P&O Cruises Dinner Menus Guide
If you’re sailing with P&O Cruises, one of the highlights of each day is discovering what’s on the dinner menu. Whether you’re dining in the main restaurant, enjoying an Express Lunch, trying a locally inspired special, or celebrating with a formal evening menu, P&O offers a wide variety of dishes that blend British classics with international flavors.
This guide showcases a collection of authentic P&O Cruises menus from several different evenings and dining venues. Together they provide an excellent look at the variety of starters, soups, main courses, desserts, vegetarian options, signature dishes, and specialty selections guests may encounter during their cruise.
A Look at P&O Cruises Evening Dining
The standard evening menus feature multiple courses with plenty of choice. Guests can usually select from several starters, soups, main courses, desserts, and familiar favorites, making it easy to customize each meal.
Across these menus, P&O places a strong emphasis on seasonal ingredients while balancing traditional British cuisine with Mediterranean, Asian, and modern European influences.
Many menus also highlight a Locally Inspired dish, giving guests the opportunity to sample cuisine connected to the region where the ship is sailing.
Starters and Soups
The featured menus include a diverse selection of appetizers ranging from light vegetarian dishes to seafood and meat-based starters.
Examples include:
- Mackerel escabeche on toasted sourdough
- Pulled chicken tikka pressé
- Deep-fried sesame-crusted halloumi
- Atlantic prawn and chive crème fraîche tian
- Serrano ham with Manchego
- Grilled beetroot salad
- Sweetcorn and cheddar fritters
- Chargrilled aubergine roll
- Spiced Atlantic cod croquetas
- Pulled ham hock roulade
Soup selections vary by evening and include options such as:
- Butternut squash and chilli soup
- Roasted red pepper soup
- Sweetcorn chowder
- Plum tomato soup
- White onion and thyme velouté
Vegetarian and vegan dishes appear throughout the menus, with dietary symbols clearly identifying suitable choices.
Main Courses
The dinner menus offer a wide range of entrées covering seafood, poultry, beef, pork, and vegetarian cuisine.
Seafood dishes include options such as:
- Crispy panko-crusted plaice
- Baked Atlantic cod
- Paprika and lime roasted rainbow trout
- Pan-fried sea bass fillet
Meat selections feature:
- Braised beef steak
- Slow-braised beef steak
- Roast pork loin
- Crispy confit pork belly
- Gammon steak
- Roast chicken breast
- Grilled sirloin steak
Vegetarian offerings are equally varied, including:
- Aubergine Parmigiana
- Forest mushroom gnocchi
- Spanakopita
- Garden pea and courgette risotto
- Edamame bean falafel
Several evenings also feature Locally Inspired specialties, such as Coq au Riesling, Gambas Pil Pil, Spiced Lamb Samosas, Lasagne Al Forno, and Moules Marinière.
Rather than relying on a fixed menu, P&O rotates these selections throughout the cruise, giving repeat diners something different each evening.
Desserts
Dessert choices cover both traditional favorites and lighter alternatives.
Examples shown include:
- Warm Queen of Puddings
- Lemon-soaked sponge cake
- Rhubarb upside-down pudding
- Chocolate and caramelised banana split
- Blackberry and apple fool
- Almond and pear frangipane tart
- Peach Melba
- Tropical papaya and lychee salad
Every menu also includes:
- Ice cream selections
- Sorbet
- Fresh fruit
- Cheese plates
Dietary symbols continue throughout the dessert section to help guests identify vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and lower-sugar options.
Familiar Favourites
One feature that appears repeatedly is the Familiar Favourites section.
These dishes provide consistent options for guests who prefer classic comfort food instead of the rotating daily menu.
Across these menus, examples include:
- Caesar Salad
- Plum Tomato Soup
- Roasted Chicken Breast
- Grilled Beef Sirloin Steak
This gives guests dependable choices regardless of the evening’s themed menu.
Express Lunch Menu
Not every midday meal requires a full multi-course experience. One menu features P&O Cruises’ Express Lunch, designed for guests looking for a quicker dining option.
Choices include sandwiches, lighter meals, small plates, larger entrées, soups, desserts, and selected wines by the glass.
The menu includes dishes such as:
- Prawn Marie Rose baguette
- Crispy chicken burger
- Chickpea and roasted vegetable masala
- Oven-baked lasagne
- Lamb dopiaza
- Scallopine Milanese
This format allows guests to enjoy table service without spending as much time in the dining room before returning to the ship’s activities or heading ashore.
6th Street Diner
One of the more casual dining venues featured in this collection is 6th Street Diner, offering American-inspired comfort food.
The menu includes appetizers such as Buffalo Wings, Pick Up Chicks, Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail, and Royal Caesar Salad.
Main dishes focus on hearty favorites including:
- All-American Hamburger
- Nashville Hot Chicken Burger
- Philly Cheesesteak Sub
- Baby Back Ribs
- Shrimp and Grits
- Eggplant Parm
Sides such as Dirty Fries, Onion Rings, Corn on the Cob, and French Fries complete the menu, while desserts include Cherry Cobbler, Boston Cream Pie, Coconut and Rum Pudding, and Key Lime Pie.
The diner provides a noticeably different experience from the main dining room while maintaining the same emphasis on generous portions and familiar flavors.
The Chef’s Table Experience
One of the standout specialty dining experiences featured in this collection is The Chef’s Table, a signature collaboration between P&O Cruises, acclaimed chef Marco Pierre White, and wine expert Olly Smith.
