If you like to enjoy a drink or three on your cruise holiday, it’s a good idea to find out what drinks are available and how much they cost before you book.
This article has pictures of P&O drinks menus with prices, so you can easily see the cost of drinks on P&O Cruises.
If you’re wondering whether the P&O Cruises drinks package is worth it, I have built a P&O drinks package calculator which will work it out for you, based on your individual drinking preferences.
Just enter your email address here and I’ll send it to you immediately.
And if you’re interested in the food menus, you can see those here: P&O food menus.
How Much Are Drinks on P&O Cruises?
P&O Cruises Drinks Prices:
Pint of beer: £5.05 to £5.40
Bottle of beer: £4.85 to £5.15
Glass of wine: £5.75 to £9.25
Spirits: £4.45 to £7.10
Cocktail: £7.15 to £8.50
Mocktail: £3.75
Soft drinks: £2.55 to £3.60
Bottle of water: £2.00
Depending on where you live in the UK, you may find that P&O drink prices are similar to what you’d pay in your local pub.
Wherever in the world you cruise to, drinks on P&O Cruises’ ships are all priced in pounds sterling, so it’s easy to know how much you’re spending.
P&O Cruises Drinks Menus
Each P&O Cruises ship will have many different bars and restaurants onboard, and each venue will have different drinks available. The pub has lots of different beers but a smaller cocktail menu, whereas the cocktail bars have lots of cocktails and a smaller choice of beers.
The following menu is the standard P&O drinks menu and wine list. You’ll find this in several places on board P&O Cruises’ ships, such as the poolside bars and the buffet restaurant. As you can see, P&O bar prices are quite reasonable.
P&O Cruises serve kosher and vegan wines. You can ask onboard for more information.
P&O Cruises Costa Coffee menu
Here’s the menu for the Costa Coffee shop on P&O Cruises’ ships. You can also get Costa speciality coffees in many of the other bars and lounges on your ship.
Brodies Pub Drinks Menu
Each ship in the P&O Cruises fleet has a traditional British pub. These include The Rising Sun on Arcadia, Champions Bar on Aurora, The Yacht & Compass on Oceana, The Exchange on Ventura and Brodies on Azura, Britannia and Iona.
Each pub has its own unique character and charm, but all offer an extensive drinks menu and wine list. Below are photos of the drinks menus from Brodies on board Iona:
P&O Cruises’ Wine List
Here is the P&O Cruises’ wine list. It’s available in each of the restaurants as well as selected bars and lounges on each ship.
Crow’s Next Drinks Menu
The Crow’s Nest is an elegant bar, located at the very top of the ship. It has an extensive menu with a large choice of cocktails and spirits. The Crow’s Nest is a popular spot to enjoy a nightcap before bed. It’s also a lovely place to go for a pre-dinner drink, especially if you can admire the views before it goes dark.
See The Crow’s Nest Drinks Menu
Anderson’s Bar Drinks List
Iona has its very own gin distillery on board, so you can enjoy Marabelle gin that was crafted on the ship. Marabelle gin is available in every bar, but here is the menu for Anderson’s Bar and Library which has the largest selection of gins.
More Bar and Lounge Drinks Menus
The other bars and lounges on P&O Cruises ships include The 710 Club, The Glass House, Emerald Bar, The Keel and Cow and The Limelight Club. Each has their own drinks menus too.
I haven’t added them all here, but they’re of similar size to the other drinks menus so there are lots of choices.
Room Service Drinks List
If you’d like to enjoy a drink in your room or perhaps on your balcony, then the following menu lists the drinks that are available to order via room service:
If you have a drinks package with P&O Cruises, you should note that room service drinks aren’t included in your drinks package.
You can order full 70cl bottles of spirits on room service, including whisky, vodka, gin and rum. This is a good option for anyone doing a longer cruise such as a world cruise.
Each cabin also has a mini bar which is replenished daily. The following drinks menu and price list for the mini bar is from a couple of years ago, so the prices have increased slightly since then, but this will give you an idea.
Mini bar drinks are also not included in the P&O Cruises drinks package.
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Bringing Your Own Alcohol On P&O Cruises Ships
P&O Cruises allows each passenger aged 18 and over to bring up to 1 litre of wine or Champagne, and unlimited soft drinks, on board the ship when they embark. If you purchase any more alcohol, either ashore or in the onboard duty-free shop, it will be held in storage until the end of your cruise.
The alcohol that you bring on board can be consumed in your stateroom without a charge. So if you enjoy a drink while getting ready to go out in the evening, or perhaps a nightcap, then bringing your own drinks can be a great way to save money on your cruise.
If you want to drink your wine elsewhere on the ship, there’s a £20 corkage fee to pay.
You used to be able to bring spirits onboard too but they’ve changed that policy now. On previous cruises, we saved over £400 by bringing our own drinks, compared to if we had bought the same spirits and mixers individually at bar prices. Plus, they were there in our fridge, which was very convenient. So it’s a shame that the policy has changed.
How to stop glass bottles breaking in your suitcase
Worried about your bottle of wine getting smashed in your case? You can get inflatable bottle protectors on Amazon to prevent that from happening. Sure, you could just wrap your bottles in clothes, but why take the risk?
P&O Cruises All-Inclusive Drinks Packages
In 2019, P&O Cruises introduced a drinks package that can turn your cruise from full-board to all-inclusive. P&O drinks packages are available on cruises of five nights or more, and must be purchased for every day of the cruise.
Is the P&O Cruises Drinks Package Worth It?
Before you go ahead and buy a P&O drinks package, it’s vital that you work out whether it’s good value for money. That will depend on what you drink and how much of it.
In my next article, I detail what’s included (and not included) in the P&O Cruises drinks package, and which drinks are always free.
Alternatively, you can use my quick and easy drinks package calculator to do all the maths for you. Just pop your details in this form and I’ll send it to you.
Cheers!
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
When you book a cruise with P&O Cruises Ventura, how do you know which cabin number to pick to make sure you get a good one?
You have the option to choose your cabin number if you book Select Fare. (If you book a Saver Fare, it will be chosen for you.) So what are the best cabins on P&O Ventura? And which are the cabins to avoid? Read on to find out.
I’ve read Ventura cabin reviews from hundreds of people who have cruised on this ship. I’ve also studied P&O Cruises’ deck plans carefully, to pull together all the information about the best and worst cabins on Ventura.
During my research, I noted that the vast majority of people who have cruised on Ventura were very happy with their cabins. However, there are a few cabins on Ventura that you may want to avoid.
Ventura Cabins
Ventura has 1,555 cabins which can accommodate between 3,106 and 3,727 passengers, depending on how many extra beds are in use. The ship has inside cabins, outside cabins, balcony cabins and luxury suites.
Ventura has 18 decks and nine of them have cabins. Ventura’s cabins are located on the Lido Deck, Riviera Deck, A Deck, B Deck, C Deck, D Deck, E Deck and P Deck.
The decks on Ventura have letters and names, and each deck also has a corresponding number. Deck 5 is the lowest deck and Deck 19 is the highest. This makes it easy to use the Ventura deck plan to find your cabin.
