P&O Cruises

Dining Onboard P&O Cruises

P&O Cruises offers world class dining onboard their ships, so-much-so that all of their executive chefs have been invited to join the Chaine des Rotisseurs. The Chaine des Rotisseurs is an international respected gastronomic society that was founded in Paris in 1950 and brings together professionals, such as chefs, restaurateurs and non-professionals from across the globe.

Traditionally, the cuisine onboard has always had a British feel to it with a contemporary twist thanks to the influence of the likes of Marco Pierre White over the years. Through these celebrity chefs, not only do the signature restaurants have a unique feel, but the whole network of restaurants onboard receive planning and input from culinary experts to create a truly refined dining experience.

The Food Courts

The Food Courts onboard P&O Cruises offer a fantastic option for casual, 24 hour dining and these relaxed eateries are always popular with cruisers. The early morning is based on breakfast food, with a brunch-style menu available from late morning. There is then a late morning snack, lunch and afternoon tea and cakes. The evenings offer main courses ideal after a day of shore excursions. If you find yourself feeling peckish after the main meal, there is also a selection of snacks available throughout the night, from pizza to sandwiches.

The Main Dining Room

Dining onboard a P&O Cruises ship is made easy thanks to the options of either Club or Freedom Dining in the Main Dining Rooms. Club Dining sees you sat with the same people at a set seating time each day and is a great way to structure your time onboard and meet fellow passengers. Meanwhile, Freedom Dining allows you to turn up and be seated whenever you wish within the set serving window for the venue.

These main dining rooms offer an elegant ambiance and sociable atmosphere while you enjoy silver-service and a five course menu, the perfect opportunity to put on your best clothes and make the most of the delicious food on offer.

Select Dining

Select Dining is P&O Cruises’ specialty dining option, offering more intimate venues, a stunning variety of food and celebrity chef restaurants. Whether it's a romantic meal for two, a celebration, or just a change of scenery, these restaurants offer fantastic food. From the fine dining of The White Room, to the relaxed atmosphere of The Glass House or Café Bordeaux, there is something for everyone. Cafe Bordeaux onboard Aurora and Ocean Grill onboard Arcadia are signature specialty restaurants designed by the three Michelin starred chef Marco Pierre White. Marco's ideas are ingrained in the menu and concepts behind the restaurants, creating a truly unique cruise dining experience.

In addition, The Glass House is based on a London wine bar that can be found onboard Aurora, Azura, and Britannia, where all the wines are selected by British wine expert Olly Smith. The Glass house also offers a light menu, which has been picked to go hand-in-hand with the wines on offer.

In keeping with P&O Cruises commitment to all things British, guests with a sweet tooth will appreciate another taste of home in the form of Jude's Ice Cream. All ships stock a range of flavours of the award-winning, Hampshire-born ice cream, with the family-friendly ships offering an especially extensive list of choices.

However, it must be noted that many of the select dining restaurants do carry an additional cover change.

Food Theme Cruises and Excursions

• Cruises with Olly Smith-Olly believes that there is a wine out there to suit every palate and every pocket. He frequently appears as a wine expert on Saturday Kitchen and makes guest appearances on ITV’s This Morning. Join Olly for a spot of wine tasting, sampling a selection of wines chosen especially. If you’ve always wondered what wine could perfectly pair with one of your specialty dishes, now is the time to ask.
• Cruises with Marco Pierre White- Marco Pierre White was the youngest person to have been awarded three Michelin stars and has trained many well-known chefs such as the likes of Gordon Ramsay and Curtis Stone. You can learn from Marco in a hands-on cookery class or as part of a master class, where he will demonstrate his tricks of the trade. Dubbed the ''Godfather of British cuisine'', this really is a special opportunity.

Food Allergies and Special Dietary Requirements

P&O Cruises is committed to ensuring everyone can enjoy the excellent cuisine available onboard during their cruise. So, provided you notify your cruise consultant ahead of time and inform your Head Waiter when you go to dine for the first time, P&O Cruises will be able to cater to any special dietary requests and food allergies you have. You can find out more about P&O Cruises' current policies in our blog on the best cruise lines for food allergies and special diets right here.

P&O Cruises' Entertainment

All ships within P&O Cruises fleet come to life once night falls and with entertainment ranging from hit movies at the cinema to live performances at the theatre and lively events at the bars onboard, no night has to be the same.

Live performances can be found around every corner on a P&O Cruises getaway. With exciting venues such as the Headliners Theatre and its LED backdrop, to the more intimate Starlights lounge, guests can expect broadway-style shows, live music, dancing and even acrobatics, every night of their cruise.

For those who like to sit back with a drink in hand, there are a whole host of bars to choose from such as Brodie’s, an English-style pub, to the sophisticated cocktail and champagne offerings of Blue Bar. Complemented by live piano music and other performances, as well as the opportunity to dance, an evening in a bar can be as laid-back or lively as you want.

