What is dining like on P&O Cruises? A complete guide

Last updated: 24/04/2026 

Food is often one of the first things people think about when booking a cruise. But if you’re new to P&O Cruises, it’s not always obvious what’s included, how dining works, or what you can expect day to day.

The good news is that dining on P&O Cruises is designed to be straightforward, flexible and enjoyable. There’s a wide range of options available, from relaxed buffet meals and casual dining during the day to more traditional, multi-course dinners in the evening. Much of it is already included in your cruise fare, with the option to upgrade if you’d like something a little more premium.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about dining on P&O Cruises. That includes what food is included, how dining styles work, whether speciality restaurants are worth it, and ultimately whether P&O Cruises is a good choice if food is an important part of your holiday. 

Dining is a big part of the experience on a P&O Cruises holiday, and you’ll find there’s plenty of choice from the moment you step onboard! 

Across the fleet, food is designed to be flexible and easy to enjoy. That might mean a relaxed breakfast in the buffet, something quick by the pool during the day, or a more traditional, multi-course dinner in one of the main dining rooms in the evening. You can keep things casual or make more of an occasion of it - it really depends on how you like to spend your time.

A large part of the dining experience is already included in your cruise fare. Alongside this, there are also speciality restaurants for when you want something a little different. 

One of the things P&O Cruises does particularly well is balance variety with familiarity. You’ll find classic British dishes alongside international options, with menus that change regularly throughout your cruise. So whether you prefer to stick to what you know or try something new, there’s always something to suit. 

Overall, dining on P&O Cruises isn’t about one standout meal, but the variety you can enjoy across your holiday. It’s straightforward, good quality and designed to suit a range of tastes. 

One of the biggest advantages of cruising with P&O Cruises is how much of the dining experience is already included in the price of your holiday.

Across the fleet, you’ll find a wide range of options available at no extra cost, giving you plenty of choice throughout the day without needing to think too much about additional spending. 

The main dining rooms are at the heart of this. Here, you can enjoy full-service meals, particularly in the evenings, with multiple courses and menus that change regularly. It’s a more traditional dining experience, ideal if you like to sit down and take your time over dinner.

Alongside this, buffet restaurants offer a more relaxed and flexible approach. They’re open for breakfast, lunch, and often dinner too, making them an easy option if you’d rather eat at your own pace. 

You’ll also find a selection of more informal options included, depending on your ship. This might include lighter bites during the day, poolside food or late-night snacks, so there’s usually something available whenever you feel like eating. 

Of course, there are also speciality restaurants available at an additional cost, which we’ll come on to next. But for many guests, the included dining alone offers more than enough variety to enjoy throughout the cruise.

If you’d like a more detailed look at P&O Cruises restaurants, you can explore our full guide here. 

While there’s plenty included in your cruise fare, P&O Cruises also offers a selection of speciality restaurants. 

These venues typically charge an additional fee, but in return offer a more refined or themed dining experience. That might mean menus created by well-known chefs, a more intimate setting, or dishes that go beyond what’s available in the main dining rooms. 

Whether they’re worth it really comes down to how you like to dine.

If you’re happy with the included options and prefer not to spend extra, you’ll likely find more than enough variety already onboard. Many guests are perfectly content sticking with the main dining rooms and buffet throughout their holiday.

However, if you enjoy trying different restaurants, celebrating a special occasion, or simply want something a little more premium, speciality dining can be a great addition. It’s less about necessity and more about enhancing the experience.

A good way to think about it is as an occasional treat rather than something you need every night.

When it comes to dining on P&O Cruises, it’s not just about what you eat, but how you choose to dine. In the main dining rooms, you’ll typically have two options: Freedom dining or Club dining.

Freedom dining is the more flexible option. You can arrive when it suits you within set dining hours, and either be seated straight away or join a short queue at busier times.

It’s a good fit if you prefer to keep your evenings open or like the idea of dining at different times each day. 

Club dining offers a more traditional experience. You’ll have a set dining time each evening, along with the same table and waiting team throughout your cruise.

It’s ideal if you enjoy a routine and like the idea of getting to know your fellow diners over the course of your holiday. 

There’s no right or wrong option - it simply comes down to personal preference.

If flexibility is important, Freedom dining tends to suit most guests. If you prefer structure and a more familiar dining experience each evening, Club dining can be a great choice. 

Read next: What is the difference between P&O Cruises Club Dining and Freedom Dining?

One of the things that stands out about dining on P&O Cruises is the variety. Menus are designed to cater to a wide range of tastes. So, whether you’re someone who enjoys familiar favourites or likes to try something new, you’ll usually find plenty of choice. 

There’s a strong British influence across many menus, particularly in the main dining rooms, where you might see classic dishes alongside more modern options. At the same time, international flavours are well represented, with everything from Mediterranean-inspired dishes to Asian cuisine appearing throughout your cruise.

Menus also change regularly, which helps keep things interesting if you’re sailing for a longer period. It’s not the same selection night after night, so there’s always something different to try if you want it.

Quality and presentation are consistent focuses, particularly in the evening, when meals feel more like an occasion. During the day, things are more relaxed, with lighter options and quick bites available if you’d prefer to keep things simple.

Overall, the approach is about balance. You’ll find a mix of classic and contemporary dishes, familiar and more adventurous options, and a style of dining that shifts easily from casual to more formal depending on the time of day. 

Yes, food does vary slightly across the P&O Cruises fleet. But, it’s less about quality and more about choice, variety and style of dining.