The table below shows which cabin types are available on each deck on Ventura:
Deck Number
Deck Name
Cabin Types
5
P Deck
Inside, Outside
6
F Deck
Inside (single), Outside (single)
7
Prom Deck
None
8
E Deck
Inside, Outside, Balcony, Superior Deluxe Balcony, Suite
9
D Deck
Inside, Balcony, Superior Deluxe Balcony, Suite
10
C Deck
Inside, Balcony, Suite
11
B Deck
Inside, Balcony
12
A Deck
Inside, Balcony, Suite
14
Riviera Deck
Inside, Large Inside, Outside, Balcony, Suite
15
Lido Deck
Inside, Outside, Balcony, Suite
16
Sun Deck
None
17
Sports Deck
None
18
Sky Deck
None
19
Cirque Deck
None
Balcony cabin A523 Photo credit: Tracy Bates
Ventura Cabin Sizes
Cabins on Ventura come in various sizes:
Cabin type
Cabin size
Description
Inside
172 sq ft (16 sq m)
This is a room for two to four people with no windows.
Inside (single)
30 sq ft (2.8 sq m)
This is a room for one person with no windows.
Outside
153 to 166 sq ft (14.2 to 15.4 sq m)
This is a room for two to four people with a window.
Outside (partially obstructed view)
155 to 261 sq ft (14.4 to 24.2 sq m)
This is a room for two to four people with a window.
Outside (totally obstructed view)
167 to 261 sq ft (15.5 to 24.2 sq m)
This is a room for two to four people with a window.
Outside (single)
130 sq ft (12 sq m)
This is a room for one person with a window.
Balcony
233 to 263 sq ft (21.6 to 24.4 sq m)
This is a room for two to four people with a balcony.
Superior Deluxe Balcony
314 sq ft (29.1 sq m)
This is a deluxe room for two to four people with a large balcony.
Suite
449 to 451 sq ft (41.7 to 41.9 sq m)
A large room for up to five people with a separate lounge area, dressing area and large balcony.
Inside cabins on Ventura are roughly all the same size. The other cabin types, such as outside and balcony, vary quite a lot. Outside cabins with partially obstructed views vary the most, as they can be anywhere between 155 square feet and 261 square feet (14.4 and 24.2 square metres). That’s almost twice as large!
However, it’s worth noting that the outside cabins at the front of the ship have a sloping wall with the window on, similar to what you might see in an attic bedroom.
This means that not all of the space is useable, as you can’t stand up by the window. These types of cabins aren’t as spacious as they sound on paper, but are great for providing extra space for young children to play.
Outside cabin R748 Photo credit: Jane McDowall
Of course, size isn’t everything. And when people book suites, they don’t usually do it just for the extra space. P&O Cruises also offers some very generous benefits to suite guests.
The Worst Cabins on Ventura
Like every cruise ship, there are some cabins to avoid on Ventura. These may be noisy, have a less-than-perfect balcony, or be in a poor location on the ship.
To help you avoid the worst cruise cabins, I have a free checklist that shows you what to look out for. If you’d like a copy, just leave your email address below and it will be sent straight to your inbox.
1. Noisy Cabins on Ventura
Of those who left a negative review of their cabin on Ventura, the thing that seemed to bother them most was noise. Ventura is fairly old for a cruise ship (she was built in 2006), and may not be quite as insulated as some of the more modern ships.
Most cabins on Ventura were reported as being very quiet, but there are some locations which can be a little noisy at certain times.
It’s important to remember that noise complaints are always subjective. People who go to bed early are likely to be disturbed if they choose a cabin above a nightclub. Those who like to sleep in may be woken early by the sound of sun loungers being moved by the pool in the morning.
The noisiest cabins on Ventura
E101-E204: These cabins are directly above the Arena Theatre, and music can be heard in these rooms during performances. Performances usually go on until 11.30pm most evenings, so if you plan on heading to bed before this time, you should avoid these cabins. If you tend to stay up later than this, you won’t have a problem.
E720, E722, E724, E726, E728, E730: The cabins are directly above the Havana nightclub – specifically, directly above the speakers on the ceiling of Havana. Havana is a late-night venue, and the music continues until at least 1am and sometimes as late as 3am, depending on the cruise. As well as being able to hear the music, cruisers have reported that vibrations from the speakers can make the coat hangers in the wardrobe clatter together in the night. However, the music really isn’t that loud through the ceiling, so unless you need perfect silence to sleep, most people will be just fine here.
Balcony cabins and suites R321 – R523: These cabins and suites are all directly below the sunbathing area on the Lido Deck. This means that you may hear some noise when sun loungers are being moved early in the morning. The pool deck staff have been trained not to drag them across the floor, but most passengers wouldn’t think about this. If you like to sleep in late, I would avoid these cabins.
2. Windy Cabins on Ventura
D105, D106, D109, D110: These suites and balcony cabins are right at the front corner of the ship, beneath the bridge. The reason why cruise ships don’t have balconies facing forward is that it would be too windy. These balconies are on each side, but because they are so far forward, they can be incredibly windy to the point of being unusable when the ship is moving. However, there is no problem when the ship is in port.
Windy balconies under the bridge
3. Ventura Cabins with Fixed Twin Beds
D101, D102, P201, P202, P203, P204, P205, P206, P207, P208, P209, P210, P211, P214, P217, P218, P221, P222, P225, P226, P229, P230, P233, P234, P323, P324, P325, P328: These cabins have fixed twin beds, which cannot be converted into a double. If you prefer single beds then you’ll have no problem. But for couples who prefer to share a bed during their holiday, you’ll want to avoid these cabins.
Inside cabin B525 Photo credit: Karina Pearson
4. Ventura Cabins Near the Smoking Areas
No reports of affected cabins!
On many cruise ships, you’ll find balcony cabins which are located directly above smoking areas. This can be very unpleasant for anyone who wants to sit out on their balcony, if they can smell cigarette smoke drifting up.
On Ventura, the location of smoking areas has changed many times over the years. On recent cruises, the location of smoking areas on Ventura have been:
Prom Deck – All along the starboard side
Prom Deck – Port side between The Tamarind Club and The Red Bar
These smoking areas have all been carefully positioned and are not below balconies, so nobody should be affected by smoke.
Smoking in your cabin and on your balcony is prohibited. So if you’re a smoker, choosing a cabin near a smoking area can be a great idea. You won’t have far to travel if you want a cigarette when you first wake up or before you go to bed.
5. Ventura Cabins with Overlooked Balconies
All Superior Deluxe balconies on D Deck: If you want privacy on your balcony, you should avoid Ventura balcony cabins on D Deck. These Superior Deluxe balconies are positioned on an overhang above the lifeboats. Although this means that they are larger than standard balconies, everyone above you can look down onto your balcony.
Superior Deluxe cabin D503 Photo credit: Sue Walker-Scott
Personally, I don’t think that these are the worst Ventura cruise ship cabins. Having an overlooked balcony wouldn’t bother me one bit. I can’t imagine what I would be doing out there that I wouldn’t want anyone to see!
But, if you want a Superior Deluxe balcony which isn’t overlooked, you should instead choose one on E Deck. (Tip: Go for the starboard side so as not to be disturbed by noise from the nightclub.)
All balcony cabins on C Deck: C Deck balconies are partially overlooked from the decks above. However, they are the biggest standard balconies on the ship at nine feet by nine feet (7.5 square metres). They have a ceiling overhang to cover the first five feet, so they do offer some privacy.
