One of the fantastic aspects of a cruise holiday is the opportunity to try a range of delicious food, and sailing with P&O Cruises is no exception. With over 30 bars and restaurants on their newest ships, P&O Cruises food offers an outstanding choice that will satisfy every taste and every dining occasion.
In our blog below, we explore P&O Cruises’ best food, looking not only at their speciality restaurants but also their main dining rooms and buffet food, P&O Cruises’ family food, and their vegan and vegetarian options.
We’ll also answer questions such as:
Is food included on P&O Cruises?
How much are speciality restaurants on P&O Cruises?
When can I book restaurants on P&O Cruises?
So, if you’re wondering, ‘Is P&O Cruises food good?’ read on to learn more about its excellent range of choices.
Dining options on P&O Cruises
Like many cruise lines, when sailing on P&O Cruises ships, you will have a choice of food included in your fare at the main dining rooms and buffet restaurants. Then, there are P&O Cruises’ speciality restaurants, which come with an extra charge. Let’s take a closer look at each.
Included food on P&O Cruises
On a P&O Cruises holiday, you’ll have access to several dining options included in your cruise, and these have increased on their newer ships. For example, Iona has four main dining rooms: Aqua, Coral, Opal and Pearl. Sail on P&O Cruises’ Arvia, and you’ll have two main dining rooms, Meridian and Zenith.
For a wide variety of self-serve choices throughout the day, head to P&O Cruises’ buffet, known as the Horizon Restaurant on most of their vessels.
Both ships also offer The Chef’s Table for celebratory occasions, The Olive Grove (a Mediterranean-influenced restaurant, with a surcharge on a few items), Taste 360 for street food options and The Quays food court, all of which are included in your cruise fare.
P&O Cruises speciality restaurants
If you fancy trying something a little different outside of the included food on P&O Cruises, the cruise line also offers several speciality dining restaurants. On both Arvia and Iona cruise ships, you’ll have a choice of seven options.
For fine dining food on P&O Cruises, there’s The Epicurean, or for something spicy, take a look at the contemporary Indian cuisine of Sindhu. You’ve also got a more relaxed vibe at The Beach House and gastropub classics at The Grand Atrium (Iona) or The Keel and Cow (Arvia).
Like all cruise lines, you will need to pay a bit extra to eat in speciality restaurants. However, this usually comes in the form of a reasonably priced cover charge.
Which are the best restaurants on P&O Cruises?
With so many food options on a P&O Cruises cruise holiday, it can be tricky to know where to start. To help, here are our five best dining venues:
Horizon Restaurant for P&O Cruises family food
Don’t underestimate P&O Cruises’ buffet option, Horizon Restaurant. If you’re travelling as a family or a group with various tastes, it makes for an excellent choice. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as afternoon tea and late-night dishes, so you’ll be able to find something here pretty much any time you’re peckish.
Horizon Restaurant has a laid-back vibe and serves a range of classic British dishes and those with a more international flair. There’s plenty to keep little ones happy, too, including a 5pm Children’s Tea.
For those with dietary requirements, keep an eye out for P&O Cruises’ food allergy cards that let you know what’s in the dishes and whether they’re suitable for gluten-free, vegan or vegetarian diets.
The Chef’s Table for celebrations at no extra charge
Enjoy an exclusive menu onboard Iona designed by P&O Food Hero, Marco Pierre White, and wine pairings recommended by Olly Smith on celebration night at The Chef’s Table. On these special occasions, an area of the Horizon Restaurant is glammed up for a spot of fine dining, where you’ll get pristine white table clothes and dedicated table service.
It’s a real treat of an evening, and it may surprise you to learn that it’s even included in your P&O Cruises fare. However, it is also very popular, so book early to secure a table.
Green & Co feat. Mizhuna for P&O Cruises vegan & vegetarian food
One of the newest dining options on the Arvia cruise ship is the speciality restaurant, Green & Co feat. Mizhuana. Although you will need to pay extra to eat here, it is the place to go to discover P&O Cruises’ vegan & vegetarian food, fine-dining-style.
At Green & Co feat. Mizhuana, you can select from a plant-based and fish-focused menu. And, with a sushi bar looking over the chef’s kitchen, you can watch the immense skills of the chefs preparing your food.
The Limelight Club, where dining meets entertainment
The Limelight Club is a favourite speciality dining restaurant amongst cruise guests, delivering talented musical performances alongside a three-course meal. The entertainment is designed to be a show-stopper of an evening, comprising some of the UK’s most-loved musical talents.
Meanwhile, its gourmet dishes can include anything from scallops and beetroot mousse to start to fillet of beef, sea bass or wild mushroom strudel for the main, with a delicious dessert to round off the meal.
The Limelight Club is an adults-only venue, and as an intimate setting, tables are limited. Therefore, our top tip is to book before you sail so you don’t miss out!
6th Street Diner for an all-American experience
Visit 6th Street Diner, and you’ll feel like you’ve been transported back in time across the pond. With retro décor and an all-American menu, it oozes nostalgic 50s culture. Open for breakfast, brunch and dinner, you can enjoy American classics, such as fried chicken and waffles or buttermilk pancake stack, with a milkshake on the side, while selecting a tune from the diner’s jukebox.
Another great thing about 6th Street Diner is that it is one of P&O Cruises’ food options included in your fare, so you can visit as much as you choose!
When can I book restaurants on P&O?
With such a great variety of food on P&O Cruises, you’ll never be short of a place to eat. However, reserving a table in advance is a great idea if you have a specific place in mind.
After booking your P&O Cruises cruise holiday, you’ll have access to your P&O Cruises planner around three months prior to departure. Usually, you can use this account to pre-book any dining options. Alternatively, you can use the My Holiday on-board app or speak to the restaurant manager in person when you board the ship.
