Planning a family cruise on P&O’s Iona? Food plays a key role in your experience, and Iona offers a range of family-friendly options to suit everyone. From casual meals to sit-down dinners, there’s something for everyone, including kid-friendly menus and flexible dining times. Here’s what to expect from family dining aboard P&O’s Iona.
Dietary Needs and Special Requests
- Families travelling with babies can request a selection of baby food. Any baby food must be requested up to 8 weeks prior to sailing (subject to availability).
- From our experience on board Iona in August 2024, menus and food in the Horizon buffet were clearly labelled with allergen advice.
- The buffet had a separate area for some vegan and gluten-free items such as bread or milk. You could ask for some vegan items separately.
- Although there wasn’t always a lot of options, there was always something vegetarian or vegan to choose from.
Dining options on board Iona
Iona is a freedom dining ship which means there you are free to eat where you want, when you want, without specific times for meals. You can book some venues in advance while others you might have to join a virtual queue for, or just turn up! With Iona’s great range of restaurants, you’re bound to find something for everyone.
Main Dining Rooms
There are 4 main dining rooms on Iona; Pearl, Coral, Aqua, and Opal. The same menu is served in each of these restaurants with the difference mainly being the size of the restaurant. You cannot book in advance to eat at a main restaurant however, you can join a virtual queue and wait until a table is ready.
Breakfast
A range of cooked items and a full English breakfast, as well as fruit and pastries. We only ate here for breakfast once during our cruise. The food wasn’t much different to that in the buffet and we wanted to do other things in the mornings.
Lunch
Sandwiches, lighter options, small plates and larger plates. As we were usually busy during the day, especially on port days, we didn’t have as much time for lunch in the main dining rooms. It was nice to see items such as sandwiches and smaller lunches though on the menu. There is an express lunch option too, if you do want to be a bit quicker.
Dinner
This is usually a 3 course meal however, you can have as much or as little as you like. You’ll find a range of starters, mains and desserts, usually with something to suit everyone. We generally found there would always be a soup, steak or roast chicken.
We ate in one of the main dining rooms on most evenings, because it was a nice change from the lunch options. We tried a couple of the restaurants but overall, we liked the service better in the larger rooms (Coral or Pearl).
John is the more adventurous eater out of the three of us and he loved seeing what different meat or fish was available each day. Erin usually picked a mix from both the normal menu and the children’s menu and made up her own meals as she went. My favourite part of dining here was the desserts! There was always something new and exciting for me to try.
Children’s meals
Children are more than welcome to order from the main menu if they wish. There is also a children’s menu available daily, which was created in 2024 by partnering with Annabel Karmel.
The majority of the food served in the main restaurants is included in your cruise price however, there is a special menu each evening which comes with an additional suppliment to pay.
The Horizon Buffet Restaurant
The Horizon Buffet is the place to be if you don’t want to eat from the main restaurant menu and it’s included in the price of your cruise. The buffet is one of the most popular cruise dining options with families because it means they can come and go as they please. There is plenty of seating available and you can even look out of the huge windows and watch the world go by as you eat!
You’ll find a wide range of food served in the buffet, including breakfast, lunch, dinner, kid’s tea and late night snacks. There’s everything from salad to curry to a roast dinner. The menu changes daily and there’s always something new to try, as well as family favourites.
Between 5pm and 5:45pm (subject to change) you’ll find the kid’s tea every night. Here there will be plainer options such as sliced meats, bread, chips, pizza, hot dogs and sandwiches.
Speciality Dining for Families
Iona has a range of speciality dining restaurants, all of which children are allowed in. These restaurants include The Beach House, The Olive Grove, Sindhu and The Keel and Cow as well as The Epicurean which is fine dining.
Some of these restaurants come with a cover charge or have a suppliment for some or all of the dishes on the menu. Children are welcome to eat from any of these menus but will be charged the same price. You can also ask for the children’s menu in these restaurants (the same as in the main dining rooms), which does not come with an additonal charge.
Keel and Cow
The Keel and Cow on P&O’s Iona is a premium gastropub offering a relaxed dining experience. Known for its signature steaks, gourmet burgers, and craft beers, it’s the perfect spot for enjoying hearty meals with stunning sea views. Ideal for families and foodies alike, Keel and Cow delivers a casual yet elevated dining atmosphere
Beach House
The Beach House on P&O’s Iona offers a relaxed, family-friendly dining experience with a menu inspired by international flavors. From sizzling skewers to hearty seafood and BBQ dishes, this informal restaurant is perfect for laid-back meals with stunning ocean views. Ideal for families seeking a casual yet diverse dining option.
The Olive Grove
The Olive Grove serves Mediterranean-inspired dishes in a warm, inviting setting. Enjoy a variety of flavours from Greece, Italy, and Spain, with options ranging from tapas to pasta and grilled meats. Perfect for families or couples, it offers a relaxed dining experience that transports you to the heart of the Mediterranean.
We ate here twice during our 7 night cruise. Not only was there options on the main menu for Erin but it was a nice place to celebrate John’s birthday. I had also ordered a birthday cake at reception a couple of days earlier, which was brought out for us after our meal.
Sindhu
Sindhu offers a sophisticated dining experience featuring modern Indian cuisine. With a menu that blends traditional flavours with contemporary techniques, diners can enjoy rich, aromatic dishes in an elegant setting. Perfect for those seeking a refined, flavorful meal.