With these cabins, you need to choose between a larger balcony which is partly overlooked, or a smaller balcony with privacy for the same price. If you would rather have a larger balcony, stick with C Deck. You can always sit by the balcony door if you insist on not getting dressed! If you value your privacy more than space, choose a balcony cabin on B Deck or above and you won’t be overlooked at all.
6. Ventura Cabins with Shaded Balconies
A201, A202, A203, A204: These cabins are shaded by the deck above.
All balcony cabins and suites on Riviera Deck: The deck above overhangs the Riviera Deck, so every balcony on this deck will be in the shade.
Balcony cabins L218-L312: The deck above overhangs much of the Lido Deck, so these balconies will be in the shade.
If you love to sunbathe on your balcony, you’ll probably want to avoid balconies that don’t get any direct sunshine. However, if you prefer to sit in the shade, one of these could be ideal. On a cold-weather cruise, you probably won’t notice if your balcony is in the shade or not. The overhang may even help to keep off some of the rain!
7. Ventura Cabins in Awkward Locations
Any number under 300: The lowest numbered cabins are towards the front of the ship. This is at the opposite end of the ship to The Reef kids’ club. If you don’t have kids, this won’t matter at all. But for parents who plan to take their children to the kids’ club multiple times per day, it can be a little inconvenient to have a cabin that’s very far away.
If your children are likely to fall asleep watching a film in the kids’ club in the evening, you’re probably going to have to carry them to bed. Walking the full length of a ship carrying a sleeping child, while wearing a ballgown and heels, isn’t the most fun. Trust me, I’ve done it!
Inside cabin A217 Photo credit: Andrea Kitts
At the back (also known as the ‘aft’) of Ventura, you’ll find the buffet restaurant, the main dining rooms, Havana nightclub, the Terrace Pool, the Terrace Bar and The Epicurean restaurant. At the front of the ship are the theatre, the spa, the gym and The Retreat. If you struggle to walk long distances, your best bet is to choose a cabin which is as close as possible to the mid-ship lifts.
8. Ventura Cabins Which Could Make You Seasick.
L101-L250, R201-R250, R718-R751, A 201-A217, A746-A753: If you’re prone to seasickness, avoid cabins at the front and back of the highest decks of the ship. This is where most movement can be felt. The locations where you’ll feel the least movement are mid-ship on the lower decks.
Whether or not you can feel the ship move depends very much on where you’re cruising to, the time of year and the weather. Cruises which travel around the Bay of Biscay (between France and Spain), particularly in the autumn and winter, tend to have a reputation for rough seas. However, this doesn’t mean that this will happen on your cruise or that you will feel seasick.
Ventura’s Obstructed View Cabins
An obstructed view cabin is one which has a part of the ship blocking all or part of your sea view. Obstructed view cabins can be outside cabins with windows or balconies. On Ventura, all the obstructed view cabins are outside (window) cabins.
On Ventura, the lifeboats are stored on E Deck, outside the cabin windows. Depending on which E Deck cabin you choose, you may have a clear view between the lifeboats, a partially obstructed view, or a view which is totally blocked by a lifeboat.
How Much Can You See Out of an Obstructed View Window?
View obstructions vary from a lifeboat completely blocking the window to just a thin pole or some ropes outside the window. Photos of the views from most obstructed view cabins on Ventura are available online.
The partially obstructed view from cabin E630 Photo credit: Chris Nicholson
Is it a Good Idea to Book an Obstructed View Cabin on Ventura?
An obstructed view will always be cheaper than a clear view. In some cases, it can even be cheaper to book an obstructed ocean-view cabin than an inside cabin! Think about the value you place on having a window, and what you expect to see out of the window, to decide whether it’s worth the extra money or not.
If you have concerns about feeling claustrophobic in an inside cabin, or would like a balcony but don’t trust your children to behave on it, then an ocean-view cabin can be a good idea.
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P&O Ventura Balcony Cabins
Ventura is unusual in that the balconies are different sizes, depending on the deck you choose. This means that some are overlooked from above and some are shaded by the deck above.
Here’s a deck-by-deck guide to balcony cabins on Ventura:
Lido Deck – Most balconies are shaded, the worst deck for seasickness
Riviera Deck – All balconies are shaded
A Deck – The four balconies at the front of the ship are steel-fronted
B Deck – Standard balconies
C Deck – Larger balconies for the same price, but partially overlooked
D Deck – Superior Deluxe balconies, overlooked from above
E Deck – Superior Deluxe balconies, not overlooked, aft only
The Best Cabins on Ventura
Superior Deluxe cabin D327 Photo credit: Valerie Morgan
Most of the reviews of cabins on Ventura are glowing. In fact, some cruisers loved their cabins so much that they booked the same cabin number again for another cruise!
Best Inside Cabins on Ventura
“Inside cabin P243. Had it twice and had to settle for p239 next time as couldn’t get it for next Aug. Great location, quiet but close to the atrium and just past the art gallery.”
Ruth Palmer
“We’ve had B412, inside cabin, port side, three cruises running and booked the same cabin for our next cruise. It’s midship, so handy for the lifts from the Atrium.”
Ruth Grant
Best Outside Cabins on Ventura
“E418 says slight obstruction, just a pole. Booked same cabin this year”
Sandra Hopkins
Cabin E418 Photo credit: Sandra Hopkins
Best Balcony Cabins on Ventura
“C530. Absolutely loved it. Huge balcony. We have booked it again for next year,”
Yas Firth
Cabin C530 Photo credit: Yas Firth
“R209 with balcony almost right at the bow and high. It was superb! The captain and bridge crew wave to you every morning and night.”
Bronnie Paterson
Best Suites on Ventura
“My husband and I stayed in R415 (Ellora Suite). We LOVED it! Fantastic big balcony, bottle of champagne and choccies on arrival and canapes every evening from the Butler who was brilliant (lots of information on what to do and where to go). It was close to the lifts but we didn’t hear the noise of people coming and going.”
Emma Vernon
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Outside cabin E709 Photo credit: Christine Frith
Have You Cruised on Ventura?
Please feel free to leave a cabin review in the comments below, so that I can update this article with more information and help more UK cruisers book the best cabins on Ventura.
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Thank you to members of the following Facebook groups for helping me to create this article. I couldn’t have done it without your help.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
Royal Caribbean International has cancelled the 28th September 2024 cruise on the Icon of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship, due to unexpected maintenance.
The ship was supposed to depart from PortMiami and visit destinations in the Western Caribbean, including Cozumel, Costa Maya, Roatán, and Royal Caribbean’s private spot in the Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Instead, she will remain docked for a few days to address technical issues. The company is offering a full refund to affected guests, covering all costs, and will also provide up to $200 per guest for changes in domestic travel and $400 for international travel.
Passengers on the ship on the prior cruise will experience a slower journey, which means they won’t visit Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, as planned. Instead, there will be an additional day at sea.
Passengers on this cruise will receive a credit for one day of the cruise fare. The rest of the trip, including stops at St. Maarten and Perfect Day at CocoCay, will proceed as planned.
