There are three principal dining rooms, Bay Tree, Cinnamon, and Saffron, featuring standard à la carte menus. In Cinnamon and Saffron you can dine when you want, with whom you want, at any time between 6pm and 10pm (P&O calls it “Freedom Dining”), while The Bay Tree offers fixed seating dining, with assigned tables (typical seating times: 6:30pm or 8:30pm). Note that if you choose “Freedom” dining in the Cinnamon or Saffron restaurants, a “gratuity charge” of £1.50 per person, per day is added to your account.

Alternative Dining venues include the following:

The White Room is located high up on the ship (above the children’s play area) with a quarter of the tables on deck. In this dining spot, celebrity chef Marco Pierre White features modern classic European dishes in an environment which is intimate and attentive but not stuffy and is particularly suitable for families. Reservations are necessary, and the cost to dine here is extra).

For complete privacy, private balcony dining, influenced by Marco Pierre White, is also available as a rather pricey (but perhaps worthwhile) extra-cost option.

The Waterside is a large, self-serve buffet restaurant, with indoor-outdoor seating in all grades of accommodation.

On the same deck, adjacent to the forward pool, Frankie’s Grill and Frankie’s Pizzeria can be found.

Tazzine, a coffee lounge by day, and at night it turns into a cocktail bar.

The Beach House is a casual dining spot for families, open 24 hours. Marco’s roof-side café serves gourmet pizzas, grills and original ice cream flavors, such as chocolate truffle and prune and Armagnac.

East is an Asian fusion eatery.

Ramblas is a tapas and wine bar (some items at extra cost).

In addition, 24-hour room service is available in cabins.

Berlitz Guide © Apa Publishing 2008