When it comes to having a calmer night onboard, P&O Cruises offers the opportunity for guests to enjoy a film. The SeaScreen open air cinema lets guests enjoy the big screen under the starry night sky, while Chaplin’s cinema has 200 comfortable seats for you to settle into and get lost in a film.

Family Activities on P&O Cruises

P&O Cruises are Britain's favourite cruise line and their family-friendly ships offer fantastic family cruises from the UK; especially if you're looking for a budget-friendly option, as there are many cheap P&O cruises to choose from. From family friendly cabins, fantastic entertainment and sumptuous cuisine to their kids club, The Reef, they offer a superb family holiday with something for everyone. In addition, P&O Cruises offer many itineraries which coincide with the school holidays.

The Reef

Open from approximately 9am through to 11pm, The Reef is P&O Cruises' exciting complimentary onboard programme for 2 - 17 year olds. Hosted by The Reef Rangers, each of the qualified Youth Team is carefully selected, after having an enhanced DBS check, for their extensive experience planning and facilitating activities. If your child has a birthday onboard, make sure to let the team at The Reef know, so that they can help you celebrate the special day.

• Splashers (2 - 4 years) - this is a great place for the youngest of the kids club members to meet and play with children their own age under the supervision of the Reef Rangers. They will sing, dance, play with stickle bricks, enter colouring competitions and win prizes. There are puppet shows, parties and even snack time, so parents can be sure that they are well looked after!
• Surfers (5 - 8 years)- Surfers offer fun filled days with activities aimed to keep this age group entertained all day long. From face painting to three legged races, there is even Cookery Corner where kids can invent their own chocolate bars with all kinds of weird and wonderful ingredients!
• Scubas (9 - 12 years)- starting a little later in the day, Scubas can have an action packed day with activities such as Giant Jenga to Playstations®. There are drama workshops, pool parties, table tennis competitions and karaoke sessions to keep the kids busy from morning to evening.
• H2O (13 - 17 years)- H2O is P&O Cruises' teen club, where they can enjoy great facilities including Playstations®, as well as the chance to form their own band in rock school, enjoy a table football competition, take advantage of the free arcade hour or even party away in the afterhours Teen Disco.

Night nursery and group babysitting is also available free of charge, with more information available onboard.

P&O Cruises Oasis Teen Spa

Teens can enjoy various treatments and facilities at the Oasis Teen Spa. Found aboard all family-friendly ships, the spa has been designed with the needs of teenagers in mind. They can alleviate some exam stress with a soothing back massage, or tackle oily skin with a refreshing and cleansing facial. Boot-camp style fitness classes and skilled, reliable hair stylists are also available.

Family Dining

Normally children will join their parents for breakfast and lunch, but since you may occasionally want to dine on your own, P&O Cruises family cruise holidays lay on a special children’s tea every night featuring all the food that children will enjoy- from sausages, fish fingers and pizza to a great selection of healthy options, such as salads, soups, fruit, vegetables and pasta. For babies, P&O Cruises can puree or mash adult food from the main restaurant or alternatively you can request baby food in advance.

Family Staterooms

Family-friendly staterooms are difficult to work out on most cruise lines, but with P&O Cruises you have plenty of choice, from luxury to value options. As with most cruise lines there is great value to be had in the three and four berth inside and outside staterooms, though these do consist of pull down beds, meaning a twin bed option is available, but a king size bed is not. For the balcony staterooms the layout is a little different from ship to ship. Interconnecting cabins are usually available for most stateroom grades, though the availability can be limited.

All children between the ages of 2 -12 will receive a helium balloon, bag of jelly beans and special bedding upon arrival.

Safety and Special Arrangements

Each of the kids clubs have secure systems which only allow authorised entry by shipboard ID. Any children under 12 years must be signed in and out of the club and will be required to wear a safety wristband to ensure they can be correctly identified and returned to parents.

P&O Cruises are able to provide the following equipment, subject to availability: sterilisers, cots, baby bath, bed rails, baby food, nappy disposal units and high chairs. You may be able to request these via the Accommodation Services onboard, however it is advised that you call the Customer Contact Centre ahead to make your request.

Where Does P&O Cruises Sail to?

Offering cruises from Southampton throughout the year, you can discover the world without any flying or choose to catch your ship to an array of exotic destinations. Experts in Mediterranean cruises and Europe cruises, you can sail to the likes of Spain, Portugal, the Norwegian Fjords and the Baltic. For the Caribbean, North America, Alaska cruises and other tropical fly cruises, flights can be arranged from most UK airports. You can also sail to closer to home destinations courtesy of a P&O mini cruise if you're looking for a cheap P&O cruise.

Alternatively, check out our blog - Top Things to do in Iceland, a destination that's also visited by P&O Cruises. Or if you're looking for a winter getaway, you can check out P&O Cruises' tempting winter sailings throughout 2027 and 2028 that are now on sale! See our blog - P&O Cruises winter 2027/28 collection for more details.