Royal Caribbean has informed guests about the reason for the cancellation and has apologised for the alteration to their plans. The company is working to resolve the issues promptly and ensure the ship is ready before it resumes its voyages.
Cruises that are cancelled at the last minute due to maintenance issues are very unfortunate, but you can’t sail on a ship that isn’t working properly.
What makes this unusual is that Icon of the Seas only launched at the start of this year. Unplanned maintenance issues on a ship that’s only 9 months old is almost unheard of – hopefully it’s a one-off incident affecting the biggest ship in the world.
In the same week, the newest ship in the fleet – Utopia of the Seas – also suffered an issue, with a power failure leading to air conditioning problems for a few hours in several parts of the ship.
This was resolved relatively quickly and only impacted some public areas.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
Classic FM, the UK’s most popular radio station for classical music, has started a new four-part series where beloved comedian and presenter Sue Perkins will take a musical journey to…
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Several cruise lines have altered itineraries on their cruise ships due to Tropical Storm Helen that is currently in the Caribbean. This includes Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean and Virgin Voyages.
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Tropical Storm Helene currently has maximum sustained winds of 45 mph but is expected to strengthen into a major hurricane later this week.
Due to the current location of the storm, Carnival Cruise Line has made a couple changes to itineraries in the Western Caribbean.
Carnival Valor canceled a port visit to Cozumel since the port was closed.
Carnival Paradise is being diverted to Costa Maya instead of visiting Cozumel today.
The Port of Cozumel is closed today. Besides Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean and Virgin Voyages both had ships scheduled to visit the island today and those port stops have been canceled.
Cruise Fever will continue to monitor the storm and will update this article if or when more changes are announced.
It is rare that cruises are canceled due to tropical storms or hurricanes. They will often visit other ports or have extra days at sea to keep guests and crew members safe.
To read more about what happens if there is a hurricane or tropical storm during your cruise, you can read an informative article here.
Classic FM, the UK’s most popular radio station for classical music, has started a new four-part series where beloved comedian and presenter Sue Perkins will take a musical journey to the South Pole in collaboration with expedition cruise company HX.
Race to Antarctica with HX – Hurtigruten Expeditions is a four-part series that debuted on Friday 20th September and will continue each Friday night until its conclusion.
In the series, Sue will go on a “musical expedition” from the UK to Antarctica, discovering cities and their classical music connections en route.
Listeners will be able to travel with Sue as she explores the musical links in destinations across the British Isles, Europe, Greenland, the Northwest Passage, Alaska, the US, South America and ultimately Antarctica.
“I am thrilled to be part of the Classic FM family and embark on this new series which perfectly combines two of my great passions – classical music and travel. I look forward to joining with Classic FM’s well-travelled audience as we embark on this musical voyage together.”
Sue Perkins
Many of the destinations that the series will cover can be visited by listeners should they book a cruise with HX.
Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
Windstar Cruises has revealed plans for a major expansion of its South Pacific itineraries, the only region besides the Mediterranean where the cruise line operates year-round. Starting in 2026, Windstar…
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Windstar Cruises has revealed plans for a major expansion of its South Pacific itineraries, the only region besides the Mediterranean where the cruise line operates year-round.
Starting in 2026, Windstar will introduce new sailings to Fiji, Tonga, and the Cook Islands, alongside its established routes in Tahiti and the Society Islands, the Tuamotus, and the Marquesas.
These additions include shorter options, such as a seven-night Tuamotus cruise and an 11-night voyage to the Marquesas, opening up these remote locations to a wider range of travellers.
Guests will also have the chance to extend their stay with new air and hotel packages, including overwater bungalows in Bora Bora.
Windstar’s long-standing presence in Tahiti, where it has operated for over 36 years, has positioned it as an expert in the region.
The company has fostered deep relationships with local partners, enabling access to secluded areas and providing guests with an immersive Polynesian experience.
The 312-passenger, all-suite Star Breeze will continue to sail in the South Pacific year-round, with an expanded range of itineraries and destinations thanks to the 2026 offerings.
In celebration of the announcement, Windstar is launching an early booking promotion. Travellers booking a 2026 South Pacific cruise will receive a complimentary All-Inclusive package, valued at £73 per person per day.
This includes WiFi, unlimited wine, beer, and cocktails, all gratuities, and a $100 onboard credit per stateroom.
“Tahiti is one of my favourite destinations on the planet, and I was thrilled to expand Windstar’s itineraries in the region to the remote Marquesas Islands this year.
“These new additions are a natural progression for us, as these faraway South Pacific islands exemplify the heart of Polynesian culture. But they are extremely difficult to access, especially if you’re piecing together your own trip.
“On Windstar, you’re able to sail there easily on an all-suite ship that has no more than 312 passengers. We can go to places like Tonga and Taveuni without overwhelming the destination from a tourism, ecological and cultural perspective, due to our small size and the great relationships we’ve built while sailing in the region over decades.”
Windstar President Christopher Prelog
In addition to the expanded itineraries, Windstar recently announced plans to grow its fleet.
Two new all-suite ships will join by 2027, enabling the beloved Wind Class ship, Wind Star, to return to Tahiti alongside Star Breeze, further increasing capacity to meet the growing demand for South Pacific cruises.
The best way to book a Windstar cruise
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
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Carnival Cruise Line continues to announce new cruises and this morning they released new sailings from Florida and Texas in 2026-2027.
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The newly announced cruises this morning will take place on Carnival Miracle and Carnival Elation. Carnival Miracle will offer cruises from Galveston, Texas with Carnival Elation sailing from Jacksonville, Florida.
Carnival also announced a new 16 day Carnival Journeys cruise when Carnival Miracle repositions from Seattle to Galveston in 2026. The ship will transit the Panama Canal while visiting Mexico and Costa Rica.
Carnival Miracle will be one of four Carnival cruise ships that homeports in Galveston in 2026 and 2027. The ship will offer four- and five-night cruises to the Western Caribbean.
The four-night cruises will visit Cozumel with the five-night sailings adding a stop in Progreso.
The ship will also offer longer 10-day cruises that visit the Eastern and Western Caribbean.
Cruises to the Eastern Caribbean will visit Celebration Key and Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas as well as Grand Turk and Amber Cove.
Sailings to the Western Caribbean will visit ports that include Belize, Mahogany Bay and Montego Bay and other options include visits to Costa Rica and Colon, Panama, Colon, Panama.
Carnival Elation will continue to sail from Jacksonville, Florida
Carnival Elation will continue to offer cruises from Jacksonville, Florida that visit The Bahamas. The ship will sail four- and five-night cruises with the Thursday and Sunday cruises visit the cruise line’s new port, Celebration Key.
Other itineraries will visit Nassau, Bimini, and/or Half Moon Cay.
2025 is already set to be a busy cruise year. Even with pesky inflation and geopolitical tensions in some parts of the world, cruise lines are selling cabins on cruise ships for next year and beyond.
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We analyzed cruises by departure ports for next year and sorted them to find the ten busiest ports with the most sailings.
Keep in mind, this list does not necessarily include ports of call. If it did, it would include ports like Cozumel and Nassau. The list is in order of number of departures.
Every cruise has a starting point, and these are the most common starting points for cruises from January 1st 2025 through December 31 of the same year.
