and brunch most days. If you’re keen to have some variety in your dining but not fond of paying for speciality restaurants, Iona or Arvia could be the ships for you.
Room service is available on all ships across the fleet. A simple continental breakfast menu is available for free, although it must be ordered the previous night. A menu of snacks, meals, desserts, and drinks is available throughout the day at a small charge.
Specialty Restaurants All ships in the P&O Cruises fleet offer at least a few specialty restaurants, with the most available on the newest, biggest ships. If you are a foodie, the bigger ships with more options can turn your cruise from a simple summer sun vacation into a gastronomic adventure , if you’re prepared to pay. Epicurean offers fine dining in elegant surroundings.
David Nikel Available on all ships, Epicurean is the fine dining venue for a celebration. The premium afternoon tea is popular, as is the multi-course dinner, for which booking is essential. Slow-cooked ox cheek, enormous tiger prawns, whole Dover Sole prepared at the table, and a delightful apple and juniper berry crumble are among the highlights.
Another venue available fleet-wide, the Glass House is a wine bar by day and casual eastery by night serving hearty dishes alongside a signature range of tapas designed by Spanish chef José Pizarro. 'Glass House' offers a wine bar with a specialty restaurant attached. David Nikel Here, guests can pick at orange-stuffed Gordal olives, aged manchego cheese, and flavorful jamón ibérico while sampling the impressive wine list, or indulge in a spread of lamb cutlets, seared Atlantic scallops, squid croquetes, and patatas bravas .
Given the popularity of the cuisine among P&O Cruises’ core customer base, it’s no surprise that all ships in the fleet feature the British Indian restaurant Sindhu . Expect a refined take on British Indian classics, with inventive desserts such as cardamom bread and butter pudding and chilled rice pudding with mango. The Limelight Club presents a three-course meal in a stylish cabaret club setting.
David Nikel Iona and Arvia introduce new specialty options including gastropub Keel & Cow . Meanwhile, the Limelight Club presents a show-stopping three course menu served before a cabaret show from a leading British entertainer. This frequently sells out, so advance booking is essential.
Beverage Packages In 2023, the line overhauled its beverage packages , which are no longer the must-have add-on they used to be. Whether a package is worth it to or not depends on a guest’s own drinking habits, but take into account the itinerary too. The more sea days, the more likely the package is to give value.
Purchasing a beverage package is best done prior to the cruise when a 10% discount is available. However, any onboard credit a guest may have cannot be applied to a prior purchase, so some guests choose to buy a beverage package on board so any credit can be used towards the cost..