The Epicurean
The Epicurean on P&O’s Iona is a fine dining restaurant offering an elegant and innovative culinary experience. Combining classic cooking techniques with modern twists, the menu features gourmet dishes crafted with premium ingredients. Ideal for those seeking a luxurious dining experience, Epicurean promises a sophisticated atmosphere and exceptional service.
The Glass House
The Glass House is a wine lover’s paradise, offering a curated selection of wines paired with a menu of small plates, seafood, and grilled dishes. With a casual, chic atmosphere, it’s the perfect spot for relaxed dining or enjoying a glass of wine while taking in the stunning ocean views.
Quick meals
If you don’t fancy a longer sit-down meal there are other dining options available. If you’re travelling with children or teenagers then fast food is always a good idea. Guests on board can enjoy the following included in the price of your holiday.
The Quays
The Quays on P&O’s Iona is a vibrant, casual dining area offering a variety of street food-style options. During breakfast you can enjoy a delicious full English breakfast as well as fresh pancakes and waffles and a range of eggs cooked to order. Lunch and dinner offers dishes like fish and chips, Asian fusion, and American classics. it’s perfect for quick, family-friendly meals in a lively, informal setting. Ideal for grabbing a bite between activities or enjoying relaxed, diverse cuisine on the go.
Taste 360
Taste 360 offers a poolside dining experience in the Sky Dome with a variety of quick, delicious bites. Perfect for families and those on the go, it serves up burgers, hot dogs, and global street food-style options, allowing you to enjoy fresh flavours without leaving the sun and fun of the pool deck.
Ice cream afternoon tea
For something a bit different, head to Ripples where you can enjoy a sumptuous gelato afternoon tea. Unlike anything I’ve ever seen before, this afternoon tea costs £13.95 per person and consists of 9 mini gelato treats and 1 hot drinks. You can easily share this between 2 people, or 3, as we did.
The Children’s Menu
In 2024 the range of children’s food avaulable on a P&O cruises holiday was given an overhaul by Annabel Karmel, well-known for her children’s meals in the UK. With the exception of the Horizon buffet restaurant, you’ll be able to ask for this menu in any of the other restaurants. On a family holiday it’s nice to know that children are covered in most places, with a menu that most will be able to enjoy.
The menu includes favourites such as tomato soup as a starter, mains like cheeseburgers, spaghetti bolognese and fish fingers while desserts are the likes of crepes, jelly and ice cream, as well as fruit. Something we loved on the children’s menu was the inclusion of mini grills of salmon, chicken breast and steak. Being able to mix and match items is great for children. Erin was able to order from both the children’s menu and the normal menu in all of the restaurants, making sure there was a meal she liked every day.
Celebration Night
Celebration Night doesn’t mean that you can’t have a nice meal with little ones. As Iona is one of P&Os family-friendlyships, children are well catered for on this special evening. Although there are dress codes in place for adults, the same rules don’t apply for under 18s. Children can, of course, dress up as well if they want to.
Just remember that if you want to dine in any of the speciality restaurants or the main dining rooms on Celebration Night then adults will have to be appropriately dressed.
Room service
If you fancy dining in your cabin then there’s a mouth-watering room service menu available. Menu items vary depending on the time of day. Breakfast is a small delivery fee and you can choose from a range of pastries, cereal, muffins and drinks. For the rest of the day you can expect to see items like sandwiches, wraps, burgers and sides like fries! The prices are very reasonable and it’s something a bit different to do while on-board.
Tips for a Great Family Dining Experience
Even with extensive experience of planning holidays, it’s hard to know what to do or what to expect on your first cruise. On our Norwegian Fjords cruise in August 2024, a lot was trial and error, while finding our way around the ship and figuring out what we all liked. You may find some of these tips helpful:
Book in advance
Some speciality restaurants can be booked before you embark. They are very popular and can get booked up very quickly. Keep an eye on when these bookings open and bookanything you might be interested in. You can always cancel later but remember some come with a pre-booking payment (which can be refunded).
Research the menus
The sample menus on P&Os website are usually pretty accurate and you can get a feel for what food will be served on board. The buffet and special children’s tea are a bit different as the food available changes daily.
Make it fun
A 3 course meal in the main dining room doesn’t have to be boring for children. Offer children something from the regular menu, maybe getting them to try something new while also having tasty and nutritious options. You can also take in small games to play at the table and no one will care if you child is using a tablet!
Mix it up
Iona has so many great family-friendly dining options that it would be boring to eat at the same place every day. Try the different restaurants and see what you like the best. Whether you’re on a cruise for 7 or 14 days, there’s so much to try! Dining on board can be really exciting and you can eat something different for every meal.
Be prepared to change plans
Things change once you get on board and you might want to change your plans. This could be because you’ve booked extra shore experiences, the kids are enjoying being in kids club or you’re making the most of the on-board activities. Most things can be easily rearranged or cancelled, or on the flip side, booked if you fancy something different.
More posts about cruising as a family
- Family dining on Iona
- Packing tips for cruising the Norwegian Fjords
- Staying in a balcony cabin on Iona
- P&O Cruises: What is there for kids to do?
- Port: Stavanger
- Port: Hellesylt
- Port: Olden