1. Miami, Florida, United States (1271)
Photo credit: Cruise Fever
It should be no surprise that PortMiami tops the list with the most departures set for next year. Whether it’s a 2-night cruise on Norwegian Joy to Great Stirrup Cay and back or an epic 200-night sailing on an Oceania Cruises vessel, Miami is the starting point of 1,271 cruises in 2025.
Miami is in a constant battle for the title of “busiest cruise port” with Port Canaveral, which you will see very soon on this list.
Carnival offers the most cruises out of PortMiami with 318, followed by MSC Cruises with 255, Royal Caribbean with 240 and Norwegian Cruise Line with 154.
Virgin Voyages has been making headway with its new terminal in Miami as well and offers 112 cruises out of the port next year.
2. Amsterdam, Netherlands (1056)
Amsterdam cruise port. Photo credit: Cruise Fever
Believe it or not, Amsterdam is set to be the second busiest cruise port by departures in 2025. This is largely due to the number of river ships that set sail from this port on a daily basis.
It’s not uncommon for 10 or more ships to depart from Amsterdam in a single day.
Viking is the most prolific cruise line to use the port with well over 400 sailings next year alone. Other cruise lines that commonly sail out of the port include AMA Waterways, Scenic Cruises, Emerald Cruises, Avalon Waterways, Tauck, and Uniworld River Cruises.
3. Port Canaveral, Florida, United States (1013)
Photo courtesy of Canaveral Port Authority
Capable of handling the largest cruise ships in the world, Port Canaveral will be home to the next Icon-class cruise ship from Royal Caribbean, Star of the Seas.
With over 1,000 cruises offered out of the Florida port in 2025, the port is still looking to expand with plans for new terminals.
Carnival Cruise Line has 303 cruises scheduled to depart out of Port Canaveral next year, with Royal Caribbean right behind at 246.
Not far from Disney World, the port is also offering 231 Disney Cruise Line sailings next year. Other cruise lines to sail out of the port include Celebrity Cruises, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Princess Cruises.
4. Budapest, Hungary (951)
Budapest as seen from Fisherman’s Bastion at Matthias Church
Located on the Danube River, Budapest offers more river cruise departures than any other port.
Viking River Cruises offers the most sailings out of Budapest in 2025 with 366 sailings. Avalaon Waterways and AMA Waterways also offer a significant number of voyages with 180 and 161 respectively.
Other cruise lines to sail out of this beautiful port city include Emerald Cruises, Scenic, Tauck, and Uniworld.
Cruises from this port range from 4-nights to a 21-night cruise offered by Scenic
5. Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States (889)
Port Everglades will see 889 cruises launch from its terminals next year. In addition to homeporting two Oasis-class ships, the port will cater to nine different cruise lines.
Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises will see the most cruises out of the port with 223 and 200 respectively. Holland America will see 135 cruises sail out of the port and Disney Cruise Line will see 101.
Princess Cruises also sails out of Port Everglades quite a bit with 187 next year alone.
You will also see some luxurious cruise lines sailing out of the port with Silversea Cruises and the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection using the port, in addition to Viking.
Viking actually offers a 137-night world cruise out of Port Everglades next year, and Holland America has a couple “Pole to Pole” voyages that are 100-nights + in duration.
6. Bergen, Norway (877)
With 877 cruises sailing out of Bergen next year, the Norwegian port sees most of these departures with Hurtigruten, the exploration cruise line that specializes in sailings along Norway’s coastline.
832 cruises out of Bergen will be through Hurtigruten on one of the eight ships that carry around 500-700 passengers.
Viking cruise ships will be offering 31 sailings out of Bergen in 2025 with 7- to 28-night sailings.
A few other cruise lines offer a handful of cruises out of the port as well. These include Windstar Cruises, Silversea Cruises, Lindblad Expeditions, Scenic Cruises, and Ponant Cruises.
7. Barcelona, Spain (753)
This port city has been in the news lately over some attempts by local residents to curb tourism. But there’s no doubt about it, it’s still one of the busiest cruise ports in the world.
With an impressive list of voyages, 26 different cruise lines will be sailing out of Barcelona in 2025. For good reason, this is one of the best ports to start a Mediterranean cruise.
753 cruises will make their start in Barcelona next year.
MSC Cruises offers 178 cruises out of the Spanish port in 2025, whole Costa Cruises offers 135.
Other cruise lines to offer a significant number of voyages out of the port include Viking (76), Royal Caribbean (36), Celebrity Cruises (34), Princess Cruises (31), and Explora Journeys (36).
Still, “Rome” will be saying bon voyage to 722 cruise ships next year across 25 cruise lines.
Similar to Barcelona, MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises dominate most of the sailings as both companies have a heavy presence in the Mediterranean Sea.
Oceania Cruises has the longest sailings out of the port with a 34-, 46-, and 56-night sailing, offering some of the most port-intensive itineraries you will find.
9. Athens (Port of Piraeus), Greece (666)
Celebrity Infinity in Athens, Greece. Photo Credit: Cruise Fever
Another Mediterranean cruise port on this list shows just how popular this region of the world is. Although it’s a 15-minute drive from the actual cruise port in Piraeus to Athens, most itineraries just list the departure port as the Greek capital.
Over 600 sailings on 25 different cruise lines will depart from this port in 2025. Adding to this is the fact that Athens is both a port of call and homeport to many ships
Just last year the port broke its own record with over 1.5 million travelers passing through. It is able to handle larger vessels as well, as signified by Norwegian Viva and Sun Princess sailing out of the port next year.
10. Basel (Saxon), Switzerland (582)
City of Basel in Switzerland and Rhine River.
This Rhine River cruise port hosts a handful of cruise lines, and Viking River Cruise ships supply more than half of the sailings with 315 of them.
Other popular river cruise lines to offer departures out of Basel include AMA Waterways, Avalon Waterways, Emerald Cruises, Scenic, Tauck, and Uniworld. Durations of sailings range from 4-night to 15-nights.
The cruise port’s proximity and location to three country borders (France, Germany, and Switzerland, make it a popular launch point for river cruises along the beautiful and historic Rhine River.
Other Notable Cruise Ports
The list above tops out the top 10 cruise ports with the most sailings offered for departures. Below are the next six in terms of sailings with that number of cruises shown for 2025.
Want to know what are the best and worst cabins on Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas? You’re in the right place!
Mariner of the Seas is a great ship with some fantastic cabins. However, there are some rooms that are a little noisy, in awkward locations or have obstructed views.
Read on to find out which Mariner of the Seas cabins to avoid, and how to pick the best room on the ship for your cruise.
How To Choose The Best Cruise Cabin
I’ve created a free checklist of what to look out for when choosing a cruise cabin. If you’d like a copy, just leave your email address and it will be with you right away.
Mariner of the Seas Room Categories
Mariner of the Seas is a Voyager-class cruise ship with 15 different cabin types to choose from. The Mariner of the Seas staterooms can be broken down into four categories: inside, outside, balcony and suite.