All ships offer the same core dining experience, including main dining rooms, buffet restaurants and a range of included options throughout the day. So wherever you sail, you can expect a consistent standard, with breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and even afternoon tea all included in your cruise fare. 

Where things start to differ is in the number and type of venues available. 

Ships like Arvia and Iona offer a wider range of dining options. Alongside the main dining rooms and buffet, you’ll find more casual venues, food court-style areas and a broader selection of speciality restaurants. 

This means you can easily mix things up throughout your cruise, trying something different most days without repeating the same venues. 

On ships like Aurora, Arcadia and Ventura, the focus is a little more traditional. You’ll still have excellent included dining, but with fewer speciality venues and a slightly simpler overall choice.

For many guests, this enhances the experience. There’s a stronger emphasis on the main dining rooms, where you’ll enjoy a more structured, sit-down meal each evening, often with multiple courses and attentive service. 

While the range of venues may vary, the fundamentals remain consistent: 

• Main dining rooms serving multi-course meals (often five courses in the evening)
• Buffet restaurants offering flexible, all-day dining
• Casual options like poolside grills and snacks are included in your fare
• Speciality restaurants available at an additional cost 

So, while you might have more choices on some ships than others, you won’t miss out on the overall dining experience.

If you enjoy having lots of different venues to choose from, newer ships will naturally give you more variety.

If you prefer a more traditional cruise feel, where dinner is a bit of a nightly occasion, the smaller ships tend to lean more into that style. 

In short, yes - P&O Cruises is a good choice for food, particularly if you’re looking for variety, consistency and good overall value.

One of the biggest strengths is how much is included. From full-service meals in the main dining rooms to flexible buffet dining and casual options throughout the day, you can enjoy a wide range of food without needing to pay extra. For many guests, this alone is more than enough to feel well catered for throughout their cruise.

There’s also a good balance between familiar dishes and more varied options. You’ll find classic British favourites alongside international cuisine, with menus that change regularly, particularly in the main dining rooms. This means there’s usually something to suit different tastes, whether you prefer to keep things simple or try something new.

Of course, like any cruise line, it’s worth setting the right expectations. P&O Cruises focuses on delivering reliable, high-quality dining across a range of venues, rather than positioning itself as a fully luxury or fine-dining experience across the board. That said, the speciality restaurants do offer a more premium feel if you’re looking to elevate your dining for a particular evening.

Overall, P&O Cruises tends to suit guests who:

• Enjoy having plenty of choice without overcomplicating things
• Appreciate a mix of casual and more traditional dining 
• Want good value, with most meals included 

If food is an important part of your holiday, P&O Cruises offers a well-rounded experience. It may not be centred entirely around high-end dining, but it delivers consistently across the board, which for many guests is exactly what they’re looking for. 

If food is an important part of your holiday, there are a few simple ways to get even more out of the dining experience onboard. 

It’s easy to stick to one or two venues, but you’ll get the most out of your cruise by mixing things up. Try the main dining rooms for a more traditional evening meal, and balance that with more relaxed options during the day.

If there’s a particular restaurant you’d like to try, it’s worth booking early, especially on sea days when demand is higher. You can usually do this before you travel or once on board.

Menus for main dining rooms and speciality restaurants are often available in advance. Having a quick look can help you decide where you’d like to eat and whether any speciality dining is worth booking.

You’ll likely have more time to enjoy the ship on sea days, which makes them ideal for longer lunches,  afternoon tea or trying a speciality restaurant without feeling rushed.

There’s a lot of variety included in your cruise fare, and many guests find they don’t need to spend extra to enjoy the dining experience. It’s worth trying what’s already available before deciding to upgrade. 

Once onboard, the My Holiday planner makes it easy to check menus, book dining, and keep track of your reservations, helping you stay organised without having to queue or visit different venues. 

For a step-by-step guide to using it on board, see our full guide to the P&O Cruises My Holiday app. 

While it’s good to have a plan, it’s just as easy to keep things relaxed. If something takes your interest during the day, you can often make last-minute decisions without needing to book everything in advance. 

Yes, a large proportion of the food onboard is included in your cruise fare. This covers main dining rooms, buffet restaurants and a variety of more casual options throughout the day. You can enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks without paying extra.

There are also speciality restaurants available at an additional cost, but these are optional rather than essential. 

Some drinks are included, such as water, tea, coffee and fruit juice at certain times of day. Alcoholic drinks, soft drinks and speciality coffees are usually charged separately. 

If you’re planning to enjoy a few drinks throughout your cruise, it’s worth taking a look at our guide to P&O Cruises drinks packages to see whether one might suit you. 

It depends on where you choose to eat.

Main dining rooms and buffet restaurants typically don’t require advance booking, although you may need to wait during busier periods. 

Speciality restaurants usually do require a reservation, and it’s often a good idea to book these in advance if there’s somewhere specific you’d like to try.

Yes, there’s usually something available throughout the day and into the evening. 

From breakfast through to late-night snacks, you’ll find a range of options across the ship, whether you’re looking for a full meal or something quick and casual.

Yes, P&O Cruises caters for a wide range of dietary requirements, including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.

It’s always best to let the cruise line know in advance, so they can ensure suitable options are available throughout your holiday.

In many cases, yes. Sample menus for main dining rooms and speciality restaurants are often available before you travel, giving you a better idea of what to expect.

Once onboard, you can also use the My Holiday planner to view menus and make dining reservations.

It can be, but it doesn’t have to be.

P&O Cruises offers a mix of formal and more relaxed dining. Some evenings may have a more formal dress code in the main dining rooms, while other venues and casual dining options remain more relaxed.