Unlike the main dining room, The Chef’s Table offers a carefully curated multi-course menu paired with recommended wines selected to complement each course. Throughout the menu, Olly Smith’s suggested wine pairings appear beside many dishes, giving guests guidance if they wish to enhance the experience.
The menu includes an amuse-bouche before moving into starters, main courses, desserts, and petit fours.
Among the featured dishes are:
- Cannelloni of poached and oak-smoked salmon
- Crispy braised lamb bonbon
- French onion soup gratinée
- Mango and orange ceviche
- Pan-fried sea bass à la Grenobloise
- Classic Beef Wellington
- Roast pork fillet
- Roasted cherry tomato and goat’s cheese galette
- Roast mock lamb stuffed butternut squash
Desserts include Trifle Wally Ladd, Rum Savarin of Raspberries, Rich Dark Chocolate and Passion Fruit Delice, Tropical Fruit Salad, and a traditional cheese plate before tea, coffee, petit fours, and chocolate truffles conclude the meal.
The Chef’s Table is designed as a premium dining experience for guests looking for elevated cuisine beyond the standard main dining room menu.
Celebration Night Menu
Another highlight in this collection is the Celebration Night menu.
Prepared for one of the cruise’s formal evenings, this menu showcases refined dishes that elevate the dining experience while still offering vegetarian choices and lighter options.
Guests can choose from appetizers such as honey-glazed ham hock terrine, pan-fried tiger prawns, whipped goat’s cheese mousse, beetroot and avocado, and white onion velouté before moving on to main courses including roasted rump of lamb, turbot fillet, corn-fed chicken satay, and truffled pumpkin macaroni.
Desserts continue the celebratory theme with options including:
- Black Cherry and Roasted Hazelnut Dacquoise Cake
- Classic Apple Tarte Tatin
- Dark Chocolate and Beetroot Brownie Tart
- Cheese Plate
- Ice cream
- Sorbet
The second page also features a Signature Selection with optional premium starter, main course, and dessert upgrades together with recommended celebration wines.
Mini and Mighty Small Plates
P&O Cruises also offers an entirely different dining concept through its Mini and Mighty menu.
Guests can order individual small plates or combine any three dishes into a tasting selection.
Choices include:
- Korean Sticky Chicken Lollipops
- Roasted Beetroot Croquetas
- Chinese Spiced Crispy Lamb
- Charred Galician Octopus
- Walnut-Crusted Savoury Profiteroles
- Prawn Potstickers
- Tuna Poke
- Soy Marinated Quorn and Papaya Salad
- London Gin & Tonic Cured Salmon
- Venison Cecina and Elk
- Pork Belly Cassoulet
This format encourages sharing and allows guests to sample multiple international flavors during one meal.
Trio Plates
For diners looking for something more substantial, the menu also features several trio combinations.
Available selections include:
- Beef Trio
- Chicken Trio
- Pork Trio
- Seafood Trio
- Vegan Trio
Each trio combines three complementary preparations of the featured ingredient into a single dish, creating a tasting-style entrée.
Three-Piece Sweets
Dessert lovers can continue the tasting concept with Three-Piece Sweets, where each trio includes three miniature desserts grouped around a common theme.
Themes shown include:
- Very Berry
- British Retro
- Global Fusion
Additional gluten-free and lower-sugar recommendations are highlighted separately, and guests can also finish with a specialty cheese selection.
P&O Cruises Room Service Menu
The collection also includes the ship’s room service menu, offering food throughout the day for guests who prefer dining in their cabin.
Breakfast includes pastries, cereals, fruit, yogurt, smoothies, juices, and bakery items.
During the day, guests can choose from:
- Sandwiches
- Baguettes
- Wraps
- Specialty sandwiches
- Small plates
- Large plates
- Healthy options
- Stone-baked pizzas
- Sharing platters
- Desserts
Examples include Chicken Tikka Masala, Southern Fried Chicken, Lasagne al Forno, Great British Beef and Ale Pie, P&O Double-Decker Cheeseburger, and Ocean Catch seafood platter.
The second page continues with desserts, sweet treats, nighttime snacks, sandwiches, pizzas, and additional hot meals.
The menu notes that a £2.50 delivery charge applies, giving guests the option to enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, or late-night bites without leaving their cabin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does P&O Cruises change the dinner menu every night?
Yes. The menus rotate throughout the voyage, with different starters, main courses, desserts, and locally inspired dishes featured on different evenings.
Are vegetarian and vegan meals available?
Yes. The menus clearly identify vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and lower-sugar dishes using dietary symbols.
What is The Chef’s Table?
The Chef’s Table is a premium specialty dining experience created in collaboration with Marco Pierre White and wine expert Olly Smith. It features a curated multi-course menu with recommended wine pairings.
Does P&O Cruises offer room service?
Yes. Guests can order breakfast, sandwiches, pizzas, hot meals, desserts, snacks, and drinks through the room service menu. The menu shown here states that a delivery charge applies.
Are there casual dining options besides the main restaurant?
Yes. This collection includes examples such as the 6th Street Diner and Mini and Mighty tasting menu, both offering a different style of dining from the traditional main dining room.
Conclusion
This collection highlights the impressive variety available across P&O Cruises’ dining venues. From rotating main dining room menus and Express Lunch to Celebration Night, The Chef’s Table, Mini and Mighty tasting plates, trio entrées, specialty desserts, casual American fare, children’s menus, and room service, guests have a wide range of dining experiences to enjoy throughout their voyage.
Whether you’re researching a future cruise or simply curious about what P&O Cruises serves onboard, these authentic menus provide an excellent snapshot of the food, presentation, and variety available across the fleet.