Inside cabins:
Interior Stateroom – Sleeps up to two or four
Promenade View Interior Stateroom – Sleeps up to two
Studio Interior Stateroom – Sleeps one
Outside cabins:
Ocean View Stateroom – Sleeps up to two or four
Spacious Ocean View Stateroom – Sleeps up to two or four
Spacious Panoramic Ocean View Stateroom – Sleeps up to four
Ultra Spacious Ocean View Stateroom – Sleeps up to six
Balcony cabins:
Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony – Sleeps up to two or four
Spacious Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony – Sleeps up to two or four
Suites:
Ocean View Panoramic Suite (no balcony) – Sleeps up to six
Junior Suite – Sleeps up to four
Grand Suite (one bedroom) – Sleeps up to four
Grand Suite (two bedrooms) – Sleeps up to eight
Owner’s Suite – Sleeps up to four
Royal Suite – Sleeps up to four
Royal Caribbean’s suites come with more space and a huge list of extra benefits. You can see those here: Royal Caribbean Suite Perks.
Our inside cabinOur inside cabin bathroom
When we cruised on Mariner of the Seas we stayed in an inside cabin, which was all that we needed for a short cruise to Perfect Day at CocoCay.
However, if you have the budget for it, there are some staterooms and suites which are much, much bigger.
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Mariner of the Seas Room Sizes
The cabin sizes on Mariner of the Seas vary a lot. The largest suites are almost 12 times the size of the smallest staterooms!
There’s also some variation with cabins of the same type. Certain interior and ocean view cabins are 60% bigger than others. However, before you get excited about the possibility of booking a huge cabin, these are wheelchair-accessible cabins and only available for the people who need them.
If you do want a large cabin, there are some very big outside staterooms and suites to choose from.
Here are the sizes of Mariner of the Seas rooms, from smallest to largest:
Studio Interior Stateroom – 106 sq ft (9.8 sq m)
Interior Stateroom – 160 to 256 sq ft (14.9 to 23.8 sq m)
Ocean View Stateroom – 161 to 276 sq ft (15 to 25.6 sq m)
Promenade View Interior Stateroom – 167 sq ft (15.5 sq m)
Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony – 198 sq ft (18.4 sq m)
Spacious Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony – 203 sq ft (18.9 sq m)
Spacious Ocean View Stateroom – 211 sq ft (19.6 sq m)
Junior Suite – 277 sq ft (25.7 sq m)
Spacious Panoramic Ocean View Stateroom – 283 sq ft (26.3 sq m)
Ultra Spacious Ocean View Stateroom – 328 sq ft (30.5 sq m)
Grand Suite (one bedroom) – 381 sq ft (35.4 sq m)
Ocean View Panoramic Suite (no balcony) – 406 sq ft (37.7 sq m)
Owner’s Suite – 506 sq ft (47 sq m)
Grand Suite (two bedrooms) – 547 sq ft (50.8 sq m)
When you book a Royal Caribbean cruise online, you’ll often see two prices, which look like this…
Royal Caribbean usually gives guests the choice to select their room for an extra fee. If you opt not to choose your own room, you’ll be assigned what’s known as a ‘Guarantee Cabin’.
What’s a guarantee cabin?
A guarantee cabin guarantees that you’ll receive a cabin in that category (for example, an interior stateroom) or higher (if you’re lucky enough to be upgraded).
Benefits of choosing your cabin number:
Choose your preferred location on the ship.
Book two cabins next to each other.
Avoid undesirable cabins.
Booking multiple cabins
If you want interconnecting cabins that have a door between them, you will have to pay to pick your own room.
If you just want cabins next door to each other, you can opt to let Royal Caribbean choose your room and request that your cabins are nearby. However, there’s no guarantee that they will be.
Tip: For a family of four, it’s sometimes cheaper to get two interconnecting cabins than to get one cabin that sleeps four.
If you have adjacent balcony cabins, you can ask your stateroom attendant to open the balcony dividers to create one large balcony. You do not need interconnecting rooms to do this. If you’re friendly with your neighbours, the partition can be opened, as long as everybody agrees.
Mariner of the Seas Cabins to Avoid
One reason why people choose their own cabin number is to avoid ending up in one of the worst rooms on the ship.
If you choose a cabin that’s in a noisy location, a long walk from anything or has an obstructed view from the balcony, it can put a real downer on your trip.
Here are the cabins to avoid on Mariner of the Seas.
1. Noisy Cabins on Mariner of the Seas
2330 to 2358, 2578 to 2630: Cabins at the aft end of Deck 2 are the closest to the ship’s engines. So you may experience some engine noise and propeller vibrations in these cabins. They are also beneath the main dining room.
2240, 2233 and 2235: These cabins are right next to the Royal Theatre, so you may expect some noise during performances and rehearsals.
Tip: If you only want one cabin, avoid the cabins with interconnecting doors. Cabin doors are never as soundproof as walls, so you may be able to hear your neighbours.
2540, 3540 and 3240: These cabins are located right next to public bathrooms.
3600 to 3616: These cabins are beneath Boleros bar, so there may be noise until the small hours.
6575, 6577, 6579, 6581, 6583, 6587, 6589, 6591, 6593, 6595 and 6597: These Promenade View Interior Staterooms are located directly above Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade. People on the promenade on Deck 6 and your neighbours can see right in. These cabins have also been reported as being noisy until after midnight as people gather, chat and sing outside the Sports Bar.
1248 to 1305 and 1548 to 1605: These staterooms and suites are located directly beneath the pool areas. You could hear some noise from deck chairs being dragged across the floor in the morning. Early risers should have no problems here, though.
2. Cabins That Are a Long Walk From Anything
9465, 9467, 9469, 9471, 9473, 9475, 9477, 0479: These cabins are a really long way from the elevators. All cabins right at the back of the ship are far from the elevators, but this problem is worse on Deck 9. You have to walk right to the end of the ship and then go back on yourself to reach your cabin!
On the deck plan below, you would have to follow the red line to take you from the nearest elevator to your cabin. This distance is about 500 feet, which is a really long way if you struggle with walking or are carrying a child.
I accidentally booked cabin 9465, which is the farthest cabin from the elevators on the whole ship! I wouldn’t mind myself, but my five-year-old has a condition which means that she can’t walk too far without getting tired. I called my travel agent and they changed it for me with no problems.
3. Cabins with Obstructed Views
Aft cabin and suites: Aft balconies are the ones right at the back of the ship. On most cruise ships, aft balconies offer the best views of all. This is not so on Mariner of the Seas!
Due to the design of the ship, the aft cabin balconies aren’t at the rear edge of the ship. There’s an extra area between the balcony and the end of the ship. This means that steel structures partially obstruct your view when looking out, and completely obstruct your view when you look down.
View from aft balcony cabin 6690 Photo credit: Raymond OcaView from aft balcony cabin 6690 Photo credit: Raymond OcaView from aft balcony cabin 6690 Photo credit: Raymond Oca
Although the view from the aft balconies seems to be less than ideal, these cabins actually get great reviews online. One advantage of the aft cabins on Mariner of the Seas is that the balconies are much larger than standard balconies on the port and starboard sides.
If you do want to go for an aft balcony, I’d recommend choosing a corner one for the biggest balcony space and the least obstructed view.
Many people ask which is the best deck on Mariner of the Seas. In fact, there isn’t one deck that’s the best. But three decks are particularly good if you want a quiet room that’s not too far from the action.