P&O Cruises are dedicated to making sure that the onboard experience is just as memorable as the itinerary of each ship. From relaxing days of pampering to splashing in one of the pools, there’s something to suit all guests and ensure that they make the most of their cruise at their own pace.

• Spa and Fitness Centre- each ship boasts a luxurious spa and modern fitness centre, meaning that guests can get as active as they like or be as pampered as they fancy.
• Art gallery- for those art lovers wishing to enrich their cruise ship experience a little, look no further than Whitewall Galleries and their range of works by contemporary and 20th Century artists.
• Cafés- during the day, guests can enjoy a leisurely hot drink in one of the speciality cafés across the ships,. such as Tiffany’s and Java.
• Shopping- make the most of the duty free prices by heading to the onboard boutiques where you can pick up everything from everyday essentials to holiday treats and gifts for your loved ones back home.
• The Photo Gallery- if you want to make sure you never forget your cruise, why not enjoy the professional photoshoots available.
• Pools- each ship has its fair share of swimming pools, meaning that guests can choose to laze around on a sun lounger and soak up the sun or dive in and splash about in the refreshing water.

P&O Cruises' Suites

Make your cruise on one of Britain's most popular cruise lines even more memorable by upgrading your accommodation to a suite. With several different types to choose from, all with extra perks (you'll even have your own butler!) you're sure to find one that suits you:

• Mini Suite- smaller than a regular suite, but more spacious than a stateroom, this is the ideal option for those looking to upgrade their holiday. With a sitting area, bathroom with tub and shower and balcony, there's no better place to spend your holiday downtime.
• Suite- enjoy even more space in a P&O Cruises suite, where the luxurious décor, VIP perks and butler service will make you feel like an A lister.
• Conservatory Mini Suite- available onboard P&O Iona, these spacious suites mean you can make the most of the sea views whatever the weather.
• Family Suite- if you're travelling with children, P&O Cruises' family suites onboard Ventura and Azura will make life stress free. With two bedrooms, an extra bathroom and a lounge area, there's plenty of space for everyone to enjoy.

P&O Cruises' Accessible Cabins and Suites

Please note that whilst those in wheelchairs can be accommodated in all cabin types (after prior notification and if specific criteria is met), those who require a powered mobility device must book an accessible cabin. Please call Iglu Cruise on 020 3811 6615 to book an accessible cabin on P&O Cruises. For more information, see our article - Cunard and P&O Cruises Updated Powered Mobility Device Policy on our Help Centre.

P&O Cruises App

From virtual queues to restaurant reservations and virtual GP services, P&O Cruises' My Holiday app is on hand to help streamline your time onboard.

P&O Cruises' Peninsular Club

In addition, P&O Cruises offer a range of benefits and exclusive discounts for their loyal returning cruise guests. You can receive all of these rewards and more when you book with Iglu Cruise. See our dedicated P&O Cruises Peninsular Club cruise rewards blog for more information.

P&O Cruises No Service Charge

P&O Cruises have a no service charge policy, meaning that guests don’t have to worry about being surprised by the cost of additional gratuities.

Pay in Pounds

There’s no need to worry about fluctuating exchange rates or changing money on a holiday with P&O Cruises. Pay for all your fare aboard and pre-booked excursions in British Pounds Sterling.

P&O Drinks Packages

Gin Tasting Masterclass Across the Fleet

P&O Cruises offers gin tasting masterclasses across the fleet. Throughout the captivating masterclass you’ll learn the fascinating secrets of distilling, before tasting Marabelle Gin (alongside other Salcombe Gin) whilst being expertly guided by a gin expert.

Savour the flavours of the Mediterranean, the Norwegian Fjords and other extraordinary destinations that inspired the crisp and floral taste of this delicious gin, this masterclass is perfect for gin enthusiasts or those simply wanting to toast to their getaway! Get ready to raise a glass and book your class on board.

Booking Onboard with P&O Cruises

P&O Cruises is one of the best cruise lines to book onboard with. Take advantage of P&O Cruises' onboard booking with the Loyalty and Cruise Sales team while sailing for exclusive deals and benefits for your next getaway.

Cruising Solo? P&O Cruises Has You Covered!

If you're wondering whether P&O Cruises is one of the top cruise lines for solo cruises, you'll be pleased to know that it is! With stylish single cabins and an itinerary of events designed specifically for singles, you'll find yourself having a fantastic time onboard with this cruise line.

P&O Cruises' All Inclusive Packages

Holidays with P&O Cruises are getting even more exciting, thanks to their new All-Inclusive packages. Giving you the opportunity to upgrade your experience and save on essential extras, P&O Cruises’ All-Inclusive packages bundle together drinks packages, Wi-Fi, and additional onboard credit. Find out more on our dedicated blog - P&O Cruises’ All-Inclusive packages - everything you need to know.