Decks 7, 8 and 9
If you’re looking for a nice quiet room on Mariner of the Seas, you can’t go wrong with Deck 7, Deck 8 or Deck 9. All cabins on these decks only have other cabins above and below them. This creates a buffer from the noise of the public areas.
Best Rooms on Mariner of the Seas
The best cabins on Mariner of the Seas are very much down to personal preference. For some people, the cheapest inside cabins are the best. Others prefer a spacious room with panoramic windows, whereas a balcony is an absolute must for some cruisers.
Here are some Mariner of the Seas rooms which you should look out for as they offer something special.
BEST INSIDE: Promenade View Interior Stateroom
It’s pretty rare for an inside stateroom to have a window. Although you won’t be able to see the sea, having a window that looks out over the promenade can be great if you enjoy people-watching.
Even if you keep your curtain closed the whole time, you can make use of the window seat. This is an extra area that standard inside cabins on Mariner of the Seas don’t have.
That makes these your best choice for a Mariner of the Seas interior room.
BEST OUTSIDE: Spacious Panoramic Ocean View Stateroom
The windows in outside cabins vary in size. On some ships, you’ll have just a small porthole above the bed. In a Mariner of the Seas ocean view room, the windows are usually very large indeed.
I particularly love the window in this Spacious Panoramic Ocean View Stateroom, which is located high up on Deck 12 at the front of the ship. This cabin is also really big, even larger than the most spacious balcony cabins.
BEST BALCONY: Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony
Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony 6252 Photo credit: Michelle ShadeOcean View Stateroom with Balcony 6252 Photo credit: Michelle Shade
There are two types of Mariner of the Seas balcony room: standard and spacious. Although you may expect the spacious one to be better (and in some ways it is), I don’t think that the extra space is worth the extra price.
In fact, with the spacious balcony cabin, you get only five square feet more space in your room and four square feet more space on your balcony. That’s not even enough room for an extra chair, so you probably won’t even notice that your room is any bigger.
Be sure to look at the price difference before you make the decision to upgrade to a spacious balcony.
BEST SUITE: Royal Suite
Of all the Mariner of the Seas suites, the Royal Suite is the best. It sleeps up to four people and, at 1,260 square feet (117 square metres), is more than twice the size of any other suite on the ship.
Of course, a photo would never do this suite justice. But take a look at the video above to see what you can expect from the Royal Suite, with its private hot tub on the balcony and baby grand piano.
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Mariner of the Seas Versus Navigator of the Seas
Mariner of the Seas has a sister ship called Navigator of the Seas. These two ships are very similar and have similar itineraries, but you might find that one is better than the other, depending on your tastes.
More Information About Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas Rooms
If you have a question about rooms on Mariner of the Seas, you’ll find lots of helpful cruisers in Facebook groups. Two groups which I would definitely recommend that you join are:
Have you cruised on Mariner of the Seas? What did you think of your cabin? I’d love to hear your opinions in the comments below.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
P&O Cruises offer a fantastic selection of food, with included dining available in the main dining rooms and Horizon buffet. In addition, you’ll find a choice of speciality restaurants where you can choose to dine for a supplement if you wish.
The menus on board change every day, so one thing’s for sure, you’ll never be bored of the food!
In this guide to P&O Cruises food, I’ve included sample menus for the most popular dining venues to give you an idea of what to expect.
As you can see, there are lots of options for people eating gluten-free and vegetarians. Vegans should also check out the special vegan and vegetarian menu.
So, pick which P&O cruise menu you’re most interested in, or scroll through to see them all.
P&O Cruises give guests the choice of dining in the main dining room or the buffet restaurant each day. There are advantages to each, and I’d definitely recommend that you try them both at least once during your cruise.
I like to eat breakfast in the buffet, because it’s faster and there’s more choice. A buffet breakfast is ideal if you have kids who like certain things, or if you have an excursion planned so want to eat quickly and get off the ship.
However, eating breakfast in the main dining room is a lovely, relaxing start to the day. The breakfast menu has a good selection of food, and you can sit back and relax while everything is brought to you.
If you’re staying in a suite (not a conservatory or mini suite), you can also enjoy breakfast in the Epicurean, Glasshouse or Sindhu once during your cruise for no extra charge.
Here’s a typical main dining room P&O breakfast menu:
Continental Breakfast
Fruit Juice – Orange, Apple, Pineapple, Tomato
Fruit – Orange, Grapefruit, Melon
Fruit Compotes – Figs, Prunes, Apricots, Apple
Cereal – All-Bran, Alpen, Bran Flakes, Corn Flakes, Frosties, Fruit ’n Fibre, Porridge, Rice Krispies, Shredded Wheat, Special K, Weetabix
Yoghurts – Natural, Fruit
Hot Breakfast
The P&O Cruises Breakfast – Grilled Back Bacon, Lamb’s Liver, Tomato, Black Pudding, White Pudding, Cumberland Sausage, Hash Browns, Eggs
English Breakfast – Back Bacon, Pork Sausage, Tomato, Fried Bread, Saute Potatoes, Grilled Mushrooms, Black Pudding, Plum Tomatoes, Baked Beans
Oats, Apples, Dried Fruits, Nuts, Seeds and Natural Yoghurt
Cereals with Skimmed or Soya Milk
Fresh Fruit Salad
Poached Eggs on Wholemeal Toast
Smashed Avocado on Wholemeal Sourdough Toast
Hot Drinks
Teas and Infusions
Freshly Brewed Coffee
Decaffeinated Coffee
Hot Chocolate
Chef’s Specialities
Monday – Eggs Benedict
Tuesday – Grilled Gammon Steak with Fried Eggs
Wednesday – Traditional Kedgeree
Thursday – Grilled Minute Steak
Friday – Devilled Kidneys
Saturday – Corned Beef Hash
Sunday – Scrambled Egg with Oak Smoked Salmon
As P&O Cruises is a British cruise line, all of the food is typically British. So things like bacon, sausages and baked beans will be the ones that you’re used to at home, rather than the more American or European food that you’ll find on other cruise ships.
P&O Cruises Main Dining Room Menus
On P&O cruises, the main dining room lunch and dinner menus change each day, although there are a few popular dishes that will be available every night.
Main Dining Room Dinner Menu
Below is an example of what you can expect from a typical dinner menu. However, P&O Cruises regularly offer special menus on certain evenings. These include the Gala Dinner menu (designed by Marco Pierre White), a special menu designed by the executive chef of each ship, a fine dining menu, and a themed dinner menu such as Caribbean or Mediterranean.
Tip for vegans: There’s always a vegan option. You can ask to see the menu for the next day to check if you will like it. If not, you can pre-order something else.
Starters
Lightly Spiced Crab and Leek Pasties
Hampshire Chalk Stream Hot Smoked Rainbow Trout (gf)
Pâté de Campagne
Wild Mushroom Panna Cotta (v)
Atlantic Prawn Cocktail
Minestrone Soup (v)
Cullen Skink Soup (gf)
Cream of Tomato Soup (v)
Chicken Caesar Salad
Main Courses
Crab, Crayfish and Broccoli Bake with a Cheddar Glaze
Skate Wing in Lemon Black Butter (gf)
Beef Fillet Medallion
Twice Baked Onion and Garlic Soufflé (v)
Grilled Salmon Fillet (gf)
Pan-fried Chicken Breast (gf)
Sirloin Steak
Prime Leg of Lamb (gf)
Medallions of Pork Fillet (gf)
Desserts
Baked Treacle Tart Sauce (gf)
Honey Panna Cotta Strawberries, Honeycomb and Mint (gf)
Kumquat and Almond Cake
Chocolate and Pretzel Ganache with Dark Chocolate Mousse
Fresh Seasonal Fruit Salad (gf)
Ice Cream – Vanilla, Elderflower or Chocolate
Ginger sorbet
Strawberry, Elderflower and Lemon Sundae
Cheese and Biscuits
While the menu changes each day, there are some items that are always available. These are:
Atlantic Prawn Cocktail with Marie Rose Sauce and Brown Bread
Cream of Tomato Soup with Basil Oil and Croûtons (v)
Grilled Salmon Fillet with Potato Wedges, Seasonal Vegetables and a Lemon Hollandaise Sauce
Pan-fried Chicken Breast with Potato Wedges, Roasted Root Vegetables and a Garlic and Thyme Butter
Sirloin Steak with Thick Cut Chips, Seasonal Vegetables and Béarnaise Sauce
Fresh Seasonal Fruit Salad with Cream
Remember that you’re not limited to one of each course, so you can order whatever you like. If you fancy two starters and no dessert, go for it! The portions aren’t huge, so if you’re a big eater I’d recommend ordering a few different things.
Main Dining Room Lunch Menu
Here’s an example of a typical lunch menu in the main dining room…
Sindhu is P&O Cruises’ Indian restaurant. It’s one of the most popular restaurants and you’ll find it on every ship. Dining at Sindhu costs between £17.50 and £25 per person, except on Iona where the menu is a la carte, so you’ll just pay for the items that you order.
The Epicurean is P&O Cruises’ fine dining restaurant, and a firm favourite when it comes to speciality dining. The Epicurean menus offer a fusion of modern British favourites and classic, sophisticated dining.
You’ll find The Epicurean restaurant on board Azura, Britannia, Iona and Ventura. Each venue offers a grand yet relaxing atmosphere and impeccable service.
Dining at The Epicurean usually costs around £30 per person.
Starters
King Prawn and Mediterranean Octopus Cocktail (gf)
Duo of Cured Smoked Salmon (gf)
Frogs Legs Sucette
Quicke’s Farm Mature Cheddar Mousse and Serrano Ham
Pulled Smoked Gressingham Duck Leg and Hackleback Caviar
Tomato Tastings and Buffalo Mozzarella (v) (gf)
Seasonal Soup (v) (gf)
Main Courses
The Epicurean Fish and Chips
Whole Dover Sole á la Meunière
Black Leg Chicken Breast
Redman Limousin Irish Beef Fillet and Ox Cheek
Laksa of Marinated Silken Tofu Tempura (v) (gf)
Whole New England Lobster (gf)
Dorset Crown Lamb Rump (gf)
American Grain-Fed Aged Angus Sirloin Steak (gf)
Onley Grounds Farm 28 Day Aged Cote De Boeuf for Two (gf)
Sides
Green Asparagus (gf)
French Beans (gf)
Thick Cut Chips (gf)
New Potatoes (gf)
Desserts
Crème Brûlée and White Chocolate Sphere (gf)
Elements of Summer Trifle
Coconut Panna Cotta (gf)
Valrhona Dark Chocolate Tart
Banana and Peanut Butter Cannelloni
Taster for Two
Selection of Artisan British and European Cheese
The Beach House is the place to go for hearty comfort food, offering American and Caribbean-style dishes. With dinner costing £7.50 to £10 per person with a small supplement for certain dishes, The Beach House is one of the most affordable speciality restaurants at sea.
You’ll find The Beach House on board Aurora, Azura, Britannia, Iona and Ventura. There’s no need to book in advance, you can just turn up.
Starters
Island Spiced Chicken Wings with Mac & Cheese Chips
You can place an order for room service using the telephone in your cabin. For breakfast room service, you simply hang a card outside your door the night before. The card looks like this:
The P&O Cruises kids’ menu is the same every day, but it has plenty of choices that can be mixed and matched.
Be sure to specify how many of each item you would like. If you ask for sausage, egg and chips, your child will only get one sausage and one egg. So ask if you’d like two!
Mains
Beef Burger in Buns
Pizza Margherita
Mini Minced Beef And Onion Pasty
Spaghetti Bolognaise
Chicken Nuggets
Grilled Chicken Breast
Poached Salmon
Pork Sausages
Fish Fingers
Pasta with Tomato Sauce
Hot Dog
Fried Egg
Omelette
Sides
Fresh Vegetables of the Day
French Fries
Grilled Stir-Fried Vegetables
Mashed Potato
Creamed Corn
Potato Smiley Faces
Spaghetti Hoops
Garden Peas
Carrots
Desserts
Selection of Ice Creams with Sweet Sauces
Sorbet of the Day
Fruit Jellies
Cupcake
Chocolate Cookies
Chocolate Brownies
The menu on your ships may vary slightly. Above is the list from the P&O Cruises website, but below is a photo of the menu that was given to use on Iona in 2022.
P&O Cruises Vegetarian and Vegan Menus
P&O Cruises offers vegan and vegetarian options in every restaurant, including the main dining rooms, speciality restaurants and buffet.
If you have any special dietary requirements, it’s important that you or your travel agent let P&O Cruises know when you book your cruise. When you arrive in your cabin, you should have a letter to acknowledge your request and invite you to meet with a chef if you wish.
There’s also a special diet gathering on the first day of the cruise. This is good to attend if you have food allergies, or to make sure that you’re well catered for during your cruise. You’ll find details on the daily planner.
In the Main Dining Room, there’s no longer a vegan and vegetarian menu. Instead, the options are always included on the main menu.
In other venues, you should ask your waiter. Many dishes can be adjusted to make them suitable for vegans or vegetarians upon request.
The vegan and vegetarian menu in the main dining room changes each day. It’s a good idea to ask to see the menu for the following day. If you don’t like something, let your waiter know and the chef will prepare something else for you.
Starters
Avocado Pear with Crumbled Goat’s Cheese Crotin (gf)
Waldorf Salad (gf)
Chilled Cucumber Consommé (vegan) (gf)
Main Courses
Wild and Cultivated Mushroom Bourguignon (gf)
Feta, Tomato and Spinach Filo Pastry
Thai Green Vegetable Curry (vegan) (gf)
Desserts
Vanilla Soya Rice Pudding (vegan) (gf)
Minted Pineapple (gf)
Cheeseboard
P&O Cruises offer many different drinks menus with almost every drink you could want. You can see photos of all of the drinks menus and prices here: P&O Drink Menus.
This article showcases some of P&O Cruises’ most popular restaurants. Other restaurants are available too, depending on the ship. These may include the Ocean Grill on Arcadia, The Limelight Club on Britannia and Eric Lanlard’s Afternoon Tea, which is available on all ships except Aurora.
The largest choice of restaurants can be found on Iona. I have a special guide to Iona restaurants that you should take a look at if you plan to cruise on this ship.
Those with special diets such as vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free are well catered for on P&O Cruises’ ships. Menus change every day and dishes can be adjusted to suit your needs.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
